Free things to do in Leesburg

Last checked Oct. 20, 2026. Sources: Morven Park, the Loudoun Museum, NOVA Parks, the Town of Leesburg’s events, dog park and Native Tree Walk pages and news releases, and the Loudoun County Public Library.

A lot of Leesburg costs nothing. The Morven Park estate grounds are free every day, the Loudoun Museum downtown is free Friday to Sunday, and the W&OD Trail, Ball’s Bluff Battlefield and 17 town parks are open to walk. Many town events, from Summer JAMS to the Christmas parade, are free, and weekend parking in the downtown garages costs nothing. Town events questions: 703-777-1368.

Who to call

• Ida Lee Park Recreation Center (town events and parks): 703-777-1368
• Loudoun Museum: 703-777-7427
• Thomas Balch Library: 703-737-7195
• Morven Park education programs: 703-777-2414, ext. 6617

Museums and history

• Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun St. SW. County history, free, Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (museum).
• Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park and National Cemetery, Ball’s Bluff Road. Open dawn to dusk for walking and self-guided tours, with brochures year-round; guided tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, April through November, from the parking lot kiosk (NOVA Parks).
• Thomas Balch Library, 208 W. Market St. The town’s history and genealogy library runs exhibits and evening programs. Coming up: Archives Confidential, a talk on restricted archives, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the lower-level meeting room; the town lists no fee, but pre-registration is required by calling 703-737-7195 or online (town release). The library also offers a free self-guided walking tour, “Explore 18th Century Leesburg!”, among its digital exhibits.
• George C. Marshall House (Dodona Manor), 217 Edwards Ferry Road. Free self-guided exterior tours; the docent-led interior tours are ticketed (Marshall Center).

Parks, gardens and trails

• Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Lane. 1,000 acres of lawns, fields, wooded ridge and formal boxwood gardens, free and open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with leashed dogs welcome (grounds).
• The W&OD Trail. Paved, 45 miles, open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; join it at Foxridge, Georgetown or Raflo parks in town (NOVA Parks).
• ArtsPARKs at Raflo Park, 345 Harrison St. SE. Five sculptures by local artists along the walking trail, installed in October 2026 and on display through June 2028 (town release).
• Native Tree Walk, Ida Lee Park. Trees native to Virginia planted by the Leesburg Garden Club along the path beside Old Waterford Road, with a tree list and map.
• Leesburg Dog Park, Olde Izaak Walton Park, 850 Davis Ave. SE. Fenced and off-leash, dawn to dusk (rules).
• Veterans Park at Ball’s Bluff, 42314 Balls Bluff Road. The town’s newest park, with Potomac River access and trails linked to the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for now.

Full trail distances are in our walking and biking trails guide.

Free town events through the year

Free at the library

Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road NW, runs free story times for young children most weekday mornings and Saturdays, plus clubs, maker sessions and talks for teens and adults, such as the B-Movie Club and the makerspace sewing club. See our kids’ activities guide.

Free to browse

• Leesburg Farmers Market, Saturdays year-round at Virginia Village, 30 Catoctin Circle SE (farmers markets guide).
• Downtown’s independent shops along King, Market and Loudoun streets (historic downtown guide).

What this means for you

Park free in a downtown garage on a weekend, walk the Loudoun Museum and Thomas Balch Library, then head to Morven Park for the gardens. In summer, bring a blanket to Summer JAMS; in December, the tree lighting, parade and craft show are all free. Check our things to do this month page for what is on now.

Frequently asked questions

What is free to do in Leesburg this weekend?

Morven Park’s grounds are free 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, the Loudoun Museum is free Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the W&OD Trail, Ball’s Bluff Battlefield and the town parks are open to walk; none lists an admission fee.

Is Morven Park free?

The gardens and grounds are free and open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Guided tours of the Davis Mansion are offered Friday through Monday and are ticketed.

Are Leesburg’s town events free?

Many are: the holiday tree lighting, the Christmas and Holiday Parade, the Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show (free admission and parking), the Memorial Day ceremony and the Summer JAMS concerts.

Does Thomas Balch Library hold free programs?

Yes. The town’s history library at 208 W. Market St. holds talks, book discussions and craft nights; some require pre-registration by phone at 703-737-7195 or online.