When the leaves begin to turn in Charlottesville, that’s your signal to jot down dates in your calendar. There’s a lot to do in and around town once autumn hits, from wandering through apple orchards and corn mazes to taking in a movie at the Virginia Film Festival and tailgating at UVA football games. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of activities you’ll want to get to before the last leaves hit the ground.
Get lost
Make your way through one of the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze’s corn mazes (now located at Blue Toad Hard Cider, near Wintergreen). Equipped with just a crayon and a blank survival guide, you’ll scout an escape path through five acres while taking in a panoramic view of the mountains. Tickets include access to plenty of family-friendly attractions, like the country store, farm animals, movies in the meadow, and the Farmy Fun Zone. Up for a more chilling experience? Come back at night to navigate the maze by moonlight.
Spy on the hawks
Visitors are welcome at the annual hawk watch at Rockfish Gap. While volunteers man the watch from August to November to monitor the raptors’ fall migration, you can drop by to see hundreds and even thousands of the 14 different species take to the skies. Make sure to get there in the next week or so for peak migration, and bring binoculars, sunscreen, snacks and water, and something to lounge on.
Bond with the Bard
Thirsty for theater? The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton is running Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, and Coriolanus through November to conclude the center’s 35th anniversary. Be sure to come back in December for a production of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol.
Take a hike
Breathe in the crisp autumn air and peep the changing leaves on a brisk walk around Charlottesville, a hearty hike in the mountains, or from behind the wheel of your car. You can trek through Ragged Mountain Natural Area or climb Humpback Rocks, take a ride along Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive, or stroll around the gorgeous University of Virginia Grounds.
Register for a run
Lace up your sneakers and join the Fall Classic half-marathon and 10K on October 15, which starts and finishes on the Downtown Mall in front of the Ting Pavilion and takes runners through scenic locales in Charlottesville. Looking for more races? Check out the annual Ramblin Rabbit Run, which this year benefits Bennett’s Village; the Crozet Trails Crew’s 5K starting at Crozet Park; and the Brooks Family YMCA’s Halloween Hustle 10K and two-mile trick-or-treat walk.
Don your hats
Pony up some cash for tickets to the bougie Montpelier Hunt Races on November 4. Catch the horses and their jockeys as they leap and sprint through seven consecutive races over a full day of activities, including Jack Russell terrier and stick horse races, a raffle drawing, and tailgating. And don’t forget to wear your fanciest, haughtiest headwear to enter the day’s hat contest.
Be a good sport
Fall sports are in full swing, and there’s no better time to take a seat in the stands at UVA’s fields and courts. And no matter what your team is ranked, nothing says autumn like college football (the Cavs are on a winning streak after beating William & Mary on October 7!). Plus: Tailgating. But there’s a lot more to watch than football this season: Consider volleyball, wrestling, soccer, and the November 12 Rivanna Romp, which pits the Hoos against rowers from Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, Navy, and Minnesota.
Look up
Cold, dark nights make the perfect setting for an evening of stargazing: The changing season means the fall skies have new constellations, planets, and galaxies on display. Learn about celestial bodies with a short lecture and telescope-assisted gazing at Ivy Creek Natural Area’s Third Friday under the Stars, or get a closer look with the 26-inch McCormick Refractor at the UVA Leander McCormick Observatory, open on the first and third Friday nights of the month.
Go to the movies
The Virginia Film Festival runs from October 25 to 29, and the five-day event is your opportunity to get up close with some great films. Watch groundbreaking work by the industry’s leading directors, up-and-coming filmmakers, and actors from around the world. This year, see Bradley Cooper’s highly-anticipated festival opener Maestro, meet director Ava DuVernay, actor and director Riley Keough, and acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, and catch a performance from musician Jon Batiste, following the closing documentary American Symphony.
Fest it up
Virginia’s fall is packed with big community events, from music festivals to harvest fairs. Some fests are a bit of a trek, but there’s plenty you can do within an hour’s drive. Buy up bags of ripe fruit at Edible Landscaping’s Persimmon Festival, take your pup for a day out at Stable Craft Brewing’s Barktoberfest, or enjoy the heirloom chrysanthemums at Harmony Harvest Farm’s Mum Showcase. There’s plenty more to do if you’re willing to get out of town, so check out the full list at virginia.org/events/festivals-and-fairs/fall-festivals
Strike up the band
There’s more to marching bands than half-time shows, as you’ll see for yourself when you watch the Cavalier Marching Band prepare for performances at their open rehearsals at Carr’s Hill Field. In addition to playing during football games, the band also puts on themed shows, from celebrating the CMB’s 20th anniversary to military salutes. Check the UVA Department of Music’s online calendar for the full list of free events.
Pick apples
It’s not really fall without a trip to an apple orchard. At Carter Mountain, apple picking started in mid-August, with Fuji, Granny Smith, and Winesap varieties, available for visitors to grab themselves from the branches or get pre-picked at the barn. Carter Mountain is popular, especially this time of year, so you’ll have to buy tickets in advance and pre-pay for your apples by container size. If you want to avoid the crowds, head over to family-owned Henley’s Orchard, where, in addition to apples, cider, donuts, pumpkins, and fresh meat and eggs, you can enjoy live music and tractor and pony rides every October weekend during HenleyFest.
Drink up
There’s never a bad season to visit our many wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries, but something about the chill of fall makes taking in gorgeous views with delicious bevvies a must. Check out the area’s more than 40 winemakers, such as Keswick or Pippin Hill, grab a cider while you enjoy live music at Potter’s, visit the new Högwaller Brewing spot, or go for a tasting at Vitae Spirits. Don’t be shy—try something new!
Get spooked
Take a walk on the other side with a Charlottesville ghost tour. Nearly every night throughout the fall, US Ghost Adventures offers one-hour, one-mile walking tours of supposedly haunted locales and grim destinations throughout the city, starting at The Paramount Theater. Looking for something a little less creepy? Friends of Charlottesville Downtown and the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society offer a new “door to door” local history tour focusing on local businesses that shaped the community.
Trick-or-treat on the Lawn
A tradition since the 1980s, this classic Halloween event is open to families and kids who are eager to attend a huge holiday bash. Lawn residents and student organizations post up in the 54 Lawn rooms and hand out treats, all donated by around 70 student groups. (And don’t even get us started on the creative array of student costumes, an annual must-see, for sure!) Co-sponsored by Housing & Residence Life, this event is fun for students and community members alike.
Dog bless
Held every Thanksgiving at 10am, Grace Episcopal Church’s annual Blessing of the Hounds has been an area favorite since 1929. Dog-lovers are welcome to come watch hunting hounds and horses receive a special blessing at the Keswick church, and enjoy cider and hot chocolate before and after the event. (Please note that this event is different from the Blessing of the Animals; leave your furry friends at home or keep them on a leash!)
Editor’s note: The original version of this article inaccurately implied that the Grace Episcopal Church’s Blessing of the Hounds ceremony was offering blessings to visiting dogs. The event is only for hunting hounds and horses.
