When the Blue Ridge Mountains begin to glow with golden leaves and the scent of apple cider fills the air, Central Virginia becomes a spectacular playground for families. From hayrides and handmade crafts to trick-or-treating and heritage celebrations, there’s something magical about fall in Charlottesville.
Haunted houses, craft fairs, apple picking, book festivals, corn mazes, pumpkin patches and more can become annual traditions for your Cville kids’ Fall Fun Bucket List. We’ve gathered the most beloved autumn festivals in the area so you can plan weekend adventures filled with fun, flavor, and family memories.
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September Family Events in Charlottesville
Botanical Arts Festival
September 1–30, 2026
Celebrate art in our community at the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont with free art programing for all ages, botanically themed workshops, and collaborations with regional artists, musicians, poets, and organizations, including a ticketed Botanical Art Festival Celebration supporting local artists and the Garden.
C’ville VegFest
September 13, 2026
Head over to IX Park for a free vegan community event with a mission to ensure that everyone has access to healthy food! The day-long event will feature plant-based foods, live music, local vendors, speakers, children’s activities, and yoga. The C’ville VegFest stage lineup will include bands, multiple DJ sets by Cake Pop, a vegan pie-eating contest, and more! Bring the whole family to celebrate community, inclusivity, and delicious food.
25th Annual Youth Film Festival
September 13, 2026
Light House Studio’s 25th Annual Youth Film Festival is a wonderful celebration of our community, students, and great filmmaking. The festival highlights student’s stories created during Light House Studio’s many school year workshops, community partnerships, and award-winning Summer Film Academy over the past year.
C’ville Sabroso
September 19, 2026
This vibrant Latino cultural festival brings the community together! Stop by for a day filled with traditional food, Latin music, dance performances, craft activities, and interactive cultural experiences. It’s a colorful way for kids and adults to celebrate Hispanic heritage right here in Charlottesville. C’ville Sabroso will be hosted at the Ting Pavilion in Downtown Charlottesville.
Fall Into Fun Festival
September 19–20, 2026
The Fall Into Fun Festival is an annual event hosted at Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet to celebrate the opening of their pumpkin patch. Enjoy seasonal activities like apple picking, pumpkin painting, hayrides, games, hands-on making, and more. Be sure to check the daily schedule to see when there will be live music, and don’t forget to stop by the pumpkin patch! No tickets are needed for the festival.
State Fair of Virginia
September 25–October 4, 2026
You won’t meet a kid at a country fair who doesn’t want to indulge in roller coasters and the Tilt-a-Whirl. At the State Fair of Virginia, enjoy rides, performances, animals, food and more. Check into the bracelets and ride discounts that help make the visit more family-affordable.
Butterfly Festival
September 27, 2026
Every fall, monarch butterflies pass through Central Virginia on their way to Mexico, and this new free festival at Darden Towe Park celebrates the journey with music, culture, and hands-on fun. Hosted by Charlottesville Parks & Recreation and Albemarle County Parks & Recreation, the afternoon features live music from The Lua Project and Brookhouse, a performance and puppet-making workshop with Barefoot Puppet Company, plus craft stations where kids make paper marigolds, butterfly feeders, seed bombs, and sun prints. Bring a blanket and settle in along the Rivanna from 3 to 7 p.m. Read our full guide to the Butterfly Festival.
Loop de’Ville Festival
September 27, 2026
If you’ve got a Cville child who loves the outdoors, you can celebrate local trails and promote an active, outdoor lifestyle at the Loop de’Ville Festival! The day features guided group walks, hikes, bike rides, and runs around Charlottesville’s Rivanna Trail loop. Enjoy music, kids’ bike activities, food trucks, and giveaways along the Rivanna Trail! In case of inclement weather, the Loop de’Ville rain date is October 5.
October Fall Festivals In and Around Charlottesville
Healthy Birth, Healthy Baby Expo
October 3, 2026
Connect with local birth professionals, learn about pregnancy wellness and early childhood resources, and shop baby products at this supportive and informative expo for new and expecting parents. The expo is held at Carver Recreation Center and is completely free to attend. Find more resources on pregnancy care, doulas, and preparing for birth. CharlottesvilleFamily Magazine is proud to be a sponsor and support new moms and babies in Charlottesville!
Fall Fiber Festival
October 3–4, 2026
Hosted at James Madison’s Montpelier, this two-day celebration of fiber arts features craft vendors, workshops, and family-friendly activities. Crafters can submit their work into one of the event’s many competitive divisions. And don’t forget to take the kids to the festival’s annual sheepdog trials! This fall event is a great destination for lovers of knitting, spinning, and hands-on learning.
Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival
October 3–4, 10–11, and 17–18, 2026
Syria, VA
Celebrate fall the old-fashioned way at this beloved mountain festival nestled in scenic Madison County. Plan for what you and your Cville child can expect at the Graves Mountain Apple Festival, then get ready for bluegrass music, hayrides, a hay maze, pony rides, apple picking, and a charming petting farm. The festival features fresh-pressed cider, handmade crafts, and plenty of apple treats, from fritters to butter. With tractor-pulled wagon rides and crisp mountain air, it’s a fun and relaxing day trip for all ages. Admission is free, and parking is $5.
Pro tip: Bring wagons or strollers for little ones, and plan for some things to be cash-only.
CASPCA Fall Fest
October 4, 2026
Bring the whole family—four-legged members included!—to IX Art Park for this heartwarming festival filled with adoptable pets, live music, kids’ games, and food trucks. Proceeds support the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.
Foxfield Family Day Races
October 4, 2026
This annual steeplechase is a Charlottesville fall tradition, offering a family-focused day at the races. With tailgating, pony rides, face painting, and plenty of space to picnic and play, it’s a local favorite for autumn fun. Tickets can be purchased online, including a discounted family pack. And don’t forget to prepare by reading our expert tips for taking kids to the Foxfield Races.
Massanutten Fall Festival
October 10, 2026
Celebrate the season at Massanutten Resort’s annual Fall Festival with live music, craft vendors, kids’ activities, and delicious food and drinks. Families will love pumpkin painting, games, and creative crafts, while parents can enjoy the Beer & Wine Garden and scenic chairlift rides with sweeping mountain views. Proceeds benefit the McGaheysville Volunteer Fire Company, making this fun-filled day a chance to give back while creating lasting memories.
Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival
October 10-11, 2026
Held at Claudius Crozet Park, this juried show features fine arts, crafts, live music, delicious eats, and an interactive children’s area. A beloved tradition for nearly 40 years, the Crozet Arts & Crafts festival is perfect for a crisp fall weekend. Read our tips for attending with kids.
Batesville Apple Butter Weekend
October 10-11, 2026
Stop by Batesville Field (on Plank Road) for the annual Batesville Community Club’s Apple Butter Weekend. Watch the whole process of making apple butter from start to finish on Saturday as it is brewed in two giant copper kettles in the middle of the field. Then come back on Sunday for a pancake breakfast and to pick up a jar or two! Proceeds from sales support the club’s work in the community.
Touch-A-Truck
October 18, 2026
A family favorite, this hands-on event lets kids climb into fire trucks, diggers, ambulances, and more! Local heroes are on hand to answer questions and spark imaginations. Touch-A-Truck is hosted by the Junior League of Charlottesville (JLC) and will be at the Albemarle Campus of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia on Lambs Lane. Proceeds benefit the JLC and its mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
JackFest
October 18, 2026
JackFest is an annual fall celebration that’s a favorite with families all around Albemarle County! You’ll find dozens of kid-focused activities, including races, inflatables, obstacle courses, arts activities, food vendors, a truck touch, and more. JackFest is all about fun, community, all while raising money to help families battling childhood cancer. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville and UVA childhood cancer programs, helping ensure that children can access cutting-edge care close to home in Virginia. Admission is free to the Foxfield event grounds, and everyone is welcome.
Virginia Film Festival
October 21–25, 2026
The VAFF, now in its 38th year, is one of the country’s premier regional film festivals and one of Virginia’s biggest arts events. This incredible fall celebration features more than 100 films from around the world. For five days, you’ll find filmmaker panels, student showcases, and community screenings in venues across town. Check the schedule for family-friendly selections, and embrace an international arts experience with your kids!
Crozet Book Fest
October 24, 2026
This popular local book festival launched in 2024 and is returning for its third year! Run by Bluebird & Co. bookstore and sponsored by dozens of local businesses, it spotlights both national bestsellers and local Virginia authors. Attending authors span every genre and age range, from picture books to young adult and adult novels, so there’s something for the whole family. Admission is free (though books are for sale at each event). All the events are located in downtown Crozet within walking distance of each other, making it an easy way to spend a family-friendly day embracing the literary life! Stop by the Crozet Library for Book Fest events and storytimes dedicated to the younger members of your family.
Boo Bash Halloween Festival
October 2026
Join this annual family-friendly event at the Virginia Discovery Museum to kick off your Halloween celebration! Kids and grownups alike can dress in costume and stop by to enjoy Halloween-themed carnival games, crafts, science experiments, a costume contest, and spooky fun for all ages. It’s the perfect not-too-scary celebration for little ghouls and goblins. Tickets go on sale in September.
