National Arboretum Fall Path

Visiting Washington, DC in October

ByKelley Smith

October in DC is one of my favorite months to visit the city. The weather is cooler, there are plenty of seasonal festivals, and many restaurants offer fall-flavored dishes. This makes exploring much easier since you won’t be walking around in the summer humidity. Sometimes, fall rain storms can pop up, so check the weather before you go and consider packing an umbrella.

Many conferences and school trips take place in October, so try to book your hotels and tours early for the best prices and availability.

National Arboretum a path covered in leaves and yellow leaves on the trees
The National Arboretum during Fall

2024 October Events in DC

Election Season

Generally speaking, Washington, DC is not affected by election season. Some people worry that the weeks leading up to the November 5th Presidential election might not be the best time to visit, but campaigning is usually done in other states. The city is usually more impacted by the Inauguration in January due to routine heightened security around the National Mall. If your trip overlaps with Election Day, you’ll likely see people going to the polls as you would in any other city. Even though DC is not a state, the city still has 3 electoral votes and votes for other local candidates.

Wine Festival at Mount Vernon

Head to Mount Vernon for winemaking and drinking on October 6 – 8 from 6 to 9 pm. Sample 20 Virginia wines, enjoy music, and learn some history. Tickets start at $43 for members and $53 for non-members. For little history buffs, take your kids trick-or-treating on October 28 from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. Enjoy music, candy, and photo opportunities. Tickets (general public) are $15/child and $25/adult. You can also check out the The Fall Harvest Festival on October 21-22. 

Snallygaster

Snallygaster is DC’s largest beer festival. Join them along Pennsylvania Ave on October 12. 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.

Home Rule Music Festival

This outdoor, family-friendly music festival was originally scheduled for July but was moved to October to avoid the heat. Join them on Saturday, October 26 at Alethia Tanner Park. Entrance is free, but food and drink will be available for purchase. There will also be kid’s activities, DC merch, and live mural painting.

For a full list of Halloween and fall fun, check out this blog.

Things to do in Washington, DC in October

  1. Enjoy the fall leaves at Rock Creek Park, The National Arboretum, or Roosevelt Island.
  2. Pick some apples at a nearby orchard in Maryland or Virginia.
  3. Find an Oktoberfest event.
  4. Explore the Metropolitan Beer Trail.
  5. Go on a ghost tour near Capitol Hill or in Old Town Alexandria.
  6. Walk the monuments on the National Mall in the cooler weather.