Your ultimate guide to fall festivals in the D.C. area
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Oktoberfest at the Wharf. Photo: Courtesy of The Wharf
Fall is peak festival season in the D.C. area, and tickets to popular events are live.
Why it matters: There's something for everyone — music and food, cultural celebrations and plenty of outdoor fall fun.
Here are festivals you won't want to miss:
Key: 🎉 party, 🎨 artsy, 🎶 music, 🍂 outdoorsy, 😋 foodie, 👶 kid-friendly 🐶 pet-friendly
🍂🎶👶 | Sept. 14-Oct. 20 | One-day tickets $17-$32
- The huge Ren Fest near Annapolis spans over 45 seasons. Don your 14th-century finest (costume rentals available) and revel among kings and courtiers in the festival village.
😋🎶👶 | Sept. 13-15 | Tickets $15-$20 (free under 21)
- The celebration of Ukrainian food and culture includes traditional music and dancing, a Kozak beer garden, craft market and kids activities.
Hispanic Heritage Month Festival
😋🎉👶 | Sept. 15 | Free
- Latin marketplace La Cosecha kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with an all-day festival filled with live music, dancing, a Tango demo and a floral workshop.
- There are tons of activities throughout the month, including Alpaca Happy Hours and a Pupusas and Wine Night.
🍂🎶🎉🐶 | Sept. 20-Oct. 13 | Free tickets
- Get ready for a month of Oktoberfest and Dogtoberfest fun at the Noma beer garden, which kicks things off with a keg-tapping ceremony and hosts special weekly events.
Fall Festival at Magnolia Meadow Farms
🍂👶 | Sept. 21-Oct. 27 | Tickets $15-$20 (free for kids 2 and under)
- The home of Maryland's biggest corn maze goes all-out for autumn with pumpkin picking, apple cannons, hayrides and campfires. FYI: Passes often sell out early.
🎨🎶👶 | Sept. 21 | Free
- The biggest arts festival in Prince George's County draws thousands for exhibitions, live music, local craft breweries and entertainment.
😋🎉🎶👶 | Sept. 21 | Free
- One of D.C.'s biggest neighborhood festivals stars live entertainment and dancing across 14 staging areas, contests, family zones and plenty of local eats.
Mid-Autumn Festival Night Market
😋🎶👶 | Sept. 25-26 | Tickets $5 (free for kids under 12)
- Head to Hi-Lawn atop Union Market for a huge Asian food festival with stalls from Tiger Fork, Baan Mae and more, lion dancing, and DJ Karaoke.
🎨🎶 | Sept. 26-Oct. 13 | Tickets $20-$60
- Think restaurant week, but for theaters. Snag discount tickets for 30-plus performances around the city, plus a free kickoff fest at Arena Stage and events like a historical theater walking tour.
😋🎨🎶 | Sept. 27-28 | Free
- The city's overnight art festival runs from 7pm-3am in all eight wards with a huge variety of visual and performing arts.
- Dine All Night (Sept. 19-29) showcases culinary arts at local businesses that will offer special menus.
🎉🎶👶| Sept. 28-29 | Free
- The massive celebration of Latin food and culture, which started in Mount Pleasant in the '70s, takes over Pennsylvania Avenue with a parade, music, food vendors and all-day festivities.
Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival
😋 🍂 | Oct. 4-6 | Tickets $50+
- Sample Virginia wines and tour George Washington's historic estate and gardens at sunset.
😋🎉👶🐶 | Oct. 5 | Free
- Stein-hoisting contests, free-flowing beer and the can't-miss wiener dog race make this one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the city. Don't forget your lederhosen for polka dancing on the pier.
Black-Owned Wine and Spirits Festival
😋🎉 | Oct. 5 | Tickets $75+
- The 8th-annual BOWfest at the Capital Turnaround celebrates Black wine and spirits professionals with unlimited tastings, food and a VIP lounge.
😋🎉 | Oct. 12 | Tickets $75
- D.C.'s biggest craft beer festival is back for its 12th year, taking over Pennsylvania Avenue with 450+ brews, ciders, wines and cocktails, plus local eats and live music.
Shuck It! Oyster & Beer Festival
😋🎉🎶 | Oct. 19 | Tickets $65+
- The 11th annual oyster and beer festival hosted by Tony and Joe's on the Georgetown Waterfront is packed with local brews and bivalves, plus brats, chowder, live music and more.
🎉🎶👶 | Oct. 26 | Free
- The outdoor, family-friendly music festival in NoMa celebrates D.C. artists and musical styles, from jazz to go-go, plus a vinyl record fair, food vendors, a youth village and more.
🎶👶 | Nov. 2 | Free
- Everyone's invited to AdMo's neighborhood-wide block party with 100+ bands playing every genre from go-go to bluegrass.