Trick-or-Treating on the UVA Lawn
October 31, 2026
This Charlottesville tradition offers a safe and charming way for your Cville child to trick-or-treat. UVA students and faculty welcome families for a festive stroll through the historic Lawn. Everyone will be in costume as students hand out candy with Cavalier cheer to little trick-or-treaters. You might even want to DIY a Boo Bag for collecting treats.
November Festivals in the Charlottesville Area
Albemarle CiderWorks Apple Harvest Festival
November 2026
Enjoy an afternoon of orchard fun with cider tastings, farm vendors, local food, and family activities at this annual event celebrating Virginia’s apple season. Enjoy live music, sample different ciders, or take the kids on a hayride. The festival happens rain or shine, so check the weather before you leave the house, and be ready to bring your boots!
Artisans Studio Tour
November 14–15, 2026
Meet some of the region’s finest artists and makers as they open their working studios to the public. This free, self-guided tour across Charlottesville and Albemarle includes live demonstrations, educational programs, and one-of-a-kind handmade gifts. There are 24 studios located all around Charlottesville and the surrounding counties; you can find a map on the website to plan your visits. CharlottesvilleFamily Magazine is proud to be a sponsor and support local art!
Charlottesville Fall Festivals Happening All Season Long
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze Festival
September 19–November 8, 2026, Weekends
Blue Ridge Mountain Maze features five acres of corn maze fun with panoramic views. Perfect for all ages, it offers live music, apple slingshots, corn cannons, giant slides, a haybale maze, and a night maze with flashlights. Each weekend, enjoy the country store, fresh ice cream, playground, tug-of-war, petting zoo, and private campfire rentals. Ideal for families and groups seeking outdoor adventure.
Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch Festival
Dates TBD, Weekends
Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch is a true you-pick experience, where visitors clip the pumpkins from the vine. Over 20 different varieties of pumpkins are grown, where you can find everything from traditional large orange carving pumpkins to pink, blue, white, and striped pumpkins in the field and more! Every weekend during their season, you can also make your way through the 4 acre corn maze, pet farm animals, buy snacks, play on swings, slides and climbing structiures plus take a hayride, or choose from the almost 10,000 sunflowers that are planted!
As the days grow cooler and the leaves begin to fall, Charlottesville’s festival season is just warming up. Whether you’re sampling cider, cheering at a parade, or watching the kids delight in a hayride, there’s no better way to embrace autumn than with these local, seasonal events.
FAQs: Fall Events in Charlottesville
What are free September events in Charlottesville?
Free festivals and events happening in September around Charlottesville include the Botanical Arts Festival at Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, C’ville VegFest at Ix Art Park, the Butterfly Festival at Darden Towe Park, and Loop de’Ville. Families don’t need tickets for the Fall into Fun Festival at Chiles Peach Orchard, but u-pick pumpkins and apples, as well as food and drinks, aren’t free.
What are Charlottesville events I can do for free in October?
In October, free Charlottesville festivals include the Healthy Birth, Healthy Baby Expo at Carver Rec Center, the Crozet Book Fest in downtown Crozet, the Graves Mountain Apple Harvest Festival, JackFest at the Foxfield event grounds, and Trick or Treating on the UVA Lawn. Some events, like the Apple Harvest Festival and JackFest, require tickets for certain activities and don’t have free food.
What can Charlottesville families do for free in November?
In November, the Charlottesville Artisans Studio Tours are free and open to the public. Families an enjoy many free activities at the Albemarle CiderWorks Apple Harvest Festival, though food and other vendors are not free.
When is Foxfield Family Day in 2026?
Foxfield Family Day is October 4, 2026.
Which Charlottesville farms have fall festivals?
Farm festivals happening in Charlottesville and Central Virginia include Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch, Albemarle CiderWorks, and Chiles Peach Orchard. Graves Mountain and the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze also host fall festivals. These events have farm activities like pick-your-own pumpkins and apples, hayrides, corn mazes, and petting zoos. Many also feature live music, food trucks, local cider, and more.
Fall is full of fun family adventures! Check out our guides to corn mazes and the best apple-picking spots. After all that farm fun, be sure to check out our family recipe collection for some yummy fall treats, including a pear witch. Keep an eye on the calendar, which is always being updated with new events.
Don’t miss a thing: sign up for our free CharlottesvilleFamily newsletter for weekly event highlights and family fun ideas. And be sure to meet our valued partners who serve local families. If you are up for a further-afield adventure, check out the Roanoke Fall Festivals guide.
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Ellen Sewell has a degree in Communications and Media Studies and a gift for the written word. She especially enjoys interviewing local people making a positive difference and sharing events with other parents. Passionate about hands-on learning and being active, Ellen loves to explore museums, playgrounds, and outdoor attractions of all kinds with her three amazing children.