November is a transitional month for many – a change in scenery, a dip in weather, and a shift from pumpkins to turkeys to early holiday decorations. But what doesn’t change in November in Fairfax County is the multitude of events, activities, and entertainment options happening all month long.
Here’s a guide on how to spend November in Fairfax County.
Early Fall Reminders
Image courtesy Cox Farms
If you still need to find pumpkins for your November holiday get-togethers, don’t overlook these pumpkin patches. Several of these close the first weekend of November though – so be mindful.
The leaves are starting to carpet the ground, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still beautiful foliage-viewing spots to explore. Check out these 9 leaf-peeping locations, these great stops along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, these pretty scenic drives, or see how you can pair some scenic backdrops with a visit to one of the area’s best attractions.
Veterans Day Events
Photo courtesy National Museum of the U.S. Army/Duane Lempke
This Veteran's Day, Fairfax County is the ideal base camp for exploring the military experience. To truly get a sense of their history, culture - and sacrifice - we suggest you take a trip to visit the attractions, museums, and memorials that tell their story. The state-of-the-art National Museum of the United States Army is the newest museum in Fairfax County, and their free timed-entry tickets are in hot demand. And with the National Museum of the Marine Corps and US Marine Corps Memorial, the United States Air Force Memorial, and the United States Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center - there's always a story to be told.
Otherwise, there are a number of ways to honor, celebrate, and give thanks to our nation's veterans and military personnel this Veterans Day weekend, including supporting veteran-owned businesses and finding special veterans and active military-related deals and specials. Here’s where to celebrate Veterans Day in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.
Holiday Festivities
We all know the craft stores and department stores have been itching to get their Christmas decorations up for weeks now, but in Fairfax County at least, early November brings the openings of several annual holiday traditions. Here are several to mark on your calendar:
Light Shows
Light up your November by visiting one of the area's magnificent light shows! Be sure to check out these beloved favorites that draw crowds each and every year:
- Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights – November 11, 2022 through January 8, 2023
- Bull Run Regional Park’s Festival of Lights – November 11, 2022 through January 8, 2023
Tree Lightings
Image courtesy Reston Town Center/Myers PR
Ooh and ahh over the sparkly lights and live entertainment at these festive Tree Lighting ceremonies:
- Tysons Corner Tree Lighting - November 18, 2022
- Mosaic Holiday Tree Lighting - November 25, 2022
- Reston Town Center Tree Lighting - November 25, 2022
- Great Falls Celebration of Lights - December 4, 2022
Additional locations are TBD, but check back here and on our events calendar for updated information when it's available!
Ice Skating
Lace up those skates and get moving at one of the area ice rinks. Reston's famed ice skating pavilion will open this November - stay tuned for updates on operational changes for this year. You can also skate at Mount Vernon Ice Arena and Fairfax Ice Arena.
Thanksgiving Ideas
Turkey Trots
Burn off some of those (pre or post!) Thanksgiving calories at one of these fun runs and be sure to check back for more coming soon:
- Herndon Parks and Recreation Turkey Trot 5K (Reston, VA) - November 19th, 2022 at 4PM
- Vienna Turkey Trot (Vienna, VA) - November 20th, 2022 at 8AM
- 10th Annual Fairfax Turkey Trot (Fairfax, VA) - November 24th, 2022 at 9AM
- 31st Annual Virginia Run Turkey Trot (Centreville, VA) - November 24th, 2022 at 8AM
- PR Races Turkey Day 5K & 1 Mile (Reston, VA) - November 24th, 2022, 5K at 8AM, 1M at 8:55AM
- Wobble After Gobble 5K/10K (Springfield, VA) - November 26th, 2022 at 3PM
Thanksgiving Dinners To-Go
Several restaurants in the area offer fully catered Thanksgiving dinners to-go or special dine-in menus. Here are a handful of area restaurants offering some great Thanksgiving meals. For even more dining options, check out our full list of Fairfax County restaurants here to see if any of these suit your needs.
Holiday Shopping
Image courtesy Tysons Corner Center
Holiday shopping madness officially begins in November. Lucky for you, Fairfax County has a TON of options to help you find that perfect gift whether you want to be one with the crowds or avoid them altogether. Looking for something truly unique? Head to the Made in Vienna Pop-Up Market on November 26-27 or shop local at these unique gift shops to find one-of-a-kind presents that'll stand out from the bunch - a great option to support Small Business Saturday! Need other ideas? Why not gift one of these Local Authors' Books or browse the shelves at these indie book shops or these indie record stores. Or, grab a bag of locally-roasted coffee beans at one of these coffee shops. You can also pre-order some delicious chocolate gift boxes from these Fairfax County chocolate shops.
If you want to blow the socks off your loved one, consider snagging a couple of tickets to the U.S. Premiere of Cirque du Soleil's newest touring production, ECHO, which will land in Tysons under the Big Top starting September 6, 2023.
Special Events
There are a few extra special events this month you won’t want to miss. Here’s a breakdown:
- Revolutionary War Day at George Mason's Gunston Hall - November 5
- 29th Annual Northern Virginia Christmas Market at Dulles Expo Center – November 11-13
- Chocolate Binge At The Chocolate Factory! River-Sea Anniversary Party at River-Sea Chocolate Factory - November 12
- Tour Mount Vernon By Candlelight at George Washington's Mount Vernon - November 25th - 26th (additional dates in December!)
For a full calendar of special happenings, be sure to check out our events page.
We don't know about you, but there's never been a better time to reflect on what we're thankful for. Share what you're thankful for in the comments below and let us know if there's something we missed here that you're looking forward to this month. Find us on social media at @VisitFairfax and #FXVA.
