Looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend in Northern Virginia? Check out some of these fun community events in and around Fairfax County and the DMV area. Live it up as we celebrate the last weekend of summer!
2019 Library of Congress National Book Festival
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2019 8:30am to 8:00pm
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW, Washington, DC 20001
Details: Come and celebrate books and reading! Dozens of best-selling authors, leading historians, American poets and children’s writers will be featured speakers at the 2019 National Book Festival. The Lower Level of the Convention Center will offer a wide array of fun and exciting activities and programs for festival attendees of all ages. Admission is free.
Great Country Farms Apple Gala and Fresh Cider Festival
Date: Saturday, August 31 – Sunday, September 29, 2019
Location: Great Country Farms, 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA 20135
Details: Celebrating apple season! Learn how apple cider was made back in the day with the Zurschmeide family’s 1865 antique cider press, enjoy live music by Tony M. Music and Brad The Guitar Guy, get lost in a corn maze, roast marshmallows, enjoy a wagon ride, indulge in fresh cider donuts, apple picking, and so much more!
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Date: Saturday, August 24 – Sunday, October 20, 2019 ( weekends) 10:00am to 7:00pm
Location: 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Details: The Maryland Renaissance Festival, a tradition for the entire family, begins its 42rd season August 24th and runs Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday through October 20th for nine weekends of thrills, feasting, handmade crafts, entertainment and merriment in Crownsville, near Annapolis, Maryland. Tickets during Labor Day Weekend for adults (16 – 61) $20; Seniors (62+) $18; Children (7 – 15) $9; Children Under 7 are Free. *Ticket price increases after Sept. 8th.
Lake Anne Jazz & Blues Festival
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2019 1:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Lake Anne Plaza, 1609 Washington Plaza, Reston, VA 20190
Details: The 13th annual Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival will take place at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston and is free to all ages. Enjoy a day of music, a beer and wine garden and fun for the whole family.
Free Concert at Workhouse Arts Center
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2019
Location: Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079
Details: The Slocan Ramblers (Bluegrass) will be performing at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton for a free outdoor concert from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
Virginia Scottish Games
Date: Saturday, August 31 – Sunday, September 1, 2019 9:00am to 6:00pm
Location: Great Meadow, 5089 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, VA 20198
Details: The Virginia Scottish Games Association is an exciting weekend full of great events to include the Highland Athletic Competition, British Car & Motorcycle Show, Children’s Games, Clans, Fiddle Competition, Highland Dance, Piping and Drumming, Massed Bands, and great food and drink. Tickets: Two day adult $30; Single day adult $20;
Children $5 (Saturday).
Middle Eastern Food Festival
Date: August 31 – September 1, 2019
Location: Holy Transfiguration | Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, 8501 Lewinsville Rd, McLean, VA 22102
Details: Free Admission, Parking & Entertainment. Saturday, Aug. 31, 11am – 11pm and Sunday, Sept. 1, Noon – 6pm.
Smell the aromas from the outdoor grills, partake of Shawarma, Chicken Kebabs, Falafel, Fattoush, Hummus, and Stuffed Grape Leaves, or any number of other delicious menu choices, including a Roast Lamb Dinner served on Saturday from 6:00-9:00 and all day on Sunday. Then relax with a cup of coffee and mouth-watering pastry. Choose from Middle Eastern favorites, such as Baklawa, Maamoul, Namoura, or Ghraybeh, or good old-fashioned American favorites, from cakes to cookies to brownies and fudge.
Labor Day Capitol Concert
Date: Sunday, September 1, 2019 8:00pm to 9:30pm
Details:The National Symphony Orchestra led by Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke performs its annual free Labor Day weekend concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, Sunday, Sep. 1, at 8 p.m.
The concert features vocalists Mykal Kilgore and Nova Payton in a program of popular songs by R&B hitmakers including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and others.
FREE event, no tickets required. Gates open at 3 p.m., open rehearsal at 3:30 p.m.
NOTE: In case of inclement weather, please call the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Concert Hotline at (202) 416-8114 after 2:30 p.m. on the day of the concert to find out whether the performance will take place at The Capitol, or whether it will move indoors to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. If the concert moves indoors, there will be NO open rehearsal.
20th Annual Labor Day Car Show
Date: Monday, September 2, 2019 8:00am to 3:00pm
Location: University Drive and the SunTrust Bank Parking Lot, Fairfax City, VA
Details: Presented by the Clifton Lions Club and the City of Fairfax, this open show will include antiques, classics, foreign, customs, street rods, muscle cars, trucks, motorcycles and more! All proceeds will benefit local charities. Enjoy music, vendor booths, raffles, and good food from the Clifton Lions and Fairfax restaurants. Over 300 vehicles and 5,000 spectators are anticipated at this year’s event.
The show is open to the public free of charge, however spectators can make attendance donations at their discretion.
Town of Herndon Labor Day Festival
Date: Monday, September 2, 2019 11:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Herndon Town Green, 777 Lynn Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Details: Join us in downtown Herndon for the annual Labor Day Festival featuring Virginia wine tastings, craft beers, great music, a craft show, delicious food vendors and lawn games.
Apple Picking
Apple season has arrived at some of the local farms and orchards. Visit our list of places to pick-your-own apples in the Northern Virginia area (or close to it). It’s a fun activity for the whole family.
Water Parks
It’s the last weekend to visit our local water parks. Go for a swim before they close for the season.
Visit Our Parks
Take some time this weekend to enjoy the great outdoors at one of our beautiful parks. Go for walk or a bike ride on the trails, take the kids to a playground, rent a boat, go fishing, have a picnic, visit a nature center or take Buddy to a dog park.