From cute corn mazes to boo-zy Halloween parties, this guide to fall fun in Virginia’s Historic Triangle lists the best ways to celebrate autumn.
By Alexandra Fitzpatrick
If you’re looking for some fresh fall fun but have already braved Howl-O-Scream a million times and been on all of the haunted ghost tours at Colonial WIlliamsburg, then this list of unique autumn activities will be right up your alley. Get into the spirit of the season with spooky events for all ages from family-friendly pumpkin picking or partying at an adults-only boo-zy Halloween mixer. Scroll down for a complete guide to the best things to do in the Greater Williamsburg area this October.
Virginia Zoo | ZooBoo
Date: Saturday, October 23
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: 3500 Granby St Norfolk, VA 23504
Cost: $6 for members, $18 for non-members. Children under two are free.
Celebrate Halloween with the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk at ZooBoo. This family-friendly Halloween tradition is packed with fall events like a pumpkin enrichment with the animals, live Animal Ambassador pop-up shows, a scavenger hunt and other interactive activities, costume contests, a pick-your-own pumpkin event, and appearances from the Ghostbusters. The fun starts at 9:00 with some wild scheduled activities happening all day.
You need to make reservations in advance to attend this event. Admission tickets include most of the activities but train rides are an additional $2 per person. Masks are encouraged and many of the events are contactless with plenty of opportunities for social distancing. Click here for a full list of activities and to reserve your tickets.
Virginia Living Museum | Night of the Living Museum
Dates: October 22, 23, 29 and 30
Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601
Cost: $10 for VLM members, $15 for non-members. Children 2 and under are free.
There are four nights of spooky activities for the whole family at the Virginia Living Museum the week before Halloween. This event emphasizes fun rather than fright and is perfect for those with children under 12 years old. The Virginia Living Museum takes Trick or Treating to the next level with themed galleries scattered throughout the property for children to explore. There will also be Halloween crafts, games, and live shows with the animals. For an additional fee, you can view the spectacular Fright Night Laser Show in the planetarium starting at 6 PM and 7 PM.
This event is great for animal-lovers and it combines education with fun. Reserve tickets for this wild night of Halloween activities here.
Virginia Living Museum | Boos & Brews Mixer
Dates: Thursday, October 28
Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601
Cost: $12 in advance, $15 day of event
Want something a bit more PG-13? The Virginia Living Museum is also hosting an adults-only Halloween mixer. Leave the kids at home while you enjoy a frightful evening of drinks, live music, games, and of course some scary animal encounters. Fuel up with Boyd’s Tasty Dogs and Flame & Pie food trucks while you dance the night away. Costumes are encouraged. Learn more about the event and reserve your tickets.
Holly Fork Farm Pumpkin Patch
Dates: Everyday until November 1
Times: Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM, Sunday through Thursday 10 AM to 6:30 PM
Location: 4901 Holly Fork Rd- Barhamsville Va
Cost: Free Admission to the farm, activities are not included. Unlimited Activity Passes are $16.50 per person on weekends and $10.00 on weekdays.
There’s no better way to celebrate fall than with some authentic farm festivities. Get lost in a hay maze, catch some air on an inflatable jump pad, pick (or launch) a pumpkin, and more at Holly Fork Farm’s Fall Festival. This daily family-friendly event is ideal for those with younger children, but there is something fun for everyone.
Admission into the corn area, game section, and animal pens is free but you’ll have to pay extra for other activities like the jump pad, hayride, straw maze. Prices per activity range from $1 to $7.50 but there are all-access passes available for purchase as well. Check out their full list of activities as well as more information about the farm.
Looking for more pumpkin patches? Here’s a full list of all of the nearby farms for you to pick your own pumpkins and fully embrace some cozy fall vibes.
- Bush Neck Farm: 1502 Bush Neck Rd | Williamsburg
- College Run Farms: 2051 Alliance Road | Surry
- Dardens Country Store: 16249 Bowling Green Rd | Smithfield
- Hunt Club and Farm: 2388 London Bridge Rd | Virginia Beach
- Great Bridge Pumpkin Patch: 900 Battlefield Blvd N | Chesapeake
- LLoyd Family Farm: 12204 Pinhook Road | Rockville
- Pumpkinville: 7691 Richmond Road | Williamsburg
Hampton Carousel | Haunted Horse Rides
Dates: Tuesday through Sunday every week through October 31
Time: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Location: 602 Settlers Landing Rd. Hampton, VA 23669
Cost: Free Admission, $1 carousel rides
Get up close and personal with the ultra spooky Headless Horseman at the Hampton History Museum’s annual Trick or Treating spectacular. Held at the Hampton Carousel Park, this Halloween event is like no other with costumed staff handing out candy, spookily decorated carousel horses, and an appearance from the Headless Horseman himself. This event has gentle frights and is catered toward younger children, but the whole family will love the festive spirit in historic Downtown Hampton.
