Family Friendly Fall Festivals

 
Photo by Dane Penland, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Find a Festival Near You!

District of Columbia

Maryland

Virginia

District of Columbia

Fright at the Museum: Dead Men Walking
From 1916-1960 one hundred and twenty five men were executed in the Tennessee electric chair. In 2008, the chair made its way to the National Museum of Crime & Punishment...and so did its ghosts.
This Halloween season the museum will no longer be just a storage house for criminal artifacts; it will become a hunting ground for these dead men walking.
Experience Fright at the Museum. Hear the screams...Smell the fear...See the horror...and if you're lucky --They won't TOUCH you!
Location: National Museum of Crime & Punishment, 575 7th Street NW, Washington, DC
Dates: October 19-27 & 31
Hours: 7PM – 10:30PM (Times vary according to ticket purchased).
Cost: $28
http://www.crimemuseum.org/

Halloween Spooktacular at the Kennedy Center
Is it ever cool to "boo" the orchestra? It is on Halloween! And during their Halloween Spooktacular, NSO musicians dressed up as ghosts, ghouls, and goblins just might peek out from behind their instruments to go "BOO" back at you!
Come early outfitted in your spookiest 'ween wear for pre-concert trick-or-treating and a special Haunted Hall Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo."
Date: October 28
Hours: 1PM & 3PM (Approx 1 hour)
Location: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566
Cost: $15 - $18
http://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NNFCA

Snallygaster DC
Come downtown to Yards Park and enjoy the outdoor beer festival. There will be live music, family friendly activities and fun for all. Come hungry and thirsty since there will be plenty of food vendors and of course many different types of lagers and ales to pick and choose from. Hope to see you there!
Date: October 13
Hours: 1PM – 5PM
Location: Yards Park, 3rd and Water St. SE Washington DC
Cost: $5 Admission. Food and drink will be sold separately.
http://www.snallygasterdc.com/

Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival
Founded in 2006, the Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival is Washington, D.C's only genre-based film festival. Recognized as one of D.C.'s premiere festival events, as well as "the world's premiere horror film festival" (BadLit.com), Spooky Fest works closely with our partners to offer year round screenings of feature and short films, in addition to our signature festival event every October. Check the website for the schedule.
Location: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD
Dates: October 10-18
Hours: Check website
Cost: $8, $11.50, $25.00 (all day pass), $100 (all 21 screenings)
http://www.thespookymovie.com/

Maryland

Agricultural History Farm Park - Harvest Festival
It's time once again for some down-home fun on the farm! The 2012 Harvest Festival will feature old-time crafts, activities, music and food that the whole family will enjoy.
Featuring: Pumpkin fun, Candle Making, Scarecrow making, Corn maze, Live farm animals
In addition, there will be Antique farm equipment, an archeology dig, gardening talks and demonstrations, dames, music and food! Games, food, and live music .
For more information call 301-258-4030. For information on the day of the event (Oct. 6), please call 301-721-0312.
Location: 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood, Maryland
Date: Oct 6
Hours: 11AM – 4PM
Cost: $10 per car    
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/calendar

Butler's Orchard - Annual Pumpkin Festival
Enjoy a hayride, jump in the hayloft, swoosh down the giant slides, visit barnyard buddies, play the rubber duckie derby, and explore the straw maze! Enjoy beautiful fall foliage, live music, hand dipped caramel apples, crafts, and lots more!
Location: 22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, Maryland (301) 972-3299
Every  Sat & Sun in October and Columbus Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
http://www.butlersorchard.com/
$$ - Don’t know yet. Info coming soon (on website)

Charles County Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest has become an annual tradition around the world and now it is time to bring the festival alive in Charles County, MD. Oktoberfest is a colorful, fun, festive celebration of German heritage with Oompah at its best! Oktoberfest will be a community event of family entertainment featuring two live stages, German food and beers, art & crafts, children's fun area, dancing, and entertainment all weekend long for a good cause. All the proceeds from the event will benefit the Society for the Friends of Hospice.
Dates: October 13-14
Hours: Sat, Noon – 7PM/Sun, Noon – 5PM
Location: Charles County Fairgrounds, 8440 Fairgrounds Rd., La Plata, MD
Cost: $10 advance: $15 on-site; $5 advance online or $5 on-site
http://oktoberfestcc.org/

