September 11, Saturday

HERITAGE HARVEST FESTIVAL
Monticello and the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
The Heritage Harvest Festival is an annual celebration of gardening, sustainable agriculture and local food, held at the home of Thomas Jefferson. Join us for tastings, workshops, hands-on demonstrations and a variety of tours and exhibits. Kids activities run all day. Ivy Publications is proud to sponsor! West Lawn of Monticello and the new Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center.  10am-4pm.  $General Admission: $8 (Children under 12 free); Premium Workshops and Lectures: $10 each; Combination Ticket: $22; Tickets for Preview Night, featuring Rosalind Creasy: $50.  All ages welcome.  Email: festival@southernexposure.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-894-9480. 

September 11, Saturday

ORANGE STREET FESTIVAL
Orange County Chamber of Commerce.
Held in the center of downtown Orange, this annual festival features food, crafts, local businesses displaying their wares and a great atmosphere for all. Rain or shine. Main Street in Orange.  9am-5pm.  All ages welcome.  Email: Barbara@orangevachamber.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-672-5216. 

September 11 & 12, Saturday & Sunday

PICK YOUR OWN APPLES WEEKEND
Silver Creek Orchards.
Come on out for some famous Nelson County apple-picking! Choose from Red, Golden Delicious and Jonagold apples. Nelson County.  Directions: Route 29 South for 30 miles. Turn right onto Route 56 West. Go about 1 mile, turn right onto Route 655 (Roseland Road). At stop sign, turn left (Route 151S), go over bridge, and take the next right on Route 56W again. Stay on 56W for about 5 miles and turn left onto Route 680 (Pharsalia Road). Follow pick-your-own signs to the orchard..  9am-5pm Saturday, 12-4pm Sunday.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 277-5824. 

September 18, Saturday

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING FALL FRUIT FESTIVAL
Edible Landscaping.
Tours, music, food, lectures, door prizes, plants sale and more! Leashed pets are welcome. Edible Landscaping, Afton.  Directions: 361 Spirit Ridge Lane, Afton. 64 West to exit 107 (Crozet), go left on Route 250 west for about 5 miles and take a left on Route 151 south. Stay on 151 for about 7.5 miles then take a right on Chapel Hollow Road, go about 1 mile and the driveway is on the left. Follow the signs when you get close.  9am-5pm.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@ediblelandscaping.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 361-9134. 

September 18 & 19, Saturday & Sunday

PICK YOUR OWN APPLES AT SEAMANS' ORCHARDS
Flippin-Seaman.
Pick your own Red, Golden Delicious, Empire and Jonagold apples in beautiful Nelson County at the Blue Ridge Mountains. Containers are provided. Nelson County.  Directions: Take 29S until 56W. Turn right on 56W. Go 1 mile and turn right on 655, Roseland Road. Stay on 655 for about 3 miles. Turn right onto 672, Dark Hollow Road. Once on Dark Hollow Road. follow signs to our pick-your-own site..  9am-5pm Saturday, 12-4pm Sunday.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@flippin-seaman.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 277-5824. 

September 25, Saturday

14TH CHARLOTTESVILLE VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL
Voices for Animals.
Live music, face-painting, and displays from more than 100 exhibitors, free food samples, a Pet Adopt-A-Thon and more. AF's parent company, Ivy Publications, is a sponsor of this annual event. Lee Park .  Directions: 201 East Market Street, near Central Library.  11am-4pm.  $Free.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@cvillevegfest.org. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 979-1200. 

September 25 & 26, Saturday & Sunday

APPLE HARVEST AND APPLE BUTTER MAKING FESTIVAL
Drumheller's Orchard.
Take the family on a hayride and enjoy a wide selection of apples and cider, country music, inflatables, crafts and food. Kids will love trying their luck with the old-fashioned apple slingshot! Drumheller's Orchard.  Directions: 1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane, Lovingston.  Saturday, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 12-5pm.  All ages welcome.  Email: webcontact@drumhellersorchard.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 263-5036. 

September 25 & 26, Saturday & Sunday

FALL FARM FUN FESTIVAL
Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery.
Enjoy a day or a weekend in the scenic countryside around Winchester. Pick your own apples from the tree. Hot dogs and country ham sandwiches available for lunch. Scenic wagon rides for all ages and the cow train for the kids. Marker-Miller Orchards .  Directions: 3035 Cedar Creek Grade, Winchester.  Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-662-1980. 

September 24-26, Friday-Sunday

FALL FESTIVAL WEEKEND
Misty Mountain Camp Resort.
Enjoy the beautiful weather and colorful leaves. Activities includes trail rides, live music, free food and bonfire. Misty Mountain Camp Resort.  Directions: 56 Misty Mountain Road, Crozet. Take exit number "107 Crozet" from Interstate Route 64, then drive ½ mile West, and turn left onto Misty Mountain Road.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 888-647-8900. 

