Falling for Festivals: Autumn Events in the DMV to Bookmark
- busyboymomchronicl
- Sep 20
- 3 min read
As the air turns crisper, leaves blaze with color, and pumpkin spice reappears everywhere, the DMV comes alive with fall festivals that celebrate harvests, history, culture, and family fun. Whether you're looking for arts‑and‑crafts, food and drink, or kid‑friendly escapades, there's something for everyone. Here are some of the very best festivals to check out this fall.
🎃 1. Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest
Location: Mt. Airy, MD
Dates: August 29 – November 2, 2025
Website: gaverfarm.com
Gaver Farm is a family favorite in Maryland with over 65 attractions, including a 7-acre corn maze, jumping pillows, pedal karts, and a Beeline zipline. Enjoy free hayrides to pick-your-own pumpkins, apples, and sunflowers, plus animal encounters and a farm market full of fresh goodies. Season passes are available for $54, giving unlimited access during the festival.
🌾 2. Magnolia Meadow Farms Fall Festival
Location: Frederick, MD
Dates: September 27 – November 2, 2025
Website: magnoliameadowfarms.com
Home to Maryland’s largest corn maze, Magnolia Meadow Farms offers hayrides to pumpkin patches, u-pick sunflowers and pumpkins, apple cannons, gem mining, mini ziplines, and live weekend music. Private campfires for s’mores add cozy charm. Season passes cost $40 for unlimited visits.
🎃 3. Cox Farms Fall Festival
Location: Centreville, VA
Dates: September 14 – November 3, 2025
Website: coxfarmsva.com
Cox Farms is practically a rite of passage for fall-loving families in Northern Virginia. The massive festival includes a giant six-lane slide, a hayride through spooky and silly scenes, a petting zoo, apple cider donuts, and a huge corn maze. Their “Fields of Fear” event also runs at night for older kids and teens. This one gets busy—buy your tickets early!
🧙♀️ 4. Maryland Renaissance Festival
Location: Crownsville, MD
Dates: Weekends through October 19, 2025
Website: rennfest.com
Travel back to the 16th century at this immersive festival filled with jousting knights, costumed characters, turkey legs, and interactive shows. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is perfect for older kids who love adventure, history, and fantasy worlds.
🍎 5. Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival
Location: Germantown, MD
Dates: Weekends in October
Website: butlersorchard.com
This beloved Maryland orchard opens its gates for a full pumpkin festival every fall. Expect a hayride to the pumpkin patch, live music, giant slides, pony rides, and tasty farm-fresh goodies like apple cider and kettle corn. It’s an ideal setting for fall photos and first-time pumpkin pickers.
🌻 6. Great Country Farms Fall Pumpkin Harvest
Location: Bluemont, VA
Dates: Late September through October
Website: greatcountryfarms.com
Set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Country Farms is a scenic and action-packed destination for families. The fall harvest festival features a massive corn maze, pig races, farm animals, u-pick apples and pumpkins, and a 280-foot slide. Don’t miss the cider donuts!
7. Mosaic District Fall Festival
Location: Merrifield, VA
Dates: October 19–20, 2025 (TBC)
Website: mosaicdistrict.com
If you’re looking for an urban-style fall celebration, the Mosaic District’s annual festival includes kids’ crafts, pumpkin painting, local vendors, and live music. It’s stroller-friendly, walkable, and filled with family photo ops—and it pairs well with a stop for brunch or coffee in the plaza.
🍁 Tips for Visiting Fall Festivals with Kids
Book ahead: Many festivals require advance tickets and sell out, especially on weekends.
Go early: Crowds build fast, especially at popular places like Cox Farms and Butler’s Orchard.
Bring layers: Mornings can be chilly, but the sun warms up quickly in the afternoon.
Pack light: A stroller-friendly backpack and reusable water bottles go a long way.
Don’t forget the camera! The fall foliage and festival backdrops are perfect for family photos.
Final Thoughts
Fall in the DMV area is magical, and these festivals offer the perfect way to enjoy it with your family. Whether you’re headed to a sprawling farm in Virginia or a historic fair in Maryland, you're guaranteed good times, great food, and memories that last long after the leaves fall.
