guides

Your 2026 Northern Virginia Guide to Fall Fun!

Apple picking, leaf peeping, all your fall fun events in Northern VA, and more

By Maria Ellis September 8, 2026

🍂 Your Guide to Fall Family Fun in Northern Virginia!

It’s time for fall family fun in Northern Virginia, and we can hardly wait! We’re lucky to have so many wonderful fall attractions and events in Northern VA and beyond—places where families have been making special autumn memories for years.

From apple picking and pumpkin patches to scenic leaf-peeping, fall festivals, and Halloween fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Macaroni KID Gainesville has all the details you need to help your family make the most of this beautiful — and fun-filled — season!


Apple Picking Fall


🍎 Pick Your Own Apple Farms in Northern Virginia

Ready for a classic fall family outing? Grab the kids and head to one of these Northern Virginia orchards for pick-your-own apples, beautiful fall scenery, and plenty of autumn fun!

🍎 Stribling Orchard

11587 Poverty Hollow Lane, Markham, VA

Details: Open Wednesday–Sunday, 9am–5pm, through early November. The bakery is open weekends only.

More Information: striblingorchard.com | Facebook: Stribling Orchard | 540-364-3040

🍎 Hartland Orchard

3064 Hartland Lane, Markham, VA

Details: Open daily, 9am–2pm.

More Information: hartlandorchard.com | Facebook: Hartland Orchard | 540-364-2316

🍎 Crooked Run Orchard

37883 E. Main Street, Purcellville, VA

Details: Hours vary. Check the orchard's Facebook page for the most current information before heading out.

More Information: https://www.facebook.com/CrookedRunOrchard | 540-338-6642

🍎 Great Country Farms

18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, VA

Details: Pick-your-own apples daily, 9am–4pm.

More Information: greatcountryfarms.com | Pick Your Own | Facebook: Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073

🍎 Hollin Farms

1524 Snowden Road, Delaplane, VA

Details: Open Wednesday–Sunday. Weekday hours are 9am–1pm; weekend hours are 9am–3pm.

More Information: hollinfarms.com | Instagram: Hollin Farms | 540-623-8854

🍏 Before You Go: Apple-picking availability and orchard hours can change depending on weather, crop conditions, and how quickly apples are picked. Be sure to check each farm's website or social media before heading out!


fall leaves


🍂 Leaf Peeping Within a Few Hours of Gainesville

Fall is one of the prettiest times of year to explore Northern Virginia and the surrounding area! According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, peak fall foliage typically occurs October 10–31, making this a great window for a colorful family road trip.

Here are a few beautiful spots within a few hours of Gainesville where you can enjoy the changing leaves:

🍁 Skyline Drive

21073 Skyline Drive, Front Royal, VA

Details: Take a scenic 105-mile drive through the Shenandoah Mountains, with spectacular overlooks and plenty of opportunities to stop, stretch your legs, and enjoy the views. Skyline Drive is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle. Learn more HERE.

Macaroni KID Tip: Have a 4th grader? The Every Kid Outdoors pass provides free admission to participating federal recreation sites for 4th-grade students and their families. Get your pass at the Every Kid Outdoors website. Find out more HERE.

🚂 Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

13 Canal Street, Cumberland, MD

Details: About a 2-hour drive from Gainesville, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers a memorable way to experience the fall colors. Hop aboard for a 4.5-hour scenic train ride through the mountains and enjoy the changing foliage from the comfort of your seat. Tickets start at approximately $30. Find out more HERE.

🍂 Harpers Ferry

171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV

Details: Combine fall scenery with a little history and outdoor adventure! Harpers Ferry offers more than 20 miles of hiking trails, beautiful mountain and river views, and a charming historic town that's perfect for exploring on foot. Spend the day hiking, sightseeing, grabbing a bite to eat, and enjoying the fall foliage. Find out more HERE.


Corn maze


🍂 Fall Attractions Open All Season Long

Looking for fall fun that lasts all season? From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to hayrides, farm animals, slides, and plenty of activities for the kids, these local farms and fall attractions offer something for the whole family!

🎃 Buckland Farm Market

4484 Lee Highway, New Baltimore, VA

Get into the fall spirit with apples, pumpkins, gourds, freshly pressed apple cider, and hot pumpkin apple cider donuts. Kids can also enjoy hayrides and other family-friendly activities.

🎃 Belvedere Plantation

1410 Belvedere Drive, Fredericksburg, VA

There is no shortage of things to do at Belvedere Plantation! Family favorites include the jumping pillow, pedal carts, trike track, Pumpkin Mountain, Fun Barn, Little Farmer's Corral, racing slides, Spider Web, Great Adventure Maize Maze, barrel train, wagon rides, candy cannon, corn box, and more.

