There’s something for everyone to do this fall. From fun cocktails and art shows to pumpkins and fall foliage, it’s sure to be an exciting fall in the DC area. Below is a list of events we’re looking forward throughout Alexandria and the DC area.
Old Town Cocktail Week
Sept. 9 – 18
Old Town
Old Town Cocktail Week is a week-long event honoring the talent and businesses that support cocktail and wine innovation. Throughout the week, restaurants and shops will showcase cocktails and wine in their establishments. The Art League will start off the week with the annual Art on the Rocks event at Waterfront Park on Sept. 9. Visit the event website here for more info.
80th Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour
Sept. 24, 10 am – 3 pm
Old Town Alexandria
Our team is proud to once again sponsor the Historic Homes Tour. The TWIG’s home tour returns this year, showcasing seven addresses, including one home that was recently featured in Southern Living Magazine. Tour guides on the tour will share interesting details and information about each home. Proceeds from the tour will go toward Inova Alexandria Hospital, which this year is celebrating 150 years of serving the local community.
Lizzo: The Special Tour
September 27 at Capital One Arena
Enough Said! Tickets here.
27th Annual Art on the Avenue
Oct. 1, 10 am – 6 pm
Del Ray
Art on the Avenue returns this year after a tumultuous festival last year that was marked by an all-day power outage in Del Ray. The power outage had a big effect on the festival as restaurants along Mount Vernon Avenue, which normally count on a big day of business, weren’t able to open. This year’s Art on the Avenue will include 350 juried artists, from quilters to card-makers to cartographers, displaying their one-of-a-kind wares. You can also grab a bite from 20+ food vendors along Mount Vernon Avenue. Visit www.artontheavenue.org for more information on this free event.
Disney’s Frozen & Encanto – On Ice!
October 6 – 10 at Eagle Bank Arena
Your littles will love seeing their favorite Frozen and Encanto characters live, on ice with all of their favorite songs! Tickets here.
MasterChef Junior Live!
Oct 7 at Warner Theatre
America’s favorite cooking show is now on tour with MasterChef Junior Live! This high-energy, interactive, stage production brings the culinary hit TV show MasterChef Junior directly to fans and foodies alike… LIVE on stage at the Warner Theatre! Buy tickets here.
Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
Oct. 7 & 9, 6 pm – 9 pm
Mount Vernon
Bring a blanket and enjoy some delicious wine from local Virginia wineries on the historic Mount Vernon grounds. Enjoy unlimited wine samples while enjoying the sunset on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River. Mount Vernon members receive $10 off ticket prices. See the full event info and secure your tickets here.
International City Food Festival
October 13-15
From our day-to-day routines to long-held traditions, culture is baked into our meals. From Oct. 13-15, Events DC’s International City Food Festival invites you to taste new perspectives and immerse yourself in DC’s global food story through three days of delicious celebrations, including the Embassy Chef Challenge (Oct. 13), Taste of Oktoberfest (Oct. 14) and a Día de los Muertos Food & Film in the Park (Oct. 15). Tickets are available now.
Paws in the Park 
Oct. 16, 11 am – 4 pm
Oronoco Bay Park
Alexandria’s Love Your Pet Day has been rebranded this year as Paws in the Park. The free festival features an entertainment stage, vendors, food, drinks, and adoptable animals from several different local rescue groups. Well-behaved, leashed pets are allowed at the event. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, which coordinates adoptions for the city’s animal shelter pets and provides other services to pet owners, such as a pet pantry.
Chris Rock at DAR Constitution Hall
October 27
Chris Rock is taking the stage at DAR Constitution Hall on Thursday, 27th October 2022! This fall, the monumental and award-winning comedian is stopping by Washington D.C. for his 38-date North American leg called the Ego Death World Tour. This much-anticipated trek is Rock’s first tour in five years! Tickers can be purchased here.
Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon
October 29
Collect candy around the historic grounds, join in the Costume Parade and celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Check out more information here.
Del Ray Halloween Parade
Oct. 30, 2pm
Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray
One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions is the annual Halloween parade. Kids, pets, and strollers in costumes are invited to march and show off their best and scariest Halloween costumes. Awards are given for best pet costume, best-decorated business, best-decorated home, and best-decorated stroller. The parade is free to both attend and march in.
Trick or Treat on South Lee Street in Old Town
Oct. 31, late afternoon/early evening. 
