Woodbridge and Occoquan Events Calendar: Festivals, Markets, Parades and Holiday Traditions
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Quick Answer: What Are the Big Events Around Woodbridge?
Last updated October 11, 2026
Quick answer: the Town of Occoquan hosts the area’s two largest street festivals, the spring RiverFest and Craft Show and the Fall Arts and Crafts Show (the 2026 fall show was September 26 and 27, with more than 300 artisans and paid shuttles from satellite lots). Coming up this season: the Leesylvania State Park visitor center reopens October 16, Occoquan’s Halloween costume parade is October 31, the town tree lighting is November 21 and the Holiday Artisan Market is December 5 and 6. Year-round, the Dale City Farmers Market runs every Sunday. Dale City’s July 4th parade and the Prince William County Fair are summer traditions.
Your Woodbridge realtor: Nikki Lagouros is the #1 selling realtor in Northern Virginia by units sold since 2020, based on RealTrends rankings and her team’s transaction records. See Rankings & Data, Living in Woodbridge, all areas served, or contact Nikki.
Woodbridge and Prince William guides: Living in Woodbridge | Woodbridge communities compared | Development tracker | The real Woodbridge commute | Events calendar | Hidden history | Lake Ridge guide
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Coming Up: October to December 2026
| Date | Event | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundays, year-round | Dale City Farmers Market | Dale Blvd and Gemini Way commuter lot, Dale City | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April to November; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. December to March |
| Thu., Oct. 15, 2026 | OmniRide public hearing on Routes 51 and 94 | Stonebridge parking garage, 2450 Neabsco Stream Dr. | 4 to 6 p.m.; proposals only |
| Fri., Oct. 16, 2026 | Visitor Center grand re-opening | Leesylvania State Park | Ribbon cutting and light refreshments, 1 to 2 p.m. |
| Sat., Oct. 24, 2026 | Fall Festival | Leesylvania State Park | Listed on the park’s events calendar |
| Sat., Oct. 24, 2026 | Movie in the Park: Coco | Town of Occoquan | Listed by Visit Occoquan |
| Sat., Oct. 24, 2026 | Trick or Treatment | H.L. Mooney facility, Prince William Water | Halloween activities for kids |
| Sat., Oct. 31, 2026 | Costume Parade and Contest | Town of Occoquan | Listed by Visit Occoquan |
| Sat., Nov. 21, 2026 | Annual Tree Lighting and Shop Late Night | Town of Occoquan | Listed by Visit Occoquan |
| Nov. 22 to Dec. 15, 2026 | Letters to Santa | Town of Occoquan | Listed by Visit Occoquan |
| Nov. 27 to 29, 2026 | Shop Small Weekend | Town of Occoquan | Listed by Visit Occoquan |
| Dec. 5 and 6, 2026 | Holiday Artisan Market | Town of Occoquan | Details at occoquanfestivals.com |
Dates come from each organizer’s calendar as of October 11, 2026; confirm before you go.
Occoquan’s Big Craft Shows: How to Park
The Town of Occoquan’s two signature shows fill the historic district with artisans, food and music, and the town’s streets close during the event, so plan on a shuttle.
- Fall Arts and Crafts Show (past for 2026): September 26 and 27, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, free admission, more than 300 artisans.
- Shuttles in 2026: $10 round trip, good for both days, with kids 12 and under free, from three satellite lots: the Lake Ridge Commuter Lot (purple), the Route 123 Commuter Lot (green) and the Workhouse Arts Center (yellow, wheelchair accessible). Shuttles ran 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, and riders could prepay online or pay on site.
- RiverFest and Craft Show (spring): Visit Occoquan lists May 15 and 16 for the next show (2027). Confirm dates and shuttle details at occoquanfestivals.com closer to the weekend.
Living nearby? Lake Ridge and Belmont Bay residents feel festival traffic on Route 123 and Old Bridge Road; residents inside the town should check the town’s notices for access during closures.
