Things to do in Arlington this month: October 2026

Last checked Oct. 27, 2026. This page covers today to six weeks ahead and is rebuilt each month. Every listing links the organizer’s own page; times and details are as the organizer published them. This weekend’s full list is on things to do this weekend, and shows and exhibitions are on arts and exhibitions this month.

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, and Arlington’s version is free and family-sized: four library events, nature center programs and, on Sunday, MoCA Arlington’s Día de los Muertos picnic. After that the calendar turns to the National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, Nov. 11, two holiday markets on Nov. 21, the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning and Rosslyn’s tree lighting on Dec. 3. The Marine Corps Marathon ran Oct. 25; our Marine Corps Marathon page has the 2027 date.

What this means for you

• Halloween: ART buses are free Oct. 31, and Clarendon’s main streets close 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. See trick-or-treat hours.
• Clocks: daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3. Arlington Public Schools has no school for students. See our voting guide.
• Veterans Day: county offices, libraries and schools close Wednesday, Nov. 11.

This week

• Rosslyn Farmers Market, 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, Central Place Plaza, the last Wednesday market of the season. Rosslyn BID.
• Ballston Farmers Market, 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Welburn Square, across from the Ballston Metro station. Free. Ballston BID.
• Mini sculpture workshop, free, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, MoCA Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd.: tiny sculptures from found objects and air-dry clay. MoCA Arlington.
• Battle on the Boulevard, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Langston-Brown Community Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St. A Halloween-themed teen basketball tournament. Parks and Recreation.
• Herndon at Wakefield, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Wakefield High School stadium, 1325 S. Dinwiddie St., Wakefield’s last home football game. Wakefield’s schedule.
• Halloween at the library, Saturday, Oct. 31: a scavenger hunt at Central Library from 10 a.m., storytime at Aurora Hills at 10:30 a.m. and pet parties at Courthouse Plaza at 11 a.m. and Glencarlyn at 2 p.m. Library Halloween calendar; every time is on our Halloween events page.
• Día de los Muertos Celebration: An Evening Picnic, 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, on the lawn of MoCA Arlington. Free, with mariachi, folklórico, an ofrenda, food trucks and a Catrina parade. MoCA Arlington.

Next week

• Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. No school for Arlington Public Schools students.
• Rosslyn x Pitch-a-Friend, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, Noble Fox Bar & Terrace, Rosslyn. Rosslyn BID.
• MoCA on the Move: Handcrafted Holidays, free holiday crafts, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays from Nov. 5 to Dec. 17, MoCA’s Innovation Studio + Store. MoCA Arlington.
• Free paper shredding and inert material drop-off for county residents, Saturday, Nov. 7, Earth Products Yard, 4300 29th St. S. Arlington County.
• National Chamber Ensemble: Romantic Masterworks, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St. $45, students $25. National Chamber Ensemble.

Later in November

• Fall vacuum leaf collection starts Monday, Nov. 9. See our trash and recycling guide.
• National Veterans Day Observance, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, Memorial Amphitheater, Arlington National Cemetery. Cemetery events page; parking, the tram and closings are on our Veterans Day page.
• Artist talk: Emily Fussner, free, 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, MoCA Arlington, in her installation Some Shining Coil of Wind. MoCA Arlington.
• Sleepy Hollow, Synetic Theater, Nov. 14-22, Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road. Ages 13 and up. Synetic Theater.
• Rosslyn Trike: Hot Chocolate Sticks, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, Central Place Plaza. Rosslyn BID.
• Madeline’s Christmas, Encore Stage & Studio, Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 5-13, Gunston Arts Center. Encore.
• Rosslyn Cheer Holiday Market, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Central Place Plaza, 1800 N. Lynn St. Rosslyn BID.
• Cherrydale Holiday Market, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Cherrydale United Methodist Church, 3701 Lorcom Lane. Free. Cherrydale Holiday Market.
• Arlington Turkey Trot, 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, Pershing Drive at the Lyon Park Community Center. Adults $50. Turkey Trot; closings and trash are on our Thanksgiving page.
• Black Friday, Nov. 27, is a county holiday, so parking meters are not enforced. See our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.

Early December

• Rosslyn Trike: Cheer Ornaments, noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, Central Place Plaza. Rosslyn BID.
• Light the Plaza, Rosslyn’s tree lighting, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Central Place Plaza. Free. Rosslyn BID.
• Santa Paws Yappy Hour, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, Central Place Plaza. Rosslyn BID.
• Snow Maiden, Synetic Theater, Dec. 4-20, Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre. Synetic Theater.
• The Lodge, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Metropolitan Park, 1330 S. Fair St. A free, ski-themed winter festival with Santa photos and a holiday train. National Landing BID.
• The Secret Garden opens at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and runs through Feb. 21, 2027. Signature Theatre.

More December dates, including Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 19, are on our holiday lights and Christmas events and Wreaths Across America pages.

Regular events

• Farmers markets: FRESHFARM Arlington at Courthouse, Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon; Met Park, Tuesdays and Saturdays; Columbia Pike, Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every market is on our farmers markets page.
• Free trivia, comedy and game nights at restaurants and bars in Crystal City and Pentagon City are listed on the National Landing events calendar.
• Young Explorers, drop-in art for young children, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at MoCA Arlington’s Innovation Studio + Store. MoCA Arlington.
• Parks, nature centers and libraries run walks, classes and programs most days, listed on the Parks and Recreation events calendar and the Arlington Public Library calendar.

Send us your event

Running something in Arlington that is open to the public? Email hello@arlingtonlocaltoday.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in our events diary.

Related guides: parks and trails in Arlington, fall festivals and pumpkin patches and farmers markets.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Arlington for Halloween 2026?

Arlington Public Library runs a scavenger hunt, a storytime and two pet parties on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the nature centers hold pumpkin, owl and campfire programs. MoCA Arlington’s free Día de los Muertos picnic is 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

What is on in Arlington in November 2026?

The National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 11, Synetic Theater’s Sleepy Hollow Nov. 14-22, the Rosslyn and Cherrydale holiday markets Nov. 21 and the Arlington Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26.

When is the Rosslyn tree lighting in 2026?

Light the Plaza is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Central Place Plaza, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District says. The Lodge winter festival at Met Park follows on Saturday, Dec. 5.