There are so many spring fairs, special events and festivals in DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland with the arrival of spring. We’ve compiled them all here for you so you don’t miss out on any of these fun events.
This is the best time to get out there and have fun with the whole family.
Note: We always strive to bring you the latest information. But, it’s still a good idea to check the event’s website for any last minute changes.
These festivals are such fun places to celebrate with family and enjoy something new (or even something you’ve attended year after year!).
Make sure to bookmark this post so you can refer back over the next few months. And don’t forget to share this with family and friends who will want to attend some of these fun festivals too!
Here you’ll find a full list of spring festivals fully updated for 2024. In this list of spring festivals, you’ll find events including:
- Spring flowers (check out the Washington dc cherry blossom festival)
- Fairs & carnivals
- Animals and farms
- Food & drink
- History
- Art
- and more
Spring Festivals in Northern Virginia
#1 Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival
April 20 – 21, 2024 | 60 Ida Lee Drive, NW, VA 20176 | Website
The Flower and Garden Festival is celebrated on the 3rd weekend of April (except when Easter falls on this weekend). The hours for 2024 festival are Saturday, April 20th 10am–6pm and Sunday, April 21st 10am–5pm and takes place rain or shine.
Over 125+ vendors will be on hand featuring landscape designs, gardening supplies, outdoor living items, plants, flowers, herbs and more. It truly is an iconic outdoor event.
The festival will also feature food, children’s entertainment, crafts and much more. The children’s area is located on Town Green.
There is no admission fee, however there is a cost for activities and donations are gladly accepted.
#2 97th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
April 26 – May 5, 2024 | 135 North Cameron Street, Winchester, VA 22601 | Website
The 97th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival will take place April 26 to May 5, 2024. The festival is a series of more than 40 events including:
- Band competitions
- Dances
- Parade Route
- Carnival
- Circus
- Dinners
- Luncheons
- A 10K Race
- Coronation of Queen Shenandoah
- Firefighters’ events
- Celebrity Entertainers
The Festival is an event the whole family can enjoy. Ticket prices vary depending on the event you attend but this is one of our favorite, most fun things to do in Spring!
#3 McLean Chocolate Festival
January 28th 2024 | McLean Community Center | Website
The 12th annual McLean Chocolate Festival is happening this year and is a fundraiser for McLean Rotary which benefits schools and other local organizations.
Come taste chocolate from local chocolatiers and enjoy other family fun activities.
Cost of admission is $3 and children 3 and under are free.
#4 Founder’s Day
April 6, 2024 | Lake Anne Plaza | Website
Founder’s Day celebrates Reston’s found and it’s first public artist.
This event is filled with family-friendly activities.
Opening ceremony and the parade will start in the entrance to Lake Anne Plaza at 12 pm.
#5 Manassas Heritage Railway Festival
June 1, 2024 | Historic Downtown Manassas | Website
Experience Manassas at its best this June and come out to the 30th Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival. This family celebration of rich railroad history features train memorabilia, specialty vendors, and live performances.
Admission is free. The VRE excursion train ride is not available this year but consider checking out the static train display.
The exact date is yet to be announced.
#6 McLean Day 2024
May 18, 2024 | Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Rd. | Website
McLean Day 2024 is an annual festival featuring carnival rides, live entertainment, pony and kid rides and an arts & crafts show.
The festival takes place on May 18 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m..
Admission is free!
#7 Tephra ICA Festival (formerly Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival)
May 18-19, 2024 | 12001 Market Street #103 Reston VA 20190 | Website
The 33rd Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival now known as Tephra ICA Festival will take place May 18-19, 2024 at the Reston Town Center.
The Festival brings more than 200 artists from around the nation for two days
#8 Spring Farm Day
May 4, 2024| 2709 West Ox Road Herndon VA 20171 | Website
Spring Farm Day is so much fun and offers some unique activities including watching sheep shearing and cow and goat milking. You’ll also be able to see antique farm equipment demonstrations and participate in crafts, games, puppet shows and see baby farm animals up close!
Tickets are $12 per person (adults and children ages 2+) in advance and $14 at the door. Cost of admission includes one wagon ride.
This is a great place for kids to learn how to behave with animals.
