Fall Fun Guide: Wednesday, Oct 21 – Thursday, Oct 22

📍 What’s closest to you? Type your ZIP code into our Fall Fun Finder and every event in this guide lines up from nearest to farthest.

Here’s a little secret Katy and I have learned: the orchards and trails are a whole different experience on a weekday. No lines, no fighting for parking, and you get the good pumpkins before they’re picked over. With two sunny days lined up, this is a good week to play hooky.

✨ Special Events

Exploring the Skies at Skyland
📅 Wed, Oct 21 · ⏰ Solar viewing 2 – 4 PM, Night Skies talk 8 – 9 PM
📍 Skyland, Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive mile 41.7)
Look at the sun safely through special telescopes in the afternoon, then come back after dark for the night sky. Make a day of it: ride or drive the Drive for the color, catch the sunset, then stay for the stars. Details

🎃 Pumpkin Patches & Orchards

Butler’s Orchard, Germantown, MD
📅 Wed & Thu · ⏰ 1 – 6 PM (last entry 4:30)
💵 Weekdays $12 with a reservation, $15 walk-in
Half the weekend price. Pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, corn maze and jump pads. Details

Great Country Farms, Bluemont, VA
📅 Daily through Oct 31 · ⏰ 9 AM – 5 PM
💵 Weekdays $14 adult / $12 kids online, $16 at the gate. Military families get in free on weekdays.
Corn maze, 80-foot slides, jumping pillow and cider donuts. Tickets

Cox Farms, Centreville, VA
📅 Closed Wednesday, open Thu, Oct 22 · ⏰ 10 AM – 6 PM (last entry 5)
💵 $20, online tickets only
Thursday is a great day to finally do Cox Farms without the weekend crowd. Tickets

Larriland Farm, Woodbine, MD
📅 Tue – Fri · ⏰ Opens 9 AM
💵 $3 field admission on weekdays (the hayride and maze cost extra)
Pick your own apples and pumpkins. Call the crop hotline first: 410-442-2605. Details

Mackintosh Fruit Farm, Berryville, VA
📅 Picking Thu – Sun (closed Wed) · ⏰ Thu 8 AM – 5 PM
Apples (Fuji, Pink Lady, Evercrisp), pumpkins and grapes, right in the Shenandoah Valley. Call ahead: 540-955-6225. Details

Hartland Orchard, Markham, VA
📅 Daily through October · ⏰ 9 AM – 2 PM · 💵 $25 a half bushel, cash or check
An easy stop on the way to or from Skyline Drive. Details

🥾 Get Outside: Go Anytime

Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, Potomac, MD
⏰ Daylight hours · 💵 Park entrance fee
Section A is 1.7 miles of real rock scrambling right above Mather Gorge (no dogs allowed on A). Want something easier? Sections B and C are moderate and still beautiful. Section A closes when the river floods. Trail info

Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, VA
⏰ Sunrise to sunset · 💵 Park entrance fee
Over 37 miles of quiet wooded trails about 40 minutes south of Alexandria. The creek trails are gorgeous when the leaves turn. Park info

⛰️ Thinking about Old Rag? You need a $2 day-use ticket from recreation.gov on top of park entry, and the main trailhead lot is closed for construction until about November. Use the overflow lots and carpool if you can. Old Rag info

🏍️ For the Riders

Midweek Skyline Drive Run
⏰ Open 24 hours · 💵 $25 per motorcycle, good for 7 days
Weekday rides on the Drive mean way less traffic at the overlooks. Time it so you end up at Skyland for the solar viewing Wednesday afternoon. It gets cold up there after sunset, so pack layers if you stay for the stars. Fees & hours

Times and prices can change, so check the event’s website before you head out. Next Fall Fun Guide: Friday, Oct 23, with the full weekend lineup.