What’s Happening This Weekend in Charlottesville
Friday, October 2, 2026
- Blue Ridge Mountain Maze in Syria, VA
- State Fair of Virginia in Doswell
- Ice Cream Social at Cake Bloom
- Storytime with Hannah at Bluebird & Co.
- Free roller skating at Carver Rec Center
- Virginia Oysters & Wine with Live Music at Eastwood Winery
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Fall Fiber Festival & Sheep Dog Trials at Montpelier
- Graves Mountain Apple Festival at Graves Mountain Farm
- JMRL Book Sale
- Health Birth, Healthy Baby Expo at Carver Rec Center
- Kids Craft Hour at Blue Ridge Brushes
- Art Festival & Book Fair at Merrie Mill Farm
- Live music at Chiles Peach Orchard
- Rivanna Roots at Rivanna River Co.
- Live music at Keswick Vineyards
- Free roller skating at the Greenwood Community Center
Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Foxfield Fall Races at Foxfield Track
- CASPCA Fall Fest at Ix Art Part
- Fall Fiber Festival & Sheep Dog Trials at Montpelier
- Free roller skating at Carver Rec Center
- Pokémon League & Learn to Play at The End Games
- Live music at Keswick Vineyards
- Live music at Chiles Peach Orchard
It’s fall in Virginia, and family fun is happening all around! Charlottesville and Albemarle County are full of daytime, evening, and weekend events for every age and interest.
Don’t want to miss your favorite fall festival? Looking for some spooky fun? Or maybe you need a fun date night idea, or a spot for your teen to meet up with friends. From fall festivals to sweet storytimes to what’s happening this weekend in Charlottesville, we’ve got you covered.
Jump to October Events in Charlottesville
For more ideas, don’t forget to bookmark the CharlottesvilleFamily calendar, which is updated every week with events in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Richmond, and the Shenandoah Valley.
October Festivals & Community Events in Charlottesville
State Fair of Virginia
Where: Meadow Event Park (Doswell)
When: Oct. 1–Oct. 4, 2026
Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival
Where: Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges (Syria, VA)
When: Oct. 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 2026
Central Virginia is full of family-friendly fall adventures! October is the best time to explore our favorite local spots for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and apple picking.
Healthy Birth, Healthy Baby Expo
Where: Carver Rec Center (Charlottesville
When: Oct. 3, 2026
Fall Fiber Festival & Sheep Dog Trials
Where: Montpelier
When: Oct. 3 & 4, 2026
CASPCA Fall Fest
Where: Ix Art Park (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 4, 2026 • 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Fall Family Day & Harvest Party
Where: Eastwood Farm & Winery (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 18, 2026 • 12:00–5:00 pm
Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival
Where: Claudius Crozet Park (Crozet)
When: Oct. 10 & 11, 2026
Massanutten Fall Festival
Where: Massanutten Resort
When: Oct. 10, 2026 • 11:30 am – 6:00 pm
Martha’s Market
Where: Dairy Market (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
JackFest
Where: Foxfield (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 18, 2026 • 12:00–4:00 pm
Oaktober Fest
Where: Oakland School (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 3:00–6:00 pm
Virginia Film Festival
Where: various locations (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 21–25, 2026
Bellair Farm Fall Festival
Where: Bellair Farm (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 24, 2026 • 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fantasy Fest
Where: Ix Art Park (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 31, 2026 • 4:00–9:00 pm
Accessible & Sensory-Friendly Charlottesville Events in October
Treehouse Tales
Where: Bennett’s Village @ Pen Park (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 28, 2026 • 3:00–5:00 pm
Sensory Friendly Halloween
Where: Brooks Family YMCA (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 30, 2026 • 6:00–8:00 pm
Local Charlottesville Storytimes
Storytime at the Garden
Where: Botanical Garden of the Piedmont (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 14, 2026 • 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Three Cheers for Pooh!
Where: Crozet Library (Crozet)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 10:30–11:30 am
Storytime with Hannah
Where: Bluebird & Co. (Crozet)
When: Fridays • 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
All Ages Storytime
Where: New Dominion Bookshop (Charlottesville)
When: Saturdays • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Creation Station Storytime
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Mondays • 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Looking for storytimes on different days? Check the JMRL calendar to find storytimes throughout the week at all the library branches, plus book clubs for older kids and adults.
