Burke Nursery & Garden Center's 18th Annual Fall Festival Photo Contributed
Thursday/Sept. 27
Fall for the Book Festival: Alice Walker. 3 p.m., Concert Hall, Center for the Arts George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Catch a headliner event at the festival; the author of The Color Purple discusses her social and political activism. www.fallforthebook.org.
Friday/Sept. 28
ValeArts' 17th Annual Fall Art Show and Sale Reception. 7 p.m., reception; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., show hours, at the Historic Vale School House, 3124 Fox Mill Road, Oakton. Over 150 works from nine local artists; meet the artists and celebrate the show, open Sept. 28-30. www.ValeArts.com.
Mason Award Presentation: Neil Gaiman. 7:30-9 p.m., Concert Hall, Center for the Arts George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. The author of cult DC Comics to books including Coraline accepts the 2012 Mason Award for an author making extraordinary contributions towards connecting literature with a wide reading public. www.fallforthebook.org.
Saturday/Sept. 29
Fall for Fairfax KidFest. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Northern Virginia's largest family fall festival boasts more than 100 hands-on activities and exhibits focusing on education, sport and fitness, the environment, public safety and personal health; among those are a farmers' market, pony and hayrides, scare-crow making, pumpkin decorating, a carnival and dozens of shows for children. 703-324-3247 or www.fallforfairfax.com.
Woodland Park Crossing Festival. Noon-4 p.m., 12960 Highland Crossing Drive, Herndon. Samples of fall brews and foods, yoga presentations, zumba dances, fitness demos, a walking scarecrow, DJ, face painting, glitter tattoos, pumpkin painting, and more. 703-785-5634 or www.woodlandparkcrossing.com.
Sunday/Sept. 30
Fall for Fairfax KidFest. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Pkwy., Fairfax. Northern Virginia's largest family fall festival boasts more than 100 hands-on activities and exhibits focusing on education, sport and fitness, the environment, public safety and personal health; among those are a farmers' market, pony and hayrides, scare-crow making, pumpkin decorating, a carnival and dozens of shows for children. 703-324-3247 or www.fallforfairfax.com.
Fairfax Prize Presentation: Michael Chabon. 6:30-8 p.m., Concert Hall, Center for the Arts George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. Novelist whose works include Telegraph Avenue and The Yiddish Policeman's Union accepts the 2012 Fairfax Prize for literary achievement. www.fallforthebook.org.
Friday/Oct. 5
Oktoberfest Reston. 3-11 p.m., at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. Northern Virginia's largest outdoor fall festival with seasonal beer and wine, 17 restaurants, family carnival, live entertainment, chilli cook-off and the Great Pumpkin 5k. $1-20 for food tickets; $1-20 for carnival tickets. www.OktoberfestReston.com.
Saturday/Oct. 6
Second Annual Fairfax Festival of the Arts. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Fairfax Corner, 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax. National and international artists sell artwork--90-plus artists offer more than 10,000 pieces for sale--and provide the opportunity for you to meet painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, digital artists, glass, fiber and ceramics artists. www.paragonartevents.com/fairfax/.
Country Fair. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. The 30-year-old fair features a quilt show and giveaway, musical performances, silent auction, "treasure trove" flea market, book sale, plant sale, food and children's games. 703-759-2082 or www.thecountryfair.org.
Oktoberfest Reston. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; race at 8:30 a.m., at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. Northern Virginia's largest outdoor fall festival with seasonal beer and wine, 17 restaurants, family carnival, live entertainment, chilli cook-off and the Great Pumpkin 5k. $1-20 for food tickets; $1-20 for carnival tickets. www.OktoberfestReston.com.
Lake Anne Plaza’s 6th Annual Jazz Festival. Noon-8:30 p.m., at Lake Anne Plaza, 11402 Washington Plaza W, Reston. Singer-songwriter-musician Rashida Jolley headlines among six other artists at the family-friendly festival. www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Sunday/Oct. 7
Clifton Day. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Clifton. The Boyle School of Irish Dance, musician Steve Hudson, rock and roll and rock/Americana all perform; train riding, children's activities including a petting zoo, pony rides, Civil War reenactments and food. www.cliftonday.com.
Second Annual Fairfax Festival of the Arts. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at Fairfax Corner, 11900 Palace Way, Fairfax. National and international artists sell artwork—90-plus artists offer more than 10,000 pieces for sale—and provide the opportunity for you to meet painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, digital artists, glass, fiber and ceramics artists. www.paragonartevents.com/fairfax/.
Oktoberfest Reston. Noon-8 p.m., at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston. Northern Virginia's largest outdoor fall festival with seasonal beer and wine, 17 restaurants, family carnival, live entertainment, chilli cook-off and the Great Pumpkin 5k. $1-20 for food tickets; $1-20 for carnival tickets. www.OktoberfestReston.com.