#9 The Taste of Annandale
Date TBA | Tom Davis Drive, Annandale | Website
The Taste of Annandale returns in 2024 after a pandemic-induced hiatus. Expect a food extravaganza, diverse entertainment, a 5K race, a pet contest, and a chili cookoff. Community recognition and appreciation for sponsors and volunteers make this event a celebration of culture and camaraderie. Mark your calendars for a day of community spirit!
#10 Virginia Renaissance Faire
May 11 – June 9, 2024 | 5621 Courthouse Road Spotsylvania, VA 22551 | Website
The Virginia Renaissance Faire, held at the Lake Anna Winery in Spotsylvania, Virginia, is a captivating event that whisks visitors away to a world of knights, jesters, and fair maidens.
During its 22nd season from May 11th to June 9th, guests can revel in jousting tournaments, artisan crafts, and a delightful medieval atmosphere.
#11 Viva! Vienna!
May 25-27, 2024 | 124 Park Street SE Vienna, VA 22180 | Website
Viva! Vienna! will be held at Vienna’s historic Freeman House, Old Vienna Railroad Station, the Caboose, W & OD Trail, and Church Streets at Dominion and Mill.
Enjoy games, rides, food, wares, shows and lots of fun!
The proceeds from this spring festival support over 70 local organizations.
#12 Art Blooms at Mosaic
April 6-7, 2024 | 2910 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 | Website
This event is held to celebrate and welcome spring. There are fun activities for the whole family including face painting, game corner, arts and crafts, and cooking demonstrations.
#13 Arlington Festival of the Arts
April 27-28, 2024| 1210 N Highland St in Arlington, VA| Website
A community event that features around 100 artists and their works from painting, potteries, jewelry, glass art, and many more. Free to attend.
#14 Gunston Hall Spring Festival
April 13-14, 2024 | 10709 Gunston Road, Lorton, VA 22079 | Website
A celebration of spring at George Mason’s Gunston Hall with a day filled of gardening and kite flying activities. There will also be food vendors in this event.
#15 Burnside Farm’s Festival of Spring
March 24 – April 14, 2024 | 11008 Kettle Run RD. Nokesville, VA 20181 | Website
The longest-running spring festivals of its kind. This festival happens three weeks in April to celebrate the coming of spring. It exhibits the culture of Holland with it’s beautiful tulips and the wooden footwear exhibited during the event.
#16 Spotlight on the Arts Festival
April 25-28, 2024 | 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas, VA 20110 | Website
This festival puts the “Spotlight” on all the great art opportunities in central Fairfax especially the community’s special jazz scene.
There are different events during this festival. Learn more about jazz dance, see the orchestra and other bands play, neighborhood art celebration, and more.
#17 Purcellville Music and Arts Festival
April 27, 2024 | 250 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, VA 20132 | Website
A music and arts festival that celebrates the community’s diverse culture. This is a free family event.
#18 Memorial Day Parade & Festival
May 27, 2024 | City Hall and Community Center Grounds | Website
The 41st annual parade and festival is back with a 3K fun run, food vendors, live music, kids entertainment and of course, the parade!
The festival runs all day from 9am – 5pm. The parade starts at 12pm.
#19 Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
May 17-19, 2024| 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 | Website
For this festival, you’re going to want to leave the kids at home. But we had to include it because it has, well…wine! Taste unlimited samples of wines from Virginia’s finest wineries.
Tickets are sold on their website.
#20 Bluebells at the Bend – Festival at Riverbend Park
April 6, 2024| 8700 Potomac Hills St. Great Falls, VA, 22066 | Website
This is a wonderful event to celebrate the Virginia Bluebells the cover the forest floor!
#21 Loudoun Hunt Point to Point Races
April 21, 2024| 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg, VA, 20176 | Website
This fundraiser event feature some of the most challenging steeplechase courses available in Virginia. The event is held in conjunction with Loudoun Fairfax Hunt and has a lot of activities for all ages.
#22 Revolutionary War Weekend
May 4-5, 2024| 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 | Website
Witness military drills and how the life of the soldiers and camp followers were back in the days during the revolutionary war.
#23 Strawberry Jubilee Fest
May 18, 19, 25, 26, June 1, and 2, 2024| 34345 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, VA 20135 | Website
Annual strawberry festival at Great Country Farms in Loudoun County Virginia, packed with live music, fun family activities, farm contests, wagon rides, and food.
