Excited to see the changing leaves this fall? There are a few ways to predict when they’ll begin changing– and how spectacular the autumn show will be.
Neighborhood street festivals, fairs, cultural celebrations, Oktoberfest: Fall is the season to be out and about.
Mark your calendars for these festivals and special events in the D.C. area. We'll keep updating this list as we find more great stuff to do!
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What to do in October
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Cox Farms Fall Festival
Select days through Nov. 5, Centreville, $10-$25
How much fall fun can Cox Farm pack in? Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, apple picking, petting zoos and a hayride are just the beginning!
DC Wine Fest
Sat., Oct. 19, noon to 10 p.m., Dock 5 at Union Market, $35-$55
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Sample wines from a selection of winemakers. There are three tasting sessions available.
Springfield Fall Festival
Sat., Oct. 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Springfield Town Center, free
Pumpkin decorating, characters and live entertainment are just a few of the fun things you'll find in Springfield Town Center.
Night of the Living Zoo
Fri., Oct. 25, 7-11 p.m., National Zoo, $65 for nonmembers
The National Zoo has revived its adults-only, after-hours Halloween party.
Home Rule Music Festival
Sat., Oct. 26, Alethia Tanner Park, free
This music festival is all about D.C. music and culture. Expect performances by The Experience Band & Show, Bella Donna and more.
What to do in November
Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest
Sat., Nov. 2, 2-6 p.m., free
It's the fall edition of one of the neighborhood's best events. Head to Columbia and 18th for a street fest with live music and plenty more from local businesses, or fan into the neighborhood to see community performances right on porches.
DC Beer Fest
Sun., Nov. 2, Nationals Park, $55
Head to Nationals Park to enjoy as many brews as you care to drink from more than 80 breweries. Dueling pianos, bands and food trucks will make it a day to remember.
Alexandria Fall Fest
Sun., Nov. 3, River Farm
Alpaca petting, singing princesses, pony rides and bounce houses will delight kids, while adults can enjoy a wine and beer garden featuring Port City Brewing and Lost Boy Cider.
Past events
Alexandria Old Town Art Festival
Sat. and Sun., Sept. 14-15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, free
John Carlyle Square hosts dozens of art vendors for you to peruse and enjoy.
Washington Ukrainian Festival
Sept. 13-15, St. Andrews Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (15100 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring), $20 (Saturday and Sunday) or $15 (Sunday only)
Immerse yourself in the art, food and culture of Ukraine. Some proceeds support humanitarian organizations helping people impacted by the war.
Celebrate Petworth
Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 800 block of Upshur Street NW in D.C., free
Explore the best this Northwest neighborhood has to offer by checking out performances, vendors, a dog show and kids’ activities.
Celebrate Van Ness
Sat., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., along Connecticut Avenue NW, free
Van Ness is throwing an all-day celebration with a Taylor Swift dance party, artisan pop-up, Crush Funk Brass Band and more before settling in for a movie night. There will be a shuttle bus between Van Ness Street, Peirce Mill and Ellicott Street.
Falls Church Festival
Sat., Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Falls Church City Hall and Community Center, Falls Church, free
Free concerts, a children’s stage with magicians and music and beer gardens make for a fun day on Little Falls Street. Come hungry to sample from local restaurants participating in the Taste of Falls Church!
Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival
Sat., Sept. 14, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, free entry, parking is $10 in advance, $15 day-of
Kunta Kinte was an enslaved person brought to Annapolis in the late 1700s but never lost sight of his home culture. Today, the festival named after him celebrates African culture with performances, craft vendors, food and more.
Maryland Seafood Festival
Sat. and Sun., Sept. 14-15, Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, $15+ (kids 12 and under can go for free with a paying adult)
Chow down on tons of seafood right by the Chesapeake Bay.
Hispanic Festival
Sun., Sept. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Lane Manor Splash Park in Hyattsville, Maryland, free
The Maryland-National Capital Park And Planning Commission’s festival for Hispanic Heritage Month includes music, activities and food for the whole family.
The Great Frederick Fair
Sept. 13-21, Frederick, Maryland, $8 in advance or $10 at the gate for adults, free for kids under 10
Frederick has a classic county fair with rides, funnel cakes and animals, plus a grandstand with music acts including Flo Rida. Heads up: Carnival rides and grandstand shows cost extra.
Race the District
Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 19-21, Union Market, $0 to $27
Watching go-karts race around the Union Market parking lot is the banner event (and you'll need tickets to get in!), but nightly performances, community races and more are free and open to the public. On Saturday and Sunday, you can play with Events DC’s VR activation, and a Red Bull F1 car will be on display Friday and Saturday.
NC Society BBQ & Bluegrass Festival
Fri., Sept. 20, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hill Center DC in Southeast, $15 for children under 12, $55 for non-members, $35 for members, $70 at the door
Indulge in a whole-hog feast while dancing to live bluegrass as a taste of North Carolina arrives in Capitol Hill.
Montgomery County Parks Ale Trail
Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Needwood in Rockville, free to join
Hike 2.5 miles around Lake Needwood with a stop at the midway beer garden, live music and games at Needwood Mansion. Then head to the main festival area for more music, snacks and an archaeology activity for kids.
