While fall is often portrayed by poets and artists as a season of separation, it also brings forth great beauty. As opposed to a conventional goodbye, fall heralds the end of summer in the language of imprinted skies, flaming sunsets and crisp evening winds.
Celebrate the picturesque beauty of fall and its welcomed change through these family-friendly festivals coming next month, including harvest season favorites.
Harvest Festival
Oct. 5, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Agricultural History Farm Park
18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood, MD 20855
A communal gathering that balances traditional practices and modern development, the Harvest Festival at the Agricultural History Farm Park gives visitors the opportunity to experience a wide variety of farm-oriented activities such as pumpkin painting, farm equipment exhibitions and candle dipping, along with food, drink and live music.
Kids can also enjoy historic games, hay rides and storytelling. The park serves as a historic farm site and a modern farming activity center at the same time, showcasing how tradition and development can go hand in hand. montgomeryparks.org
Silver Spring Arts & Crafts Fall Fair @ Veteran’s Plaza
Oct. 6, noon- 6 p.m. | Veterans Plaza
1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
True to the spirit of its name, Silver Spring Arts & Crafts Fall Fair puts forth a diverse variety of handmade goods for visitors to enjoy. Ranging from handmade jewelry, glass and wood products to home decor and accessories for families and their furry friends, the fair has a little bit of everything.
With more than 80 visiting artisans, this free rain-or-shine event symbolizes the wide accessibility of art in Montgomery County. silverspringdowntown.com
City of Fairfax Fall Festival
Oct. 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Old Town Fairfax
3999 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Fall is a season that signifies change. In that vein, the City of Fairfax Fall Festival has an inspiring story of its own.
From a small market for a limited number of artisans to display their wares to a now massive celebration with more than 400 arts, crafts, information and food vendors, this community-oriented festival continues to evolve by adding new features to its celebrations every year, such as three stages of music, children’s activities, entertainment and an After Fest Concert.
Find more information on parking and a festival map at fairfaxva.gov.
Clifton Day Festival
Oct. 13, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Main St., Clifton, VA 20124
The Clifton Day Festival is a fall celebration that has been around for over half a century—the product of a 1960s revitalization effort from the Clifton Betterment Association.
Today, festivalgoers will find a bustling marketplace with more than 150 artisans, vintage sellers and antique dealers at this 56th annual festival.
As parents ponder over which crafted piece to buy for the family mantel or take a stroll in the beer and wine garden, children can enjoy pony rides and a fun ride on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE)—on the only day of the year the train stops in town! cliftonday.com
Fall Harvest Festival
Oct. 19 & 20, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | The Farm at Mount Vernon
206 Mount Vernon Lane, Sperryville, VA 22740
A unique event acting as a carefully-preserved fragment of George Washington’s life on the farm, the Fall Harvest Festival at Mount Vernon invites visitors to explore an intersection between farming, history and fall cheer.
The festival provides several opportunities for families to experience 18th century agriculture life, such as farming, wheat threading, horseshoeing, candle making and spinning. If all these activities make you hungry, farm-fresh products and freshly-baked bread are available for purchase at Tasha’s Own and Half Crown Bakehouse, respectively. mountvernon.org
