Alex’s top picks
Five plans that define September in Northern Virginia
Fall festival season starts here. Book the ticketed ones early and build the rest of the month around them.
01
Cox Farms Fall Festival
The region’s biggest fall festival opens for the season, with slides, hayrides and the goats everyone comes back for.
02
Reston Multicultural Festival
The 25th year of the festival that fills Reston Town Center with food, dance and music from dozens of countries.
03
Clarendon Day
Wilson Boulevard closes for one of the largest street festivals in Arlington, with live stages and a kids zone.
04
Fields of Fear
Cox Farms flips to its haunted night operation. Not for young kids, and it sells out on Saturdays.
05
Virginia Scottish Games
Heavy athletics, massed pipe bands and border collies at Great Meadow over Labor Day weekend.
September at a glance
Runs all month: pumpkins, sunflowers and the first haunt of the season
This is the part a weekly guide cannot hold. These run for weeks, most of them open on a set date in the middle of the month, and several sell timed tickets that go before the weekend you want.
Cox Farms Fall Festival
Sept 19 to Nov 8
Slides, hayrides, the apple cider and the goats, in Centreville. Tickets are dated and the first weekends sell out.
Fields of Fear at Cox Farms
Sept 25 to Nov 7
The same farm after dark, with the Forest of Fear, the Dark Side Hayride and the Cornightmare. Aimed at teens and adults.
Apple harvest at Great Country Farms
Sept 1 to 18
Apple picking, the corn maze and pig races in Bluemont, running daily before the farm switches to pumpkins.
Great Country Farms pumpkin harvest
Sept 19 to Oct 31
The Bluemont farm turns over to pumpkin picking and the fall corn maze for the rest of the season.
Temple Hall Farm pumpkins and sunflowers
Sept 26 to Nov 1
The NOVA Parks farm in Leesburg opens its pumpkin patch and sunflower fields for the season.
Pumpkin Village opening weekend
Sept 19 to 20
Leesburg Animal Park opens Pumpkin Village Fall Fest, with a petting zoo, slides and a hayride.
Fall Fun Fest at Reston Farm
Sept 26 to Oct 31
Reston Farm Garden Market runs its fall festival on Baron Cameron Avenue for five weeks.
Yankey Farms Pumpkin Patch
Sept 26 to Oct 31
The Bristow farm opens its patch for the season, and it is the closest one to Prince William County.
Fairfax County LEGO Exhibit
Through January 1, 2027, during mall hours
The Northern Virginia LEGO Users Group rebuilt all nine Fairfax County districts in brick, Great Falls and Wolf Trap included, on Level 1 of Tysons Corner Center near Wasabi. New builds get added every month, so it is worth a second trip.
September 1 to 6: Labor Day weekend
The month opens with a First Friday in Manassas, a night market at Fair Oaks and two days of heavy athletics and pipe bands at Great Meadow.
First Friday in Old Town Manassas
Friday, September 4
Free, first Friday
DMV Asian Night Market at Fair Oaks Mall
Saturday, September 5
Free entry, food is sold on site
Virginia Scottish Games
Sept 5 to 6
Two days at Great Meadow in The Plains, about an hour from Fairfax. Heavy athletics, massed bands, border collie demonstrations and a whisky tasting.
Honeycrisp Festival at Marker-Miller
Sept 5
The first year of this one, at the Winchester orchard. Worth the drive if you want apples before the crowds start.
September 7 to 13: a car show, then a stacked Saturday
Labor Day Monday belongs to the Fairfax car show. Then September 12 stacks six events across Arlington, Reston, Manassas, Burke and Winchester, and you will have to choose.
27th Annual Labor Day Car Show
Monday, September 7
Free, Labor Day
Rosslyn Jazz Fest
Saturday, September 12
Free, four acts
Reggae on the Lake
Sept 12
Lake Anne Plaza in Reston turns over to a reggae festival for the day. Ticketed through Eventbrite.
Old Town Manassas Art Show and Craft Fall Fair
Sept 12
The Manassas Museum lawn fills with makers and craft vendors for the fall edition.
Oyster Fest at Bunnyman Burke
Sept 12
Oysters and beer at the Burke brewery on Guinea Road. Check the event page for the shucking schedule.
Sunflower Festival at The Homestead Farm
Sept 12
Fruit Hill Orchard in Winchester runs its sunflower festival with live music and a market. Ticketed.
Falling for Fair Oaks
Sept 13
Fair Oaks Mall runs a fall celebration on the Sunday, with family programming inside the mall.
Del Ray Vintage and Flea Market
Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 70 vintage, antique, record and maker vendors spread across four lots along Mount Vernon Avenue. Bring cash, since not every vendor takes cards, and dogs are welcome.
Fall Makers Market with Made in ALX
Saturday, September 12, noon to 5 p.m.
More than 20 Alexandria makers set up at Port City Brewing with food, beer, music and hands-on charm bracelet, relief print and tote bag stations. Kid and dog friendly.
