RVA Fall Bucket List: 25 Ways to Enjoy This Season in Virginia
- The West End Mom
- Sep 11, 2024
- 15 min read
Updated: Sep 15, 2024
Sunday, September 22 is sneaking up on us! With the first official day of FALL almost here in RVA, I've got my annual RVA Fall Bucket List ready for YOU!
Fall is one of my favorite seasons in Richmond because the weather cools down enough that we could spend all day outside! I also love all the festivals, outdoor concerts and fun, community events that seem to happen every single weekend!
My annual RVA Fall Bucket List includes some traditional favorites plus some new activities and events opening this year! My goal for this guide is to help you and your family make the most of Fall in RVA and enjoy all the special moments of the season!
If you would like my printable Fall Bucket List guide, click here!
Follow @thewestendmom on Instagram for things to do with kids in Richmond!
This guide is brought to you by Cross Creek Nursery!
Serving RVA since 1974, Cross Creek Nursery 's Midlothian location covers 24 acres on Courthouse Road. If you're closer to Short Pump, don't worry - Cross Creek Nursery also has a second location in the West End. Both locations have a greenhouse, florist, growing farm & landscaped areas to explore. You will also find a bounce house that is open every day of the week for kiddos.
Visit either location of Cross Creek Nursery on October 1 or October 2, 2024 with The West End Mom Fall Bucket List and your kiddo(s) can get a FREE, small pumpkin.
You will find these special pumpkins in @thewestendmom container at both Cross Creek Nursery locations. One small pumpkin per child.
Can't wait to celebrate fall with y'all!!
Here are 25+ activities around RVA to try with your kids this fall!
1.Go apple picking.
There are so many apple orchards around RVA -- you really can't go wrong with any of them. But here are my favorite orchards to visit with kids. These have been the easiest to navigate with little kids and there's not a ton of walking.
Fruit Hill Orchard: This family owned orchard has over 2,000 fruit trees, including peaches & apples. Fruit Hill Orchard also have pick your own zinnias & sunflowers in summer, pumpkins in October & fresh, cut trees in December.
I love visiting this orchard with children because everything is in close proximity & all the activities are FREE (yard games, space to run, cute apple museum).
Chiles Peach Orchard: Owned by the Chiles family, this orchard & market has pick your own peaches & apples, pumpkins, flowers and berries! Chiles Peach Orchard also has a treat shop, an outdoor patio & open air market. They also host a bunch of family friendly events, including Fall Into Fun Festival, live music on Saturdays + Cookies & Cocoa with Santa!
I love this orchard because it’s so easy to walk with kids. It’s in the valley, so the terrain is flat & you have views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Chiles Peach Orchard even has wagons for you to borrow while you pick.
2. Attend a football game!
University of Richmond's sporting events are some of the most family-centric events around RVA. The university's grounds are beautiful and stroller friendly, the staff is incredibly accommodating and helpful, and the athletics department always plans the best "KIDS ZONES" during football season.
University of Richmond's football games are at Claiborne Robins Stadium from August through November. During every home game has a kids' zone with bounce houses, face painting and balloon animals -- these activities are included in your ticket. You don't have to pay extra for them.
There are also special "Kids Club" games, where all Spiders Kids Club members get FREE admission and extra special activities. For example, for the Grandparents' Day game, UR had the fun bus come from 3:30-5:30 for all children to play in. If you haven't tried the fun bus before it's a mobile gym for children with swings, trampolines and slides - my children LOVE it! They also had a special coloring area for children to make cards for their grandparents. If you'd like to sign your kiddo up, check here for all the information.
The Richmond Spiders' usually host a FREE Trick or Treat event for all members of the Spiders' Kids Club in October.
Upcoming Home Games:
September 14 at 2 p.m.vs Charleston Southern
October 5 at 2 p.m. vs North Carolina A&T
October ct 19 at 3:30 p.m. vs Delaware
November 2 at 2 p.m. vs Towson
November 23 at noon vs William & Mary
3. Listen to live music!
The Richmond Folk Festival: One of Virginia's largest events, this annual festival is on September 27 to September 29. Admission is FREE, and you'll find live music on six stages, food trucks and more.