Clark's Elioak Farm - HALLOWEEN and GEM MINING  WEEKEND
Costume Contests at  11 AM and 2 PM  on both Saturday and Sunday.  Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch!!  Pumpkins galore!!   C.J.’s Pit Beef, too.  Facepainting, pony rides and cow train rides also available.  Also this will be the last weekend for gem mining activities for 2012.  
Location: 10500 Clarksville Pike  Ellicott City, MD 21042  (410) 730-4049
Dates & Hours: Oct 28 & 29, 10AM – 4PM
http://www.clarklandfarm.com/

Crumland Farms - HALLOWEEN ON THE FARM
Don your best costume to enjoy a fun-filled day of vendors, crafts, games, and - of course - Trick-or-Treating!
Location: 7612 Willow Road  Frederick, MD 21702 (301) 845-8099
$9 per person; children 2 & under FREE - Includes all the fun of the farm AND the corn maze!
Sunday, Oct 28, noon-5pm
http://www.crumland.com/

Gaver Pumpkin Patch – Fall Fun Festival
Activities: 5-acre Corn Maze, Kiddie Corn Maze, Jumping Pillow, Corn Crib, Straw Bale, Maze, Kid’s Tricycle 200, Pedal Kart Track, Bale Slide, The Sand Pit, Double Barrel Slide, Straw Jumping, 3 Pumpkin Pitch, Tractor & Wagon Slide, Straw Tunnel, Corn Toss Game, Stuck in the Mud, Straw Mountain, Pirate Ship, Mini Slide, Tire Playground, Play Tractors, Gravel Yard, Corn Cave, Corn Hole, White Lightening Maze, Sliding Hill, Obstacle Course, Rubber Ducky Races
Location: 5501 Detrick Rd, Mt. Airy, MD 21771  301-865-3515
Hours: Open Daily 10Am – 6PM
$6 per person (weekdays); $8 per person (weekends); Children 2 and under FREE
http://gaverfarm.com/

Germantown Oktoberfest
Bring the family down for a day of fun and games, live music and entertainment, great food, wine tasting, activities for the kids and enjoy the outdoors.
Date:  October 6
Hours:  9:45AM – 5PM
Location: High Point Farm in Clarksburg, 21155 Frederick Rd, Germantown, MD 20876   
Cost: Free Admission but there is a fee for games, food, drinks, etc
http://www.germantownoktoberfest.org/   (301) 528-4101

Homestead Farm – Harvest Festival
On weekends in October we have hayrides out to the pumpkin patches for the general public for $3 per person. Pumpkins are sold separately by the pound. The final ride of the day leaves at 5pm.
Hours: Weekends in Oct 9AM-5PM
Location: 15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville, Maryland 20837  301-977-3761
http://www.homestead-farm.net

Larriland Farms – Annual Pumpkin Festival
Saturday/Sunday Hayrides - On Saturdays and Sundays in October, we offer hayrides during the day (9:30am - 4:30pm) . This is a tractor drawn 20 minute wagon ride over the farm, ford a stream and through the woods which are decorated for Halloween.
The Straw Maze, built with over 1000 bales of straw, is a delightful place to get lost. The Straw Maze is open every day in October.
The Boo Barn is for children ages 4 - 9. It is in the dark bottom of the Red Barn and is filled with animated, not too scary ghosts and goblins. The Boo Barn is open every day in October.
October  Hours:
Tuesdays - Fridays 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sun. - Sat. 9:00am - 5:00pm
Monday - closed
Columbus Day 9:00am - 5:00pm
Location: 2415 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797  301-854-6110

