Your local guide to Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Prince William County & Fauquier County September 2026
There is no better month to be a Northern Virginia local than September. The humidity finally breaks, the first hint of fall drifts through the Piedmont, and every town from Warrenton to Arlington rolls out festivals, farm days, live music, and harvest celebrations.
Whether you are raising a family in Ashburn, settling into a new home in Manassas, or simply looking for a reason to get outside this weekend, our five counties — Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and Fauquier — are packed with things to do all month long. At DST Homes, we do not just sell houses here; we live here, and September is the month we most love showing people why this corner of Virginia feels like home.
Here is our county-by-county roundup of the best local events, family fun, seasonal deals, and can't-miss traditions happening across Northern Virginia this September.
Fairfax County: Harvest Season Kicks Into High Gear
Fairfax County goes all-in on early fall, and the star of the show is the return of the Cox Farms Fall Festival in Centreville, running September 19 through November 8. Hayrides, giant slides, farm animals, corn mazes, and the famous rope swings make it a family tradition for a reason. For the brave, the nighttime Fields of Fear haunted trails and Dark Side Hayride open on weekends from September 25 (ages 12+ recommended). It is the kind of place families move to Fairfax hoping to have right down the road.
The rest of the Fairfax calendar is just as full — from Reston to Vienna to Falls Church:
Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration (Sept 4, Wolf Trap, Vienna) — the National Symphony Orchestra performs music celebrating the Grateful Dead co-founder under the stars at Filene Center.
Reggae on the Lake (Sept 12, Lake Anne, Reston) — island rhythms, live reggae, food, and drinks for one of Reston's most laid-back late-summer evenings.
Dog Daze at the Water Mine (Sept 12, Reston) — the Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole opens its gates to four-legged friends for an end-of-season splash day dogs love.
Basset Hound Rescue Fall Festival (Sept 12, Herndon) — adoptable basset hounds, games, raffles, and pet-friendly fun for a great cause.
Fairfax Funky Flea (Sept 12 & 26, City of Fairfax) — a hip open-air flea market packed with vintage finds, handmade goods, and local vendors.
George Washington Patriot Run (Sept 13) — a scenic 5K or 10-mile race along the Mount Vernon trail.
Chillin' on Church (Sept 18, Vienna) — a free outdoor block party on Church Street with food trucks, beer and wine gardens, and live music.
Reston Multicultural Festival (Sept 19, Reston Town Square Park) — a free celebration of the food, music, and traditions that make Reston one of the most diverse communities in the region.
Falls Church Festival & Taste of Falls Church (Sept 19) — a free street festival with live entertainment, a beer garden, and 90+ crafters and food vendors in the Little City.
Colonial Market & Fair at Mount Vernon (Sept 19–20) — step back in time with 18th-century crafts, hayrides, kettle corn, and apple cider donuts at George Washington's estate.
Bug Fest at Lake Accotink Park (Sept 26, Springfield) — hands-on nature fun that kids genuinely love.
Mosaic Fall Festival (Sept 26–27, Mosaic District) — family-friendly fun with seasonal food, live entertainment, and artisan vendors in one of Fairfax's most walkable neighborhoods.
Burke Centre Festival (Sept 26–27) — a beloved community weekend with a carnival, vendors, and a car show.
Bull Run Wine Festival (Sept 26–27, The Winery at Bull Run, Centreville) — Virginia wineries pour their best alongside live music, food trucks, and artisan vendors with scenic views.
Loudoun County: Wine Country, Pumpkins & Small-Town Charm
Loudoun is where Northern Virginia's fall postcard comes to life. The rolling vineyards, historic villages, and family farms are at their most beautiful in September, before the October crowds arrive.
Out in the Blue Ridge foothills, the Fall Corn Maze & Apple Harvest Festival at Great Country Farms in Bluemont gets going in early September, with apple picking, wagon rides, a corn maze, cider donuts, and farm play areas. Closer in, the Leesburg Animal Park Pumpkin Village & Fall Festival opens September 19 and runs through early November, with pony rides, a petting zoo, slides, and live music.
