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Oct 7, 2025

Top Things to Do This Fall in Alexandria, VA 2025

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As the air starts to chill, autumn leaves create a scenic canopy above red brick sidewalks in Alexandria, VA, just named a top 5 best city in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure. Art festivals add to the seasonal spirit as locals load up at farmers’ markets and fall festivities pop up in Old Town, Del Ray and beyond. Sip local cider, stroll King Street for seasonal finds and Halloween treats, explore historic homes and take advantage of the bounty of fall activities below.

Table of Contents

no.1
Discover What’s New in Alexandria This Autumn
no.2
Fall into Festival Season with Arts and Culture Events
no.3
Savor Local Brews, Eats and Experiences
no.4
Explore Spooky Happenings in Alexandria this Fall with Ghost Tours and Historic Haunts
no.5
Shop Alexandria’s Personality-Packed Districts
no.6
Stroll Along Alexandria’s Cobblestoned Streets
A tree-lined residential street with colorful houses, including a red and yellow home, under tall trees with autumn leaves. Cars are parked along the curb and sunlight filters through the branches.
Dine By Category

Discover What’s New in Alexandria This Autumn

Four people toast with different cocktails over a table filled with food, including fried chicken, a sandwich, dipping sauce, and pasta. Sunlight streams in, creating a cheerful, lively fall atmosphere.
Pictured: Milk & Honey

Explore just-opened gems and new reasons to visit Alexandria this fall.

  • Donkey Kong Meets Celebrity Kitchen: Step intro a retro rewind at Continues Arcade. 50 original arcade cabinets, Skee Ball and pinball machines are fueled with nostalgic tokens to make you feel like a kid in a candy shop. Plus, don’t miss a full-service restaurant and bar from Iron Chef alum Chef Brian Lacayo and TV personality and Chef Advisor Spike Mendelsohn from Top Chef.
  • Elevated Comfort Cuisine: Enjoy made-from-scratch meals at  Milk & Honey, served with love and the celebration of soulful Southern flavors. Meanwhile, at LaPluma Coffee & Wine Bar, owners liana and Dany Lopez serve coffee, wine and cuisine rooted in tradition and inspired by the flavors of Guatemala and El Salvador.
  • Something Sparkly: Don’t miss Eliana Curated, a new jewelry boutique showcasing artfully designed pieces perfect for fall accessorizing.
  • A Spirited Getaway: From September 25 to October 6, Old Town Cocktail Week boasts 40+ local restaurants featuring creative craft cocktails and special events. New this year, find hotel packages to sweeten the deal, including private in-room martini experiences and more.

Fall into Festival Season with Arts and Culture Events

Three women stand on grass with two dogs—one in a hot dog costume and the other in a party hat—at what looks like a lively fall outdoor event. Tents, people, and brick buildings create a festive backdrop.
Pictured: Paws in the Park; Credit: Lucia Smith

Immerse yourself in Alexandria’s beloved fall festivals and events. Use our guide below to mark your calendars and plan your visit.

  • September 13-14—23rd Annual Alexandria Art Festival: Find thousands of pieces from juried artists across all media to peruse and purchase at John Carlyle Square
  • September 27-28—Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents: GERSHWIN & TCHAIKOVSKY: Hear an inspired rendition of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F by acclaimed pianist Michelle Cann, plus Tchaikovsky’s passionate Fifth Symphony and more during the opening concerts of conductor James Ross’s final season with Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.
  • October 4—30th Annual Art on the Avenue: Soak up the Del Ray community’s creative spirit with an artistic bonanza of some 300+ vendors along Mount Vernon Avenue.
  • October 12—Ethiopian Fall Festival: Celebrate the expansive Ethiopian diasporic community at this all-day festival at Chinquapin Park, filled with traditional dance, local food and live music.
  • October 12—Paws in the Park: Bring your-legged friends to Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s fall festival featuring local vendors, food and drink, music, adoptable dogs and more.

Savor Local Brews, Eats and Experiences

Four people sit at a high table in a brewery, smiling and raising their drinks for a toast. Colorful beer menus, fall-inspired artwork, and festive decor highlight the lively, modern space in the background.
Pictured: Lost Boy Cider

Taste unique local flavors across Alexandria’s dining scene this autumn. Enjoy a fall-themed brew from award-winning local favorites like Port City Brewing Company—featuring seasonal sips such as Oktoberfest Märzen Lager, Tidings Ale, Doppelbock, and Spite House—or explore offerings from Aslin Beer Company.

Did you know that Virginia is in the country’s top 10 largest apple-growing states? This apple season, head over to Lost Boy Cider, Northern Virginia’s first urban cidery. These no-sugar-added sips tell the story of founder Tristan Wright’s journey of discovering cider in Ireland to the quest to create a modern style, handcrafted cider that was also gluten and soy-free.

Top Drinks and Dining Events This Fall

Say “cheers!” throughout autumn in Alexandria.