Sharp's at Waterford Farm – Fall Festival
Come celebrate the beginning of our fall season! New this year; an acre field of cotton! Hayrides to pick your own pumpkins, fall decorations, country store full of preserves, local honey, salsas, marinades & much more. Baked goods, cider & apples available. Large cotton/corn maze; mini maze, scarecrow making, fall tattoos, & observation bee hives! Open 10 AM to 5 PM every weekend! No admission fee to come on the farm. Pay only for activities you choose!
Location: 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833  Phone: (410) 489-2572
Hours: 10AM-5PM Every weekend in Oct
http://www.sharpfarm.com/

Montpelier Farms – Fall Festival
Enjoy hayrides, giant corn maze, animals, pumpkin patch, kids corral, korn krib, corn tepee, farm football lounge, grazin’ grass maze, cow belly bounce, barrel train, paint-a-pumpkin, pumpkin chunkin’, giant hill slides, pumpkin daycare,goat walk, straw bale maze, hay & play, food & picnic area, gem stone mining, scarecrow workshop, duck races & photo op’s.
Spookley the Square Pumpkin Movie Screenings: Sats & Suns – 12PM/2PM/4PM (45 min)
Location: 1720 North Crain Highway  —  Upper Marlboro, MD 20774  —  (410) 320-0464
$10 Adults, $8 Kids, 2 and under Free. $ for additional activities
Hours: Friday: 5:00 PM-11:00 PM - Saturday: 10:00 AM-11:00 PM - Sunday: 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
http://www.montpelierfarms.com/

Summers Farm – Maryland Pumpkin Festival
Come join us at Summers Farm to celebrate all things pumpkin! Come experience the corn maze, hay slides, farm animals, hay rides, pumpkin patch, pig races, the jumping  pillow and more, the addition of the Maryland Pumpkin Festival weekend adds more activities such as: Pie and Donut, Eating Contests, Seed Spitting Contest, Pumpkin Egg Hunt, Face Painting, Live Music, And much more…
Location: 5614 Butterfly Lane, Frederick, MD 21703 Phone: 301.620.9316
$10
October 13-14: 10 am – 5 pm
http://summersfarm.com

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands
The City of Gaithersburg and the Kentlands Citizens Assembly present the 21st Anniversary Celebration of Oktoberfest at the Kentlands. Enjoy an afternoon of family friendly Oktoberfest fun. There will be Bavarian music and dancing. Plenty of food and drink and fun activities such as crafts, pony rides, moonbounces, pumpkin decorating, face painting and more.
Date: October 14
Hours: Noon – 4PM
Location: Kentlands Village Green, Gaithersburg, Maryland    301-258-6350
Cost: Admission and parking are free.
http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov


Virginia

Air & Scare at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Our annual Halloween event, Air & Scare, features the spooky side of air and space at the Udvar-Hazy Center! Each year, people arrive in costume for safe indoor trick-or-treating. They participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. The tiniest visitors check out the Tot Zone to play dress-up and hear a story. They can even pose for a photo with their favorite Star Wars character!
Date: October 27
Hours: 2PM – 8PM
Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151
Cost: Free admission but must pay for parking $15 (free after 4:00 pm).
http://airandspace.si.edu/airandscare/

Cox Farms – Fall Festival
All Ticket Types Include: 5 Giant Slides, World Famous Hayrides, Farm Animals & Their Babies, CORNundrum ® Cornfield Adventure, Rope Swings, Kiddie Zone, Goat Village, Local Apples & Fresh Cider, Straw Tunnels, A Patch Pumpkin to take home, Live Entertainment, 90 acres of fun!
Location: 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville, Virginia (703) 830-4121
Hours: 10AM – 6PM daily
Admission: Weekdays $9, Weekend $14-17, 2 and under free
http://www.coxfarms.com/