If you and your kids haven’t experienced Halloween on South Lee Street in Old Town, we recommend checking it out this year. The Alexandria Police close off the street to traffic, including several blocks surrounding the area. They give children goody bags filled with treats from the National Confectioners Association. The atmosphere on the street (and the surrounding streets) on the evening of October 31 is incredibly festive. Little ones start to appear around 5 pm as neighbors wait outside to greet trick-or-treaters until about 10 pm. There are also many adult parties that line the route – so it is a fun and social affair for all ages. You can read our full feature on Halloween on South Lee Street here.
Pro Tip – Stroll down Captains Row, the 100 block of Prince Street throughout October to see spooky Halloween decorations throughout the month of October!
Alexandria Colonial Tours’ Ghost and Graveyard Tours
Each Night in October from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm and 9 pm to 10 pm
Old Town
What better way to celebrate Spooky Season than by taking one of the legendary Alexandria ghost tours? Walk through the charming streets of historic Old Town while following a colonial-costumed guide by lantern for an engaging history tour on Alexandria’s Original Ghost & Graveyard Tour. During this entertaining and fun tour, you’ll hear ghost stories, legends, folklore, mysteries, and angry ghosts looking for revenge. These ghost tours are great for kids and adults. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. For tour times and tickets, visit their website here.
Go Leaf Peeping
Throughout the Fall
Alexandria and other parts of the region
Make the trip to Fort Ward Park (4301 W. Braddock Road) for the city’s best leaf-peeping. This park, which has a lovely loop for walking, is home to six “State Champions,” or the biggest tree of their species in all of Virginia, as well as a notable black tupelo tree, with deep red and purple hues. Or, take a drive along the scenic George Washington Parkway, which also offers spectacular fall foliage.
Go Apple Picking
Throughout the Fall & Area
Thrilllist DC has put together a comprehensive list of where to go apple picking throughout the region. From their site “Apple picking through verdant orchards is one of fall’s finest pursuits, along with savoring apple cider donuts and picking out pumpkins. Luckily, many of the DMV’s apple orchards let you do all three and some even turn their red and green harvest into delectable fruit pies and hard cider sold on site, while others host fall activities like live music, hayrides, and festivals to engage the whole crew. No matter what your ideal fall afternoon looks like, these eight apple orchards in Maryland and Virginia have you covered for apple picking and beyond.
Pick Pumpkins and Support Local Charities
Oct. 1 – Oct. 31
Immanuel Church on the Hill
Visit the Immanuel Church on the Hill’s Pumpkin Patch (3606 Seminary Road). The patch is open October 1-31 (weekdays from noon – 6 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) You can pick up pumpkins of all sizes, plus baked goods and homemade soup! The best part? All proceeds from the pumpkin patch support Immanuel’s local and international outreach efforts.
DC Beer Fest
Nov. 5, 12 pm-3 pm and 5 pm – 8 pm
Nationals Park
Enjoy unlimited beer samples for $50 at Nationals Park as well as food trucks, DJs, bands, and dueling pianos. Dozens of craft breweries will be present and will be serving up fall seasonal beers. Many of your local favorite breweries will be present as well as maybe some new names you’re not as familiar with. Get your tickets to the DC Beer Fest here.
Washington Capitals Hockey Games
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Beginning in Mid-October
Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals return to the ice on Oct. 12 to take on the Boston Bruins. Nothing quite tops the excitement of catching a Caps game in person. If you’re heading to a Caps game this fall, be sure to check out our complete guide to attending a Caps game here.
DMV Black Restaurant Week
Throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Nov. 7-14
Support and celebrate black-owned restaurants in the DC area by visiting one of the many amazing black-owned establishments. Participating locations will offer discounts on menu items as well as specialty dishes throughout the week. Visit the event website here for more details and participating restaurants.
Bluey’s Big Play at The Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center
Nov. 22 – 27
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! This brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning children’s television series features an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm and music by Bluey composer Joff Bush. This is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before—brought to real life! Buy tickets here!
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Leesburg, VA
Oct. 28 – Dec. 16
Harry Potter fans will love this experience. Inspired by the Forbidden Forest of the Harry Potter world, the woodland trail experience in Morven Park in Leesburg will take guests through a path of magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Sounds, lights, and special effects will help bring the magical Harry Potter world to life. After traveling down the trail, visitors can enjoy food and drinks in a themed village. There will also be a shop where fans can buy merchandise and gifts. The Forbidden Forest Experience begins Oct. 28 and runs through Dec. 16. Get your tickets here.
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