4. Attend a fall festival.
There are a bunch of fall festivals around Richmond, so there are definitely more than just these four!!
Oktoberfest: St. Benedict's annual Oktoberfest is Friday, September 20 from 4pm-11pm, Saturday, September 21 from 11am-11pm, and Sunday, September 22 from noon to 6pm. This event has FREE admission, and it's rain or shine.
Toddling Around Virginia: If you have little kids, you will definitely want to add their Fall Festival on September 28 to your calendar. Toddling Around is an indoor play space specifically designed for children 6 and younger, and it's great if you have multiple young kids too!
On September 28 from 9am to 2pm, their Fall Festival will have games, prizes, crafts, a pumpkin patch plus a coffee bar for grownups! Check here for tickets.
Armenian Food Festival: St. James Armenian Church hosts the Armenian Food Festival every Fall. This event is free to attend, and you can watch traditional Armenian performances and dances. They will also have food and drink for sale.
The 2024 festival is October 4 and 5.
Dorey Park Farmers Market's Fall Festival: On October 26, Dorey Park Farmers Market is hosting their annual fall festival from 9am to noon. This is a free event and it's open to the community. They will have a pumpkin patch, live music, face painting, petting zoo, hay rides and much more!!
5. Watch a movie at the pumpkin patch!
Tom Leonard's, a locally-owned farmer's market, hosts free family friendly movies every Friday night in October. Movies start at 7pm on Fridays in October, but you'll want to get there a little bit earlier - the amphitheater can fill up quickly! Make sure to dress for the weather and bring a blanket -- sometimes it gets chilly on fall nights!
The movie titles for these movie nights have not been released yet - keep your eyes peeled for updates! All movies are family friendly, and in the past, these movies have been shown: It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, SpongeBob Squarepants Halloween and Sesame Street: A Magical Halloween Adventure.
October's Fridays are on the 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th this year!
6. Bounce at Cross Creek Nursery.
Serving RVA for 50 years, Cross Creek Nursery has two locations: one on Courthouse Road in Midlothian and one on Ashland Road in Rockville. Both locations have a greenhouse, florist, growing farm & landscaped areas to explore. It’s open Mondays-Saturdays from 8AM to 6PM& Sundays 10AM-5PM.
Cross Creek Nursery is celebrating FALL every weekend between September 21 to October 27 with kids activities, local food, pumpkins, mums and more. Every day of the week between 9/21 and 10/27, children can enjoy the bounce house, play in the playhouse, and slide FOR FREE!!
REMEMBER to bring your West End Mom fall bucket list to either Cross Creek Nursery location on 10/1 or 10/2 for a FREE small pumpkin!
7. Jump in RVA's biggest corn pit.
Lloyd Family Farms: Opening in 2013, this local pumpkin patch has hayrides, animals, sand pile activities, a haybale castle & slides! Our favorite activity at Lloyd’s is their giant corn pit -- it's the biggest one I've seen around RVA! They also grow 65 different types of pumpkins. You can pick your own off the vine or buy one at the store right by the parking lot.
2024 Farm Opening Date: Saturday, September 21 - the farm is open 9am - 5 pm.
8. Walk through RVA's only glow hike.
Maymont's 7th annual Garden Glow has quickly become a RVA tradition and a fall favorite!! This special event takes place nightly between October 16 & November 10, 2024.
During Garden Glow, Maymont’s paths between the Nature Center, historic mansion & gardens will be illuminated with colorful lights & displays. The carriage house lawn becomes a festival with food trucks, fire pits & a Glow Bar. The highlight is the Japanese Garden - it’s a fully immersive experience with lights from the ground to the sky.
*Check here for my full review of Maymont's Garden Glow, and check here for more videos!
9. Visit a pumpkin patch.
My pumpkin patch guide has 18 pumpkin patches around RVA that are so much fun for families! Check here for that full guide.