Spring Festivals in Washington, DC
#24 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
June 26 – July 1, 2024 | Fourth Street & Independence Ave., SW Washington DC 20560 | Website
The 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual tradition not to be missed! An exciting festival featuring entertainment, arts & crafts, children’s activities, food and more.
#25 Flower Mart
May 3-4, 2024 | 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 | Website
Flower Mart is an annual festival that will be held on the Washington National Cathedral Grounds.
This year the Flower Mart celebrates its 9th anniversary.
Great fun, activities and food surround the Cathedral. Enjoy entertainment, beautiful flowers, arts & crafts and much more.
Ride an antique carousel and watch free performances from singers, dancers, groups and more on the main stage. There is also an entire children’s area with games, rides and a carousel.
#26 Washington DC Dragon Boat Festival
May 18, 2024 | 2900 Virginia Avenue NW Washington DC 20037 | Website
The Washington DC Dragon Boat festival is a festival held along the Potomac River. Four boats painted to resemble scales in hues of green, red, blue and yellow sporting dragon heads and tails of blue.
The Dragon Boat cultural aspects are Eye Dotting Ceremony, Lion Dance, and Zhong Zi. Eye Dotting Ceremony awakens the sleeping dragons and resuscitates the dragon boats with good spirits to provide ultimate enjoyment for all the racers.
Lion Dance, on the other hand is a symbol of strength, courage and wisdom, while Zhong Zi is the traditional glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings eaten during the festival.
#27 Blossom Kite Festival
March 30-31, 2024 | Constitution Avenue, Between 7th and 17th St, Washington, DC 20560 | Website
A long-standing DC tradition and a famous event encouraging attendees of all ages fly kites among the cherry blossoms trees. Check out the peak bloom dates to make the most of this event.
This year will feature both virtual and in-person options so that you can fly your kite from your favorite neighborhood park or anywhere across the globe.
It will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
#28 Anacostia River Festival
May 4, 2024 | Anacostia Drive SE & Good Hope Drive SE, Washington, DC 20020 | Website
This is a premier event of the Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. The annual festival is a celebration of Anacostia River, Park, and Neighborhood.
It can be enjoyed by the people of all ages.
#29 Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
April 13-14, 2024 | 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 | Website
There will be river activities such as canoeing and fishing along the Anacostia River, as well as musical performances.
A Japanese culture celebration that complements the end of the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival is a two day showcase with full day of live music, Japanese home goods, food, street festivals and arts happening in the heart of the nation’s capital.
It starts from 10:30am to 6pm. Tickets can be bought at the entrance.
#30 National Cherry Blossom Festival: Petalpalooza
April 6, 2024 | 355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003 | Website
From 1pm to 9pm, the venue will be filled with live music and family friendly activities and other engaging activities for all ages. It will then be capped by a fireworks show by 8:30pm.
#31 Georgetown French Market
April 26-28, 2024| Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 | Website
The Georgetown French Market is popular open-air market – originally inspired by those often seen in France.
This event will feature 25 locally-owned boutiques, cafés, and galleries along Wisconsin Avenue from O St to Reservoir Rd., plus a caricature artist, live music, stilt-walkers, and more.
There are lots of family-friendly hands-on activities at this event.
Spring Festivals in Maryland
#32 48th Annual Heritage Days Festival
September 14 – 15, 2024 | Washington Street Cumberland, MD 21502 | Website
Enjoy food, entertainment, vendors, local artists and more at the 48th Annual Heritage Days Festival in historic downtown Cumberland.
This is a free event and as the festival gets closer, more details about the various activities will be posted.
#33 Azalea Garden Festival
May 3-5, 2024 | 6101 Wilson Lane Bethesda MD 20817 | Website
The Annual Azalea Garden Festival will take place at the Landon School in Bethesda.
Landon School’s Azalea Garden Festival has community activities that celebrate springtime. Families can treat the kids to FunLand, a favorite for children of all ages with games, crafts, inflatable’s, carnival games and boardwalk style food.
There is also entertainment, an art show, golf classic and other fun activities for all ages. All proceeds from the Festival support student financial assistance and faculty enrichment.
#34 Frederick Festival of the Arts
June 8 -9, 2024 | 50 Carroll Creek Way, Frederick, MD 21701 | Website
Celebrating 30 years, the Frederick Festival of the Arts invites art lovers to enjoy a showcase of national artists.
