Lucky you. You just found NOVAtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Northern Virginia each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)
Oktoberfests
Vienna Oktoberfest | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Historic Church Street, Vienna | Free | This well-beloved Oktoberfest in Northern Virginia features various marketplaces, free kid-friendly activities, a business expo, and many beer and wine gardens with food.
Oktoberfest at The Wharf | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 2-5 p.m. | District Wharf, Washington, DC | Free | With events like a dachshund dash, a stein hoisting contest, and polka dancing, this Oktoberfest celebration is not to be missed.
Rocktoberfest | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 4-10 p.m. | Reston Town Center, Reston | Free | Hear the legendary band Smash Mouth, along with other groups, including Ace Monroe and keeton.
Festivals are a great way to celebrate the fall season in NOVA. | Photo via Rosslyn BID
Fall Festivals
Art on the Avenue | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria | Free | Stroll through Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, featuring over 300 artists and food vendors. Enjoy fun kid-friendly activities and take part in volunteer opportunities.
Rosslyn Fall Fest | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 1-6 p.m. | NOW Pop-Up Park, Arlington | Free | Celebrate the fall season with cider flights, live music, pumpkin decorating, and other seasonal activities.
Fall Wine Festival | Friday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 12 | 6-9 p.m. | Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon | $40+ | Savor a selection of Virginia-made wines on the lawn at Mount Vernon, all while enjoying stunning views of the Potomac River.
49th Annual Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Downtown Fairfax, Fairfax | Free | Check out over 400 different vendors, including crafts, food, children’s activities, beer gardens, and other seasonal attractions.
Fall Harvest Family Days | Saturday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 19 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon | $0+ | What better way to celebrate the fall season than with 18th-century activities like wheat threading, basket-making, and cooking.
Bull Run Fall Wine Festival | Saturday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 19 | 12-5 p.m. | The Winery at Bull Run, Centreville | $55+ | Enjoy wine and beer samples with your ticket, plus shop local vendors, grab bites from food trucks, and listen to live music.
Keith Urban will be making a stop in Northern Virginia on his tour. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Concerts
Keith Urban | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. | Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow | $25+ | This renowned country singer, known for his ability to intertwine other genres into country music, will be stopping in NOVA on his “High and Alive World Tour.
Sierra Hull + John Craigie Northeast Autumn 2025 | Wednesday, Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | The Birchmere, Alexandria | $60 | Catch these two acclaimed folk artists as they share the stage for a memorable night at a top Alexandria venue.
Hiss Golden Messenger | Friday, Oct. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna | $43+ | Often compared to the greats like James Taylor + Bob Dylan, this folk artist will perform an intimate solo show at this popular venue in NOVA.
Candlelight: Halloween Classics | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 6:45-8:45 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington, DC | $43+ | Experience spooky season favorites like “The Addams Family” and “Ghostbusters” performed by an orchestra, all set in a beautifully candlelit atmosphere.
The Simon + Garfunkel Songbook | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna | $43+ | The first night is sold out — don’t miss your chance to grab tickets for night two, as six talented musicians perform the iconic songs of Simon + Garfunkel.
Get ready for the Caps to take the ice this season. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Sports
Washington Spirit vs. San Diego Wave FC | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 1-3:30 p.m. | Audi Field, Washington, DC | $27+ | Root for your favorite women’s soccer team as they have just over a month left of the season.
Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins | Wednesday, Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | $98+ | Get ready for the season opener of the Washington Capitals, but you could also catch one of the pre-season games on Thursday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 4 if you want to see a game before then.
The Army Ten Miler | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 6:20-11:30 a.m. | The Pentagon, Washington, DC | $110 | Register for this popular 10-mile race in DC, along with wheelchair races and kid-friendly races. All race proceeds benefit Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs.
Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 3 p.m. | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | The NBA season is underway — catch our home team in this preseason game.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.