H Street Festival
Sat., Sept. 21, H Street NE in D.C., free entry
The Northeast D.C. thoroughfare is filled with live music, good eats, shopping and tons of activities for one of the District’s largest neighborhood festivals.
National Dance Day
Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., The Kennedy Center in D.C., free
Celebrate dance with lessons and performances at The Kennedy Center. Stick around afterward for live music at the REACH @ 5 Block Party.
The World’s Largest Pickle Party
Sat., Sept. 21, Baltimore, $24.99+
Pickle lovers can unite in Baltimore for a day of sweet and sour tastings, plus music.
Because They're Funny comedy festival
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 27-29, The Wharf in Southwest D.C., price varies by show
Leslie Jones headlines this weekend of comedy that puts comedians of color in the spotlight. They're also bringing back the Breakout Comedian of The Year Competition.
Smithsonian Craft2Wear show
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 28-29, National Building Museum, $20
Designers from all over the country are displaying their clothing and accessories on Saturday and Sunday.
FiestaDC
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 28-29, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown D.C., free
Live music, art and food all weekend are just the beginning. We're so curious to see an attempt to make the World's Largest Pupusa on Saturday, and then there's a parade on Sunday.
Unwine Festival
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Upper Marlboro, $30+
Sip and savor wines while enjoying live music in Patuxent River Park.
Alexandria Oktoberfest
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., John Carlyle Square, free
Raise a stein at Alexandria’s own version of Oktoberfest.
Leesburg Air Show
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Leesburg Executive Airport, free
Aviation fans old and young alike will enjoy watching aircraft zip around Leesburg. Aerial performances are set to begin at 1 p.m. You can also explore aircraft right on the ground. Go here for parking and transportation information.
Clarendon Day
Sat., Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Arlington, Virginia, free entry
Live music, inflatables and more are on tap for the whole family across six blocks of this Arlington neighborhood.
Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival
Sun., Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza, free
The celebration of Montgomery County art begins with a parade, then keeps the party going at a festival at Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive.
Aslin 9th Anniversary Beer, Music & Art Festival
Sat., Sept. 28, 1-7 p.m., Aslin Beer Company - Alexandria, Virginia, $25+ for adults
The brewery celebrates its 9th birthday with brews (including beers from guest breweries), live bands and art.
Virginia Beer Festival @ National Landing
Sat., Sept. 28, 4-9 p.m., Water Park National Landing in Arlington, Virginia, free entry
Band Relaxed Fit will play hits from the '90s and early 2000s at this inaugural beer festival.
Waterford Fair
Fri.-Sat., Oct. 4-6, Waterford, Virginia, single-day adult tickets $20
One of the region’s premiere juried art fairs returns just a short drive from D.C.
Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Sat., Oct. 5, Southwest Waterfront, free entry
Come for the 12th Annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash (a Wiener dog race!) and stay for steins of beer and polka lessons. It’s just about the closest thing you’ll find to Munich inside the Beltway!
Taste of Bethesda
Sat., Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Norfolk Avenue in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle, free entry
Bethesda's best restaurants will serve up bites along Norfolk, St. Elmo, Cordell, Del Ray and Auburn Avenues. Stick around for live entertainment on five stages. there will be kids' activities, too! Entry is free. It costs $10 for 5 tasting tickets, and food items cost one to four tickets.
College Park Day
Sat., Oct. 5, noon to 6 p.m., College Park Aviation Museum, free
Celebrate College Park, Maryland, with all-day live entertainment, bounce houses, food trucks and more.
Old Town Warrenton Fall Festival
Sat., Oct. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street in Warrenton, free entry
Spend a day strolling Main Street in Historic Warrenton, checking out art, music, crafts and food.
Rosslyn Fall Fest
Sat., Oct. 5, 1-6 p.m., Gateway Park on Langston Boulevard in Rosslyn, Virginia, free
Get in the fall spirit with music, a pie-eating contest, hard cider tastings, music and food trucks. Tickets to the cider tasting are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Make sure to bring your ID!
Art on the Avenue
Sat., Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, free entry
This huge arts festival returns to Alexandria’s Del Ray for its 29th year, featuring more than hundreds of artists, multiple stages of live entertainment and activities for kids. Free trolley transportation will be available from the Braddock Road Metro station.
Historic Downtown Manassas Fall Jubilee
Sat., Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Manassas, Virginia, free entry
This festival has been kicking for 41 years. Enjoy music, bands, dance, martial arts and more.
DC Coffee Festival
Sat. and Sun., Oct. 5-6, Dock 5 at Union Market in Northeast, $24+
Coffee lovers can sample the goods of specialty roasters and shops with unique beans while enjoying live entertainment.
Mosaic Fall Festival
Sun., Oct. 6, Fairfax, Virginia, free entry
URBNmarket and FRESHFARM are teaming up for a weekend of shopping, kids' activities, live music and performances at the Mosaic District. Dress up for fall-themed selfie stations!
Takoma Park Street Festival
Sun., Oct. 6, Carroll Avenue, free entry
Dance and shop a Sunday away as the Takoma Park Street Festival returns for its 43rd year.
Fairfax Fall Festival
Sat., Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Old Town Square on North Street, free
Fairfax goes all-out for fall with more than 400 arts, crafts, food and other vendors, children's activities and entertainment for all ages across three stages. Take a spin on rides or check out the beer garden. Here are directions and parking information.
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