Saturday/Oct. 13
Fall Festival in Old Town Historic Fairfax. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Downtown Fairfax, 10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax. The traditional festival brings unique crafts and gifts, activities from local art groups and businesses, more than 400 juried crafters, children's rides, music and food. 703-385-7949 or www.fairfaxva.gov.
Sunday/Oct. 14
Festival on the Square. Noon-5 p.m., at Reston Heights, 11790 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Live entertainment, food samples, farm animals, fancy cars, a maze made of hay and much more. 703-476-9377 or www.festivalonthesquare.com.
Saturday/Oct. 20
Claude Moore Colonial Farm 1771 Market Fair. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, 6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Crisp local apples, warm savory meat pies, hearty breads, entertainers, candle-dipping, mulled wine, holiday shopping, and tradesmen and the militia make it a big celebration of fall. $6, adults; $3, seniors and children ages 3-12. 703-442-7557 or www.1771.org.
Halloween Family Fun Day. Noon-2 p.m., at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Infants through 8-year-olds dress in their favorite costume and enjoy performances for the whole family; featuring Peter McCory, the "Monster Madness" show and carnival games. 703-476-4500 or www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
McLean Orchestra: Phantoms and Fantasies. 8 p.m., at Oakcrest School, 850 Balls Hill Road, McLean. A night of Halloween haunts, with Mussorgsky, Debussy and Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique; post-concert cake and champagne reception. www.mclean-orchestra.org.
Sunday/Oct. 21
Claude Moore Colonial Farm 1771 Market Fair. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, 6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Crisp local apples, warm savory meat pies, hearty breads, entertainers, candle-dipping, mulled wine, holiday shopping, and tradesmen and the militia make it a big celebration of fall. $6, adults; $3, seniors and children ages 3-12. 703-442-7557 or www.1771.org.
Wednesday/Oct. 24
Vienna Halloween Parade. 7 p.m., at Maple Avenue and Branch Road, Vienna. Big name entertainment, a crowd of tens of thousands and parading costumed children; gather with children at 6:30 p.m. at the Virginia Commerce Bank to walk. www.viennahalloweenparade.org.
Friday/Oct. 26
The Bradley Farm Haunted House. 6-10 p.m., at 13159 New Parkland Drive, Herndon. Exhibits and well-hidden scares within “The Evil Around Us,”-themed house, deeply haunted with local spook and legend. $5. www.bfhauntedhouse.com.
Saturday/Oct. 27
Swiss Bakery & Pastry Shop Oktoberfest. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5224 Port Royal Road, Springfield. Featuring live music by Alte Kameraden, special menu, samples and a free Bavarian pretzel for all who come dressed in German clothing. 703-321-3670 or info@theswissbakery.com.
The Bradley Farm Haunted House. 6-10 p.m., at 13159 New Parkland Drive, Herndon. Exhibits and well-hidden scares within “The Evil Around Us,”-themed house, deeply haunted with local spook and legend. $5. www.bfhauntedhouse.com.
Sunday/Oct. 28
Halloween Bingo. 2-5 p.m., at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Center Street S, Vienna. Dress up to win the costume contest and play bingo for up to a $1,000 prize. $20. 703-938-2678.
Wednesday/Oct. 31
The 25th Annual Fair Oaks Mall-O-Ween. 6-8 p.m., at Fair Oaks Mall, off I-66 at Lee Jackson Memorial Parkway, Fairfax. Sixteen-thousand-plus trick-or-treaters and families haunt the largest premier shopping destinations among Fair Oaks' fountains-gone-bubbling-cauldrons, witches, wizards, pirates and princesses, there to surprise Mall-O-Ween-goers at every turn; for spooked-out parents and guardians, samples and coupons will appear. 703-359-8300 or www.ShopFairOaksMall.com.
Saturday/Nov. 10
Children's Fall Flea Market. 9 a.m.-noon, RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Donate one non-perishable food item for the RCC Thanksgiving Food Drive and then do your holiday shopping at bargains: gently-used toys, books, clothing and games. www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
The Robinson Marketplace. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at James W. Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. Hand crafters, home based and small boutique businesses, specialty food and farmers' market vendors. marketplace@robinsonptasa.org.
Saturday/Nov. 17
Joyful Noise Holiday Bazaar and Bakeshop. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta Drive, Sterling. Upscale crafters and vendors, old-fashioned bake sale, cupcake decorating factory, silent auction, food, holiday music and more to benefit the Hammond Foundation college scholarship program. info@thehammondfoundation.org or www.joyfulnoisebazaar.com.
Saturday/Nov. 24
Thanksgiving Food Drive. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, and the Reston Interfaith Food Storage Facility. Meet at RCC Hunters Woods and sort non-perishable food donations; register in advance, 200 volunteer slots only. www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Ongoing
Heather Hill Gardens Pumpkin Patch. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturdays; 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sundays at 8111 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. A pumpkin patch, pumpkin fort, petting zoo, zip line, mega swing, tumbling tube and more for the month of October. $6 (includes a pumpkin); under 2 years, free. www.heatherhillgardens.com.