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Writer's pictureSarah Hitchcock Burzio

Top 10 Ways to Spend Summer in Occoquan!



1. Wine & Dine Outside

Relax and enjoy a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants with outdoor dining service. Bar J Chili Parlor, Madigan’s Waterfront, and D’Roccos have great views of the river while Secret Garden Cafe, Cock & Bowl, Third Base Pizza, and The Spot on Mill Street have ample garden seating. Head to Bottle Stop Wine Bar for a romantic evening on their sizable but cozy patio or hit up Mill St. Draft Garden for local brews in the ultimate beer garden setting.


2. Hit the Shops!

With dozens of boutiques to browse, there is always plenty of summer shopping to do in town! Head to one of our home decor, beauty, clothing, jewelry, antique, consignment or gift boutiques. Specialty shops for chocolate, olive oil, kids, organic products, stationery, and more can also be found. Or wander through one of the four galleries for amazing local art you can view and purchase. See a full list of shops and galleries on our Business Directory page.


3. Trivia Night in the Park

Monthly from May-October, our popular Trivia Nights in River Mill Park are the perfect summer outing. Groups up to 8 people are $30 to participate. Observers are welcome to watch for free. Learn more at visitoccoquanva.com/trivia.


4. Attend a Craft Show

RIVERFEST & CRAFT SHOW - JUNE 1-2, 2024

FALL ARTS & CRAFT SHOW - SEPT 28-29, 2024


With 300+ crafters and artisans, daily live music, kids activities, food courts, and special events - you won't want to miss our annual festivals in historic Occoquan! Each craft show runs two days from 10am-5pm. Streets in town are closed, but shuttle service is available from three nearby locations. Free admission to the event. Learn more at occoquanfestivals.com.


5. Catch a Free Concert

Occoquan's FREE summer music series, Music on Mill, is back on select Saturday's from May-August! Hosted in River Mill Park, this year's line up includes: 


  • Hand Painted Swinger (June 15) 

  • 257th Army Band (July 20) 

  • Side Piece (August 17)


See details about the musicians and learn more at visitoccoquanva.com/music.


6. Visit the Museum

Our small but mighty Mill House Museum (413 Mill Street) is worth the trip! Pop in daily (closed Wednesdays) from 11am-4pm for a dose of history and local culture. Over 400 items are catalogued and many of these are on permanent display. Learn more at visitoccoquanva.com/museum.


7. Grab a Cold Treat

There are plenty of quick stops to cool you down while you’re here. Grab an ice cream at Mill Street Sweets, a gelato at Potomac Chocolate, or custard at Third Base Pizza and Frozen Custard. Need a refreshing drink? Our favorites are flavored lemonades from Ballywhack Shack Cafe and iced lattes at Grind N’ Crepe.


8. Explore the River

Launch your watercraft at the town's FREE hand carry Kayak Launch, located under the Rt. 123 bridge. Don’t have your own vessel to launch? You can rent a kayak or stand up paddle board from Penguin Paddling. Or head to Patriot Diving where they offer dive training for adults and kids, scuba equipment rentals, and diving trips.


9. Take a Historic Tour

Head here for information on our Occoquan self-guided history walking tour. Or schedule a Haunted Pub Crawl or family-friendly haunted tour through Occoquan Spirits Ghost Tours!


10. Get Pampered

Treat yourself to an all-about-you day of luxurious spa services from Dansk Day Spa, Healing Light Skin Care and Reiki, and Forever Young. Or refresh your summer do with a style, cut, and color from Good Hair Day or have your nails done at Emerald Nail Spa. If you're looking for more of a spiritual pampering, we recommend grounding energy work from either Organic Allure or Tulia Qi Integral.

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