From festive holiday markets and spooky haunted houses to pumpkin patches, fall festivals, and everything in between, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the season close to home. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite local events and activities to help you make the most of the months ahead — whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, a little Halloween excitement, or the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Consider this your local insider’s guide to what’s happening in the community!
DC Metro:
Festivals
Spend your weekends with friends and family at these festivals and local events.
Fall Pickle & International Food Festival - October 17-18, Sterling, VA
Rosslyn Jazz Festival - September 12, Rosslyn, VA
Downtown Frederick Fall Festival - October 24-25, Frederick, MD
High Heel Race - October 27, Washington, DC
Mt Vernon Wine Festival - October 9-11, Mt Vernon, VA
Montgomery County Harvest Festival - October 3, Derwood, MD
Fairfax City 50th Annual Fall Festival - October 10, Fairfax, VA
Urbanna Oyster Festival - November 6-7, Urbanna, VA
Pumpkin Patches & More
Enjoy fresh fall produce as you pick your own pumpkins and apples, plus hay rides and corn mazes.
Cox Farms - Fairfax, VA
Butler’s Orchard - Germantown, MD
Great Country Farms - Bluemont, VA
Jumbo’s Pumpkins - Middletown, MD
Oktoberfests
Oktoberfest at The Wharf - October 3, Washington, DC
Frederick's Oktoberfest - October 2-3, Frederick, MD
Rocktobierfest - September 26, Rockville, MD
Lovettsville Oktoberfest - September 26, Lovettsville, VA
Haunted Houses
Markoffs Haunted Forest - Dickerson, MD
Terror in Pinewood - Alexandria, VA
Dark Encounters - Lorton, VA
Kindred Hills Haunted Trail - Frederick, MD
Holiday lights
Enchant Christmas - Washington, DC
Bull Run Festival of Lights - Centreville, VA
Walk Through Christmas Lights - Frederick, MD
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens - Wheaton, MD
Holiday Markets
Holiday Market - Washington, DC
10th Annual Holiday Market - Fairfax, VA
33rd Annual Northern Virginia Christmas Market - Sterling, VA
Winter Wonderland and Holiday Market - Bethesda, MD
Theatre and Shows
The Anthem - Washington, DC
Warner Theatre - Washington, DC
The Strathmore - Bethesda, MD
Weinberg Theatre - Frederick, MD
Capital One Hall - Tysons, VA
North Central Virginia
Festivals and Fun
Remington Fall Festival - October 10, Remington, VA
Montpelier Hunt Races - November 7, Montpelier, VA
State Fair of Virginia - September 25 - October 4, Doswell
Candlelight Tour – Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. - December 12-13, Fredericksburg, VA
Manassas Fall Jubilee - Historic Manassas, Inc - October 3, Manassas, VA
Old Town Warrenton Fall Festival - October 3, Warrenton, VA
Virginia Cider Festival - September 12, Fredericksburg, VA
Apple Butter Festival - October 10, Winchester
Fall at The Farm
Fall Festival Sept-Nov in Culpeper, VA | Round Hill Farm
Fall Festival | Snead's Asparagus Farm
Hollin Farms
Halloween:
Kings Dominion | Halloween Haunt - Kings Dominion, VA
Dead Whispers - Fredericksburg, VA
Factory of Fear - Manassas, VA
Haunted Nightmares - Winchester, VA
Turkey Trots
YMCA of Fredericksburg - November 26, Fredericksburg, VA
Marine Corps Turkey Trot - November 21, Quantico, VA
Gobble Gobble Run or Walk - November 21, Warrenton, VA
Hero’s Bridge Turkey Trot - November 26, Manassas, VA
Holiday extravaganzas
Christmas Town: Virginia Christmas Event - Busch Gardens
Illuminate Light Show - Doswell, VA
Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg - Fredericksburg, VA
Maple Tree Farm - Warrenton, VA
