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  • 19 Fun Things to Do Around the DMV this Fall
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  • Things to Do

19 Fun Things to Do Around the DMV this Fall

From fall festivals to horse races, add these activities to your autumn bucket list.

By Kate Oczypok September 21, 2023 at 9:13 am

The NoVA area is full of things to do this season, with fall festivals dominating the scene. Here are 19 options to fill your calendar this September, October, and early November. 

Visit the Falls Church Festival 

September 23, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., rain or shine 

The 47th annual Falls Church Festival promises fun for the whole family with children’s entertainment, pony rides, bounce houses, a beer garden, crafts, live music, and more. 300 Park Ave., Falls Church 

KanKouran dance group performing
Reston Multicultural Festival (Photo by Charlotte Geary for Reston Community Center)

Check out the Reston Multicultural Festival 

September 23, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 

Celebrate Reston’s diversity and community spirit at this annual event which encourages attendees to dress in clothing from their cultural roots. There will be live performances at the Pavilion, Market Street stage, and Reston Town Square Park. A global market will feature a range of craft vendors as well as arts and crafts activities, like making Mexican sugar skulls or Egyptian collar necklaces. 11900 Market St., Reston 

Sing along with The Jonas Brothers 

September 23, 7 p.m. 

The brothers who got their start on The Disney Channel will be stopping by Capital One Arena for their world tour. They took a page from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, as they will be showcasing five of their albums in one evening. 601 F St. NW, Washington, DC 

Head to the 14th Annual Rappahannock County Farm Tour 

September 23 & 24, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Go at your own pace on this self-guided tour that introduces guests to Rappahannock agriculture. Activities include hayrides, apple picking, winery visits, and opportunities to meet farm animals including goats, sheep, chickens, and cows. See 2023 participating farms here. 

Browse fine art at the 21st Annual Alexandria Old Town Art Festival 

September 30 & October 1, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

This outdoor event features juried artwork from artists across the country. The show was rated one of the top 100 art shows in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist Magazine. 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria 

Pick pumpkins and sunflowers at Temple Hill Farm

September 30-October 31, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 

After picking your own pumpkins and sunflowers at Temple Hill Farm, stay for hot dogs and funnel cakes and activities like wagon rides, visits with farm animals (including alpacas!), yard games like cornhole, and roping cattle on this perfect fall outing. 15855 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg 

Partake in the 19th Annual Apple Festival at Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum 

September 30, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 

There will be live music, cider pressing, apple-themed games, food trucks, a wine and beer garden, and more. 21668 Heritage Farm Ln., Sterling 

corn maze at Great Country Farms
Courtesy Great Country Farms

Celebrate fall at the Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival 

October 1-31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Nothing says fall like corn mazes, hot and fresh cider doughnuts, and bonfires at Great Country Farms’ month-long festival. 34345 Snickersville Tpk., Bluemont 

Get literary at the Fall for the Book Festival 

Preview events October 4–10, festival October 11–14 

Writers Katharine Hayhoe, Nick Hornby, and Marlon James headline this annual book festival that includes readings, performances, and discussions at George Mason University. 4400 University Dr., Fairfax 

George Washington with glass of wine
Courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

Step back in time at Mount Vernon’s Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour and Fall Festival  

October 6–8, 6–9 p.m. (Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour); October 21 and 22, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (Fall Festival) 

Sip unlimited samples from Virginia wineries after hours at George Washington’s estate and two weeks later, take the whole family to enjoy a fall festival with 18th-century activities that include wheat treading and candle-making. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon 

Revel in the 40th Annual Fall Jubilee in Manassas 

October 7, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

This year’s celebration has options for both children and adults, including live music and entertainment, food, and over 100 craft and community booths. Center St., Manassas 

Laugh with David Koechner at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse 

October 12, 7 p.m.; October 13 & 14, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 

Actor, writer, and producer David Koechner is best known for his roles as Todd Packer on The Office, Champ Kind in the Anchorman movies, and Bill Lewis on The Goldbergs. The Chicago Second City alum brings his stand-up skills to NoVA. 2903 Columbia Pk., Arlington 

replica of room on the titanic
Courtesy Titanic. The Exhibition

Immerse yourself in history at Titanic. The Exhibition 

October 21–December 10 

This moving exhibition shares recovered belongings and stories from people who were on board. You’ll also see a recreation of the ship’s interior. National Harbor: 151 St. George Blvd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 

cirque du soleil echo performance
Cirque du Soleil’s Echo (Photo by Jean-François Savaria)

Fly high at Cirque du Soleil’s Echo 

Through October 22 

Under the Big Top at Tysons, Cirque du Soleil’s newest show combines poetry, acrobatics, and technology to explore the connections between people, animals, and the world as a whole. 8025 Galleria Dr., Tysons 

Have a Ball at The Washington International Horse Show 

October 23–29 

Award-winning equestrians and star horses join for a week of show jumping, educational events, and more. Themed events include kids’ day and military night. The Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center: 14900 Pennsylvania Ave., Upper Marlboro, Maryland 

Enjoy regional traditions at the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival 

October 28, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Celebrating 50 years on the fourth Saturday in October, this authentic regional festival welcomes musicians, moonshiners, cooks, craftspeople, horse pullers, and antique tractor buffs. 20 Museum Dr., Ferrum 

Cheer along at the Virginia Gold Cup 

October 28 

Put on your Derby-style attire and head to The Plains for hurdle and timber horse races, Jack Russell Terrier races, a hat contest, and more. 5089 Old Tavern Rd., The Plains 

Take a friend to the Rappahannock Association for Arts & Community’s Fall Arts Tour 

November 4 & 5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Artists display their creations at shops and galleries across the scenic county. Many visitors choose to make a weekend out of it, staying at a bed and breakfast. Rappahannock County 

Take the family to Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park 

Through November 5, weekdays 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., weekends 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. 

Every kid (and kid at heart) will love this gigantic fall festival with moon bounces, a petting zoo, giant slides, wagon rides, and more. 19246 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg 

Feature image courtesy Great Country Farms

For more fall activities, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Things to Do newsletter.

Kate Oczypok

Kate Oczypok

Contributing Writer

Kate Oczypok has been a freelance writer since 2011, and is proud to be a regular contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine in digital and print since 2020. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, People.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and locally The Georgetowner and Washingtonian Magazine, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from American University and a M.Ed. in Education from Penn State. She also teaches virtual piano lessons in the after school hours and does portrait photography on weekends.

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