FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHARLOTTESVILLE EVENTS IN OCTOBER
Fall is in full swing, and it’s time for fall festival fun galore! Check out this Family Event Round-Up: October of just some of the many things to do and explore this month around Charlottesville. Learn more about these events and discover many other family outing ideas on our Events Calendar.
Orchard & Farm Festivals in Charlottesville
Bellair Farm Fall Festival
October 21–22
Join for a weekend of family-friendly fall activities at the farm like tractor sitting, hayrides, farm animals, sorghum labyrinth, photo booths, local food, wine, & cider tastings, vendors, dances lessons and more.
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze
Blue Toad Hard Cider, Now–November 5
See why this Virginia Corn Maze Fall Festival is a cherished family tradition. Get “cornfused” and have a blast “getting lost in fun!” Enjoy the panoramic mountain views, venture into the 5 acre corn maze, and pick your perfect pumpkin to bring home.
Drumheller’s Orchard Apple Festival
Drumheller’s Orchard, October 21–22
Bring the whole family to the orchard and appreciate a wide range of activities for all ages, including hayrides, an apple sling shot, kids zone and pumpkin patch. Their very own apples, apple butter, apple cider, honey, country hams and baked goods will also be available for purchase. Vendors including Ruritan Club will be selling classic family foods like BBQ, hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, apple dumplings and more.
Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival
Graves Mountain Farm, First three weekends in October
Enjoy apples, pumpkins, gourds, fresh farm cider, Graves Mountain preserves and apple butter, homemade treats, petting zoo, hayrides, hay maze, horses, ponies, craft vendors and much more at this fall festival. Kids will love the number of events to choose from.
Halloween Party & Costume Contest
Valley View Farm, October 21
Join for a day of wine & candy pairings, ghost corn hole, games, food, live music, fire pits and more! The entire family is welcome with costume contest categories for all ages, including leashed furry friends.
HenleyFest
Henley’s Orchard, Weekends in October
Families can enjoy apples, cider, wine, live music, hayrides, pony rides, a play area and much more at this annual event in Crozet.
Charlottesville Halloween Events for Families
ACPD’s Halloween Safety Trunk-or-Treat
Claudius Crozet Park, October 26 and Darden Towe Park, October 30
Enjoy an evening of Halloween safety awareness, fun activities and treats with Albemarle County public safety partners.
Boo Bash
Virginia Discovery Museum, October 26 & 27
A family-friendly carnival that’s too cute to spook! Don your most creative costumes and join for frighteningly fun carnival games, activities, and crafts. Conduct eccentric experiments in the Mad Science Lab, concoct kooky potions in the Witch’s Cabin, dance the boogie-man boogie in the glow-in-the-dark Monster Mash room, brace yourself for a creepy Cryptid Encounter at the ranger station, and much more.
Doggie Howloween
Charlottesville Downtown Mall, October 27
Come to magic of The Downtown Mall for trick or treating with your dog (for dog treats instead of candy) followed by a costume parade and contest. Lots of treats, prizes, raffles and fun!
Halloween Hustle Family 10K Run & 2 Mile Family Walk
Brooks Family YMCA, October 28
This family-friendly event is a great way to get some exercise, enjoy the fall weather, and give back to the community! Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite Halloween costumes, and there will be plenty of treats and surprises along the way.
Halloween Makeup Fun
Vinegar Hill Theatre, October 28
Expert makeup artist Lindsey Paulette will help to complete looks while Light House Studio Teaching Artists work with students to bring their characters to life in front of the camera. Throughout this workshop, students will learn about the role of a special effects makeup artist on a film set.
JackFest
Foxfield, October 22
Enjoy footraces, bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painting, food trucks, beer/wine and much more! All proceeds go to support the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville and the UVA Pediatric Oncology Department.
Poloween
King Family Vineyards, October 29
Dress up yourselves, your pups, and your tailgate for a chance to win amazing prizes. Enjoy trunk or treating, and a pony parade, costume contests for dogs and humans, and a polo match beginning at 2pm.
Spooky Ninja Family Fair
Shops at Stonefield, October 29
Enjoy treats, games, contests, a ninja trail adventure and more at this fun event put on by Uplevel Martial Arts.
Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn
UVA Lawn, October 31
This longtime tradition established by students in the late 1980s is not only a highly anticipated event for the University, it is also open to and eagerly awaited by children and families from the community. Lawn residents and members of student organizations are stationed in the 54 Lawn rooms as well as the Range to give out treats.
Wildrock’s Children’s Festival Down by the Bog
Washington Park, October 22
Join for Wildrock’s festival featuring nature play fun for the whole family! Story time, planting station, nature walk, scavenger hunt and more.
Be sure to check the Family Fun section of our site for even more fall activity and outing ideas. The Food & Home section features cozy decor ideas and recipes, including a delicious Apple Fritter Donut recipe.
For a list of adult-friendly events this fall, see the Wine & Country Life events calendar.
A very special thank you to our Halloween content sponsors: Charlottesville Orthodontics, Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville, Tucker Griffin Barnes Law, and Virginia Discovery Museum.
