Welcome to the heart of fall in the D.C. area, where the crisp weather and approaching October create the perfect backdrop for festive outdoor activities. Wrap yourself in your coziest scarf and explore these delightful spots in Maryland and Virginia to make the most of the harvest season.
Virginia
- Cox Farms Fall Festival
- 📅 Thursdays to Mondays through Nov. 6, plus Tuesday, Nov. 7.
- 📍 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, Virginia
- 💲 $10-$25
A mere 40-minute drive from downtown D.C., Cox Farms offers a plethora of attractions. Dive into the Cornundrum, a creative corn maze fun house with themes like pirates, caves, and jungles. Whether you’re sliding down themed slides, feeding goats, or enjoying live music, this festival has something for everyone. And, for those ready for a dash of spookiness, Fields of Fear is already open, with early-season discounts.
- Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park
- 📅 Through Nov. 7 (closed Tuesdays)
- 📍 19246 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, Virginia
- 💲 $17.95-$22.95 (depending on when you visit)
Leesburg Animal Park transforms into a Pumpkin Village, offering a wild twist to fall festivities. Explore giant slides, hay mazes, moon bounces, and animal petting while enjoying the company of diverse animals. Weekends add face painting, live entertainment, and a kiddie zip line to the mix, ensuring a full day of family fun.
- Great Country Farms
- 📅 Through Nov. 5
- 📍 Bluemont, Virginia
- 💲 $12-$18 (save by buying online in advance)
Great Country Farms beckons with apple and pumpkin picking, farm play areas, a Cow Pie Putt Putt course, mazes, and wagon rides. For fishing enthusiasts, bring your gear for catch-and-release fun at the farm’s pond. The Fall Apple Harvest + Corn Maze kicks off September, while October is dedicated to pumpkin picking and adult corn maze nights. And, after Halloween, don’t miss Pumpkin Chunkin’ Weekend for some messy jack-o’-lantern fun.
Maryland
- Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest
- 📅 Through Oct. 31
- 📍 Mount Airy
- 💲 $18
Gaver Farm offers a day filled with fall delights, including a 7-acre corn maze, giant slides, farm animals, and pick-your-own fields for pumpkins and apples. Open daily, it’s a great spot for market shopping, enjoying the Donut Hut, Barn Grill, hayrides, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards. Hayrides to the pick-your-own areas are complimentary.
- Butler’s Orchard
- 📅 Wednesday through Sunday through Oct. 29, plus Monday, Oct. 9
- 📍 Germantown, Maryland
- 💲 $10-$17
Butler’s Orchard’s 43rd annual Pumpkin Festival promises hayloft jumps, hayrides, corn mazes, and a unique corn pool. Admission includes pick-your-own pumpkin privileges, and you can save by going on a weekday or purchasing tickets online. For an extra cozy touch, consider renting a private campfire for a s’mores session.
- Magnolia Meadow Farms
- 📅 Through Oct. 29
- 📍 Thurmont, Maryland
- 💲 $15 (online)/$17 (at the gate)
A taste of country life awaits at Magnolia Meadow Farms, featuring Maryland’s Largest Corn Maze, apple cannons, giant slides, and more. Take a hayride to pick your own produce, from pumpkins and gourds to sunflowers and flowers. The farm market offers a variety of local produce, meats, and irresistible apple cider doughnuts. Moonlit Maze nights on Oct. 7 and 28 add an extra thrill to navigating 5 miles of corn maze trails after dark.
- Maryland Corn Maze
- 📅 Through Nov. 5
- 📍 Gambrills, Maryland
- 💲 $15.95
Embrace the superhero-themed corn maze at Maryland Corn Maze. Flashlight Nights offer after-dark fun, and various discounts and special days are scattered throughout the season. Beyond the maze, explore the farm yard with a hay pyramid, petting zoo, jump pad, and pumpkins galore.
- Montpelier Farms
- 📅 Through Nov. 5
- 📍 Upper Marlboro, Maryland
- 💲 General admission is $19 on weekends and $14 on weekdays
Montpelier Farms offers a delightful array of activities, from a 7-acre alien invasion-themed corn maze to hayrides, giant hill slides, pumpkin bowling, pedal karts, and more. Weekend admission includes access to Flashlight Nights for a haunt-free alien maze experience. Ensure you secure your tickets in advance for weekend visits in October, and consider adding a private campfire rental for an extra touch of warmth and relaxation.
