FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHARLOTTESVILLE EVENTS IN OCTOBER + PUMPKIN PATCH GUIDE
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. See where you can pick the perfect pumpkins in our Pumpkin Patch Guide below. Learn more about these events and discover many other family outing ideas on our Events Calendar.
Events for Preschoolers in Charlottesville
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.
Boo Bash
Virginia Discovery Museum, October 27–29
Dress up in your kookiest costumes for an evening of frighteningly fun carnival games, activities and crafts. Conduct eccentric experiments in the Mad Science lab, concoct crazy potions in the Witch’s Cabin, stomp to the beat in the Monster Mash dance room, brace yourself for a creepy Cryptid Encounter at the ranger station, and so much more.
Events for Elementary/Middle Schoolers in Charlottesville
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
John Paul Jones Arena, October 9 & 10
The popular family entertainment tour is going BIG in its return with the debut of several new faces and three epic trucks! The all-new Mega Wrex™ towers with its 12-foot dinosaur design, bolstering 1800 horsepower to crush the competition.
Camp4Real’s Fall Field Day
Washington Park, October 17
Camp4Real is partnering with two amazing local non-profits, the LoveNoEgo Foundation and Come As You Are Cville, to host a fun-filled afternoon of organized outdoor games and other activities. A selection of local vendors will be on site to serve up delicious food and drinks for all ages.
Events for Teens in Charlottesville
Paramount Presents: Masterchef Live
The Paramount Theater, October 14
The family-friendly show will feature head-to-head cooking demonstrations and fun (sometimes messy!) challenges with past MasterChef & MasterChef Junior contestants, and an overall immersive audience experience fun for all
ages.
Events in Charlottesville for the Entire Family
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze
Lovingston, Now–November 7
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 in the 5 acre corn maze, and pick your perfect pumpkin to bring home.
Crozet Fall Arts & Crafts Festival
Claudius Crozet Park, October 9 & 10
This staple fall festival features over 120 jury-selected artists, craft demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, food, and Virginia wine and beer.
Wheels, Wine & Wonder
King Family Vineyards, October 30
Bring the whole family to the annual Chris Long Foundation fundraiser for an afternoon of food truck fare, drinks, great music and Halloween fun!
Doggie HowlOween
Charlottesville Downtown Mall, October 30
Dogs (and some families) will be dressed in costume and walking around to local businesses to “trick or treat” for dog goodies. Enjoy a parade as they show off their costumes followed by a costume contest at Central Place.
Charlottesville Area Pumpkin Patch Guide
Many would say it’s not fall until you pick the perfect pumpkin. Luckily, the Charlottesville area has plenty of local pumpkin patches to choose from, many of which host special events and festivals during the harvest season.
Back Home on the Farm, Harrisonburg
Celebrate the fall harvest with a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and even attend an old-fashioned country tea. There are also climbing walls and obstacle courses for the kids to enjoy.
https://backhome-onthefarm.com/
Belvedere Plantation, Fredericksburg
The Fall Harvest Festival at Belevedere Plantation will take place September 17–November 7. Visitors can enjoy the Maize Maze, the pumpkin patch and 30+ other activities. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and the entire farm is cashless this year.
https://belvedereplantation.com/harvest-festival/
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze, Lovingston
This top-ranked corn maze moved from the greater D.C. area to the mountains of central Virginia this year! The Blue Ridge Mountain Maze is hosting their Virginia Corn Maze Fall Festival Thursdays–Sundays from September 25–November 7. The festival features a huge pumpkin patch, farm animals, an obstacle course and of course, a giant Virginia corn maze.
https://www.blueridgemountainmaze.com/
Carter Mountain Orchard, Charlottesville
Pick out your pumpkin and pick your own apples at Carter Mountain Orchard, Charlottesville’s staple fall destination. Top off the day with a hayride around the orchard—all in all, a perfect way to enjoy the beautiful Virginia countryside.
https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/carter-mountain-orchard/visit/
Chiles Peach Orchard, Crozet
Head west of Charlottesville to Crozet to pick your pumpkins at Chiles Peach Orchard’s scenic patch that happens to be at the base of the beautiful mountains. The orchard also has pick-your-own apples and a plethora of fall treats to enjoy.
https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/orchards/chiles-peach-orchard/
Critzer Family Farm, Afton
This farm is a friendly, down-home setting, making it the perfect place for families to pick pumpkins and stock up on fresh vegetables from their farmer stand. They also just so happen to make fresh-churned ice cream with their farm-grown fruit. Enjoy fresh cider, pumpkins and mums this time of year.
https://critzerfamilyfarm.com/
Fruit Hill Orchard, Palmyra
Fruit Hill Orchard features two pumpkin patches, ensuring visitors will find the perfect one for them. The orchard also offers pick-your-open apples, and bonus–visitors can paint their own pumpkins or run their Apple Dash Obstacle Course!
https://www.fruithillorchard.com/
Graves Mountain Farm, Syria
The Apple Harvest Festival at Graves Mountain Farm will take the first three weekends in October this fall. Visitors can enjoy love music, hay rides, animals, fresh fall foods and of course, pumpkins and gourds.
https://www.gravesmountain.com/apple-harvest-festival-2021-first-3-weekends-in-october/
Liberty Mills Farm, Somerset
Located just 30 minutes northeast of Charlottesville is this 33 acre fall corn maze–now the largest corn maze in the country! Liberty Mills Farm also features a farm market, an antique tractor collection, wagon rides and pick-your-own pumpkins.
https://www.libertymillsfarm.com/
Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch, Madison
This working family farm is home to 4 acres of pick-you-own pumpkin patch. While you’re there enjoy a hayride and pick your own sunflowers. Sarah’s is open weekends in October, and Wednesday and Friday afternoons. https://www.sarahspumpkins.com/
Seamans’ Orchard, Tyro
Nestled at the foot of the mountains, this fourth generation farm opens their pumpkin patch for the entire month of October for all to enjoy.
https://seamansorchard.com/
Skeeter’s Maze Adventure at Creative Works Farm, Waynesboro
Join Skeeter and his friends on a trip through this 6 acre corn maze, and select the perfect pumpkin for your family while you’re there. Open October 2–24.
https://www.creativeworksfarm.org/?p=12
Round Hill Farm, Culpepper
Celebrate fall October 2–31 with hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a zip line, a super slide, farm animals and much more at Round Hill Farm.
https://round-hill-farm.com/
A very special and spooky thank you to our Halloween content sponsors: Charlottesville Orthodontics, Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville, Tucker Griffin Barnes Law, and Virginia Discovery Museum.
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