Plan ahead for a great fall weekend in October. There are tons of family friendly activities and events to enjoy in the Lynchburg area this weekend, including many Halloween themed events, fall festivals, and a few trunk or treats. You'll find indoor and outdoor fun guides and much more on our website.
Here are our top 15+ choices for family fun in the Lynchburg area this weekend. It's a long weekend for some area students, so check out our October Fall Festivals and Fun Guide, our Halloween and Trunk or Treat Guide, and our full event calendar for all of the best local events.
1. Visit an area pumpkin patch in Central Virginia. Dark Leaf Farms in Concord is open Saturdays and Sundays; Smith's Pumpkin Patch in Lynchburg is open daily; Yoders' Farm Fall Festival in Rustburg is open Tuesday through Saturday; Layman Family Farms Fall Festival in Blue Ridge is open Saturdays and Sundays; Jeter Farm Fall Festival in Roanoke is open Saturdays and Sundays, and White Fall Farm in Gretna is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
2. Altavista Scarecrow Stroll takes place in Altavista all month from Oct. 1 - Oct. 31. Each year Altavista On Track hosts the Altavista Scarecrow Stroll. Businesses, churches, organizations, and residents are invited to make their own scarecrows and post them up in front of their businesses or in the downtown area for visitors and residents to visit and vote on their favorite scarecrow!
3. Grand Opening at SeaQuest Lynchburg takes place on Oct. 18 (annual passport members and guests can also visit Oct. 16 and Oct. 17). Head to River Ridge Mall and visit the brand new SeaQuest in River Ridge Lynchburg. Explore the planet as you touch and feed animals. Some of our SeaQuest's amazing mall partners will be outside of SeaQuest on the 18th from 10am - 2pm.
4. Family Paint Night takes place on Oct. 18 at The Miller Center in Lynchburg. Bring the whole family to a fun, instructional class on acrylic painting. Participants will walk away with a completed painting to hang at home along with a fond memory of your time together as a family. All supplies are included. Please register with Lynchburg Parks and Recreation in advance.
5. Candlelight Tours take place at Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg on Oct. 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26. Professional actors in period costume bring Cemetery residents to life with true stories from local history with multiple tours between 6:10 PM and 8:10 PM. If you haven't ordered tickets yet, there's still hope! Fairweather Candlelight Tour Tickets may still be available, depending on weather.
6. Scaremare is open for the season on Carroll Avenue in Lynchburg. Scaremare celebrates more than four decades of entertaining and scaring Lynchburg families. Open Thursday-Saturday nights for three weeks, this is a fun activity for teens but may be too scary for younger kids. This year's dates are Oct 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 from 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM. Thursdays are College and Military Night with discounted ticket prices. Group discounts and Line Slasher tickets may be purchased in advance at the website. Cash admission only at the gate. This event is recommended for ages 13 and older.
7. Anthem GO Outside Festival in Roanoke is a short drive for one of the best free outdoor events on the East Coast. This fun event takes place Oct. 18 - 20 at Rivers Edge Park SOUTH. Attendees enjoy the unique opportunity to try more than 100 different hands-on outdoor activities, listen to talented musicians, drink local craft beer (grown-ups only!), and meet other nature enthusiasts - all in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Blue Ridge mountains.
8. Super Heroes Fall Celebration takes place on Friday evening at Ledo Pizza in Lynchburg. There will be prizes, face painting and pumpkin painting. Discounts are given for participants in costume.
9. Haunted Hayride and Haunted Trail at Lynchburg South Moose Family Center is open to the public for the next two weekends on Friday and Saturday nights. There's a small fee for ages 4 and older, but children under 3 are free. Food and drinks will be available for sale.
10. Saturday is Festival Day (a few events also have Friday and/ or Sunday hours)! Check out any or all of these events: Rustburg United Methodist Fall Festival from 8 AM - 2 PM on Saturday, 29th Annual Apple Harvest Festival at Gross' Orchard from 8 AM - 6 PM on Saturday, Drumheller's Orchard Apple Festival from 9 AM - 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday, Amherst County Apple Harvest Festival from 9 AM - 5 PM on Saturday and from 12 PM - 5 PM on Sunday, Anthem GO Outside Festival in Roanoke on Friday from 6 PM - 10 PM, Saturday from 9 AM - 10 PM, and Sunday from 9 AM - 5 PM, Apple Butter Makin' Festival at Silver Creek and Seamans' Orchards from 10 AM - 4:30 PM on Saturday, 5th Annual Truck or Treat Fall Festival at Apocalypse Ale Works from 12 PM - 5 PM on Saturday, Autumnfest at Stratton Farm in Appomattox from 12 PM - 5 PM on Saturday, 23rd Annual Sedalia Chili Cook-Off from 12 PM - 5 PM on Saturday,
11. 29th Annual Dr. John A. Stephenson Memorial Youth Run takes place Saturday morning at Riverside Park in Lynchburg. Race distances range from 1/8 mile for the youngest children to 1 mile for kids ages 8-13. Riverside Park will closed to ALL vehicular traffic from 9AM to 10:45AM, so please park on Rivermont Avenue.
12. Family Pumpkin Carving Party at Forest Library takes place on Saturday morning. Pumpkins and tools will be provided; kids attending without an adult can decorate their pumpkins using markers. Light refreshments will be served.
Space is limited and registration is required. Please see a librarian or call 540-425-7002 to sign up.
13. Make A Ruckus For Change! Benefit Concert for The Arc takes place at The Arc of Central Virginia in Lynchburg on Saturday from 1 PM - 5 PM. Bring your blankets and chairs for a fun filled family afternoon! In addition to live music, there will be a KIDS' ZONE courtesy of The Lynchburg Hillcats which features bounce houses, face painting and SOUTHPAW; food trucks; a 50/50 raffle, and much more. All donations benefit The Arc of Central Virginia, which promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
14. Homecoming Parade takes place at Liberty University in Lynchburg on Saturday, starting at 2:30 PM. The Homecoming Parade will feature university dignitaries, the Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band, Flamettes, Lynchburg Fire and Police Depts., GLTC Trolley, Athletics and Club Sports teams, departments and clubs, and more.
15. Lynchburg Zombie Walk takes place on Saturday starting at 5:30 PM at Lynchburg Community Market. The Lynchburg Zombie Walk is now in its 9th year and is a canned food drive with a twist! Prizes for best looking zombies adults and children! Please bring canned goods or other non-perishables as your entry fee.
Bonus Sunday Funday festivals: Drumheller's Orchard Apple Festival from 9 AM - 5 PM, Amherst County Apple Harvest Festival from 12 PM - 5 PM, and Anthem GO Outside Festival in Roanoke from 9 AM - 5 PM.
Check our website for additional details about all of these events!
Fall weekends are also a great time find your own fun at one of the parks in our Lynchburg Area Parks Guide or Go Hiking Off the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy the fall scenery.
Follow us on Facebook for lots of shared local events, subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter to be first to know what's happening around town, and check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid website anytime to Find Your Family Fun® in Lynchburg and Central Virginia this weekend!
