Alexandria – 23rd Annual Alexandria Art Festival
Sept. 13–14: Stroll Old Town’s John Carlyle Square Park as it’s transformed into an outdoor art gallery for this fall festival. Admire the work from more than 200 juried artisans from around the globe.
Virginia Beach – VIRGINIA BEACH NEPTUNE FESTIVAL
Sept. 26–28: The 51st anniversary of this beachfront festival features daily concerts, an Arts & Crafts Show, Neptune’s 8K Race, Dock Dogs, and more, plus an international sandsculpting championship.
Doswell – STATE FAIR OF VIRGINIA
Sept. 26–Oct. 5: Fall fun means the State Fair of Virginia, an annual tradition that blends classic carnival thrills with distinctly local flavors, pig races, agricultural exhibits, and youth competitions.
Syria – APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL
Oct. 4–5, 11–12, 18–19: Experience apple season at Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges along the Rose River in scenic Syria. Enjoy apples every which way—cider, pies, butter, and by the bushel—plus live music, hay rides, a petting zoo, farm animals, and more.
Fishersville – FISHERSVILLE ANTIQUE EXPO
Oct. 10–12: Stroll tents, barns, and outdoor spaces at this legendary antique expo, where collectors, interior decorators, landscape designers, and savvy resellers converge to discover extraordinary finds.
Chincoteague – CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND OYSTER FESTIVAL
Oct. 11: Mark the arrival of oyster season on Virginia’s Eastern Shore at this annual bivalve festival at Tom’s Cove Park. Dine on fresh oysters and other seafood faves, along with live entertainment, raffles, and a bevy of booths carrying local wares.
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Fairfax – FAIRFAX FALL FESTIVAL
Oct. 11: Once a charming artisan market, Fairfax Fall Festival has blossomed into Northern Virginia’s most anticipated autumn extravaganza, featuring more than 400 vendors, music, gourmet food trucks, and friendly farm animals to delight visitors of all ages.
Clear Brook – RAVENWOOD FAIRE
Oct. 17–19, 24–26: Journey to 1315 for Ravenwood Faire’s ultimate Renaissance spectacle, where noble suitors compete for the Queen’s hand through archery, chess, dance, and swordsmanship. Enjoy lively entertainers, handcrafted wares, and medieval delicacies, and cheer on your favorite contender.
Roanoke – GO OUTSIDE FESTIVAL
Oct. 18–20: Join a community of outdoor enthusiasts at the annual GO Outside Festival that transforms Roanoke into a Blue Ridge playground for three days. Test-drive bikes, demo paddleboards, learn fly casting, and sample craft beer.
Ferrum – BLUE RIDGE FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
Oct. 25: Dubbed “thoroughly authentic” by The New York Times, this festival brings together real folk musicians, moonshiners, craftspeople, mule jumpers, and coon dog racers for Virginia’s largest regional heritage celebration, showcasing genuine Appalachian culture.
This article originally appeared in the October 2025 issue.
