If you need a reason to get outside this weekend, Leesburg has one. The Festival of Crafts & Kites fills Ida Lee Park with color, artisan vendors, and a sky full of kites on Saturday.
Published August 21, 2026
Summer's winding down, but Loudoun County isn't done with it yet. This Saturday, August 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ida Lee Park in Leesburg hosts the annual Festival of Crafts & Kites, one of those genuinely fun, low-key weekends that's easy to forget to plan for until it's already happening.
The festival pairs two things that go surprisingly well together: an artisan craft market and a sky full of kites. Local makers set up booths across the park selling handmade goods, jewelry, art, and the kind of things you don't find at a big box store, while kites in every color imaginable go up over the open fields. There are hands-on craft stations too, so it's not just a look-and-buy event, kids (and honestly, adults) can make something while they're there. Best part: it's free to attend.
Ida Lee Park itself is worth the trip on its own. It's one of the bigger recreational parks in Leesburg, with open green space, walking trails, and a recreation center, so if the kids burn out on kites there's plenty of room to run around after.
Parking fills up at Ida Lee for events like this, so if you're coming from farther out in Loudoun or Fairfax, aim to arrive earlier rather than later, especially if you want first pick of the vendor booths. Bring your own kite if you've got one, or plan to pick one up from a vendor on-site. Sunscreen and water are worth packing too, most of the festival is out in open field with limited shade.
If you make a day of it, the One Loudoun Summer Carnival in Ashburn is also running through Sunday, August 23, with rides, games, and all the classic carnival food if you want a second stop. Between the two, it's a solid weekend to explore this part of the county if you're not already familiar with it, and worth keeping in mind if you're weighing what day-to-day life actually feels like in Loudoun County.
Sources: Northern Virginia Magazine, Visit Loudoun.
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