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Autumn in Northern Virginia is a beautiful time of year. The leaves begin to change and the crisp smell in the chilly air takes over. It’s also the time to visit all of the corn mazes and fall festivals, as well as a great opportunity to taste the seasonal flavors at local breweries (and NOVA has some great ones).

Here at Safford of Winchester, we think that no matter what you end up doing this fall season in NOVA, loading up the family into your Jeep or Ram and heading out to at least a few of these events is a must. Our community is close, and these festivities are what help keep us strong. We’ve selected a few of our favorites that highlight the beauty and great people that represent our area.

Our Fall Adventure Guide is designed to give you everything you need to know to plan out your autumn events in the northern Virginia area.

Fall is for Festivals

One of the greatest parts of fall is the sheer number of festivals around. And unlike a lot of summer events, these can last the entire season, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan on attending! Take a look at some of our favorites here.

$6 – $17 | Sep. 24 to Oct. 31 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Located right in Centreville, Cox Farms has been putting on a great fall festival for northern Virginia for decades, and they have the process down! A great one for kids, this festival has hayrides, slides, pumpkins galore and a billy goat village. There’s plenty for adults to partake in as well, including a complex corn maze that is also part of their Fields of Fear event.

FREE | Oct. 8 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The city of Fairfax hosts an annual one-day event in historic downtown. This event has grown to be a mecca for artisans, crafters, and food vendors for fall, with more than 400 creators in attendance to showcase their goods.

$10 – $15 | Sep. 17 to Nov. 8 | 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For those of you with kids, this is the ultimate fall event in the area. Located in Leesburg, Pumpkin Village is home to dozens of great family-friendly activities, such as a corn maze, moon bounces and huge hill slides. For the parents, enjoy an on-site farmers market to purchase local produce, food, and pumpkins.

$8 – $14 | Sep. 30 to Nov. 8 | 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6p.m. on weekends

Another Leesburg festival brings the corn maze theme to new heights. Their maze is massive at 24-acres, and each year they have a new theme, along with relevant trivia challenges to make it through. It’s truly a unique experience! And because it’s so close to Pumpkin Village, you can coordinate your day and attend both events.

Fall is for Foam: Brewery Tours

Aside from the great weather for festivals and foliage, another great aspect of autumn is the new lineups from incredible local craft breweries. It’s worth showing up and showing them love throughout the year, and enjoying the fascinating process of watching them create delicious beer.

Tour: Saturdays | 12:15 to 2 p.m. | FREE

Tasting Room Hours

Monday 6 to 10 p.m.

Thur-Fri 4 to 11 p.m.

Saturday Noon to 11 p.m.

Sunday 12:30 to 8 p.m.

Constructed inside a renovated soda bottling plant, this family-owned brewery in Harrisonburg is small but growing. The creators of Brothers Brewing are — you guessed it — three brothers who grew up in the local area. They’re committed to fostering local products and services, and they aim to bring a unique and delightful craft beer experience to Virginians everywhere.

We spoke with Adam Shifflett, one of the brothers. He has a lot of pride in the products they create, as well as the love they share with the community. “We put a lot of love and science into the beers,” Adam said, “But beyond that we also make sure we are always interacting with our community in a meaningful way.” Their specialty brew this fall (and one you have to try) is called Resolute, a bourbon barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout. Want an early taste and the chance to taste other special and experimental beers? Adam has a tip: “Most of our specialty stuff is first released to our Horizon Society members.”

Tour: Saturdays | Noon

Tasting Room Hours

Thursday 5 to 9 p.m.

Friday 5 to 9 p.m.

Saturday Noon to 9 p.m.

Sunday 2 to 6 p.m.

Owned and operated by military vets, this Manassas brewery prides themselves on being 100 percent American in their ingredients, and they bring their same pride and attention to their craft as they did in serving their country. With 12 beers on tap, this microbrewery is worth your trip and support.

Tour: Saturdays | 12 to 6 p.m. | $8

Tasting Room Hours

Tuesday 4 to 9 p.m.

Wed-Thur 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.

Lost Rhino is taking NOVA by storm. Located in Ashburn, their brewery brings locally sourced dishes together with their selection of more than 12 beers on tap to create the perfect pairing. You can also fill up your growler and buy some great swag. Tour purchases come with a free glass and four samples.

Fall is for Foliage

For the outdoorsy, the NOVA and Shenandoah area foliage is a highlight of the season, but its beauty is fleeting. To ensure as many people as possible get a chance to enjoy the change in season, several events are tailored for foliage viewing. Take your Jeep or Ram out to some of these events and take in the beautiful fall sights and temperatures.

$15 for kids and $35/$85 for adults | Oct. 14-16

Those with a more active lifestyle will love the Shenandoah Bike Foliage Festival, with a full weekend of riding several great stretches of Virginia roadway. You’ll see everything from the Blue Ridge peaks to the Allegheny range by bike. The festival draws more than 700 riders annually, and it has an awesome street party to finish off the event, where everyone can come together and unwind from their weekend of riding.

FREE | Oct. 1-2, 8-9, and 15-16 | 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The blankets of color covering the treetops near Graves Mountain is astounding in October, and there’s no better way to enjoy it then by bringing the family together to enjoy the apple harvest. They provide the great food and entertainment to ensure you’re comfortable enough to experience the plentiful crafts vendors, hayrides, pony rides and the open apple orchard. You can even gather around and watch them create fresh apple butter for sale to visitors.

Ready to Enjoy Fall in NOVA?

There are a number of great events every fall, and this list only scratches the surface of what’s out there. We hope this article works as a great jumping off point for you and your family’s autumn adventures! If you need a new vehicle to enjoy the sights and sounds of the fall, we have a wide selection of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles in the Winchester area.