20+ Fall Activities in Washington, DC
Cozy sweaters, crackling fires, and pumpkin patches are back, and I’m ready to enjoy every second of it. Whether you are looking for spooky corn mazes, kid-friendly pumpkin patches, or picturesque apple orchards, this is the list of fall activities in DC for you.
This post has been updated for Fall 2025 and will be updated closer to Labor Day as needed.
Fall Activities in DC
Congressional Cemetery Tours and Other Special Events: Head to the Congressional Cemetery by the Anacostia River for stories about great Americans. The beloved Soul Strolls tours sell out every year so follow them on Instagram to make sure you know when the tickets drop. If you miss the Soul Strolls catch them for many other events like Sunday Stroll Guided Tours (most Sundays), Ghostbusters outdoor movie (September 12), Dead Man’s Run 5K (October 12), and other special tours throughout the fall season. The cemetery is also open daily from dusk to dawn – it’s a great place for a spooky stroll and to enjoy the fall foliage.
Boo at the Zoo: Join the National Zoo on October 17 to 19 from 6 to 9 pm for a not-so-scary Halloween party with trick-or-treating. Member can enjoy early admission from 5 to 6 pm each night. Tickets include after-hours access to the Small Mammal House, Elephant Community Center and Reptile Discovery Center. Trick-or-treaters will receive souvenir goodie bags to fill with sweets, snacks and other fun surprises. Tickets are $35 for non-members and $29.75 for members.
Night of the Living Zoo: The National Zoo invites you to a 21+ evening of Halloween fun on October 24 and 25 from 6 to 11 pm. This year’s event includes an extra “witching hour” filled with ghoulish delights, including special after-hours access to the Reptile Discovery Center and Great Cats exhibits from 6 to 9:30 pm. Plus, enjoy an open cocktail bar, circus acts, decorations, DJs, and other live entertainment. Costumes are encouraged but full face masks and props that look like weapons are not allowed. Food is available for an additional cost. Tickets are $68 for members and $80 for non-members.
Drunk Shakespeare: Dracula: Enjoy a spooky and fun retelling of Dracula at The Sage Theater in Washington, DC. Drunk Shakespeare plays begin with one professional actor drinking more than five shots of liquor before attempting to lead the cast through a Shakespeare play (or in this case, a Bram Stoker novel) in under 90 minutes. Every night is different! Dracula runs from September 24 to November 2.
DC Ghost Tours: DC Ghost Tours offers a 60-minute, 8-stop ghost tour starting near the White House. This tour is full of spooky stories about DC but not too scary for little ones. Tickets start at $26 for adults but increase closer to Halloween. You can choose to add an additional 30 minutes and 4 stops or check out the pub crawl tour.
Snallygaster: Snallygaster is back along Pennsylvania Ave on October 11! For $75, you can enjoy unlimited tastings of beer, wine, and cocktails. Plus, enjoy food trucks and live music. Get tickets early—this event usually sells out.
Oktoberfest on the Wharf: Head to the Wharf on October 4 for Oktoberfest. Enjoy special events like polka dancing and a stein hoisting competition plus German food, costumes, and Sam Adams Oktoberfest beer. Events on the Wharf are free to enter.
Pumpkinpalooza in NoMa: Head to Alethia Tanner Park in NoMa on Thursday, October 22 at 4 pm for a family-friendly afternoon of fall fun. Plus, don’t miss the Home Rule Music Festival on October 4 from 1 to 9 pm.
Nightmare in Navy Yard: DC’s largest Halloween party returns on Friday, October 31 at 8:30 PM for a night of dancing, drinks, and costumes. Enjoy 2 DJs, 5-hour open bar, spooky decorations, and a costume contest. Food trucks will also be available for an additional cost.
Leaf Peeping: Some of the best parks to enjoy the changing leaves in DC area Rock Creek Park, Malcolm X Park, Theodore Rosevelt Island, Congressional Cemetery, and The National Arboretum.
Pumpkin Patches and Festivals in Virginia
Leaf Peeping: There are many large parks in Virginia where you can enjoy the changing leaves. Some of my favorites include Burke Lake, Sky Meadows State Park, Lake Accotink, Mount Vernon, Great Falls, and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
Alexandria Colonial Tours: Follow guides dressed in 18th-century costumes as they led you through Old Town by lantern light. Enjoy stories of Old Town’s history, ghosts, and folklore. Tours are available year-round but dates vary seasonally. In October, tours run every day at 7:30 pm with additional times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for ages 7 to 17, and free for children under 6. Read about our visit.
Reston Fall Festival and Market: The Reston Fall Festival is a great fall festival for little ones. Tickets include a train ride around the garden center, petting zoo, fall games, and more. All children’s tickets include a free pumpkin. Face painting, balloons, and fall snacks will be available at an additional cost. The festival runs every Saturday and Sunday from September 27 to October 27 plus Indigenous People’s Day.
Bull Run Wine Festival: Visit Bull Run for their Wine Festival on October 18 or 19. $55/ticket gets you wine and beer samples, chats with the folks who made the wine, and live music. Food trucks will have bites for purchase and you can shop the market with local vendors.
