Fall Family Fun
Fall weather is hands down, my favorite season in Williamsburg. Over the years, working for WilliamsburgFamilies.com, I’ve attended many wonderful events in Williamsburg and I wanted to share some family-friendly fall favorites.
Getting to College Run Farms is part of the adventure. Hop on the free Jamestown Ferry for a breezy ride across the James River to Surry. During the ride, take the kids to the front of the ferry for the best view. It’s a short drive to the farm, where they specialize in a variety of heirloom and Halloween pumpkins. Don’t skip the homemade pumpkin ice cream. They typically have a fantastic corn maze as well. Yes, take the map they offer for the maze… really.
Holly Fork Farm in New Kent, has pumpkin picking, farm animals, hayrides, a huge jump pad and play area. The Holly Fork Hoedown is on October 21, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., which means there will be a bluegrass band, square dancing, food and craft vendors. If you can’t make the Hoedown, go any day and check out their country store featuring locally-made products like yummy jams.
Family Frights at Jamestown Settlement is a great event for families with elementary-aged school children. You’ll wander through the Halloween-decorated Settlement, warm up by the bonfire, board a haunted ship, go trick-or-treating and listen to ghostly tales! It’s from 6:30 -9 p.m. on October 20–21. (Separate admission fees apply.)
This fall, start a new family tradition: Trick or Treating in Colonial Williamsburg. Kids dress in their Halloween costumes and trick or treat down Duke of Gloucester St near the Capitol. The event is a free but you need to register online. They do fill up quickly.
Boo Bash at the Beach will be a NEW twist on your average Halloween event! Families will enjoy this beach-themed event including crafts, music, and contests at Jamestown Beach on Saturday, October 21, from 1-4 p.m. Kids 12 and under can come in costumes and partake in the Trick or Treating.
Join the York River State Park Ranger on Ghost TrailsHayrides for a ride through the woods while listening to haunted tales. It’s the perfect mix of spooky and adventurous. This year Ghost Trail Hayrides will be held on October 22, 28, and 29. The fee is $3/person, $25/group.
The Annual Harvest Festival at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park is a wonderful day event. For $20, your family can stuff a Scarecrow to add to your home’s Halloween décor—these are life-sized and great porch decorations! There’s even more fun with the petting zoo, pony rides, bouncies, food trucks and live music. It’s September 16, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., with a $5 per car fee.
You cannot beat the view of the York River with theYorktown Market Days & Fall Festival, and the Yorktown Farmers Market is always a great way to spend a crisp fall morning. The free Fall Festival on the 14th of October adds to that with hayrides, face painting, inflatables, live music and local artists. Enjoy lunch at one of the riverfront restaurants and end the afternoon by taking off your shoes and wading in the York River at the sandy beach.
Capital Color Ride is the perfect chance to pedal your way through the Virginia Capital Trail, which links Williamsburg to Richmond, with your kids, your friends or by yourself. At different mile markers you’ll ride through color stations, and by the end of the ride you can see who went the farthest by the number of colors of powder covering them! The ride starts at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, 1350 John Tyler Highway, October 7, from 9 a.m-2 p.m. $5/person; children under 9 are free.
The Annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1-mile fun run is the perfect way to work up your Thanksgiving dinner appetite. This annual all-ages event features turkey-themed attire peppered among the over 3,000 participants who trot throughMerchants Square, the Historic Area and the College of William and Mary. Early registration cost is $30 for the 5K and $15 for the 1-mile fun run. Enjoy coffee and croissants or have an adult beverage after the race while you wait to hear who won the raffles.
So, there’s the short list of fun for this fall in Williamsburg and surrounding areas. For a longer list visit WilliamsburgFamilies.com and check out the calendar. Then get out there and enjoy the fall. These are the days when memories are made. Thanks to Local Scoop for creating a space for me to share some wonderful annual events. I hope to see you all this fall.
For additional information, go to williamsburgfamilies.com and hollyforkfarm.com.