Here are 2 FREE pumpkin patches with pumpkins on the vine for you to pick:
Gallmeyer Farm - free activities include hayrides, play area and photo ops
Skinquarter Farm Market - free activities include hayrides, photo ops and corn maze
10. Wander a corn maze.
Liberty Mills Farm has the largest corn maze in Virginia. And at 34 acres, it’s the largest in the country too! Each year the maze has a theme & this one is Sounds of Music - you get to wander down paths that create headphones, guitars & more. The corn maze has 4 separate trails, one for every age & skill level.
You can also visit the 8 acre pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkin, pick your own flowers, enjoy a hay wagon ride or play at the farm-themed playground. The Farm Market has homemade ice cream, fudge & locally made goods.
Other corn mazes to try: Skinquarter Farm Market, Hanover Vegetable Farm, Chesterfield Berry Farm & Lloyd Family Farms
11. Race on a 3D Snowboard.
The Science Museum of Virginia: From September 28 to January 12, families can experience the MathAlive! exhibit at The Science Museum. The best part? This exhibit is included in your daily admission or your membership!
Designed for children 7-14 years old, this exhibit is all about math and aims to inspire future mathematicians. This interactive exhibit will highlight how math influences the world around us. Some of the exhibit's highlights are the 3D snowboard race (kids can actually step onto a snowboard and move their bodies to maneuver through the digital experience), children can figure out how fractions influence music, and they can find geometric marvels in nature's patterns!
12. Play with LEGOS!
The Virginia Museum of Culture and History: From October 19 through January 5, families can experience Traveling Bricks: An Exhibition Made of Lego Bricks at Virginia Museum of Culture and History. This exhibit is included in both daily admission and your membership!
Designed for Lego Lovers of all ages, Traveling Bricks is one of the largest exhibits of its kind! It will feature more tan 100 models of iconic land, air, sea and space vehicles using over 1 million LEGO Bricks! After viewing the exhibition, guests can create their own Lego master piece in the design area.
This exhibit is celebrating the first and only US manufacturing plant for the LEGO Group. We are so exciting for their new manufacturing plant to open in Chesterfield!!
13. Go trunk or treating at the Drive-in!
Goochland Drive-In is an outdoor movie theater shows new blockbusters, family classics & double features. It has 2 big screens - one with a traditional drive in viewing area & one with a lawn viewing area. With affordable concessions & 2 play areas for kids, Goochland Drive-In is a must visit for RVA families!
Goochland Drive In Theatre is hosting its annual Trunk or Treat event on Friday, 10/18 and Saturday 10/19 this year. While the info for the 2024 Trunk or Treat event has not been released, gates typically open at 4pm and close at 5:30pm, with showtime starting around 6:45pm. This is a very popular tradition and it's fun for all ages. In addition to tricking or treating at different cars, there is also a vehicle decorating contents and a movie!
*Check here for my full review of Goochland Drive In, and check here for more videos of the theater!
Other Trick or Treat Events:
Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens both host an annual kid-friendly Halloween event every September and October. Children can dress up, trick or treat from cast members, watch themed Halloween shows, and more. These are ticketed, special events.
Also, every October, local high schools host a free Trunk or Treat event for their community. It doesn't matter where you live or if you are zoned to that high school - you can still attend this free, family friendly event.
Typically, Trunk or Treat events are hosted in the high school's parking lot or gym, depending on the weather. Each club, student organization and athletic team decorates the "trunk" of a car or creates a booth for kids to treat or trick at. Clubs will have candy, prizes, games - these are really creative!
14. Ride the ferris wheel at The Virginia State Fair.
The Virginia State Fair is in RVA September 27 through October 6, 2024. The fairgrounds are stroller friendly - highly recommend bringing one because there's a lot of walking! With your ticket, you can watch the rodeo shows, pig races, visit with the animals, see prize winning produce and more!
If you would like try the ride attractions, make sure you purchase a wrist band or ride tickets. These are an extra cost! If you can visit during the week, you will find a much smaller crowd! For tickets, visit The State Fair of Virginia's website.