Burke Nursery and Garden Center - Fall Festival and Pumpkin Playground
Activities include: Pirate's Ship, Pirate's Camp, Pumpkin Fort - every year it's bigger and better!, Ghost Tunnel Slide - a fun play area, Western Town - includes mechanical rides, Money Mountain - hunt for coins and treasures, Teepee - an authentic Native American teepee, Mary Aponte - Cherokee storyteller, Hayrides - loads of new spooky surprises, Farm Animals, Miner's Mountain Slide, Merry-Go-Round, Wizard of Oz Slide, Phone Tubes, Rope Swing, Tumbling Tubes, Monster Truck, Iron Horse Railroad, Enchanted Castle, Swings. Weekends include:  Pumpkin Balloon House & Face Painting
Location: 9401 Burke Road, Burke, Virginia (703) 323-1188
Admission: $9 Weekdays, $12 Weekends, Under age 2 free
Hours: Daily 9AM – 9PM (Fri & Sat) 9AM – 8PM (Mon – Thur)
http://www.burkenursery.com/

Del Ray Halloween Parade
Celebration of Del Ray & Alexandria community & to provide a safe family oriented holiday atmosphere. Decorated strollers and costumed kids, adults and pets parade the avenue.
Date: Sunday, Oct 28
Time: 2PM – 3:30PM
Location: Mt. Vernon Avenue
http://apps.alexandriava.gov/Calendar/

Falloween at Market Commons
A day of fall fun including trick or treating, a costume parade (for people and pets), a petting zoo, face painting, strolling entertainment and much more!  Free and open to the public.
Date: Sat, October 27
Time: 10Am – 2PM
Location: The Market Common, 2700 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA  22201
http://www.marketcommonclarendon.net/?sp_events=falloween

Fort Belvoir Oktoberfest
Fort Belvoir's 17th Annual Oktoberfest at Fremont Field! Oktoberfest is a four-day festival, highlighting authentic German food, beverages, music and dancing!  Enjoy an exciting carnival, the Volksmarch 10K Walk, kinder korner activities, vendor market, prize raffles and more!  A fun-filled weekend for the whole family!
Dates: October 4-7
Hours: Oct 4, 6-10PM/Oct 5, 6-midnight/Oct 6, Noon-midnight/Oct 7, Noon-8PM
Location: Fort Belvoir, Fremont Field, VA
$: Entry is free but there is a fee for all carnival rides, food and beer. Unlimited day passes ($15 - $30)
http://belvoirmwr.com/Features/Oktoberfest/

Krop's Crops
hayrides, Winchester Apples, fresh apple cider, fall squash, farm animals, corn bin
Address: 1111- Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA
Phone: 703-430-8955
Website: www.KropsCrops.com

Halloween Parade Vienna
After 60+ years of this community tradition growing by word of mouth, we have a fabulous parade with nearly 100 entries and 35,000 participants and spectators. This year, our theme will be “Celebrating Holidays Around the World” and our Grand Marshal will be Santa Claus. Rain or Shine!!
Date: Wednesday, October 24
Time: 7PM – 9PM
Location: The parade runs down Maple Ave (Rte 123) from Branch Rd to Center St

Immanuel church-On-The-Hill
Pumpkins
Address: 3606 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA
Phone: 703-360-6555
Email: office@icoh.net
Website: www.ICOH.com

Leesburg Animal Park – Pumpkinville
Activities include: Giant Hill Slides, Kids Hay Maze, Hay Wagon Rides, Moon Bounces, Pony Rides, Entry to the Leesburg Animal Park, Free Apples & Fresh Cider, Free Patch Pumpkin
Weekends & Holidays: Face & Pumpkin Painting, 200 ft Kids Zip Line, Camel Rides, Mini-Tractor Rides, FREE Live Entertainment
Location: 19270 James Monroe Hwy  Leesburg, VA 20175  (703) 433-0002
Hours: Open daily 9Am – 6PM
Admission:  Weekdays $8.50, Weekends $13, Under 2 years free
http://www.leesburganimalpark.com/

Leesburg Kiwanis Halloween Parade
Leesburg Kiwanis Halloween Parade heads down King Street from Ida Lee Dr to Fairfax St. The parade is a Leesburg tradition for more than 50 years!
Date: October 31
Time: 6PM – 7:30PM
Location: Downtown Leesburg, Leesburg VA 20176
http://www.idalee.org/index.aspx?page=21&recordid=19082

