Wow -- what a busy weekend ahead with plenty of fun activities to keep your family busy all weekend long. Check our website's calendar listings for more details about each event. Check out our 2017 Fall Festivals article to stay up to date with area fall festivals
Smith's Pumpkin Patch, located at 6204 Fort Avenue, opened for the season on Thursday, Sept. 21, and remains open daily through Oct. 31. Smith’s hours are Monday-Thursday 2:30-8:30 p.m., Friday 10-9, Saturday 9-9, Sunday 12-8. Kids 1 year old and younger are admitted free. Kids can enjoy all-day fun in the play area at Smith's, which includes bounce houses, Noah's Ark, teepee, the Titanic slide, and Chaos Obstacle Course. The newest bounce this year includes basketball and dodgeball. Kids can paint their own pumpkin and the entire family can enjoy a hayride to the corn maze. Season passes are available (parents are admitted free with child's season pass) or pay at the gate.
Yoders' Farm is located at 1134 Browns Mill Road in Rustburg. Yoders' opened for the season on Sept. 22 and remains open on Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 4. Hours are 10-10 on Fridays and Saturdays. Kids of all ages can enjoy the corn maze, pumpkin patch, hay rides, duck races, farm animals and more. This year's corn maze is over 10 acres and better than ever. Race your friends on the corn maze leaderboard using the corn maze app. Farm admission is free with a small charge for the corn maze and hayride (both free for ages 5 and under accompanied by a paying adult).
Layman Family Farms is located at 1815 Mountain View Church Road in Blue Ridge. Layman opened for the season on Sept. 16 and remains open on weekends through Nov. 11. During September, Layman Farm is open Saturdays from 10-6 and Sundays from 11-6. Friday hours will be added in October, as well as late night hours on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Admission at Layman is free for kids under age 2. Enjoy the corn maze, pumpkin patch, hay ride, corn crib, tunnel slide, jumping pillow, cow train, corn cannon, pumpkin blaster, animal alley and lots more. Each guest receives a wristband with three 'pumpkins' to use on special attractions: the cow train, corn cannon, jumping pillow, and pumpkin blaster. Purchase additional tokens to enjoy these attractions more than once. Season passes are available or pay at the gate.
Jeter Farm Fall Festival and Country Store, located at 181 Blue Ridge Boulevard in Roanoke (just off Route 460), opens for the Fall 2017 season on Sept 30 and remains open on weekends through Oct 29. Hours are: Fridays from 3 pm - 6 pm, Saturdays from 9 am - 6 pm, and Sundays from 12 pm - 6 pm. General admission includes: corn maze, hay rides, u-pick pumpkin, slides, barnyard zoo, games, and more. Visit our Country Store that is stocked with all locally made, VA Grown, and VA finest products and crafts. Enjoy ice cream, local apple cider, fresh kettle corn, and on Saturday and Sunday grilled hamburgers, hot dogs,and, roasted corn! Children 2 years old and under are no charge. We currently do not have a handicapped accessible wagon available.
Dark Leaf Farms is located at 2870 Mud Road in Concord. Dark Leaf Farms is open weekends from Sept. 24 through Oct. 29, except closed on Saturday, Oct. 14 for the Appomattox Railroad Festival. Hours are 5-7 on Fridays, 10-6 on Saturdays and 1-5 on Sundays with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay rides, bounce house, barrel ride, farm animal visiting area, tube slide, play area, and more. New this year is the Combine Play House with three slides and a climbing wall and the Fire Truck Corn Box.
Lantern Tours at the Appomattox Court House National Historic Park offer you a chance to experience the park you love in a whole new light. This year, two nights are offered, each featuring 6 new stories about the musical history of Appomattox. Three stories also include live music. 2017 Lantern tours are Friday September 29th and Saturday the 30th. 6 rounds of tours begin at 6:30 and continuing every 20 minutes until 8:10 pm.
Come to the Bedford County Fair at The Glenwood Center in Huddleston and enjoy free admission, a new midway, farm animal exhibits, horse demonstrations, antique farm equipment show, car show, festival foods and more. The Bedford County Fair is open Sept. 28 - Oct. 1. Hours are Thursday 4-10, Friday 10-10, Saturday 10-10, Sunday 12-6 PM .
Come to Drumheller's Orchard in Lovingston for the Apple Festival. You'll enjoy arts and crafts, pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple sling shot, bounce houses, food, live music and apples! Festival dates and hours are 9-5 on Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 (second festival takes place Oct. 21-22).
Kidz Kraze Consignment Sale takes place Sept. 23-30 in the former Macy's space at River Ridge Mall. The HUGE week long consignment event offers amazing deals on children's and maternity clothing, toys, books, games, swings, high chairs, strollers, furniture, and more. With hundreds of local families consigning, there is everything imaginable for kids at a fraction of retail price. The weekend schedule for Kidz Kraze is noted below
- Friday, Sept. 22, 5-9 pm Pre-sale events: 5 PM Gold Ticket Volunteer; 5:45 PM Silver Ticket Volunteer; 6:30 PM Super Volunteer; 7 PM Volunteer; 7:45 PM Kidz Care Sponsor; 8 PM Consignor
- Saturday, Sept. 23: 8:30-9:30 am First Time Parents' Pre-sale (Adv online registration required) ; 9:30 am - 7 pm OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
- Sunday, Sept. 24, 11 am - 4 pm Open to the public
You'll also enjoy these events. Check our website for more details about each event.
Baskets, Books, Bling and More Sale at Timberlake United Methodist Church -- Friday and Saturday
National Park Service Fee Free Days -- Saturday
Green Valley Book Fair -- Saturday, Sept. 30 through Oct. 23
5th Saturday Craft Fair at New London Ruritan Club -- Saturday
Trinity Fall Festival at Trinity Episcopal Church -- Saturday
Mountain Music Festival at Peaks of Otter Lodge -- Saturday
Amherst Rocks Rock Painting Party at The Filling Station in Amherst -- Saturday
Fall Festival at Calvary Baptist Church in Concord -- Saturday
Harvest Jubilee and Wine Festival at Avoca Museum in Altavista -- Saturday
BBQ Family Fun Day at Sims Farm in Forest -- Saturday
National Gymnastics Day at Dynamic Gymnastics -- Saturday
Be Kind Festival at DeVault Vineyards in Concord -- Saturday
The Lone Bellow at Riverfront Festival Park -- Saturday
Check out our article It's Apple Orchard Time for 2017 in Central Virginia and head to a local apple orchard. Choose your favorite varieties from the packing shed or pick-your-own at some of the orchards. Pack a picnic lunch or dinner and enjoy a fall family picnic along the way. Hit one of the local parks and play on the playground after you eat. You might also enjoy a day trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at one of the picnic areas to enjoy a meal, then take a family hike in the woods. Fall is here, so enjoy making some family memories this weekend!