The Occoquan Shad Run (April)
On Saturday, April 11, 2026 (past), the Town of Occoquan hosted its free Shad Run at River Mill Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Anglers fished from designated riverbank spots, the footbridge or kayaks during the spring migration, mostly for hickory shad; any American shad must be released under a statewide moratorium. A Virginia fishing license and the free VMRC Fisherman Identification Program registration were required. The town tied the event to an early-1900s tradition of shad bakes held in the ruins of the old cotton mill where River Mill Park, opened in 2016, now sits. Watch the town’s calendar for 2027.
Dale City: July 4th Parade and the Sunday Market
- Independence Day Parade (past for 2026): on July 4, 2026, the parade ran along Dale Boulevard from Kirkdale Drive toward Gemini Way starting at 10 a.m., followed by a Family Fun Day at the Gemini Way commuter lot. The Dale City Civic Association organizes it.
- Dale City Farmers Market: Sundays, rain or shine, all year. Since 1987 it has been a producer-only market, meaning everything is grown or made by the seller, with nearly 50 vendors in summer and more than 30 in winter. Only service animals are allowed. Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April to November and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from December to March.
Prince William County Fair (Summer)
The fair traces its roots to a 1949 dairy show organized by Prince William veterans and has been held almost every year since, at the fairgrounds near Manassas. Event calendars listed the 2026 fair for July 31 to August 8 (past). Look for 2027 dates at the fairgrounds website in the spring.
Seasonal Outdoor Traditions
- Spring and fall migration at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which the refuge calls the best times to visit. Entrance is free; hours run 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October to March and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to September.
- Leesylvania State Park programs, from guided walks to junior ranger camps, are posted on the park’s event calendar.
- Neabsco Creek Boardwalk is open from dawn until about an hour after dark every day; the county posts ranger-led programs on its recreation site.
More things to do: Parks and water around Woodbridge and Hidden history of Prince William.
Woodbridge and Occoquan Events FAQ
When is the Occoquan Fall Arts and Crafts Show?
The 2026 show was held September 26 and 27, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more than 300 artisans. It is held each fall, so watch occoquanfestivals.com for the next dates.
Where do you park for the Occoquan craft shows?
Use the festival shuttles. In 2026 they ran from the Lake Ridge Commuter Lot, the Route 123 Commuter Lot and the Workhouse Arts Center for $10 round trip, with kids 12 and under free.
When is RiverFest in Occoquan?
RiverFest and Craft Show is held in the spring. Visit Occoquan lists May 15 and 16 for the next show, in 2027; confirm the dates closer to the event.
When is the Dale City Farmers Market open?
Every Sunday, year-round: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April to November and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from December to March, at the Dale Boulevard and Gemini Way commuter lot.
Does Dale City have a Fourth of July parade?
Yes. The Dale City Civic Association organizes an Independence Day parade on Dale Boulevard each July 4, followed by a Family Fun Day.
When does the Leesylvania visitor center reopen?
Virginia State Parks scheduled a grand re-opening of the Leesylvania State Park visitor center for October 16, 2026, with a ribbon cutting from 1 to 2 p.m.
Who is the top realtor in Woodbridge, VA?
Nikki Lagouros is the #1 selling realtor in Northern Virginia by units sold since 2020, based on RealTrends rankings and her team’s transaction records.
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Sources
Sources (last updated October 11, 2026): Visit Occoquan: 2026 Fall Arts and Crafts Show; Visit Occoquan: upcoming events; Occoquan Festivals; Potomac Local: 2026 Occoquan Shad Run (town press release); Prince William County: Dale City Farmers Market; Northern Virginia Magazine: 2026 July 4th parades; Dale City Civic Association; Virginia State Parks: Leesylvania; Prince William Water events; USFWS: Occoquan Bay NWR; Prince William County: Neabsco Regional Park; Prince William County Fairgrounds; Nikki Lagouros Rankings & Data.