Fall is coming up fast in Northern Virginia, and with it, a lot of fun festivities and places to see. There are events all over the region, making it difficult to decide what’s really worth checking out. It’s still early in September, so many of these events start now and continue into the true spooky season of October, or begin then and are events worth keeping in the back of your mind. This is a list of autumn must-visits that tackle everything from festivals, haunted houses, to natural beauties and everything in between.
Attend the Cox Farms Fall Festival
"Cox Farm Bridge" by rittyrats is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Hayrides, waterslides, petting zoos— this festival is perfect for family weekend outings. There’s a variety of entertainment for all types of curious minds. Milking demos, the goat petting zoo, and the farm chore attraction are perfect for those interested in learning about farms and their upkeep. There’s a mining sluice for little ones to pan for treasure, or a mini tractor museum of farm equipment sparks any interest. Dozens of slides with various themes are all around the farm as well. My personal recommendation is the eccentric site of Foamhenge, a life-size recreation of Stonehenge but made entirely of styrofoam. Live music featuring bluegrass, country and classic rock. Bodine Brothers are the act for opening day, a duo that specializes in classic and southern rock, blues and outlaw country. The festival does not open until September 20th.
Stroll Through Shenandoah National Park
Fall foliage in Shenandoah National Park is unmatched, and there are certain spots more sought-after than others. Fall is considered the perfect time to visit this national park, and September brings particularly good sights with a mix of orange, red and yellow splattering the deep green forest. The forest is only about an hour outside of the DMV area, and, like many Northern Virginia fall attractions, definitely worth the excursion. The national park is humongous, stretching over 100 miles and 200,000 acres of protected land. For peak foliage, visit this piece of nature between late September and early November when temperatures are typically in the 50s. A word of warning: Shenandoah tends to be extremely crowded in the fall due to the breathtaking foliage, so be sure to plan or visit during weekdays.
Go Apple Picking at Hollin Farm
Though Deleplane isn’t smack in the middle of NoVa, it’s on average only an hour away and well worth the drive for Hollin Farm’s sweet, tasty apples. The farm spans a whopping 40 acres and has a dozen Apple varieties for picking. The other main fruit in season is Asian Pears, though get them fast as they stop producing at the end of September. Fruits aren’t their only specialty, as the farm has year-round produce for sale. September and October also offer self-harvesting of vegetables. Pumpkin and squash are more common fall produce, but also grab radishes before they’re out of season in October, or pick up a myriad of other plant-based foods like lettuce, potatoes, or even peanuts. For meat lovers, this farm also raises free-range cows for juicy Angus beef, and will begin selling quarter, half or whole beef on October 13th.
Taste Fall at Henway Hard Cider Company
Autumn drinks are all the rage, and nothing soothes the soul better in these chillier months than a spiced and subtly sweet beverage that’ll give you a kick like hard cider. Henway is a family-owned brewery, and is named after the joke genre, Henway. What’s a Henway? Oh, about five pounds. Henway Hard Cider Company produces a myriad of fresh fruits that they infuse into their ciders. Their ciders are made freshly at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountain range. Their flavors range from classics like heritage English, brut, or bourbon spiced to more out-there tastes like pina colada, blueberry lavender or ginger. Food is also offered usually in the form of small bites, which are relatively affordable. Each week of September, there is a festival with freshly-made cider donuts, pig races and a corn maze.
P.S. If you like fishing, they have a pond that allows anglers to do so.
Don’t Get Lost in Berryville Corn Maze
Berryville maze is ginormous. I’m talking 10 acres of pure corn fields, with Corn Crops on regular patrol in case of lost patrons. There are two maps: one for the little ones and one for those who like a challenge. This year's theme celebrates the Capitals, particularly Alexander Ovechkin, or ‘the great 8’. Wayside has been hosting the corn maze for about 10 years now, so they are truly experts in their craft. The average number of members on their creative team is just a mere 15 people. The co-owners of the farm, Harriet Wegmeyer and Tyler Wegmeyer, allow their three children to pick each year's theme.
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