Fall Wine Festival and Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon: Enjoy Mount Vernon from the perspective of winemaking and drinking October 10 to 12 from 6 to 9 pm. Bring a blanket to enjoy the sunset while you sample 20 Virginia wines, enjoy music, and learn some history. Tickets start at $40 for members and $50 for non-members. For little history buffs, take your kids trick-or-treating on October 25 from 2 to 5 pm. Enjoy music, candy, and photo opportunities. Tickets (general public) are $25/child and $30/adults. Other events include Whiskey Tastings on Saturdays in September and The Fall Harvest Festival on October 18-19.
Cox Farms: This massive fall festival in Centreville, VA features live music, multiple slides, interactive nature walk, farm animals, and more. The festival runs from September 20 to November 9 with peak tickets available for $30. Check the calendar for discount days earlier in the season. Enjoy food, music, slides, a hayride, pumpkins, and a corn maze.
Field of Fear, a haunted, after-hours version of Cox Farm, opens on Friday and Saturday from September 26 to November 8, plus Sunday, October 12. Brave the haunted corn maze, hayride, and forest. After exploring the spooky space, take a break at the fairgrounds with music, karaoke, dancing, and slides. Access to the fairgrounds is included with admission. Not recommended for young children.
Back Home on the Farm: This pumpkin patch is a trek from DC but worth it for fewer crowds and a day in the Shenandoah Valley. Here you’ll find a petting zoo, pig races, a carousel, games, and a huge corn maze. Don’t forget to take a hayride to the pumpkin patch! Tickets are $12 daily at the door. The festival is open from August 30 to November 9 (the pumpkin patch usually opens in mid-September). Read about our visit!
Belvedere Plantation: Join Belvedere Plantation in Fredericksburg for pig races, a giant slide, a corn maze, pedal tractor rides, a zipline, a petting zoo, and, of course, a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Activities for an extra cost include pumpkin painting, a super slide, and pick-your-own flowers. The plantation also has a market where you can purchase jams, pies, cider, and even pumpkin carving supplies. Open Thursday – Sunday plus Indigenous People’s Day from September 13 to November 1.
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze: Corn Maze in the Plains has moved to a new location in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Blue Toad Hard Cider in Nelson County, at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains & Wintergreen Resort. Join them on Fridays and Saturdays from September 20 to November 9. Enjoy hayrides, pumpkin picking, slides, farm animals, and fall snacks. Plus, don’t miss a chance to enjoy the maze at night!
Haunted Hallow: Follow the trail through this haunted farm in Warrenton if you dare! Find spooky surprises and unexpected characters. All ages are welcome, but it might be too spooky for little ones under 13. Open Fridays and Saturdays from September 26 to October 25. Most nights sell out, so grab a time slot early. All visitors must be in groups of at least 2 people.
Pumpkin Patches and Ghost Tours in Maryland
Markoff’s Forest: One of the scariest haunted forests in the country, Markoff’s Forest in Dickerson has been scaring folks for over 2 decades. Open Friday-Sunday from October 3 to November 1 plus additional dates closer to Halloween. This haunted forest is very popular so purchase tickets early. Arrive early or stick around after your time slot to enjoy Markoff’s Midway, a waiting area with snacks, live music, and extra activities like a zipline and axe throwing. Purchase tickets to the haunted trail, town, or both as a combo.
Doc Waters Cidery: Apple picking and hard cider? This spot in Germantown, MD has you covered. Pick apple varieties in the orchard in September and October and then enjoy a drink at the cidery. Prices start at $20 for two people (about 5-6 pounds of apples). The orchard is open on weekends and the cidery is open Friday-Sunday with food trucks and live music. Reservations for the cidery are highly recommended.
Montpelier Farms: Montpelier Farms in Upper Marlboro offers fall activities that are especially fun for little kids. Enjoy a corn maze, hayride, farm animals, slides, a play area, and more. Some activities, food trucks, and fall treats are available at an additional cost. Open September 13-November 2 from Saturday to Sunday plus Tuesday to Friday in October.
Butler’s Orchard: Head to the Pumpkin Festival at Butler’s Orchard for hayrides, a corn maze, pumpkin picking, slides, and corn hole. Open Wednesday-Sunday plus Indigenous People’s Day from September 20 to November 2. Peak weekends in October are $18 but visit on a weekday for discounted rates.
Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch: Located in Middletown, Jumbo’s has a petting zoo, pony rides, a corn maze, and a hayride to the pumpkin patch. There is also a store where you can purchase jellies and bakery items as well as seasonal wreaths, crafts, and candles. Open daily from September 20 to October 31. Admission includes hayrides, corn maze, petting zoon, and games. Pay as you go for pumpkins, food, corn cannon, and face painting. Read about our visit!
Candlelight Ghost Tours of Frederick: Discover the ghosts of Frederick on a walking ghost tour through the historic district or a cemetery tour! Guides share spooky stories of Frederick’s haunted past. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for children 8-12. All tickets come with a 10% off coupon to Brewer’s Alley. Once you purchase a ticket, you will need to make a reservation for a specific date. Tours are available year-round and reservations are required.