September 14 to 20: the busiest Saturday of the year
September 19 is the day. Eleven events, three Oktoberfests, two Mid-Autumn festivals, the 50th Falls Church Festival and the opening of fall festival season at Cox Farms. Pick a lane and do not try to do all of it.
50th Annual Falls Church Festival
Saturday, September 19
Free, 50th year
Reston Multicultural Festival
Saturday, September 19
Free, 25th year
Free national park entry
Sept 17
Constitution Day waives entrance fees at Great Falls Park, Prince William Forest Park and every other fee-charging site.
Taste of Old Town North
Sept 17
Alexandria restaurants set up in Montgomery Park for an evening tasting event.
Oktoberfest at 2 Silos Brewing
Sept 18 to 20
Three days in Manassas with steins, live music and the brewery’s own festbier.
Oktoberfest in Old Town Alexandria
Sept 19
John Carlyle Square turns into a beer garden for the day. Ticketed.
Middleburg Oktoberfest
Sept 19
The whole of downtown Middleburg closes to cars for German food, beer and music.
Asia in a Bite at One Loudoun
Sept 19 to 20
Two days of Asian street food and vendors at One Loudoun in Ashburn.
Colonial Market and Fair at Mount Vernon
Sept 19 to 20
Eighteenth-century artisans, colonial wares and period music on the grounds at Mount Vernon.
La Vang Mid-Autumn Festival
Sept 19 to 20
The Vietnamese Mid-Autumn festival returns to Fair Oaks Mall with lanterns, lion dance and food.
Samuel Beckett’s Celtic Festival
Sept 19
The Shirlington pub runs its Celtic festival with bands and dancers in the village.
Fall Fest at Claude Moore Park
Sept 19
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office runs a free family fall festival in Sterling.
OFC Block Party
Sept 19
The Old Firehouse in McLean throws its block party on Chain Bridge Road.
Family Flashlight Corn Maze Night
Sept 19
Great Country Farms opens the corn maze after dark. Bring your own flashlight.
Cox Farms Fall Festival kick-off weekend
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20
Season opener, book by date
September 21 to 30: haunt season starts and Arlington throws a street party
September 26 is the second big Saturday. Clarendon Day, Mosaic Fall Fest, two art festivals, an airshow and a night market all land together, and Fields of Fear is running at Cox Farms by then.
Fields of Fear opening night
Friday, September 25, then most nights through November 7
Ticketed, teens and adults
Clarendon Day
Saturday, September 26
Free, one of Arlington’s biggest
Mosaic Fall Fest
Sept 26 to 27
The Mosaic District in Fairfax runs its fall weekend with family programming and vendors.
24th Annual Alexandria Art Festival
Sept 26 to 27
Two days of fine art and handmade work at John Carlyle Square. Free to browse.
Occoquan Fall Arts and Crafts Show
Sept 26 to 27
Historic Occoquan closes Mill Street for hundreds of makers. Parking is the hard part, so plan the shuttle.
Burke Centre Festival
Sept 26 to 27
A long-running community festival with rides, vendors and live music in Burke.
Fall Bull Run Wine Festival
Sept 26 to 27
Virginia wineries pour at The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville. Ticketed, and it is a driving event so plan a ride.
Leesburg Airshow
Sept 26
Leesburg Executive Airport opens for an airshow on Sycolin Road.
DMV Asian Night Market in Annandale
Sept 26
The night market returns to the Eileen Garnett Civic Space on Columbia Pike.
Manassas Latino Festival
Sept 26
Music, food and dance in Manassas for the annual Latino festival.
84th Historic Alexandria Homes Tour
Sept 26
Private Old Town homes open for one day. Ticket holders get the map and the addresses.
Harvest Happenings in McLean
Sept 26
The McLean Community Center runs its fall family event on Ingleside Avenue.
Larktoberfest at Lark Brewing
Sept 26 to 27
The Aldie brewery runs its Oktoberfest weekend with live music and food.
Family Flashlight Corn Maze Night
Sept 26
The second flashlight maze night of the month at Great Country Farms in Bluemont.
Pumpkin Hill at Nalls Produce
Opens Saturday, September 26 at 10 a.m.
The Franconia produce market’s straw pumpkin fort and photo wall are back for a tradition that has run more than 30 years, with cider and weekend donuts at the market. No dogs, because chickens live on site.
NVA Thai Street Food and Culture Festival
Sunday, September 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thai street food, music, dance and cultural demonstrations on the Manassas Museum lawn.
Wilderness Kids Alexandria Community Music Festival
Sunday, September 27, noon to 4 p.m.
Five local bands, face painting, crafts and cornhole in Del Ray, raising money to get Alexandria students outdoors. It is the festival’s fourth year.
Worth the drive
These sit outside the Northern Virginia core, but each one is a full-day trip that people plan for.