October Date Ideas in Charlottesville
Board Game Night: Murder Mystery
Where: Central Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 1, 2026 •6:00–8:00 pm
Ice Cream (& Cake!) Social
Where: Cake Bloom (Charlottesville)
When: Fridays • 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Virginia Oysters & Wine with Live Music
Where: Eastwood Winery (Charlottesville)
When: Fridays • 5:00–8:00 pm
Rivanna Roots: Chamomile & Whiskey
Where: Rivanna River Co. (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 3, 2026 • 6:30–9:30 pm
Live Music Weekends
Where: Chiles Peach Orchard (Crozet)
When: Saturdays & Sundays • 1:00–4:00 pm
Date Night Drop Off
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 9, 2026 • 1:00–4:00 pm
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Where: Vinegar Hill Theater (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 16, 2026 • 7:00–9:00 pm
Harvest Party
Where: King Family Vineyards (Crozet)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 6:00–9:00 pm
Fantasy Fest Afterparty (21+)
Where: Ix Art Park (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 31, 2026 • 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
October Runs & Sporting Events in Charlottesville
The Big Serve Pickleball Tournament
Where: Darden Towe Park (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 18, 2026 • 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Crozet Trails Crew 5K + Family Fun Run
Where: Claudius Crozet Park (Crozet)
When: Oct. 24, 2026
Gatorade Halloween Hustle 10K & Family Walk
Where: Brooks Family YMCA (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 31, 2026 • 8:30–10:30 am
Charlottesville October Events for Book Lovers
JMRL Fall Book Sale
Where: 300 Albemarle Square
When: Oct. 3–11, 2026 • 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Art Festival & Book Fair
Where: Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyards (Keswick)
When: Oct. 3, 2026 • 11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Crozet Book Fest
Where: Downtown Crozet
When: Oct. 24, 2026
Book Club: Halloween Edition
Where: UVA Special Collections Library Seminar Room
When: Oct. 29, 2026 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Trick-or-Reading on the Lawn
Where: UVA Academical Village
When: Oct. 31, 2026 • 5:00–7:00 pm
Poe-try for Kids
Where: Gordon Ave. Library
When: Oct. 28, 2026 • 3:30–4:15 pm
Edgar Allen Poe at UVA: An Exhibition
Where: UVA Special Collections Library
When: Sept. 23, 2026–April 9, 2027
October Nature & Outdoor Events in Charlottesville
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze
Where: Roseland, VA
When: Sept. 19, 2026–Nov. 8, 2026 • times vary
Foxfield Fall Races
Where: Foxfield (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 4, 2026 • 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Little Nature Explorers
Where: Botanical Garden of the Piedmont (Charlottesville)
When: Tuesdays • 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Little Naturalists
Where: Ivy Creek Natural Area (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 12, 2026 • 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Making plans for Halloween? From trick-or-treating for the youngest family members to spooky haunted houses for teens, we’ve rounded up our favorite Halloween events in Charlottesville and Central Virginia.
Goat Walk & Sanctuary Tour
Where: Sentient Sanctuary (Scottsville)
When: Oct. 10, 2026 • all day
Apple Butter Weekend
Where: Batesville Field (Batesville)
When: Oct. 10 & 11, 2026
October Creative Events in Charlottesville
Free Community Day
Where: The Looking Glass at Ix (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 1, 2026 • 12:00–5:00 pm
Family Art Drop In: Watercolor Leaves
Where: Crozet Library
When: Oct. 1, 2026 • 3:00–4:00 pm
Into the Forest: A Musical Nature Experience
Where: Gordon Ave. Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 3, 2026 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Kids Craft Hour
Where: Blue Ridge Brushes (Charlottesville)
When: Saturdays • 11:00 am –12:00 pm
Toddler Movement & Yoga
Where: Virginia Discovery Museum (Charlottesville)
When: Wednesdays • 10:30–11:00 am
Tiny Tiers Mini Cake Decorating Workshop
Where: Cake Bloom (Charlottesville)
When: Wednesdays • sessions start at 1:00 pm
CHP Art with Heart: Pumpkin Decorating
Where: Child Health Partnership office (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 7, 2026 • 11:00 am–12:30 pm
DIY-U Kids’ Workshops
Where: Lowe’s (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Plan creative events for all ages at our favorite local arts & crafts studios.