Performing Arts
Hylton Performing Arts Center - Manassas, VA
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts - Fredericksburg, VA
Piedmont Symphony - Piedmont, VA
Holiday markets
Old Town Warrenton - Warrenton, VA
FAMFaire - Fredericksburg, VA
Winter Village - Winchester, VA
Stafford County Tree Lighting and Market - Stafford, VA
Southern Maryland
Festivals
34th Annual Artsfest | Art & Music Festival - September 19-20, Solomons
U.S. Oyster Festival - October 17-18, St Mary’s County
RiverFest - September 26, St Mary’s City
Murder Mystery Night - November 21, Leonardtown
FamilyFest on the Potomac - September 12, Coltons Point
Monthly Events:
First Fridays | Visit Leonardtown MD
First Saturday Vendor Market Leonardtown
Farms
Forrest Hall Farm
Bowles Farms
Plan Your Visit Today — Corteau Vineyards
Holiday Spirit
Christmas on the Square - Leonardtown
Evening Tides - Candlelight Christmas - Piney Point Lighthouse Museum
Frost Fair - St Mary’s City
Oktoberfest
First Friday Oktoberfest - October 2-4, Leonardtown
Hawktoberfest - October 16-17, St Mary’s College
Spooky Sights
Vampire Manor - Bel Alton
Cornstalkers Trail of Terror - Waldorf
Turkey Trots
2026 Budds Creek Turkey Trot 5k/10k/Half - RunWashington - November 14
Mechanicsville Elementary Turkey Trot 2026 - November 14
15th Annual St Leonard Turkey Trot 5K - November 26
Baggett Park Turkey Trot - November 22
Holiday Markets
Holiday Market at Town Market - November 27, Leonardtown
Holiday Shopping at Belmont Farm - End of November, Clements
Winter Market at Southern Trails Distillery - Mechanicsville
Last Chance Christmas Market at Dixon Family Farm - December 19, Mechanicsville
Get in the Holiday Spirit
Annmarie Garden In Lights - November 27 - January 1, Solomons
Holiday Lights Spectacular - December 3-30, Timonium
Every Christmas Story Ever Told - THE NEWTOWNE PLAYERS - December 4-20, Lexington Park
Solomons Christmas Walk - December 12, Solomons
Lights of Downtown Leonardtown
Historic St Mary’s City
West Virginia
Festivals
Apple Butter Festival - October 10-11, Berkley Springs
Mountain State Forest Festival- September 26-Oct 4, Elkins
Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival - September 25-27, Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Dillon Farm Fall Festival - October 10-11, Martinsburg, WV
2026 Fall Family Fun Fest - September 26, Clarksburg
Harpers Ferry Highland Games - October 3-4, Shenandoah Junction
Farm Crawl - Hampshire Highlands - October 17, Hampshire County
Bridge Day - October 17, Oak Hill
Outdoor Fall
Tracks and Yaks
Orr's Farm Market
Corn Maze
Christmas
Olde Tyme Christmas — Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
North Pole Express Train Ride WV | Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
December 2026 - America's First Spa - Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Holiday Lights
Lights on The Lake - Harpers Ferry
City Lights - Charles Town
McCoy's Grand Holiday Follies - Hardy
Drink
Jefferson County Oktoberfest - Late September, Jefferson County
Oktoberfest - September 26, Poor House Farm
Western Maryland Craft Beverage Festival 2026 - September 6, Frostburg
Runs
Turkey Trot 5k and Fun Run | United Way of the Eastern Panhandle - Martinsburg
Rocky Gap 25K, 50K, Relay Trail Run October 11, Flinstone
Freedom's Run Half Marathon - October 10, Shepherdstown
Spooky Experiences
Charles Town Ghost Tours
Ghost Tours – Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Shepherdstown Mystery Walks
Performing Arts
Upcoming Shows — The Old Opera House Theatre Company
Calendar - Apollo Civic Theatre
Shepherdstown Opera House
