Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
Maybe, just maybe, we’ll actually get a fall season in October where you can breakout pants and a cozy sweater.
I spent Saturday at Cox Farms in 95 degree heat and while still fun, it didn’t quite feel like a Fall Festival! I will say though, their cider donuts are so good! I did a roundup of the September Fall Festivals last month, so rounding that out with the ones in October below! If you had a favorite from September, drop it in the comments so others can plan for next year!
Cox Farms — Centreville, VA
September 14-15, September 21-November 5
Live music, cow milking, farm chores, hayride, tunnels, slides, swings, corn maze, goats, cider, donuts and their market! This is my favorite event all year and I actually hold my client appreciation event here in the fall. You really can’t beat a day in cooler weather walking around their farm!
Great County Farms — Bluemont, VA
September 30-October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, pig races, Dino shows, Marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market. Adult pro tip: Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing are across the street and the views can NOT be beat. There’s a coupon for tickets on CertifiKid.
Fall For Fairfax-KidsFest — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kids fall festival for elementary and pre-school aged children, which includes scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, pony rides, petting zoo, model trains, rides and 75 exhibits and food vendors. This event also has a coupon on CertifiKid.
Oktoberfest — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Held on Historic Church Street by the red caboose, the event features live music, games, kids activities, German auto show, lots of food and drinks. *My company, McEnearney, has a booth at the event. Come meet me between 3-7 p.m.*
City of Fairfax Fall Festival — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The event includes over 400 vendors, children’s activities, 3 stages of music and entertainment, and carnival rides.
Halloween on the Green — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ages 2-10, family fun on the town green, which features crafts, games, storytelling, moon bounce, petting zoo, treats and decorate your own pumpkin.
Reston Farm Fall Fest — Reston, VA
Now until November 5, hours vary based on day
Weekends feature moon bounces, moon bounce slides, corn maze moon bounce, train rides, dog shows, puppet shows, face painting and food!
Town of Vienna Halloween Parade — Vienna, VA
October 23, 7 p.m.
A fabulous tradition that runs along Maple Avenue from Branch to Center Street. Read my tips on attending the parade from last year.
Amazing Farm Fun — Ticonderoga Farm, Chantilly, VA
Now until November 3, hours vary
Long list of activities includes hayrides, jumping pillows, tunnels and slides, petting farm, tire play, cowtrain, firepits and s’mores, and more.
Jack’s Pumpkin Glow — Reston, VA
Now until October 27, hours vary
A 1/3 mile train filled with over 5,000 hand carved jack o’lanterns into amazing structures. Buy tickets ahead of time. Tickets can be pricey, so check out the 20% off coupon on Certifikid.
Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival — Germantown, MD
Weekends until November 3
Admission is $12/person and includes hayrides, jump pad, corn maze, giant slides and more. There’s also food available like cider, donuts, kettle corn and more. You can pick your own pumpkins, do a pumpkin cannon, face painting and pony rides.
Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park — Leesburg, VA
Open everyday, hours vary
Festival activities include wagon rides, giant slides, zip line, moon bounce, corn bin, hay maze, pony rides, animals, moon bounce pillow and more.
Oktoberfest is here and numerous places around Tysons are hosting celebrations.
In Germany, celebrations began last Saturday (Sept. 21) and will run through Sunday (Oct. 6), but local businesses in the Tysons area plan to host both traditional and unorthodox events through the end of the month.
Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike) planned activities to celebrate the merriment all month long. This Saturday (Sept. 28), the Biergarten is hosting its Dogtoberfest from 3-7 p.m. There will be dogs from local shelters available for adoption, and beer from Flying Dog Brewery will be on tap. Check their website for events happening throughout October.
They will wrap-up the celebration on Saturday (Oct. 19) with a final event featuring live music, games, face painting and five tasing samples. Tickets are $10 and this event runs from 3-7 p.m.
City Works Eatery and Pour HouseÂ
This season, City Works (1640 N. Capital One Drive) is offering a specialized menu on top of their house German-style lagers, including a house-made herb spaetzle and a chicken schnitzel. These will be available until Sunday, Oct.6.
This location is hosting an event on Monday (Oct. 14) from noon to 6 p.m. to educate the community about the similarities between beer and wine.
Audacious Aleworks Brewery and Taproom (110 E. Fairfax Street) will host an Oktoberfest celebration on Friday (Sept. 27) from 4-9 p.m., Saturday (Sept. 28) from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday (Sept. 29) from noon to 6 p.m.
Sweetwater Tavern Merrifield (3066 Gate House Plaza) is offering customers unlimited food and two drink tickets. All age groups are welcome and tickets start at $35 for adults and $12 for children. Those who purchase tickets in advance will be entered in a raffle to win $50.
For those who do not drink or would rather take part in other fall festivities, there are other options around town including festivals and volunteer opportunities.
This free fall festival on Saturday (Oct. 5) from 1-5 p.m. will feature family-friendly events including face painting, balloons, crafts and photobooths.
This festival gives attendees the opportunity to enjoy some fall weather while listening to live music, enjoying brews from Caboose Brewing Company in Strawberry Park and shop at the local farmers market and on-site craft fair. This event is free to attend and takes place from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 28).
Also, the Vienna Business Association needs volunteers to work Vienna Oktoberfest 2019. There are a variety of time-slots and shifts available including ticketing attendants, clean-up, set-up and customer service associates.
To celebrate its one-year-anniversary, Caboose Commons is hosting an Oktoberfest in Merrifield on Saturday (Sept. 21).
Two families founded Caboose Brewing in 2013 — operating Caboose Tavern in Vienna — and opened Caboose Commons in Merrifield last fall.
The beer garden and coffee house regularly hosts events like dog-friendly happy hours and fitness classes.
The free event will feature the new Oktoberfest Marzen brew, Lone Oak Coffee, German food and live music by Cory Campbell and Jon Cresswell. People will be able to purchase food and drink tickets.
Attendees can also enjoy games like cornhole, life-size chess and life-size beer pong.
The event will run from noon-7 p.m. at 2918 Eskridge Road.
Photos courtesy Caboose Commons
The Tysons Biergarten is looking to close out what’s likely the last Oktoberfest in its current location (8346 Leesburg Pike) with a bang.
Tomorrow (Saturday), the Biergarten will host its Oktoberfest Finale Festival from 3-7 p.m. The festival will feature live music, outdoor games, and face painting as well as the Oktoberfest standards of beer and German food.
While the beer drinking is adults only, the Biergarten will have other activities like a moon bounce and a kids corner for the rest of the family.
Tickets to the finale are $20 if ordered online or $30 at the door, with each ticket including ten tokens for various beers. A full list of beers is available at the event’s Facebook page.
The Oktoberfest tradition will likely continue wherever the beer hall travels, the Tysons Biergarten itself will be relocating down the road to the area around the McLean Metro station, the next stop on the Silver Line.
Claude Moore Farm Oktoberfest — “There’s still time to enjoy special events at Claude Moore Colonial Farm before it’s set to close on Dec. 21. One of these events is Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at The Pavilions of Turkey Run, 6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean.” [Patch]
Customer Flings Burrito at Vienna CVSÂ — “The woman became irate and disorderly when the employee informed her the store does not sell cigarettes, police said. The woman then threw a burrito at the employee, knocked over a display and the register, then fled out the front door, authorities said.” [InsideNova]
Illinois Man Facing Fairfax Child Sex Charges — “An Illinois man is facing four felony charges after detectives from our Child Exploitation Unit caught him soliciting sex online from someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The 13-year-old was actually one of our detectives.” [FCPD]
