26 Fall Festivals in Northern Virginia (Festivals, Fairs & Events) – 2023

Northern Virginia area will soon be home to many Fall Festivals and Fairs starting from late September.

Many of these events promise fall fun for the whole family, while some are geared exclusively towards adults.

Check out these 26 fun festivals coming soon!

Source: Fall for Fairfax

#2 Fall for Fairfax

October 7-8,2023 | Website

Fall For Fairfax KidsFest is specially designed for families with elementary & Pre-K aged children.

Source: Merrifield Fall Festival

#3 Merrifield Fall Festival / Mosaic District Annual Fall Festival

September 23-24, 2023 | Fairfax, VA | Website

There is something for the whole family to enjoy at the Mosaic District’s Fall Festival! From live music and entertainment, to over 50 vendors to check out at the farmer’s market, it will be 2 days well spent.

Some of the highlight attractions are:

  • Boxing and fitness classes
  • Beer and wine gardens
  • Lots of kids activities (including pumpkin painting)

Be sure to check out the website for info on shuttle schedule and the parking map.

#4 Burke Nursery & Garden Centre’s Fall Festival

October 1-31, 2022 | Burke, VA | Website

At this year’s Fall Festival, the Burke Nursery and Garden Centre will be limiting the festivities in order to safely navigate around COVID-19. There will still be lots of vendors at the market, selling a wide variety of goodies!

There will be apple cider donuts, hot chocolate, peanuts, pickles, honey, fall flowers, and more! On select days there will even be pony rides, so check out the website in the link for more information.

READ ALSO: 37 Pumpkin Festivals in Virginia (+ Patches & Corn Mazes) for 2022

Source: Fall Harvest Festival

#5 Fall Harvest Festival at the George Washington’s Mount Vernon

October 21-22, 2023 | Mount Vernon, VA | Website

Celebrate the fall season with 18th century activities and exhibits at the Fall Harvest Festival at George Washington’s Mount Vernon! This family friendly festival offers the opportunity to meet General George Washington, learn how colonial meals were cooked, visit with a real life farrier, and purchase freshly baked bread. Tickets can be purchased for beer tasting, where local breweries showcase the best in their craft.

Families having fun at the Cox Farms in Virginia
Source: Cox Farms website

#6 Cox Farms Fall Festival

September 16-17,2023, September 23-November 6,2023, plus Tuesday, November 7,2023| Centreville, VA | Website

Ride the world famous hay ride and the giant slides at this festival built for all ages. There will be farm animals to pet and feed, live music, milking demonstrations, a tractor museum, corn maze, and of course fair food! Check out the website for a full menu, as well as a map, and ticket information.Don’t forget to visit the very famous Cox Fields of Fear.

#7 Wegmeyer Farms

September 24, 2023 | Hamilton, VA | Website

On Saturday, September 24th, come check out the pumpkin field! Wegmeyer Farms offers a “pick-your-own” vegetables method of farming. Come peruse the pumpkin patch until you find the perfect pumpkin for your family.

With over 50 varieties of pumpkins available, you are sure to find just the right one. They also offer sunflowers and strawberries for picking! Make reservations on their website to make sure you get a spot!

Source: Reston Farm Garden Market

#8 2023 Fall Fest – Reston Farm Garden Market

Weekends September 23 – October 29, and Monday, October 9, 2023 | Reston, VA | Website

At the Reston Farm Garden Market Fall Fest, expect a great event with face painting, petting zoos, bounce houses, and lots of other fun activities for children. There will be pumpkins available for purchase, of varying sizes.

There will also be the chance to try apple cider and apple cider donuts! For more information, including location, ticket prices, and a video of last year’s fall festival, check the website in the link!

#9 Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival

October 1-31, 2023 | Bluemont, VA | Website

Ride the wagon out to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins at the Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival. On certain days, there are all sorts of special events including pig races, cider pressing demonstrations, pumpkin cannons, petting zoos. and live music!

Check the website for more information about these events, as well as ticket information.

Great Country Farms
Source: Great Country Farms website

#10 Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park

September 16 – November 5, 2023 | Leesburg, VA | Website

This festival will showcase lots of great family friendly activities. Giant hill slides, moon bounces, petting zoo, wagon rides, corn bin, and pedal carts are just a few of the attractions that will be held.

There will even be zip lines, face painting, and entertainment on the weekends. Visit the website to see a complete schedule as well as pictures in the gallery from last year’s festival.

#11 Falls Church Festival

September 23, 2023 | Falls Church, VA | Website

This is a family-friendly event that features live music, children’s entertainment, and booths from local crafters, businesses, and civic organizations.

Source: Friends of Green Spring Gardens – FROGS

#12 Green Spring Garden’s Family Fall Festival & Plant Sale

September 7, 2023 | Fairfax, VA | Website

The annual Family Fall Festival has fun activities for the entire family. There are plenty of plants for sale as well. There’s also a hummingbird exhibit at the Historic House and a photography contest exhibit at the Horticulture Center.

#13 Reston Multicultural Festival

September 23, 2023 | Reston, VA | Website

This is a multicultural annual festival that brings together family, fun, and neighbors to celebrate the diversity of different cultures.

Source: Chic Events DC

#14 Old Town Manassas Art Show & Craft Fall Fair

September 23, 2023 | Manassas, VA | Website

With over 60 different vendors, artisans, and booths, this festival is sure to have what you are looking for! Support local shops and small businesses as they set up shop and sell their goods at the Manassas Museum on Saturday, September 24th from 10am to 4pm. This family friendly event has free admission and is open to the public, so come out and bring the kids!