15. Learn golf from the pros.
Dominion Energy Charity Classic is a family-friendly golf tournament is back in RVA October 17-October 20. You can see your favorite golfers, grab their autographs & enjoy your day on the course. While on the course, you can enjoy BBQ, wine, oysters & more. The highlight for families is Kids Zone. You can play corn hole or mini putt putt, build at the Imagination Playground and try interactive golf experiences.
Tickets start at $20 per person.
16. Visit a ghost church!
Known as The Ghost Church, Historic Pole Green Church is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the site of the first non-Anglican church in Virginia — Patrick Henry even attended services here with his family. Sadly, it was burnt to the ground during the Civil War & never rebuilt. With all stroller friendly grounds, green space & the open air structure, it’s an easy place for a fall picnic & to learn about Virginia history.
Pole Green Produce is ~3 minutes from The Ghost Church - we usually pair the two together in the fall. Voted best farmer’s market in RVA, this open air market sells locally grown fruits + vegetables & delicious baked goods! In September & October, the market goes all out for Halloween. You’ll find giant monsters around the property, Halloween photo ops & a haybale castle. These two spots makes an easy & free fall outing together & individually!
17. Hike the cemetery.
Hollywood Cemetery is a stroller-friendly urban hike in the City of Richmond. Spanning 135 acres with hills, valleys & over 2,000 trees, it's an active cemetery, a registered arboretum & an outdoor museum. Hollywood Cemetery is also the final resting place of two United States Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler. Since it was established in 1847, you'll find a lot more notable figures!
With views of the river, the city & the fall foliage, this is a peaceful walk you’ve got to try this fall!!
18. Watch a Rodeo.
Rassawek's annual Autumn Festival is on October 19 and 20, 2024. This special, ticketed event has antique machinery, an antique car show, artisan demonstrations, live music plsys food and drink vendors. There are special events just for families and kids: a petting zoo, steam engine wagon rides, kids hay court with slide, corn truck and more!
One of its most unique features is the professional rodeo!
Wear comfortable shoes, bring picnic blankets & chairs. Please leave your pets at home - due to the farm animals, this event is not pet-friendly.
Click here to grab your tickets! Enter westendmom10 to get 10% off your total.
19. Ride a tractor or drive spooky bus!!
If your kiddo loves things that go, you have to check out these farms and places that have unique, fall inspired things that go.
Great Big Greenhouse: Every October, The Great Big Greenhouse creates a large Halloween-themed play area with games, pumpkins, a spooky bus & bounce house. It’s a free fall festival every day!
*Check here for my full review.
Levi's Pumpkin Patch: Located in Chesterfield, Levi's Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned & operated pumpkin patch that caters to children & families. With no admission cost, families can visit daily from 9am-7pm the entire month of October!
Levi's Pumpkin Patch is less than 10minutes away from Cross Creek Nursery in Midlothian. You can easily pair these two fall themed activities together!
*Check here for my full review.
Skinquarter Farm Market: This Chesterfield farm has free admission with free hayrides and access to the corn maze and pumpkin patch. This pumpkin patch also has corn hole, painted pumpkins and photo ops.
20. Eat Apple Cider Donuts
My favorite apple cider donuts are from the Chiles family. You can grab these at Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter Mountain Orchard.
And Carter Mountain Orchard is probably the most popular and well-known orchards around central Virginia. If you've never visited before, definitely put it on your list to visit this fall. Because Carer’s Mountain is such a popular destination in the fall, tickets are required for peak season visits — Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through November 5. Tickets cost $8 for everyone 12 years old and older. Anyone under 12 does not need a ticket!
Carter Mountain Orchard sits more than 1,120 feet above sea level, offering the best views of Charlottesville! You can pick your own peaches in the summer and apples in the fall… plus enjoy family-friendly events & live music. Don’t miss the famous homemade cider donuts or Bold Rock Hard Cider Taproom!
21. Eat al fresco.
Brambly Park: Brambly Park is a winery, restaurant & private park. They have delicious food & wine, and they regularly host special events like Santa Brunch & Mother’s Day Brunch. While Mother’s Day 2024 reservations are almost booked, you can visit Brambly Park for lunch & dinner Tuesdays-Sundays and for brunch Saturdays-Sundays.