Meadows Farms
pumpkin patch
Address: 10618 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA
Phone: 703-759-3900
Website: www.meadowsfarms.com

Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family Days
The entire family enjoys autumn activities including wagon rides, wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, 18th-century dancing demonstrations, a straw bale maze, farrier (blacksmithing) demonstrations, apple-roasting, corn husk dolls demonstrations and early-American games and music. Potomac River sightseeing cruises are half-price during this weekend only.
Cost: Adults, $15.00; Ages, 6-11, $7.00; Children 5 and under  free.
Dates: Oct 27 & 28
Hours: 9AM – 5PM
http://www.mountvernon.org/

Nalls Produce
pumpkins
Address: 7310 Beulah St., Alexandria, VA
Phone: 703-971-4068
Email: nallsproduce@aol.com
www.nallsproduce.com

Old Mine Ranch
Activities include: Pumpkin picking, hayrides, train rides, slides, petting farm, moon bounce and more.
Spookfest every night from 7PM – 9PM, except Sundays.
Location: 17507 Mine Rd. Dumfries, Virginia (703) 441-1382
Admission: $6
Dates: Weekends
Hours: 10AM – 5PM
http://www.oldmineranch.net/

Oktoberfest Reston
Northern Virginia’s largest fall festival at Reston Town Center, featuring the best in autumn brews with delicious traditional Oktoberfest fare from area restaurants. Enjoy food, wine, beer, live entertainment, a carnival and the Anthem Great Pumpkin 5K, presented by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance.
Dates: October 5-7
Hours: Oct 5, 3PM-11PM/Oct 6, 11AM-11PM/Oct 7, Noon-8PM
Location: Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston , Reston, VA 20190   703.707.9045
$: Tickets will be sold online within the next several weeks.

Oktoberfest at Capitol City Brewing Company (For Mom and Dad)
Here at Capitol City Brewing Co. we are gearing up for our 13th annual Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest. We will have more than 50 breweries giving out 4 oz samples. Throughout the event we will have local food vendors, an authentic German band and authentic Oktoberfest food. The event costs $25 if you want to sample the beer, but is free to everyone else who wants to attend. Oktoberfest 2012 will be held rain or shine, so please save the date. Cheers!
Date: October 6
Hours: Noon – 7PM
Location: The Village at Shirlington, 4001 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA
Cost: $25 to sample beer
http://www.capcitybrew.com/

Shenandoah Valley Wine & Music Festival
A fun-filled, action-packed, three-day family celebration unfolds with the 16th anniversary of the Shenandoah Valley Wine & Music Festival on October 12-14, 2012. Held on the spacious lawns and rolling fields of LONG BRANCH in Clarke County, VA. Pumpkin Chunking will be making its debut this year, being the sport of hurling or 'chucking' a pumpkin by mechanical means for distance. While Pumpkin Chunking is the main event, it is just the beginning of this unique Festival abundant with children’s activities, live entertainment, artisans and crafters, food vendors, antique fire engines, Virginia Wine Tasting, and so much more.
Cost: Early bird discount, see site for details.
Dates: October 12 – 14
http://historiclongbranch.com/events/60

Ticonderoga Farms – Fall Pumpkin Festival
The admission includes hayrides, activities and access to the pick your own pumpkin field. Don’t forget to get your own pie size pumpkin included with paid admission.
Admission: Weekdays $8.95, Holidays and Weekends $14.95
Hours: 9AM – 5PM
Location: 26469 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly, Virginia (703) 327-4424
http://www.ticonderoga.com/

Temple Hall Farm Regional Park
Pumpkin picking, hayrides, 9-acre cornfield maze, corn canon, water wars, ride on cow train, cow belly bounce, farm animals
Address: 15770 Temple hall Lane, Leesburg, VA
Phone: 703-779-9372
Email: templehallfarm@nvrpa.org
Website: www.NVRPA.org