Top Fall Festivals in the Washington, DC Area

Maryland Renaissance Festival

The annual 6-week festival recreates a 16th century English village with crafts, food, live performances on 8 stages, a jousting arena and lots of games. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a fun family event held in Anne Arundel County, about 30 miles from Washington, DC. (August-October)

Kennedy Center Prelude Festival

The Kennedy Center kicks off the new season of performing arts each fall with a festival including a wide variety of performances from Washington, DC artists such as the National Symphony Orchestra, the KC Jazz Club, Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company, Pete Geist, Visual Comedian, and much more. Free events are held throughout the month of September and especially fun is the Dancing on the Terrace program. (September)

Penn Quarter Arts on Foot Festival

The visual and performing arts festival features theaters, museums, and arts at a variety of venues in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, DC. See more than 70 visual artists at 45 venues hosting visual art exhibits, performances, workshops, demonstrations, films, concerts and children's activities. (September)

International Childrens Festival

The annual event at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts features live international performances from around the world for children of all ages. The festival also includes arts and craft activities and an Arts and Technology Pavilion which offers hands-on experience with some of the world's newest creative technologies. (September)

Harvest Festival at the Agricultural History Farm Park

This Montgomery County facility hosts one of the largest festivals in the area. Activities include hayrides, scarecrow making, farm demonstrations, crafts, hay maze, live entertainment and more. (October)
Find more pumpkin patches in Maryland and Virginia

Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Days

Visit George Washington's Pioneer Farmer Site and create your own cornhusk dolls, take a wagon ride, or find your way through a hay maze. (October)
Read about more pumpkin patches in Maryland and Virginia

Mount Vernons Wine Festival & Sunset Tours

Celebrate the history of wine in Virginia with special evening tours of the Mansion and cellar, appearances by George and Martha Washington and live music on the east lawn of George Washington's Mount Vernon home overlooking the scenic Potomac River. Visitors can bring a blanket and relax on the lawn as they sample wines from 16 Virginia wineries. (October)

Taste of Bethesda

At the annual Taste of Bethesda, sample the foods of more than 50 restaurants, enjoy four stages of live entertainment and visit the kids corner for cookie decorating, face painting and giveaways. The Taste of Bethesda is held in conjunction with Best of Bethesda Day which features a classic car show and Rescue Day. (October)

Taste of Georgetown

Approximately 25 of Washington, DCs most distinguished restaurants serve sample portions of their signature dishes paired with complementing wines. The fall food festival in Georgetown also includes live music and childrens activities such as caricature artists, balloon makers and jugglers. (October)