2024 Hampton Roads fall activities for families
Fall has set in and you’re starting to daydream about all the Hampton Roads fall activities! The mountains, leaves changing color, apple orchards, corn mazes, hiking, and all things pumpkin spice.
Those early mornings in August or September when it’s in the 60s. All of a sudden you’re leaping out of bed and energized. Or is this just me?! 😅
Here are some fun fall activities we love to do as a family. Some are right here in Hampton Roads, others might be a fun day trip or quick weekend getaway.
FESTIVALS
1. FALL O WEEN AT NEWPORT NEWS PARK
Newport News has had a fall festival the first weekend of October as far as I can remember.
The festival includes traditional marketplace crafters and exhibitors, Halloween-themed vendors, wagon rides, live pumpkin carvers, ax throwing, a corn maze, eerie escape rooms, fortune tellers, a huge pumpkin patch, a mechanical pumpkin ride and live stage entertainment.
2. AN OCCASION FOR THE ARTS IN MERCHANT SQUARE
If you need another reason to spend your weekend in Colonial Williamsburg, AOFTA, is a good one!
AOFTA is a free art and music festival that has been going on since 1969. This festival features fine art artisans from all over the United States. You can expect to see artwork from painters, photographers, metal and woodworkers, jewelry, fiber, cermaics mixed media and more.
ADDRESS
Merchant Square
134. N. Henry St.
Williamsburg, Va
3. TOWN POINT FALL WINE FESTIVAL
The Fall Wine Festival takes place on Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20, 2024 at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Virginia one of the 10 best wine travel destinations in the world and the Fall Town Point Virginia Wine Festival encapsulates this recognition in grand fashion with more than 25 of the Commonwealth’s top wineries showcasing over 200 fine wines.
4. POQUOSON SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
My family has been going to the Poquoson Seafood Festival for years. It’s hard to find a family around here who doesn’t know watermen, admire them, and eat what they catch!
Description: Enjoy the Bounty of the Bay and visit the Poquoson Seafood Festival. The City of Poquoson’s annual salute to the working watermen of the Chesapeake Bay and life along the bay in a coastal City.
Poquoson Seafood Festival not only gets you into the fall spirit, it provides the opportunity to purchase some early Christmas gifts from local artists or special pieces for your home.
PUMPKIN PATCHES
1. HOLLY FORK FARM
Holly Fork Farm is a family farm located in Barhamsville, Va in New Kent County, and is one of the most recommended pumpkin patches in Hampton Roads.
Aside from their pumpkin patch, they have a well-stocked shop, farm animals you can visit, several fall festivals/events with vendors and they love to host field trips!
Be sure to follow along on their Facebook page, this is where they keep you up-to-date- with what’s going on at the farm.
ADDRESS
Holly Fork Farm
4901 Holly Fork Road
Barhamsville, Va
2. BELMONT PUMPKIN FARM
Belmont Pumpkin Farm is located in North, Virginia, about an hour’s drive from the Peninsula (or less). They open on weekends starting September 21st and have pumpkin picking, a corn maze, hayrides, treasure hunts, scarecrow making, and more.
There are also some food options like street tacos, BBQ, and their famous pumpkin funnel cakes!
Friday evenings are dog-friendly! You can bring your leashed pup and enjoy the sunflower trails and corn maze.
ADDRESS:
Belmont Pumpkin Farm
155 Belmont Lane,
North, Virginia 23128
3. HUNT CLUB FARM
Hunt Club Farm is a 32-acre family-owned farm in the heart of Virginia Beach. Even though I’ve never been to Hunt Club Farm, I certainly remember hearing about them on the radio over the years!
Hunt Club offers a whole slew of fall activities for families! From their Harvest Fair to petting farm, Treewalk adventures, Bird Aviary, pumpkin patch, Haunted Hunt Club Farm.
There are admission fees for certain activities, so I’d look at their site, plan what you’d like to do, and purchase tickets or seasonal passes ahead of time. Be sure to sign up for their emails for deals and discounts.
ADDRESS:
Hunt Club Farm
2388 London Bridge Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
APPLE PICKING
1. CARTER MOUNTIAN APPLE ORCHARD
We have been going to Carter Mountian for years! Our favorite thing is to try and arrive almost at opening so that we can pick our favorite Jonagold apples, eat some warm apple donuts, and then head down the mountain to Michie Tavern for lunch!
There are quite a few other things to do at Carter’s like shop at their market, pick out pumpkins, and even wine tasting.
If you’ve never been to Carter Mountian, be prepared for orange mud if it’s been raining or even high winds. We’ve sorta experienced all sorts of weather on the mountain so we come in layers and shoes we can clean up easily.
Typically, as the morning moves on things warm up and/or the weather shifts, so don’t get discouraged!
ADDRESS
Carter Mountain Apple Orchard
1435 Carters Mountain Trail
Charlottesville, VA 22902
PHONE: 434-977-1833
2. FRUIT HILL ORCHARD
Fruit Hill is a welcoming little farm! If you’d like to skip the crowds of Carter Mountian, this orchard won’t disappoint.
This family has been in the apple orchard business since the 1920’s and they love to have families on their farm.
“Whether you’re just stopping in for a few apples, or planning on spending the afternoon picking in our orchards, playing corn hole on the lawn, learning in our apple museum, or picnicking, we know you will have a wonderful time.”
If you’re looking for a unique Airbnb, they even have a little cottage on their farm!
ADDRESS
Fruit Hill Orchard
2745 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Palmyra, VA 22963
Phone: 434-589-7215
FAVORITE FALL HIKES
These hikes are a little further away, but I know so many Hampton Roads families who plan a weekend getaway or day trip up to the mountains.
Here are a few hikes we’ve done and or ones that are well-known in the area of
- CRAB TREE FALLS
When we head to the mountains we love to hike. If you’ve never been to Crab Tree Falls, it’s located inside of George Washington National Forrest. There’s a nice parking area as well as bathrooms.
Depending on the ages of your children, you can choose to stay around the little creek area and splash around in the edge of the water or venture up the path and stairs to find the waterfall.
This is not a stroller-friendly hike, so I’d suggest bringing some sort of carrier for young legs that may get tired.
ADDRESS:
Crab Tree Falls
11581 Crabtree Falls Hwy.
Montebello, VA 24464
2. HUMPBACK ROCK, BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
Humpback Rock is one of the first hikes David and I took as a married couple! It’s also probably one of the more well-known hikes families take in the fall.
The view of the fall-colored leaves is just stunning! The trail is steep, but you can always take it slow or rest on a bench here or there.
ADDRESS:
Humpback Gap Parking Area
Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 6,
Afton, VA 22920
3. SAINT MARY’S WILDERNESS IN RAPHINE, VIRGINIA
The waterfalls and water crossings at Saint Mary’s Wilderness are just beautiful!
Fair warning, there are several water crossings, so be prepared to get your feet wet. A set of hiking poles would help too!
I’d also say that this could be a challenging hike for little ones who aren’t carrier-bound or older. We did a 5 mile loop at Saint Mary’s when Colby and Caroline were 7 and 4 and it was a challenge! I may or may not have ended up in the water while keeping Colby from falling. 😅
It would be fun to try now that they are older.
