Fall Festivals, Markets, Music and More Around NOVA This Weekend: October 2–4, 2026 🍁
Fall is in full swing across NOVA and nearby Virginia communities, and this weekend brings a packed lineup of ways to enjoy it. From high-flying DockDogs competitions and colorful farmers markets to live music, comedy, classic cars, family activities, books, and Halloween fun, October 2–4 offers something for just about every kind of weekend plan. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back morning outdoors, an afternoon festival, or a lively night out, here are some of the events happening around NOVA and neighboring communities this weekend.
DockDogs® at the 41st Annual Country Fair & Auctions 
October 2, Friday · 4:00 PM – Evening | October 3, Saturday · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
41st Annual Country Fair & Auctions
11835 Hazel Circle Dr, Bristow, VA 20136-2180
🎟️ Competition Registration Fees Apply
Get ready for high-flying DockDogs® action with Big Air, Speed Retrieve, and Extreme Vertical at the 41st Annual Country Fair & Auctions. Two days of fast-paced competition make this a fun stop for dog lovers and spectators.
Haunted Hustle 5K & Spooky Sprint
October 3, Saturday · 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Yowell Meadow Park
310 N Blue Ridge Ave, Culpeper, VA 22701
🎟️ Registration Required via TicketSignup
Costumes, community spirit, and Halloween fun come together for the Haunted Hustle 5K & Spooky Sprint. The 5K begins at 10:00 AM, followed by the Spooky Sprint at 11:30 AM, with runners encouraged to arrive in their most creative costumes. After the race, the celebration continues with food trucks, refreshments, and a Halloween costume contest for a festive morning in Culpeper.
The 9th Annual Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival
October 3, Saturday · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Riverfront Park
701 Sophia St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5932
🎟️ Free to Attend
Riverfront Park becomes a gathering place for readers, writers, and storytellers during the 9th Annual Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival. More than 60 authors representing genres ranging from horror, science fiction, and fantasy to romance, children’s books, and memoir will fill the park alongside speakers, panels, readers, and food trucks for a full day celebrating independent literature.
38th Annual Leesburg Car Show
October 3, Saturday · 12:00 PM
Downtown Leesburg
25 W Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176-2901
🎟️ Public Event
Historic downtown Leesburg transforms into an open-air showcase of automotive history for the 38th Annual Leesburg Car Show. More than 150 classic cars are expected to line the streets, creating an afternoon filled with polished chrome, vintage details, timeless designs, and plenty to admire for serious collectors and casual visitors alike.
Saturday in the Garden: Fall Family Day
October 3, Saturday · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
VCE PW Teaching Garden
9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, VA 20136-1217
🎟️ Registration Required via Pears
Spend a fall morning surrounded by gardens, seasonal activities, and hands-on family fun. Visitors can tour the teaching gardens, enjoy creative crafts, meet the Master Gardeners who tend the property, and learn about composting and gardening along the way. It’s an easygoing outdoor experience designed for curious kids and grown-ups alike.
Silver Tones at Art on the Avenue Festival
October 3, Saturday · 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Mt. Vernon Community School
2601 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305-2504
🎟️ Free Public Event
The Silver Tones Swing Band returns to Alexandria for a lively performance during Art on the Avenue in Del Ray. Classic swing and big-band sounds add even more energy to a festival already filled with hundreds of artists, musicians, food vendors, and family activities throughout one of Alexandria’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
Historic Manassas Farmers Market
October 3, Saturday · 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Commuter Parking Lot
9024 Prince William St, Manassas, VA 20110
🎟️ Public Event
Start the weekend among colorful produce, seasonal ingredients, and locally sourced favorites at the Historic Manassas Farmers Market. This longtime community tradition brings regional growers and vendors together for a relaxed Saturday morning centered around fresh food, local shopping, and the charm of Historic Manassas.
Burke Farmers Market
October 3, Saturday · 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Burke Farmers Market
10399 Premier Ct, Burke, VA 22015
🎟️ Public Event
Spend the morning browsing locally made and farm-inspired finds in Burke. Blackstone Honey Bee Farms joins the market with golden honey, whipped honey, handcrafted beeswax candles, pollen granules, and other hive-inspired goods, making this an easy stop for anyone looking to shop small and bring home something local.
Haymarket Farmers Market
October 4, Sunday · 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Haymarket Farmers Market
15000 Washington St, Haymarket, VA 20169-4921
🎟️ Public Event
Ease into Sunday with a leisurely walk through Haymarket Farmers Market. Browse local vendors and discover products from Blackstone Honey Bee Farms, including pure honey, whipped varieties, beeswax candles, and pollen straight from the hive. It’s a relaxed way to support local makers while enjoying a slower start to the day.
Pop-Up: Cafe Flores @ Eavesdrop Brewery
October 3, Saturday · 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Eavesdrop Brewery
7223 Centreville Rd, Suite 115, Manassas, VA
🎟️ Public Event
Coffeehouse creativity meets brewery atmosphere when Cafe Flores pops up at Eavesdrop Brewery. Specialty lattes, matcha creations, and colorful refreshing drinks take over the taproom for a one-day collaboration perfect for anyone craving something sweet, caffeinated, or a little different.
Live Music: Personal Moose @ Eavesdrop Brewery
October 2, Friday · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Eavesdrop Brewery
7223 Centreville Rd, Manassas, VA 20111
🎟️ Public Event
Personal Moose sets the tone for the weekend with a relaxed evening of live music at Eavesdrop Brewery. The Northern Virginia trio blends classic rock, Americana, folk, bluegrass, and more, creating an easygoing soundtrack for drinks, conversation, and a casual Friday night out.
HIJYNX at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run
October 3, Saturday · 6:00 PM
The Farm Brewery at Broad Run
16017 John Marshall Hwy, Haymarket, VA 20137-2250
🎟️ Public Event
Saturday night turns up the volume at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run as HIJYNX takes the stage. Set against the brewery’s laid-back outdoor atmosphere, the performance brings live music and weekend energy together for an evening made for gathering with friends and staying awhile.
Next Stop Comedy at Trouvaille Brewing Company
October 2, Friday · 8:00 PM
Trouvaille Brewing Company
14600 Washington St, Unit 150, Haymarket, VA 20169
🎟️ Tickets via Next Stop Comedy
Next Stop Comedy brings a fresh lineup of stand-up performers to Trouvaille Brewing Company for a night of laughs and local brews. Each show features a rotating group of comedians, including performers seen on television and heard on popular podcasts, giving the intimate brewery setting a full comedy-club feel.
#IMOMSOHARD – The Crashing Out Tour
October 3, Saturday · 7:30 PM
The Birchmere
3701 Mount Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305-2408
🎟️ Tickets via Ticketmaster
Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley bring their wildly relatable #IMOMSOHARD comedy to The Birchmere with The Crashing Out Tour. Their sharp, unfiltered take on motherhood, marriage, everyday chaos, and the wonderfully messy realities of adult life turns the evening into an unapologetic night of laughter for an adult audience.
Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show
October 2, Friday · 7:30 PM
Jiffy Lube Live
7800 Cellar Door Dr, Bristow, VA 20136
🎟️ Tickets via Ticketmaster
Chris Stapleton brings his All-American Road Show to Jiffy Lube Live for a powerhouse night of country music in Bristow. With unmistakable vocals, acclaimed songwriting, and a live sound built for a massive outdoor stage, the performance promises an unforgettable evening for country fans across the region.
KATIE WEDGE
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