Neighborhood Expert: Fall festivals near Tysons Corner

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

Hello, September!

Following up to last week’s post about nearby apple-picking spots, I had to spotlight some of the fun fall festivals we’re lucky to have in the area. Please make sure you check individual websites for ticket information as many are closed during the week and require advance ticket purchase.

My favorites are the hayride and slides at Cox Farms, but there are so many to check out, including…

• Cox Farms Fall Festival: Sept. 18 to Nov. 7
  Admission includes slides, a hayride, farm animals, a cornfield adventure, rope swings, a goat village, live entertainment, apples, cider, amazing donuts and a pumpkin patch.
• Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival: Oct. 1-31
  The Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival features pick-your-own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, a 5-acre play area, donuts and a market.
• Fall For Fairfax — KidsFest: Oct. 9 and 10
  This kids fall festival is for elementary and pre-school aged children and includes scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, model trains, rides, and 75 exhibits and food vendors.
• City of Fairfax Fall Festival: Oct. 9
  The event includes over 400 vendors, children’s activities, three stages of music and entertainment, and carnival rides.
• Reston Farm Fall Fest: Sept. 24 to Oct. 31 (on Saturdays and Sundays)
  The weekends feature moon bounces, a learning maze, games, train rides around the market, a petting zoo and food trucks.
• Town of Vienna Halloween Parade: Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
  This is a fabulous tradition that runs along Maple Avenue from Branch to Center Street. Read my tips on attending the parade from a past year.
• Whitehall Farms: Oct. 2-31
  Find nature trails, lawn games, a field of pumpkins, animals, picnic tables, a corn maze, a moon bounce, wagon rides and more.
• Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival: Sept. 25 to Oct. 31
  This festival includes pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, jump pads, a tractor pull, animals, a corn maze, music, a playground, a spiderweb, a straw maze, giant slides, corn hole games and more.
• Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park: Sept. 18 to Oct. 31
  The festival activities include wagon rides, giant slides, a zip line, a corn bin, a hay maze, pony rides, animals, a moon bounce pillow and more.
• McLean Harvest Happenings: Sept. 25
  This is an indoor-outdoor festival with live entertainment, a petting zoo, crafts and games.