A few more Loudoun highlights worth the drive:
Kids Fest at Segra Field (Sept 7, Leesburg) — inflatables, games, and entertainment for the younger crowd.
Ashburn Village Fall Fest (Sept 11–12) — a hometown fall celebration with vendors, music, and family activities.
IPT Sunset Polo World Cup Invitational (Sept 19, Leesburg) — world-class polo under a setting sun, with tailgating, tastings, and a genuinely glamorous Loudoun evening.
Bluemont Fair (Sept 19–20) — a genuinely old-fashioned country fair tucked into the foothills, with crafts, music, and mountain views.
Outdoor Movie Night: Paddington in Peru (Sept 24, One Loudoun Park, Ashburn) — a free outdoor screening with complimentary popcorn; bring a blanket and the kids.
Leesburg Airshow (Sept 26, Leesburg Executive Airport) — aircraft, flight demonstrations, and family activities.
Lovettsville Oktoberfest (Sept 26) — Loudoun's German heritage on full display with beer, brats, and polka.
And of course, September is prime time for Loudoun's celebrated wineries and breweries. A slow Sunday touring "DC's Wine Country" is one of the simplest luxuries of living out here.
Arlington County: City Energy, Free Festivals & Great Music
Arlington proves you do not need to leave the city to enjoy fall. The county's walkable neighborhoods host some of the best free events in the region this month.
The Rosslyn Jazz Fest on September 12 is a can't-miss — a free outdoor afternoon of jazz, funk, and soul (headlined this year by Plena Libre) with food trucks and family activities. Later in the month, Clarendon Day (Sept 26) transforms the Clarendon neighborhood into a massive free street festival with live music, food, a KidZone, a 5K/10K race, and 100+ local vendors.
Sam Beckett's Celtic Festival (Sept 19, Village at Shirlington) — Irish music, dancing, and food.
Arlington's mix of Metro access, green space, and year-round events is exactly why so many first-time buyers and downsizers ask us about it — it delivers the walkable lifestyle without giving up a sense of neighborhood.
Prince William County: History, Bluegrass & Hometown Festivals
Prince William blends genuine history with modern family fun, and September puts both on display across Manassas, Woodbridge, and Occoquan.
History buffs will want to visit World War II Weekend at Rippon Lodge Historic Site (Sept 13–14), featuring vintage military vehicles, equipment, and living-history demonstrations. Music and heritage come together at the Brentsville Bluegrass Festival (Sept 27) at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, with live bands, historic exhibits, and family activities.
Around the county you will also find:
Harvest Moon Yoga on the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk (Sept 7) — full-moon yoga with live acoustic guitar and sound-bowl meditation over the wetlands.
Old Town Manassas Fall Craft Fair & Art Show (Sept 12) — handmade art, artisan goods, and fall décor in the heart of historic downtown.
Arts Alive! (Sept 14, Hylton Performing Arts Center) — a free, county-wide celebration of the arts with performances and hands-on activities.
Manassas Latino Festival (Sept 26) — a vibrant celebration of Latino food, music, dance, and culture in historic Old Town Manassas.
Occoquan Fall Arts & Craft Show (Sept 26–27) — one of the region's largest juried craft shows in the charming riverside town of Occoquan.
Fauquier County: Horses, Highland Games & Piedmont Perfection
Here in our home base of Fauquier County, September is the crown jewel of the year. The pace slows, the countryside shines, and the calendar fills with the kind of traditions that have defined this community for generations.
It starts with the 127th Annual Warrenton Horse Show (Sept 2–6), a designated "Heritage Horse Show" and a point of genuine local pride. That same weekend, the Virginia Scottish Games return to Great Meadow in The Plains (Sept 5–6) — one of the East Coast's most beloved Celtic celebrations, with caber tosses, bagpipes, Highland dancing, and clan gatherings.
The good times roll on all month:
Flying Circus Hot Air Balloon Festival & Airshow (Sept 19–20, Bealeton) — a bucket-list weekend of balloons and vintage aircraft.
Old Bust Head Brewery Harvest Festival (Sept 19, Vint Hill) — music, vendors, a pumpkin patch, and fall fun for the whole family.