#15 Virginia Wine Festival

October 1-2, 2022 | Ashburn, VA | Website

Celebrate the Fall season at the 46th annual Virginia Wine Festival. The festival is coming back to Ashburn, Virginia for the first 2 days of October, and it will be held at One Loudoun Uptown.

This year’s festival will feature lots of local wines and live music and entertainment! There will be food trucks as well, so make sure to bring your appetite.

#16 Fall Frolic

October 22, 2022 | Alexandria, VA | Website

Enjoy the fall themed family fun at the Fall Frolic event. For the kids, there will be a “ghost” hunt, costume parade, crafts, and lots more fun activities. The festival is geared for children ages 3 – 12, but is open to everyone. Masks are required, as are tickets, and they must be purchased in advance. You can do so on the website linked above.

#17 Old Town Manassas Holiday Crafts & Treats

October 28, 2023 | Manassas, VA | Website

The Manassas Museum will host the Holiday Crafts & Treats festival this October! There will be arts and crafts vendors, bath and body products, jewelry, holiday decor, and more. Of course, there will also be a fine selection of sweets and desserts!

Bring the whole family and enjoy the kids’ candies celebration, where they will get to make crafts as well as eat sweets, and do not forget to enter them in the costume contest!

#18 City of Fairfax Fall Festival

October 14, 2023 | Fairfax, VA | Website

The Fairfax Fall Festival boasts over 400 different arts, crafts, food, and information vendors, and 3 stages for live entertainment and music! There will be tons of children’s activities and games, as well as carnival children’s rides.

Bring the whole family for some great photo ops, and to see some great demonstrations, like the lumberjack demonstration. The website linked above has some great photos in the gallery from last year’s festival to show you what to expect for this year!

#19 Clifton Day

October 8, 2023 | Clifton, VA | Website

Celebrate the 54th annual Clifton Day at the historic town of Clifton. Showcasing a marketplace of over 150 vendors, there will be lots to see! These vendors will be selling arts and crafts, antiques, food, pumpkin patches, and lots more.

This family-friendly festival offers pony rides, family activities, and live band music to enjoy as well. Plan to stay a while, and take advantage of all the food and drink options, including the beer and wine garden.

Source: Korus Festival

#20 Korus Festival

September 13-15,2023 | Annadale, VA | Website

It included performances from 30 different performers on the stage. There’s something for everyone, and admission is free.

#21 MPAartfest

October 1, 2023 | McLean, VA | Website

Come witness Central Park transform into a landscape of art galleries showcasing art for sale from local and professional artists! Contemporary art will be on full display for all to see.

This free event offers a children’s art walk as well, and will have live music throughout the day. There will also be vendors of all kinds, food trucks, and a wide selection of food and beverages available for sale.

Kids at MPAartfest in Virginia
Source: MPAartfest website

#22 Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour

October 6-8, 2023 | East Lawn, VA | Website

Sample some of the finest Virginia-made wines at this year’s wine festival, the Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour! Located at beautiful George Washington’s Mount Vernon, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape while tasting unlimited samples.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and sit on the hill overlooking the Potomac from 6-9pm. Concessions will be available for purchase, and the Mount Vernon shops will be open until 8:45pm.

Source: Waterford Fair

#23 Waterford Fair

October 6-8, 2023 | Waterford, VA | Website

This 78 year old tradition will be a family favorite this year! This festival features an art show, historic properties tour, entertainment for all ages, and demonstrations by local artisans, this is the quintessential fall festival. There will be food and libations as well!

Do not miss out on fair food and local producers’ sweets and treats, and also beverages being served in the tavern. There will be a scavenger hunt for the kids, who also happen to get in for free!

Families having fun at the Sterling Foundation
Source: SterlingFest website

#24 SterlingFest

October 7, 2023 | Sterling, VA | Website

Come enjoy this annual block party on October 8th in Sterling! Explore local artisan and business booths, and sample food from a wide variety of local restaurants and eateries. Bring the kids, because they will love the obstacle course and the games and crafts.

Parents can enjoy the beer garden, where you can enjoy locally brewed beer or a glass of fine Virginian wine. Check the website for pictures from last year, as well as directions for how to get to the festival.

Source: Haymarket Town Hall

#25 Haymarket Day

October 21, 2023 | Haymarket, VA | Website

This hometown street festival will host over 200 vendors, showcasing the best artisans, craft makers, and food vendors the area has to offer.

There will be a parade featuring local schools, performers, rope swings, and even law enforcement, and of course, lots of live entertainment and culinary options for when you get hungry! Check the website to see video highlights of past festivals!

#26 The Annandale Parade

October 28, 2023 | Annandale, VA | Website

One of the best small town parades in America, the Annandale Parade will not disappoint! Showcasing one of the most impressive lineups of classic cars and many other exhibits, dancers, and floats, this is one free parade that the whole family will enjoy!

This 70 year old tradition is dedicated to the children and students of Annandale, and many of them will be in the parade! The parade will run from 10am until noon, but it will be wise to arrive early to get a spot with a good view!

Festivals Without 2023 Dates

Pumpkin Festival in North Virginia

#1 Pumpkin Festival at the Fairfax County Government Center

October 29, 2022 | Fairfax, VA | Website

At the Fairfax County Pumpkin Festival, there will be educational presentations and opportunities to learn all about pumpkins. In addition, the pumpkin painting station will allow for anyone to paint your own pumpkin they bring to the fair, or choose one from the freshly harvested pumpkins available on site.

All attendees must register for this festival, so be sure to check out the website linked above to learn how to do that.

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Michaela Lee

Michaela lives in Northern Virginia and is a mom of 2 young kids. She enjoys writing, reading and going new places with her family.