It is free to access the carousel pavilion and youngsters can also trick or treat for free. Rides on the carousel are only $1. For more information about the event, click here.
Watermen’s Museum | Victory at Yorktown Weekend
Date: October 16
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: 309 Water Street & 301 Main Street Yorktown, VA 23690
Cost: Free Admission
October may be known as “Spooky Season” but it is also the month that America won the Battle of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War. This year is the 240th anniversary of that victory and the Watermen’s Museum in Yorktown is throwing a huge celebration. This free, educational event includes history reenactments, ship battles, canon shots, dancing, live music, craft, vendors and plenty of fun children’s activities. Take a break from the thrills and frights of Halloween and delve into the rich history that makes the greater WIlliamsburg area unique.
This free event is family-friendly and perfect for history lovers. Click here for more information about everything going on in celebration of the Victory at Yorktown.
Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown | Yorktoberfest
Date: October 24
Time: 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Location: 331 Water Street Yorktown, VA 23690
Cost: Tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door or $80 for VIP tickets. Non-alcoholic tickets are $5 and there is free admission for children 10 and under.
Fans of craft beer will love this Oktoberfest event at Yorktown. The $25 admission ticket includes unlimited tastings of the 30+ beers and ciders that will be available at the event. In addition to beverages, there will also be food, music, and vendors. For an elevated experience, grab some friends and reserve a VIP table which includes two hours of food service, special items, and a souvenir tasting glass in addition to the unlimited beer.
In order to ensure social distancing and COVID-19 safety, this event will be happening in two sessions; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Click here to buy tickets now to reserve your desired time slot.
Jamestown Beach | Boo Bash at the Beach
Date: Saturday, October 16
Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: 2205 Jamestown Road Williamsburg, VA 23185
Cost: $5 per vehicle
Grab your costume because you are not going to want to miss this family-friendly Halloween event at Jamestown Beach Event Park. With light frights and an emphasis on fun, this celebration is perfect for those with younger children. Trick or Treating is available for kids 12 and under but there is pumpkin decorating, music, games, food, and more for people of all ages.
To comply with COVID-19 safety, masks (costume ones do not count) are required and you must reserve your spot by Wednesday to be admitted into the event. Click here to book your group for the event.
Colonial Williamsburg Art Museum Lawn | Precarious Field Dayz
Date: October 23
Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: 301 S Nassau St, Williamsburg VA 23185
Cost: $40 general admission ticket or $60 VIP tickets which includes early entry into the event (and some other cool swag). $15 tickets for non-drinkers or those under 21, children 10 and under get free admission.
Field Day may be for children, but this outdoor game event hosted by the Precarious Beer Project is catered to adults. Spend the day enjoying a large amount of delicious craft beer from over twenty breweries (including Precarious) on the beautiful lawn of Colonial Williamsburg’s art museum while playing some competitive field games. In addition to the antics, there will be food vendors, live music, and a raffle. Proceeds benefit the CHKD and Precarious requests that guests bring toy and cash donations.
This event is pretty rowdy and while children are allowed, they must be supervised at all times. It would be best to leave them out of this one. For more information about the event and to buy tickets, click here.
Mount Pleasant Farms | Corn Maze Trick or Treat
Date: Friday, October 29
Time: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: 2201 Mount Pleasant Rd, Chesapeake VA
Cost: $10 ticket per child, free admission for two adults with each children’s ticket. $7 tickets for adults. Children 2 and under get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Mount Pleasant Farms takes Trick or Treating to the next level by hosting the festivities in their expansive corn maze. This is the second annual iteration of this family-friendly Halloween event. The Trick or Treating event will only occur on Friday, October 29 and it requires an RSVP. If you can’t make it, Mount Pleasant is hosting a Fall Festival all throughout the month complete with a pumpkin patch, wagon and pony rides, a corn pit, and a petting zoo.
Learn more about the farm or click here to reserve tickets.