  • September 25-October 6—Old Town Cocktail Week: Presented by Suntory Global Spirits and Captain Gregory’s, Old Town Cocktail Week celebrates imagination and innovation within Alexandria’s cocktail scene, from curated creations at 40+ restaurants to special events and workshops to stay-and-play hotel packages.
  • September 27—Alexandria Oktoberfest at John Carlyle Square: Say “Prost!” at John Carlyle Square Park alongside Bavarian bites and live music.
  • September 27—Aslin Beer Co. 10th Anniversary Party: Celebrate a decade of fan favorite brews at Aslin10, complete with top stand-up comics, Flavor Hive Food truck, 20+ beers and a kids Olympics quadrant for the little ones.
  • October 11-18—Old Town Oyster Week: Lovers of briny bivalves can spend a week sampling local oysters from restaurants across Old Town, complete with a shucking competition to kick off the fun.
  • October 10-12—Fall Wine Festival at George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Marvel at Potomac River views while savoring vino during Mount Vernon’s most popular annual event.
  • Every Saturday—Explore one of the nation’s longest continuously operating farmers’ markets for seasonal produce and treats just steps from the city’s historic waterfront.

Taste Ethiopian Honey Wine

A smiling couple stands together indoors; the woman wears a traditional embroidered dress while the man stands behind her with his arm around her shoulders. Behind them is a NEGUS banner and wine barrels, creating a cozy fall atmosphere.

Created by master winemaker, Gize Negussie, Negus Winery and Meadery Tasting Room is believed to be the first and only honey wine tasting room in the United States. Negus features Ethiopian honey wine, or tej, brewed to taste just like the fermented honey wine Negussie’s mother made in Ethiopia for family gatherings and celebrations, and made on premises with modern fermentation processes and equipment.

Image Credit: Misikir T Kabede

Try Ethiopian Tej

Explore Spooky Happenings in Alexandria this Fall with Ghost Tours and Historic Haunts

A street with brick row houses decorated for Halloween in the fall, featuring white fake spider webs, skeletons, pumpkins, and American flags, with a large tree shading the sidewalk and fallen leaves scattered on the ground.

Dating back to 1749, Alexandria’s history is filled with remarkable stories and mysterious legends embedded in the brick-lined streets and centuries-old sites. This spooky season, embark on a lantern-led ghost tour, hear chilling stories at historic sites and show off your costumes at Halloween events around town.

Top Halloween Events in Alexandria

  • October 25—HalloQueen Drag Brunch at King & Rye: Be thrilled by live entertainment and a luxurious meal, and unleash your inner monster, diva or mythical creature for a costume contest unlike any other.
  • October 26—29th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade: Children, pets and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes during this beloved annual parade ending with live music and an award presentation.
  • October 29 and 30—Poe in Alexandria: Literary buffs and lovers of the macabre will savor this special performance from “Edgar Allen Poe” himself, re-creating his visit to Virginia in 1849, shortly before his death.
  • October 31 and November 1—Official Halloween Bar Crawl: Grown-ups can get in on the frightening fun with this costumed crawl throughout Old Town eateries.
  • November 1—Alexandria Fall-O-Ween at John Carlyle Square: Wrap up spooky season with a family-friendly celebration at John Carlyle Square, complete with a costume parade and all-ages activities.
A woman in historical dress holds a lantern at night beside a brick house decorated with orange lights, cobwebs, pumpkins, and a blue skeleton for Halloween.

Get Goosebumps on a Ghost Tour

Get spooked on a stroll with Alexandria Colonial Tours, Nightly Spirits or Alexandria Ghosts, or gather your gang for a spine-chilling challenge at Escape Room Live.

Learn about one of Alexandria’s most famous ghost stories, The Female Stranger, which has enchanted visitors for nearly 200 years. Some say they still see her holding a candle in the Gadsby’s Tavern where she died…

Get Spooked

Shop Alexandria’s Personality-Packed Districts

Indulge in a shopping getaway where personality-packed neighborhoods make every small business purchase memorable. In Old Town, explore dozens of independent boutiques offering fall fashion, artisan-made jewelry, home décor and gourmet goodies, all framed by seasonal décor and red brick sidewalks.

In Del Ray, browse a colorful main street lined with homegrown shops, vintage treasures, and unique gifts you won’t find anywhere else, including The Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market, held on the second Saturday of every month. Time your visit with seasonal fall shopping events like the Made in ALX Fall Maker’s Market at Port City Brewing Co., and enjoy cozy café breaks between stops.

Visit Friends to Lovers Bookstore

A smiling woman in a colorful fall dress holds oversized red scissors in front of a bookshelf filled with vibrant, neatly arranged books.

Find your next page-turner at woman-and-queer owned Friends to Lovers Bookstore. Earlier this year, Jamie Fortin opened the first romance bookstore in the D.C. metro area, transporting visitors to a welcoming, community-minded space in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Jamie has resiliently rebuilt following a devastating fire at her original location. 

Image Credit: Denisse Coburn/Enchanté Marketing

Learn More

Stroll Along Alexandria’s Cobblestoned Streets

Pictured: Captain’s Row

Enjoy the crisp autumn air as you snap photos of the bright-hued foliage fluttering around the city’s historic architecture and brick-lined sidewalks. Use our fall foliage guide to inspire and inform your leaf-peeping, from sweetgums to sugar maples. On September 13, dive deeper into the centuries-old streetscapes with Carlyle House’s Discover Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour. Then, peek behind the façades of architectural gems at the TWIG’s 83rd Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour on September 27 Plus, find the most photogenic fall spots around town with our autumn-themed Instagram guide.

Find even more things to do this fall in Alexandria here.

Header image, left to right: Captain’s Row; Lost Boy Cider; Friends to Lovers Bookstore (Credit: Denisse Coburn/Enchanté Marketing).

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