🎃 Cox Farms

15621 Braddock Road, Centreville, VA

Spend the day enjoying classic fall farm fun, including slides, swings, a corn maze, hayrides, goats, and more!

🍎 Great Country Farms

34345 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont, VA

Enjoy a full day of fall fun with a corn maze, apple harvest, pumpkin jumping pillow, Farm Ninja Course, wagon rides, and more!

🎃 Maple Tree Farm

8275 Maple Tree Lane, Warrenton, VA

Kids will love exploring the corn maze, pumpkin patch, puppet shows, small animals, Moo Bounce, Cow Train, and Maple Tree Express.

🌽 Messick's Farm Market

6025 Catlett Road, Bealeton, VA

Messick's Fall Festival is packed with family fun! Activities include hayrides, barrel train rides, a zip line, candy cannon, bounce pillow, pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay bale structures, and more.

🎃 Pumpkin Fest

19246 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg, VA

Enjoy a fun-filled fall day with hill slides, pony rides, a hay maze, moon bounces, wagon rides, pedal carts, and lots of animals.

🍁 Round Hill Farm

6247 Everona Road, Culpeper, VA

Pick the perfect pumpkin and enjoy plenty of farm fun, including hayrides, a barnyard petting zoo, corn maze, pony rides, and more.

🌻 Temple Hall Farm Pumpkin Patch

15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg, VA

Enjoy classic fall farm activities including pumpkin picking, wagon rides, a farmyard, roping cattle, jumping pillows, hill slides, and playgrounds.

🐷 Wayside Farm

5273 Harry Byrd Highway, Berryville, VA

There's something for everyone at Wayside Farm! Watch the pig races, get lost in the maze, or relax under the tree while playing pumpkin checkers. It's a great destination for a full day of fall fun.

🎃 Yankey Farms

11812 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA

Enjoy a variety of fall activities, including pumpkins, a corn maze scavenger hunt, cow train, corn boxes, hay piles, slides, and a pedal tractor track.

🍂 Macaroni KID Tip: Fall attraction schedules, admission prices, and activities can change throughout the season. Check each farm's website or social media page before heading out for the latest hours and availability.


Kids laying in leaves


🍂 Fall Events in Northern Virginia

Kick off the fall season with family-friendly festivals, farm fun, outdoor adventures, and plenty of ways to enjoy the beautiful weather!

September

Old Town Manassas Art Show & Fall Craft Fair - Sept 12

End of Summer Festival - Sept 12

Arts Alive! - Sept 12

Let's Make Fall Lanterns - Sept 12

Party in the Pawpaw Patch - Sept 18

Oktoberfest 2026! at 2 Silos - Sept 18-20

Oysterfest 2026 - Sept 19

Traditional Crafts of the 18th Century Festival - Sept 19

Fall Festival at Leopold's Preserve - Sept 19-20

Korea Street Fest - Sept 19

Fall Cardmaking Workshop - Sept 23

Warrenton Main Street Grand Reopening - Sept 25

Brentsville Bluegrass Concert - Sept 26

Spooky Candle Painting - Sept 30


October

Halloween Pet Costume Contest! - Oct 1

Halloween Kickoff Storytime - Oct 3

43rd Annual Manassas Fall Jubilee - Oct 3

Tween/Takeover - Fun Halloween Painting - Oct 8

Fauquier County Fall Farm Tour - Oct 10

Hallo-Swing! with the Silver Tones Swing Band - Oct 17

Hunger is Scary Fall Event - Oct 17

Rot and Roll - Oct 17

Not So Scary Halloween at Manassas Mall - Oct 18

Trunk or Treat at The Learning Experience - Gainesville - Oct 23

Book or Treat at McKay's - Oct 23

Trick or Treating at Warrenton Village Shopping Center - Oct 24

Fall Fest at Bristow Center - Oct 25

Trunk or Treat Boo Bash at Erin's Elderberries - Oct 25

Fuel & Faith Trunk or Treat - Oct 25

Trunk or Treat at Gainesville UMC - Oct 25

PWCPD EVENT: Trunk or Treat at the Mall - Oct 28

Halloween Story Time and Parade: Central - Oct 29

Halloween Story Time and Parade - Bull Run - Oct 30

Halloween Story Trail Costume Parade - Oct 30

Trunk or Treat at the WARF - Oct 31

Harvest - Fall Vendor Event - Oct 31

Old Town Manassas Fall-O-Ween - Oct 31

Boo Bags-to-Go - Oct 31


Macaroni KID Gainesville is adding fall events regularly as we find them, so check back often for updates!


Do you know of a 2025 family-friendly fall event or attraction in Northern VA that isn't listed here? Please submit your event here and we will add it to our Macaroni KID Gainesville Fall Fun Guide!



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