Empty Bowls (Sept 20, Old Town Warrenton) — a heartfelt community lunch benefiting local food security.
Great Meadow & Beverly Equestrian Polo — free and ticketed polo Saturdays and Sundays throughout September.
Live music, wine, and food-truck nights at Barking Rose, Arterra, and vineyards up and down the Route 17 and Leeds Manor corridors.
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live where wine country meets horse country, September in Fauquier is your answer.
Nearby & Worth the Trip: Old Town Alexandria
Just across the county line, the City of Alexandria packs its September weekends with festivals that are an easy add-on to any Northern Virginia weekend:
Alexandria Food & Craft Weekend Festival (Sept 4–6) — a Labor Day–weekend showcase of local food, craft beverages, and makers.
Improv Comedy Show (Sept 12) — a night of laughs from local improv performers in Old Town.
Alexandria Oktoberfest (Sept 19) — German culture, food, music, and beer-garden fun.
Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market (Sept 19) — vintage treasures, antiques, and handmade goods in Alexandria's artsy Del Ray neighborhood.
King Street Art Festival (Sept 26–27) — a free open-air art gallery along Old Town's historic King Street featuring hundreds of juried artists.
Family Fun: The Best of September for Kids
Traveling with little ones? These are the events families ask us about most — all kid-tested and parent-approved:
Cox Farms Fall Festival (Centreville) — the gold standard for daytime family fun.
Leesburg Animal Park Pumpkin Village — pony rides and a petting zoo for the younger crowd.
Bug Fest at Lake Accotink — a hands-on discovery day that wears the kids out (in the best way).
Kids Fest at Segra Field in Leesburg — inflatables, games, and entertainment.
Outdoor Movie Night: Paddington in Peru at One Loudoun — a free family movie night under the stars.
Basset Hound Rescue Fall Festival in Herndon — pet-friendly fun the whole family (and the dog) will love.
September Deals & Freebies Worth Knowing About
September is quietly one of the best months to save money in Northern Virginia. A few worth putting on your radar:
National Public Lands Day / National Park Free Admission Day (late September) — one of the year's fee-free days at national parks, including many sites right around the DMV. Great Falls, the Manassas National Battlefield, and more are free to enter.
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day — participating museums offer free admission with a downloadable ticket, a perfect low-cost family day trip into DC.
Free community festivals — the Rosslyn Jazz Fest, Clarendon Day, Reston Multicultural Festival, Chillin' on Church, Falls Church Festival, and Arts Alive! are all free to attend.
End-of-season farm & garden deals — local farm markets and nurseries roll out fall plantings and clearance on summer stock as the season turns.
Winery & brewery harvest specials — many Loudoun and Fauquier tasting rooms run harvest-season events and flights all month.
Why September Is the Best Time to Fall in Love With Northern Virginia
Every September we are reminded that Northern Virginia is not one place — it is five distinct communities, each with its own character, and all within an easy drive of one another. You can spend Saturday morning at a Fauquier horse show, Saturday night at an Arlington jazz festival, and Sunday afternoon picking pumpkins in Loudoun. That range — country quiet to city energy, all in one region with some of the best schools, parks, and job access in the country — is exactly what makes people want to put down roots here.
The turning of the season is also, not coincidentally, one of the busiest and best times in the local housing market. Homes show beautifully in the fall light, motivated buyers and sellers are active, and inventory across our five counties tends to shift. If a September stroll through one of these towns has you daydreaming about a new address, that is worth paying attention to.
Thinking about a move in Northern Virginia?
DST Homes helps families buy and sell across all five of these counties — Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and Fauquier. We know these neighborhoods because we live in them, festival weekends and all. Whether you are just starting to explore or ready to make a move this fall, we would love to help you find your place in the community you already enjoy.
Reach out to DST Homes anytime — let's talk about what September looks like for your next home.
Event dates and details are based on the latest available information for September 2026 and can change. We recommend confirming times, tickets, and locations directly with each event or venue before you head out. Have a September favorite we missed? Let us know — we are always adding to our list.
