SEASONAL EVENTS

• National Book Festival (on the mall in September)
• Shenandoah Hot Air Balloon Festival
• National Cherry Blossom Festival
• Smithsonian Kite Festival (on the mall in the spring)
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival (on the mall in the summer)
• County and State Fairs
• Starlight Cinema Drive-in Movies (in Centreville) in August and free
• Military Bands outdoor concerts in the summer
• Capitol Fourth Concert (go to the rehearsal the night before)
• Kennedy Center Open House and Opera in the Outfield
• Flower Mart at the National Cathedral
• Sunflower fields in Jarrettsville, Maryland (hundreds of acres of sunflowers in the summer)

• FALL FESTIVALS

In Virginia:

Cox Farms Fall Festival
Centreville, VA
This festival is HUGE...plan to spend several hours. There are a lot of slides that are fun for the whole family. There are also rope swings, farm animals (including an interactive "goat village"), a great hayride, a silly corn maze, free apples and cider, a special area for children under 5, straw tunnels, and other activities. Admission includes a small pumpkin.

Burke Nursery's Fall Festival
Burke, VA
Daily activities include slides, hay rides, farm animals, pumpkin fort, rope swing, and pirate and western-themed activities. Small pumpkin is included with admission.

Old Mine Ranch
Dumfries, Virginia
Through the month of October, enjoy pumpkin picking, hayrides, slides, petting farm, moonbounce and more. Open everyday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spookfest every night except Sunday 7-9 p.m.

Hollins Farms Orchard
Delaplane, Virginia
One of the largest pumpkin patches in Northern Virginia. Pick a pumpkin, see farm animals and baby calves, take a pony ride, enjoy live music, hiking, and more. Open Wednesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October.

Heather Hill Gardens
Fairfax Station, VA
The Fall Festival includes pumpkins, a pumpkin fort, climbing ropes and swings for children.

Stribling Orchard
Markham, VA
Pick apples and choose pumpkins at this family farm which is more than 200 years old. Visitors can picnic at mountaintop tables and view farm animals.

Marker-Miller Orchards
Winchester, VA
Pick-you-own apples and pumpkins. There's an apple harvest festival Oct 10-11, and a pumpkin festival.

Virginia Farm Market
Winchester, VA
Pumpkinland features a pumpkin-lined path with red wagons and a pumpkin-filled wagon designed as a photo backdrop.

Great Country Farms
Bluemont, VA
This 200-acre farm offers hayrides to a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Activities include pedal carts, a giant corn box and a 2,800-square-foot pumpkin jumpin' pillow for outdoor bouncing, five mazes, a twin 60-foot slide and a mountain made of tractor tires.

Pumpkinville
Leesburg, VA
The festival includes hay mazes, hill slides, a moon bounce and pumpkin fort. Pumpkins are available for picking. On weekends, children can fly down a 200-foot zip line and ride camels.

Ticonderoga Farms
Chantilly, VA
The Pumpkin Festival at this 1,000-acre, fifth-generation family farm features hayrides, a pumpkin patch, hillside slides, tetherball, face painting, a candy corn hut, a small petting zoo and refreshments.

In Maryland:

Butler's Orchard
Germantown, Maryland
Annual Pumpkin Festival is held weekends throughout October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick a pumpkin; take a hayride; explore a hay maze; and enjoy crafts, food, and family activities.

Homestead Farm
Poolesville, Maryland
Harvest festival is held weekends through October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take a hayride, pick your own apples or pumpkins, find your way through the hay maze.

Larriland Farms
Woodbine, Maryland
Annual Pumpkin Festival is held weekends throughout October. Pick a pumpkin; take a hayride; and explore a hay maze and more.

• CHRISTMAS!

Here is a list of a few of the things we love to do at Christmas time in the area. For a HUGE list of things to do, go to www.washingtonpost.com/holidayguide.

Creche exhibit at the Washington National Cathedral
(Display of nativity scenes from around the world...open during regular visiting hours through Jan. 6)

Festival of Lights at the Washington DC LDS Temple
(Nightly performances as well as a live nativity and a large display of nativities from around the world.)

Holiday Magic at the National Botanic Gardens
(The train display this year is fantastic! Open late on Tuesdays and Thursdays with musical performances.)

Downtown Holiday Market (8th and F Streets)
(Nice handmade gifts for sale...don't miss the hot donuts!)

National Harbor (click here for a full list of activities)
(Very festive with Christmas trees, music, holiday market on the weekends, ICE show)

National Christmas Tree
(see the National tree as well as the smaller State trees, musical performances nightly, Santa's workshop)

Christmas at Mount Vernon


Zoo Lights at the National Zoo

Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County
(A large walk-through light display with really fun garden-themed lights...also a train display in the greenhouse)


Holiday Boat Parade in Alexandria


Willard Hotel in D.C. (festive lobby with nightly free concerts)