State Fair of Virginia
Sept 25 to Oct 4
Ten days at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, about ninety minutes south. Rides, livestock, competitions and concerts.
Braehead Farm sunflowers
Through Sept 30
The Fredericksburg farm keeps its sunflower fields open through the end of the month.
Hollin Farms sunflowers
Through Sept 30
Pick-your-own sunflowers in Delaplane, out past Middleburg. Check what is actually in the field before you drive.
Maryland Seafood Festival
Sept 11 to 13
The 60th anniversary adds a Friday night at Sandy Point State Park: crab cake and oyster shucking contests, a skipjack ride with admission and a six-story rubber duck parked beside the Bay Bridge. About an hour from the Beltway.
Pumpkin Festival at Butler’s Orchard
Opens Sept 19, select dates through early October and beyond
Hayrides, the Twisted Corn Maze, giant slides and pumpkin picking at the Germantown farm’s 46th festival. Weekend dates sell out, so book the date before you drive.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Weekends
Twenty-five acres of village, jousting and turkey legs at Revel Grove in Annapolis, open every weekend through the fall.
Three Washington DC events worth crossing the river for
For the full District lineup, use our Washington DC monthly guide. Only the biggest events cross over here.
DC JazzFest
Sept 2 to 6
Five days across the city, with a free weekend at The Wharf to close it out.
H Street Festival
Sept 19
Eleven blocks of H Street NE close for one of the biggest free street festivals of the year.
Fiesta DC
Sept 26 to 27
The Parade of Nations and two days of food and music on Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Art All Night 2026
Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12
Past midnight, all eight wards
48th Adams Morgan Day
Sept 13
The oldest neighborhood festival in the city closes 18th Street NW for music, food and vendors.
Free things to do in Northern Virginia this month
- Sept 4: First Friday in Old Town Manassas.
- Sept 5: DMV Asian Night Market at Fair Oaks Mall, free to enter.
- Sept 7: Labor Day Car Show in downtown Fairfax.
- Sept 12: Rosslyn Jazz Fest, free with registration.
- Sept 17: Free entry at Great Falls Park and Prince William Forest Park for Constitution Day.
- Sept 19: Falls Church Festival, Reston Multicultural Festival, Fall Fest at Claude Moore Park and the OFC Block Party.
- Sept 26: Clarendon Day, Mosaic Fall Fest, the Alexandria Art Festival and the Annandale night market.
Planning tips before you go
- Buy Cox Farms tickets before the weekend you want. Both the Fall Festival and Fields of Fear sell dated tickets, and opening weekend and Saturdays go first.
- September 19 needs a plan. Eleven events land on the same Saturday. Pick one anchor, then add whatever is within fifteen minutes of it.
- Get to Occoquan early or use the shuttle. The town closes to cars for the arts and crafts show, and the lots fill long before lunch.
- Check what is actually in the field. Sunflower and pick-your-own farms change week to week. Every one of them posts a current availability page, and that page is the only one worth trusting.
- Confirm before you leave. Times, prices and venues change. Every event above links to its official page, and that page wins over anything else you read.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Northern Virginia in September 2026?
The strongest choices are the Cox Farms Fall Festival, the Reston Multicultural Festival, Clarendon Day, Fields of Fear and the Virginia Scottish Games.
What can I do for free in Northern Virginia this month?
Free options include First Friday in Manassas, the DMV Asian Night Market, the Labor Day Car Show, Rosslyn Jazz Fest, Constitution Day at the national parks, the Falls Church and Reston festivals, Clarendon Day and Mosaic Fall Fest.
When does fall festival season start in Northern Virginia?
September 19. Cox Farms, Great Country Farms and Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park all open that weekend, and Temple Hall Farm and Reston Farm follow on September 26.
What is the busiest weekend of the month?
September 19. Eleven events run that Saturday, including three Oktoberfests, the 50th Falls Church Festival, the Reston Multicultural Festival and the Cox Farms opening.
Do I need tickets or reservations?
Yes for Cox Farms, Fields of Fear, the Bull Run Wine Festival, Reggae on the Lake, the Sunflower Festival, the Alexandria Homes Tour and Oktoberfest in Old Town Alexandria. Rosslyn Jazz Fest is free but capacity is limited and registration is encouraged.
What is good for kids?
Cox Farms, the pumpkin patches at Great Country Farms, Temple Hall and Yankey Farms, Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park, Fall Fest at Claude Moore Park, the flashlight corn maze nights and Harvest Happenings in McLean. Fields of Fear is not a young kids event.
What happens if it rains?
Most of these are outdoor and organizers post day-of decisions rather than publishing a rain date. The farms usually stay open in light rain and close for storms, so check their page the morning of.
Last updated August 29, 2026 at 10:25 pm EDT. Dates, times, prices and availability were checked against current organizer, venue and ticket pages. Outdoor events and live inventory can change, so confirm details before leaving.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration created for DC Spot.
