Fall in love with Capital Region USA

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Capital Region USA, encompassing the vibrant regions of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, is stunning year-round but during the autumn months, the region bursts into fiery, glowing shades of reds, oranges, yellows and browns. From the endless mountain ranges to the glistening seas and eclectic cities, the kaleidoscope of colours make fall a magical time to drive the region’s scenic byways and uncover the Capital Region USA.

Here’s a round-up on what’s new in the Capital Region USA this fall:

Savour the Season’s Bounty – Taste the Harvest:

There is an abundance of harvests at farms and wineries throughout the region each fall. Visitors can experience one of the many food and wine festivals in Washington, DC including the DC Coffee Festival (5-6 October), DC SoulFull Vegan Fest (13 October) and DC Wine Fest (19 October). October is Virginia Wine Month which features wine festivals and special events at wineries, restaurants and retailers throughout the state. In July 2024, Virginia’s Chestnut Oak Vineyard in the Monticello AVA was awarded Gold 2019 Petit Verdot in the Decanter World Wine Award. Maryland’s 58th annual US Oyster Festival returns this year, 19-20 October, to St Mary’s County, and visitors can enjoy fresh oysters, oyster shucking contests, an oyster cook-off, live entertainment, and more.

Autumn Milestones in Capital Region USA:

Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach celebrates its golden anniversary this year. Spanning more than 30 blocks along the oceanfront, festivities include the International Sandsculpting Championship, an oceanfront art and craft show, grand parade, outdoor concerts, a family fun zone, athletic events and more. Annapolis Maryland will celebrate the Annapolis Tea Party 250th Anniversary Commemoration on 19th October. The Peggy Stewart 250 Committee will host a public commemoration at Annapolis City Dock to honour colonial Maryland’s first major revolutionary event, which led to the founding of the United States. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, a Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and welcomes Osgemeos: Endless Story, the largest U.S. exhibition of work by the famed Brazilian Pandolfo twins.

The Capital Region USA Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Musical Icons:

Maryland welcomes Bruce Sprinsteen, Mariah Carey, Billie Elish and Duran Duran at a variety of venues across the state this September and October. Aerosmith, Ringo Star, Justin Timberlake and Jeff Lynne’s ELO are just a few of the world-renowned artists that will be headlining Washington, DC’s concert venues this fall. The legendary Diana Ross will play a concert at Virginia’s Ferguson Centre for the Arts on 21st October and Post Malone will be playing live from Virginia Beach at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater on 4th October.

Capital Region USA Celebrations – A Tapestry of Festivals and Fairs:

There’s a plethora of unique outdoor activities, festivals, fairs and events that visitors can enjoy in the region each fall. During the pleasant fall weather, visitors can explore Washington, DC’s diverse neighbourhoods during the H Street Festival or WalkingTown DC, an event featuring more than 50 free guided walking tours throughout the city.  Embrace true Americana at the Virginia State Fair in Doswell, which features animals and agriculture exhibits, along with live music, shows, arts and crafts, a midway filled with games and rides, and lots of traditional fair foods. The scenic waterfront town of Easton, Maryland, hosts the Waterfowl Festival (8-10 November) which celebrates the variety of waterfowl species in the Chesapeake Bay region with fly-fishing demonstrations, miniature decoy paintings, calling contests and more.

Dive into the Spirited World of Sports in Capital Region USA:

The sporting season kicks off in the Capital Region USA each fall for many of America’s most beloved sports. Visitors can catch regional hometeams in action at M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens, and the Commanders Field, Capital One Arena where the Washington Capitals hockey team and Washington Wizards basketball team play. The iconic International Gold Cup horse race will be held in Virginia on Saturday, 26th October.

Exploring the Cultural Canvas: Museums and Artistic Openings in Capital Region USA:

The LEGO Group opens its first and only U.S. manufacturing plant in Virginia and visitors can experience Traveling Bricks from 19th October. The exhibit is one of the largest of its kind and features more than 100 models of iconic land, air, sea, and space vehicles constructed from nearly 1 million LEGO® bricks. The People’s House: A White House Experience in Washington, DC will have its grand opening on 23rd September. This cutting-edge museum tells the story of the Executive Mansion, its inhabitants and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions. The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore  Baltimore opens Art and Process: Drawings, Paintings, and Sculptures from the 19th-Century Collection on 24 October. Visitors can observe 60 works from the museum’s permanent collection, including 30 works on paper (pastel, graphite, charcoal, and watercolour) and 23 oil paintings, as well as works in bronze, porcelain, and terracotta.

For further information on Capital Region USA, visit www.capitalregionusa.org.