September 26, Sunday

FOXFIELD FAMILY DAY AT THE RACES
Foxfield.
In addition to the six steeplechase races, you'll find pony rides, Jack Russell Terrier Races, bagpipers and the FoxDen Children's Activities Tent. Parents can also peruse the Foxfield Antiques Fair. Foxfield.  Directions: Old Garth Road. See website for directions.  10am-5pm.  $ Ticket prices vary (see website); free for kids 8 & under.  All ages welcome.  Reservations are required.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 293-9501. 

October 2, Saturday

OKTOBERFEST
Frontier Culture Museum.
Enjoy traditional German foods, beverages, music, children's activities and fun contests. Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton.  Directions: Take I-64 West toward Staunton, then I-81 North, exit 222 and follow signs.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@fcmv.virginia.gov. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-332-7850. 

October 2 & 3, Saturday & Sunday

AUTUMN CONSERVATION FESTIVAL
National Zoo.
Enjoy an unforgettable day of fun, tours, and activities at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is the one time every year that SCBI Front Royal is open to the public. Bring your family for a day of fun activities and exploration. Other activities include live music, draft horse wagon rides, and cavalry maneuvers. Lunch and beverages, as well as Zoo-themed merchandise, will be available for purchase. Car passes are required. National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal.  Directions: I-81 North to I-66 East. Take the Front Royal/US-522 exit, exit 6. Turn right at the end of the ramp and follow US-522 South/Remount Road through Front Royal and for about two miles south of town. Turn left into the CRC .  10am-3pm.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 202-633-3027. 

October 2 & 3, Saturday & Sunday

FALL FIBER FESTIVAL AND SHEEP DOG TRIALS
Montpelier.
This celebration of rural life includes sheep shearing and spinning demonstrations, Scottish dancing and border collies herding sheep. Montpelier.  Directions: 11407 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station.  Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-4pm.  $5 adults, children under 16 free.  All ages welcome.  Email: Fall_Fiber_Festival@comcast.net. For details, please click this link. 

October 2-3 & October 9-10

APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL
Carter Mountain Orchard.
Celebrate the fall harvest with music, crafts, food, hayrides, apple butter, apple cider, apple donuts, apple pie and all things apple! Carter Mountain Orchard.  Directions: 1435 Carters Mountain Trail. I-64 East to Exit 121A. Go 1/2 mile on Route 20 South. Turn left onto VA-53. Go 3/4 mile, turn right at the Carter Mountain Orchard sign.  9am-6pm.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 977-1833. 

October 2 & 16, Saturdays

APPLE BUTTER MAKIN' FESTIVAL
Flippin-Seaman.
Watch apple butter being made in copper kettles, pick pumpkins, enjoy a corn maze, games, a clown, live music and homemade treats for sale. Flippin-Seaman.  Directions: 5529 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro.  10am-5pm.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@flippin-seaman.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 277-5824. 

September 25-October 31, Fridays-Sundays

BELVEDERE'S FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL
Belvedere Plantation.
Pick your own pumpkins from the patch (lit at night for night picking!) or select pre-picked from the market store. Frolic in the fall weather with the corn maze, pedal tractors, zipline, Clydesdale wagon rides, bonfires and tons of pies in the market. Belvedere Plantation.  Directions: 1410 Belvedere Drive, Fredericksburg. Located 7 miles SE of Fredericksburg on Route 17.  Fri 5-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm.  $15 per person, free for kids 2 & under.  All ages welcome.  For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 540-373-4478. 

Weekends in September and October

FARM ANIMALS, CAMPFIRE AND S'MORES
Mountainside Petting Farm.
Take a scenic autumn weekend drive to Afton and meet the farm's friendly residents, including Chloe the camel. Warm up by the campfire and make some yummy s'mores! Mountainside Petting Farm, Afton.  Directions: 64 W to Crozet/250 exit 107, left on 250W to left on 151S, proceed 7 miles to Blundell Hollow Road (Route 633); make a right turn and look for our landmark red barn and windmill on your left, just past Sunnyside Lane.  10am-5pm.  $6, free for 2 and under, seniors, veterans and active military personnel.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@mountainsidepettingfarm.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 361-0203. 

Now through November 6

PICK YOUR OWN APPLES
Dickie Brothers Orchard.
Choose from 15 kinds of apples and fresh cider in a scenic location. Dickie Brothers Orchard.  Directions: 2552 Dickie Road, Roseland.  Monday to Saturday, 8am-5pm; Sundays, 10am-4pm; (closed noon-1pm for lunch) .  $50 cents per pound except Fuji, Gala & Pink Lady Apples.  All ages welcome.  Email: info@dickiebros.com. For details, please click this link.  For more info call: 277-5516.