I like to dine in “The Park” area w/ kids - it’s a 2 acre park with picnic tables, green space & live music. Plus you have views of the train tracks!
Portico: Eating out with kids is not limited to sports grills (even though we LOVE them)! One of my favorite nicer places to eat with kids in RVA is Portico Restaurant & Bar.
Reminiscent of Italy’s Portifino, Portico is a hidden gem off River Road. The outdoor patio is beautiful & peaceful — surrounded by manicured greenery, a flower garden and fragrant herb garden. The Italian-inspired menu has everything from burgers, sandwiches & pizza to fried calamari, eggplant puttanesca & lamb risotto.
22. Slide down a mountain slide (or barrel slide).
Snead’s Asparagus Farm is the most whimsical farm in Virginia! Snead’s is located just over an hour from RVA - it’s definitely worth the drive!
It’s currently fall festival time, so Snead’s is open 9am-6pm daily. You can visit with chickens, goats & horses, climb on a helicopter, race down mountain slides & more! With multiple pumpkin patches around the property, you can pick a pumpkin right by your car or explore the patch by the sunflowers.
23. Visit the European Countryside!
Yep - you read that correctly! Located in Orange, Virginia, you will find Market at Grelen, a European-style garden shop & cafe. It sits on 1,000 acres with pick-your-own fields, a gift shop & 6+ miles of trails. Throughout the year, you can pick-your-own blueberries, blackberries, peaches, plums & apples. You can even cut your own Christmas tree in December!
The cafe is open Wednesday- Sundays from 11:00 - 3:30. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
24. Take a hike.
Also known as the COOLEST HIKE IN VIRGNIA, the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel is an ADA accessible trail that has a 4,273 foot-long historic railroad tunnel through Afton Mountain! In the fall, you will see exceptionally beautiful views of the fall foliage too (peak colors are expected between October 10 and October 31).
This trail is perfect for train lovers, history buffs and every day explorers! With a trail of mixed, small gravel and paved paths, you will find pedestrians, cyclists, families with strollers and wagons, and self-propelled mobility devices.
The total trail is around 2 miles one way, and 4 miles if you go out and back. Since we opted for a hike without a stroller, we went about 2 miles - walking from the parking lot to the tunnel and then turning around.
I found the East Entrance to be pretty easy with children. Park at 215 Afton Depot Lane. It has a large parking lot with portapotties.
Heads up: It's completely dark in the tunnel. Every one in your group will need a flash light. You can also get your kiddos head lamps too! Also, bring a jacket. The tunnel stays around 50 degrees all year.
Add on visiting Blue Mountain Brewery and apple picking & pumpkin picking at Critzer Family Farms for a full day of all fun!!
25. Check out a new playground!
No shade, no problem!! Now that the weather is cooler, you can visit any playground around RVA without worrying about the heat or if it's full sun.
The Newest Playground in RVA: Wishing Well Park
The newly renovated Wishing Well Parks reopens to the public on Friday, September 13 in a soft opening!
Located in the Salisbury neighborhood, this playground is open to the public. It shares a parking lot with The Redeemer Church, so it may look crowded even if it's not. It has a large, fenced in play area with a gate! There's plenty of space to run around, and it has a play structure, climbing wall, and sand play area. There are plenty of swings, including baby swings, saucer swings, 2 person swings, and a play boat. You will find a paver labyrinth where children can hop on anywhere and follow the pavers, hop on stones or play with musical instruments.
The Biggest Playground in RVA: Taylor Farm Park
Taylor Farm Park is the newest park in Henrico, and it has the biggest play area in RVA! It has 20 acres to explore on the park’s 100 acres, an event space, a destination skatepark, a 1-mile paved walking trail, 2 nature-based playgrounds including one w/ ADA surface & accessible features, 3 zip lines and a splash park, misting mounds & a man-made stream for play!
Looking for my pumpkin patch guide? Check out the best pumpkin patches are RVA here!
Looking for my apple orchard guide? Check out the best orchard around RVA here!
For more things to do with kids around Richmond, follow @thewestendmom on Instagram!