Family Studio Day
Where: Second Street Gallery (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 10:00 am–2:00 pm
Fourth Friday Solar Viewing
Where: Ivy Creek Natural Area (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 23, 2026 • 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Charlottesville October Events for Teens & Tweens
School’s Out Hangout
Where: Central Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 2, 13 & 16, 2026 • all day
Clay Hand-Building Workshop
Where: Foster Art (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 3, 17 & 24, 2026 • 10:00–11:00 am
NextGen Skilled Trades Day
Where: Piedmont Virginia Community Center
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 10:00 am –1:00 pm
Creative Writing Club
Where: Northside Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct 7, 2026 • 5:00–6:00 pm
Pokémon League & Learn to Play
Where: The End Games
When: Sundays • 1:00–4:00 pm
Free Roller Skating
Where: Carver Recreation Center
When: Wednesdays, 5:00 pm • Fridays 4:00 pm • Sundays, 12:00 pm & 3:00 pm
Glow in the Dark Art
Where: Northside Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct 13, 2026 • 4:30–5:30 pm
Gothic Portraits for Teens
Where: Foster Art (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 17, 2026 • 2:30–4:00 pm
Teen Dungeons & Dragons
Where: Central Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 20, 2026 • 5:00–7:00 pm
College Applications: Where to Begin?
Where: Gordon Ave. Library (Charlottesville)
When: Oct. 21, 2026 • 6:00–7:00 pm
Club Air
Where: Get Air Charlottesville
When: Fridays & Saturdays • 7:00–10:00 pm
Roller Skating Night
Where: Greenwood Community Center, Crozet
When: Saturdays • 6:00–8:00 pm
FAQs About October Events in Charlottesville
Are there free events for families happening in Charlottesville in October?
There are many free community events for families in Charlottesville, including storytimes at local bookstores and roller skating every week at different community centers around town. The Crozet Book Fest on October 24th is completely free and has author events for all ages, plus crafts for the youngest book lovers at the Crozet library. Another local fall festival, JackFest, happens on October 18 and is also free.
Older kids might also enjoy learning to use solar telescope and hunting for sunspots at the Fourth Friday Solar Viewing at Ivy Creek, and The Looking Glass at Ix Art Park hosts free community hours the first Thursday of every month. There are also free art days, lego building, book clubs, and more at JMRL library branches every week.
Where can I find family-friendly Halloween events near Charlottesville?
There are many Halloween events for Charlottesville families throughout the month of October. We’ve rounded up our favorite trick-or-treating events around town. JMRL’s Central Library also hosts a not-so-spooky haunted house for kids ages 5 and up. Families with teens might want to check out one of Central Virginia’s haunted house or haunted trail attractions.
What can teens and tweens do in Charlottesville in October?
Charlottesville libraries host many events for teens and tweens, including art events, book clubs, workshops, and Dungeons & Dragons games. We’ve also rounded up our favorite spots for older kids to hang out in Charlottesville, including rock climbing spots, escape rooms, bowling, and more.
JMRL’s Central location will have School’s Out days on October 2, 13, and 16. Teens and tweens can hang out in the library’s teen space to read, craft, and do school work. Foster Art is also hosting several craft workshops for kids ages 12+ throughout the month.
The End Games hosts regular events, including both learn-to-play tutorials and more advanced leagues. Get Air trampoline park has late hours on Friday nights, known as Club Air, for teens to hang out and jump with friends, and Carver Rec Center has free basketball and roller skating hours each week.
When is JackFest in 2026?
JackFest is happening on October 18, 2026, from 12:00–4:00 pm. The festival is held at Foxfield Track in Charlottesville.
Does Charlottesville have sensory-friendly trick-or-treating?
Charlottesville’s Brooks YMCA will host sensory-friendly trick-or-treating on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 pm.
Charlottesville is full of seasonal fun for families! Check off all your favorite on our fall bucket list for Cville families! Stuck inside on a rainy day? We’ve got you covered with a library of free printable activity sheets for kids ages 2 to 10 years old.
For fresh ideas all year long, sign up for our free CharlottesvilleFamily newsletter. And be sure to learn more about our valued partners who serve local families.
CharlottesvilleFamily Editors are locals who care deeply about family and community. We are almost all parents who serve alongside our readers. We’re in the PTO and band boosters, coach sports teams, help with the school fun fair, and more. Our insider perspective, combined with great research and expert input from our wonderful CharlottesvilleFamily Advisory Panel, helps us to provide you with trustworthy advice as you raise the next generation of brilliant and compassionate kids.