Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly festival, planning a crisp afternoon in a pumpkin patch, or want to get in on some Halloween haunts, we’re here to help with an ultimate guide to fall fun.
Bonus: If you’re on the hunt for fall foliage, check out our recommendations for where to take in the autumn colors.
🍂 Festivals
Richmond Folk Festival | Friday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 29 | Times vary | Brown’s Island, Riverfront | Free entry | One of Richmond’s favorite festivals returns with three days of performances, craft vendors, food, and drinks.
VisArts Chili Throwdown | Friday, Oct. 4 | 6-9 p.m. | Visual Arts Center of Richmond | $30-35 | Try out chili from local restaurants and take home a handmade ceramic bowl.
2nd Street Festival | Saturday, Oct. 5-Sunday, Oct. 6 | Times vary | Jackson Ward | Free entry | The 36th anniversary of this historic fest will feature Arrested Development and Desiree Roots.
Garden Glow | Wednesday, Oct. 16-Sunday, Nov. 10 | Times vary | Maymont | $12-16 | Explore the Glow Village and enjoy fire pits, food trucks, and light installations.
Richmond Oktoberfest | Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19 | Times vary | Meadow Event Park | $15+ | Cheers to the season with bands, the Hirschjaeger Bavarian Dancers, a variety of beers, food, and a stein hoisting contest.
Pumpkin Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 12-6 p.m. | Leigh Street and Midtown Green | Free entry | Bands, food, vendors, and a costume contest are all on the agenda for this festival.
HarvestFest | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $0-$17 | Celebrate all of fall with a pumpkin carving demo, line dancing, face painting, and an assortment of fall foods.
Find even more festivals with our year-round guide.
🍎 Apple picking
Fruit Hill Orchard, Palmyra
This orchard dates back to 1929 and is around an hour away from downtown Richmond. Stop by the farm Mondays-Saturdays — admission is free.
Carter Mountain Orchard, Charlottesville
Head west to visit this popular orchard that offers pick-your-own apples, a market, and plenty of apple cider donuts.
🌱 Pumpkin patches
Ashland Berry Farm, Ashland
There’s something for everyone at this Hanover haunt with all-you-can-carry pumpkin picking and four spooky experiences as part of Terror on the Farm.
Pumpkin picking starts Saturday, Sept. 28.
Chesterfield Berry Farm, Moseley
The fall festivities continue on weekends through Oct. 27 with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayride, pig races, and a shelled corn play area. Admission starts at $20 per person.
Hanover Vegetable Farm, Ashland
Take part in weekday hayrides or head out on the weekend to get pumpkins, walk the corn maze, bounce on the giant pumpkin jump pad, and shoot corn cannons. Tickets are $8 — or $15 with a pumpkin included.
Pumpkin picking starts Friday, Sept. 27.
Gallmeyer Farms Pumpkin Patch, Montrose
Enjoy hayrides, explore the straw bale maze, and pick the perfect pumpkin. When fall hours begin, it’ll be open from 8 a.m. until dusk.
Lloyd Family Farm, Rockville
Admission is $12 per person for the pumpkin patch, which is open 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Food trucks are on site each weekend.
Pumpkin picking starts Saturday, Sept. 23.
👻 Haunts
Creepy Hollow Scream Park, Glen Allen
Explore the Scream Forest, the Phobia X trail, and Axl’s Dark Carnival weekends in October. Pro tip: Get tickets in advance or bring cash to buy in person.
RED VEIN Haunt, Ashland
See if you can survive Red Vein: Void. Get tickets starting at $23 for weekends in October and Halloween night.
Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion, Doswell
Terror awaits you on select nights, Sept. 20-Nov. 4. Park admission will get you access to a frightful night of mazes, scare zones, and live shows.
Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg
Head east for haunted houses, Terror-Tories, and live shows through Nov. 3, all included with park admission.
🎥 Scary and seasonal movies
October at The Byrd Theatre, Carytown
This season’s schedule at the Byrd is full of Halloween favorites, including “Suspiria,” “Hocus Pocus,” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
Bonus: Get tickets for the theater’s annual Mighty Wurlitzer Organ fundraiser, a Sunday, Oct. 20 screening of the 1922 film “Nosferatu.”
Halloween Movies at Ashland Theatre, Ashland
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Labyrinth,” and “Hocus Pocus” are all coming up at this classic theater.
October at the Goochland Drive-In Theater, Hadensville
See seasonal flicks and don’t miss the all-night classic horror movie marathon on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Spooky Movie Nights at Starr Hill, Scott’s Addition
The brewery will host screenings every Wednesday of October with free candy and movie snacks. The lineup includes “Alien,” “The Thing,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” and “They Live.”
