City of Fairfax Fall Festival — 50th Anniversary
The big one. 400+ vendors, three stages of entertainment, kids' activities, and beer gardens — and this year marks the 50th anniversary. If you do one thing this weekend, this is probably it. Go early for parking.
ROCKtoberfest
Craft beer meets rock music — this year's headliner is Vertical Horizon. A solid Saturday plan if you're on the Reston/Herndon side of the county.
K9s in the Vines
A dog-centered day at the winery — exactly the kind of event this site exists for. Note: we've seen conflicting start times (the winery lists 11am, the rescue org says 12–3pm), so check the ticket page before you head out.
Dog eventClifton Day Festival
Artisans, live music, and a beer/wine garden in one of the county's most charming small towns. Fun fact: it's the only day of the year the VRE train stops in Clifton.
Cox Farms Fall Festival
The region's marquee fall festival — slides, farm animals, food, and all the autumn things. Runs daily September through November, so it's your backup plan any weekend this season.
Farmers markets (weekend editions)
Saturday: Burke, Reston, Vienna, Falls Church, Great Falls, Old Town Fairfax. Sunday: Lorton, FRESHFARM Mosaic, Clifton, EatLoco at Halley Rise (explicitly dog-friendly). Full details in our farmers market guide.
Looking ahead
- Bull Run Festival of Lights — Nov 14, 2026 through Jan 4, 2027. The 2.5-mile drive-through light show at Bull Run Regional Park. Mark the calendar now; it sells out on peak nights.