It is a a juried, 2-day art festival. There are over 150 professional artists, children’s crafts, interactive activities, entertainment and more.
#35 Glen Echo Carousel Day
April 27, 2024 | 7300 MacArthur Boulevard Glen Echo MD 20812 | Website
This fun-filled, annual event celebrates the opening of the 103 year old Dentzel carousel and offers a full day of activities for families.
There will be performances, art activities, face painting, cake & lemonade and more!
Glen Echo Family Day will take place from 11am to 5pm.
#36 Hometown Holidays
May 25 – 26, 2024 | 14500 Avery Road, Rockville, MD 20853 | Website
Hometown Holidays is a three-day festival that runs from 11am to 7pm. The festival will feature the Taste of Rockville, entertainment stages, kids activities and VisArts Fine Arts festival.
Admission is free.
#37 May Day Faerie Festival
May 4-5, 2024 | 7130 Marshy Point Rd, Middle River, MD | Website
The May Day Faerie Festival has children’s activities (bubble area, tea parties, faerie houses, crafts, etc.), entertainment with music and dance, vendors and food.
READ NEXT: 120+ Things to do with kids in Maryland
#38 Annapolis Book Festival
Apr 27, 2024 | 534 Hillsmere Drive, Annapolis , MD 21403 | Website
One of the premier community events in the region that celebrates the beauty, power, passion, and excitement of the written word.
The Festival also features a day filled with children’s activities, live music, food, and a huge used book sale.
#39 Fest Of Spring Caribbean Wine, Food, & Music Festival
May 18, 2024 | 16700 Barnesville Rd Boyds, MD 20841, USA | Website
Celebrates local and Caribbean culture through live performances, wine tasting, delectable cuisines, and an arts village offering an array of indigenous jewelry, clothing, and crafts.
There will also be activities for kids like rides and face painting.
#40 Gaithersburg Book Festival
May 18, 2024 | 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877 | Website
This is an annual book festival where you can meet your favorite authors, participate in workshops, and purchase books. They also have family friendly activities throughout the day.
Parking and admission are free.
Canceled (or No 2024 Dates Announced) Spring Festivals
The following festivals do not have 2024 dates yet or have been canceled for the year. As we see any changes, we’ll update this list.
Celebrate Fairfax
12000 Government Center Parkway Fairfax VA 22035 | Website
Celebrate Fairfax usually take place son the grounds of the Fairfax County Government Center. The 25-acre site is magically filled with fascinating sights and sounds as more than 400 exhibitors, food vendors, crafters and interactive activities are included in the annual celebration. Kids and adults alike will enjoy performances — a full schedule will be announced soon.
Manassas Air Show
Manassas Airport | Website
Delaplane Strawberry Festival
11012 Edmonds Lane White Post VA 20144 | Website
This festival is a weekend of fun for the whole family. It features children’s games, hayrides, local crafters, live entertainment, bake sale, strawberry pie & jam contest, petting zoo, fresh strawberries and a 5K run/walk. Proceeds are used to fund the ministries and outreach programs of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
EarthDay at Loudoun Family Festival
TBA | 42920 Broadlands Blvd. Broadlands VA 20148 | Website
The EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival takes place at Willow Creek Farm. The 7th annual EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival will feature more than 75 exhibitors, a Green Marketplace offering earth-friendly products and services, hands-on educational activities for all ages and many other entertainment options.
Admission is free!
Quarterfest Crawl
Wilson Blvd. Arlington VA 22203 | Website
A mouth watering event for the whole family that transforms the Ballston area into a lively street festival.
Lemon Festival
15606 Emerald Way, Bowie, MD 20716
A unique and colorful celebration of life and diversity of culture and that celebrates citrus fruits and the bringing in together the community through music and art. This festival has so many activities including:
- Magicians
- Dancers
- Face painting
- Live entertainment
- Artists
- Comedy
- Bubbles station
- Food trucks & vendors
Imagination Bethesda
Auburn and Norfolk Avenues Bethesda MD 20814 | Website
Enjoy this annual children’s street festival. There are cultural and educational events for the 12 and under crowd. The festival will have entertainment, dance troupes, crafts, face painters and other activities.
