Get in the spirit of the season with a fall festival — or two (WTOP's Rachel Nania)
WASHINGTON — Cooler temperatures and changing leaves are just a few signs that fall is here. Festivals celebrating apples and pumpkins are another.
If you’re looking to get in the sweater-weather spirit this season, look no further. Here are 18 of the area’s best fall festivals.

Through Oct. 22 The annual Maryland Renaissance Festival has it all — from jousting tournaments to fire-eaters, to pirates and puppetry. And this year, the fun lasts nearly two whole months. Read about some of the festival’s 2017 highlights on wtop.com. (Courtesy Maryland Renaissance Festival)
Courtesy Maryland Renaissance Festival

Saturday, Sept. 16 H Street is one of the city’s most thriving neighborhoods, and so is its annual festival. The free event includes food, face painting, live performances and more. “It’s such a hip neighborhood now, and the festival has just exploded. Every year it gets more and more popular,” says D.C.-area travel and parenting writer Guiomar Ochoa. But be forewarned: “Don’t take your car, take Metro. It’s impossible to find parking,” Ochoa adds. (WTOP/Dana Gooley)
WTOP/Dana Gooley

Saturday, Sept. 16 Taste the fruits of the cider industry’s labor at the 2017 Virginia Hard Cider Festival in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Sample ciders from more than 25 local producers. Live music and food round out the event. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
AP Photo/Matthew Mead
Sept. 16 and 17 Sample more than 150 wines from across the state, peruse merchandise from local arts and crafts vendors, taste cheese from Maryland’s creameries and kick back to live music at this year’s Maryland Wine Festival. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Sept. 22, 23, 24 Potterheads, pay attention: This event is for you. Sept. 22 through 24, wizards, witches and muggles from around the area will flock to Staunton, Virginia, for a weekend celebrating all things “Harry Potter.” There will be butterbeer, Horcrux hunting and magical activities for fans of all ages. Read more about the Harry Potter-themed festival on wtop.com. (Courtesy Kate Simon Lifestyle Photography)
Courtesy Kate Simon Lifestyle Photography

Saturday, Sept. 23 Travel and parenting writer Guiomar Ochoa says the annual Barracks Row Fall Festival is a great option for those looking to learn a little more about the city’s historic Marine barracks. There are tours of the post, as well as live entertainment, a petting zoo and a beer garden for adults. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Saturday, Sept. 23 Back now for its sixth year is D.C.’s largest craft beer festival, Snallygaster. Sample from more than 350 craft beers on draft, all while supporting the sustainable food nonprofit, Arcadia. (AP/Dave Martin)
AP/Dave Martin

Sunday, Sept. 24 Thirty of the Georgetown neighborhood’s top restaurants and chefs set up tents and tables for a day on K Street along the Georgetown waterfront to showcase their best dishes. Go hungry. (Courtesy Taste of Georgetown, Sam Kittner)
Courtesy Taste of Georgetown, Sam Kittner

Sept. 23 through Oct. 31 Parenting writer Guiomar Ochoa says families will find pony rides, mazes, a petting zoo, wagon rides and more on this 130-acre farm in Middletown, Maryland. However, one of her favorite things to do while in the area is to hop over to neighboring South Mountain Creamery for ice cream, tours and unique farm activities. Ochoa says the creamery feeds its calves every day at 4 p.m., and if you get there early enough, the staff lets its visitors grab a bottle and feed the baby cows. (AP Photo/David Mercer)
AP Photo/David Mercer

Sept. 23 through Oct. 31 Visitors at this Frederick, Maryland, farm will find a corn maze, rides, slides and themed games, but parenting writer Guiomar Ochoa says one of the coolest things about this fall festival is the option to “rent” a campfire. For $75, groups of 30 to 50 people get a picnic table, benches and all the wood needed for a campfire. There’s even an additional package for s’mores. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 Find bratwurst, beer and bands in Frederick, Maryland, at one of the biggest and best Oktoberfest celebrations in the D.C. area. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
AP Photo/Matthias Schrader

Oct. 6, 7 and 8 This wine festival takes place on the historic grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia. The event includes live blues music, tours of the Washingtons’ home and educational seminars. (Maria Bryk for George Washington’s Mount Vernon)
Maria Bryk for George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Oct. 6, 7 and 8 D.C.’s Union Market heats up as the weather gets cool with the annual All Things Go Fall Classic. The three-day event includes a robust lineup of live music, as well as food from a number of local vendors. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for EDENS)
Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for EDENS

Oct. 7-8; Oct. 14-15; Oct. 21-22 Now in its 48th year, this fall festival includes bluegrass music, hayrides, a hay maze, apple butter cooking demonstrations and apple picking. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
AP Photo/Steven Senne

Oct. 14 and 15 This year’s 42nd annual Virginia Wine Festival is in the heart of Old Town Alexandria at Oronoco Bay Park. Taste more than 200 Virginia wines and sample some of the state’s best oysters. There’s also live entertainment and activities for the kids. (Matt Chenet for Visit Alexandria)
Matt Chenet for Visit Alexandria

Oct. 21 and 22 Celebrate the 2017 fall season the 18th century way at Mount Vernon’s Fall Harvest Family Days with craft demonstrations, music and more. (Kevin Ambrose for George Washington’s Mount Vernon)
Kevin Ambrose for George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Oct. 21 and 22 The Claude Moore Colonial Farm in McLean, Virginia, is another place where you can step back in time. “It’s literally maybe a mile or two before you get to Tysons Corner if you’re coming from D.C. You’d never know it was there if you didn’t look for it,” says travel and parenting writer Guiomar Ochoa. On Oct. 21 and 22, join the working farm for food (apples, savory meat pies and homemade breads), entertainment and crafts, all made in true colonial fashion. “You can see turkeys, pigs, chickens; they have period food that they’re selling and they’re cooking it in front of you,” Ochoa said. “It’s fun for the kids to disconnect from 2017 and really go back in time.” (Kevin Ambrose for George Washington’s Mount Vernon)

Nov. 3 and 4 Now in its 60th year, the Urbanna Oyster Festival is the Commonwealth’s official oyster festival. Enjoy more than 50 food vendors, wine and beer tastings, a parade and an oyster-shucking contest in the Rappahannock River community. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
AP Photo/Steve Helber














