Lucky you. You just found NOVAtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Northern Virginia each month.

Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.

(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)

Art-centric

Huzzah! Better Said Than Done's 15th Anniversary Storytelling Show | Thursday, Sept. 3 | 7 p.m. | Jammin Java, Vienna | $27

24th Annual Alexandria Art Festival | Saturday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | John Carlyle Square, Alexandria | Free

Occoquan Fall Arts & Craft Show | Saturday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Historic Occoquan District | Free

Fall festivals

Virginia Scottish Games | Saturday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 6 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Great Meadow, The Plains | $27+

Fall Festival 2026 | Saturday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Nov. 8 | Times vary | Cox Farms, Centreville | $15+

Colonial Market & Fair | Saturday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 20 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mount Vernon | $16+

Editor's pick: 50th Annual Falls Church Festival & Taste of Falls Church | Saturday, Sept. 19 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Community Center Kenneth R. Building, Falls Church | Price of purchase | Enjoy a variety of local cuisine while exploring community booths, handmade crafts, and offerings from local businesses.

Reston Multicultural Festival | Saturday, Sept. 19 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Reston Town Center, Reston | Free

Celtic Festival | Saturday, Sept. 19 | 12-6 p.m. | The Village at Shirlington, Arlington | Price of purchase

Editor's pick: Clarendon Day | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Downtown Clarendon, Arlington | Price of purchase | This family-friendly event offers something for everyone, including live music, a variety of food vendors, and fun activities designed especially for kids.

Mosaic Fall Fest | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mosaic District, Fairfax | Free

People shopping for plants at the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Native Plant Sale. — Got a green thumb? | Photo via Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Get outside

Wildfest | Saturday, Sept. 5 | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Seven Bends Plant Nursery, Berryville | Free

Editor's pick: Fall Native Plant Sale | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Morven Park, Leesburg | Price of purchase | Five local nurseries will be on hand with a variety of native plants, including flowers, trees, and other greenery. Attendees can also enjoy a lineup of talks, demonstrations, and other activities throughout the event.

Fall Butterfly Walk | Sunday, Sept. 13 | 1-3 p.m. | Murray Hill, Leesburg | Free

Observe the Birds with Northern VA Bird Alliance | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 8-10 a.m. | Mason Neck State Park, Lorton | Free

People gathered at the Filene Center at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. — You can opt for an actual seat or lawn seating at this venue. | Photo by NOVAtoday

Concerts

Editor's pick: Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration with the National Symphony Orchestra | Friday, Sept. 4 | 8 p.m. | Filene Center, Vienna | $51+ | Don’t miss the timeless music of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, brought to life in a spectacular orchestral performance.

John Fogerty with Steve Winwood: "The Legacy Tour" | Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Filene Center, Vienna | $69

Erykah Badu, De La Soul, and The Alchemist | Sunday, Sept. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Filene Center, Vienna | $73+

"An Evening With Kenny G" | Tuesday, Sept. 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Capital One Hall, Tysons | $73+

Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:

Go to our Events page.
Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.