Fall festivals and events take place throughout the autumn season in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are outdoor activities and events that showcase the beautiful fall colors in the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as farmers markets and festivals that feature the abundance of the fall harvest at local farms and orchards.

It’s a great time to get outside in Virginia’s Blue Ridge and enjoy the beautiful weather and overall excitement for this special part of the year.

To give you an idea of the many events happening in the region this month, we put together this guide and broke things out by category. Keep in mind, many events will incorporate multiple items, such as food & drink, live music, and family fun, so check all the categories to find fun things to do during your fall visit to Virginia’s Blue Ridge! 


NOTE: All info is subject to change. Please check event websites and social media pages for the most updated information.


Farm & Community Fall Festivals - Family Fun, Pumpkin Picking, Corn Mazes, Hay Rides

Jeter Farm Fall Festival - Botetourt County

Getting lost in a corn maze, finding the perfect pumpkin, and taking hay rides are some of our favorite fall traditions in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are numerous farms in the region that celebrate the season with fall festivals, and many of the local communities and attractions also participate in the fun with family-friendly festivities and events.

  • Historic Fincastle Inc. Fall Festival - Town of Fincastle - September 24 | Event Website
  • Jeter Farm Fall Festival & Country Store - Jeter Farm (pictured above) - September 24 - October 30 (Saturday & Sunday) | Event Website
  • Franklin County Scarecrow Trail - Town of Rocky Mount - October 3 - November 4 | Event Website
  • Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival - Sinkland Farms - October 6-30 (Thursday - Sunday) | Event Website
  • 3rd Annual Wasena Weekend - Wasena Neighborhood - October 7-9 | Event Website
  • Vinton Fall Festival - Downtown Vinton - October 8 | Event Website
  • Boones Mill Apple Festival - Town of Boones Mill - October 8 | Event Website
  • 39th Annual Craig County Fall Festival - Downtown New Castle - October 8 | Event Website
  • Richfield Living's 2nd Annual Fall Festival - Richfield Living - October 8
  • Wicked Acres Fall Festival - Garrett Farms - Every Saturday & Sunday in October | Facebook Event
  • Harvest Homecoming - Virginia Museum of Transportation - October 14 | Event Website
  • Barktoberfest - Elmwood Park - October 22 | Facebook Event
  • Pumpkinfest - Salem Farmers Market - October 28 | Event Website
  • Harvest Festival - Botetourt Farmers Market - October 29 | Facebook Event
  • Trunk or Treat Fall Festival - CommUNITY Church - October 31

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Food & Drink - Oktoberfest, Wine Festivals, Beer Festivals, Food Festivals

Smith Mountain Lake Fall Chili Festival

You’ll find fall flavors everywhere around the Roanoke Valley! It’s a popular time of year for grape stomping and wine festivals, as well as Oktoberfest celebrations at local breweries. You can also warm up with hearty dishes like soup and chili. Nom!

  • Roanoke International Restaurant Month - Various Restaurants - September | Event Website
  • Virginia Spirits Month - Various Locations - September | Craft Spirits in VBR
  • Moonlight Grape Stomp - AmRhein Wine Cellars - September 24 | Event Website
  • Pints for Preservation Pub Crawl - Downtown Roanoke - September 24 | Event Website
  • Virginia Wine Month - Various Locations - October - Wineries in VBR
  • Rocktoberfest '22 - Twin Creeks Brewing Company - October 8 | Facebook Event
  • Fall Harvest Festival - Morningside Urban Farm - October 13 | Event Website
  • ZooDo - Mill Mountain Zoo - October 15 | Event Website
  • Fall Harvest Dinner with Mr. Jefferson - Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest - October 22 | Event Website
  • Dr Pepper Day - Market Square - Downtown Roanoke - October 24 | Facebook Event
  • Smith Mountain Lake Chili Festival - Bridgewater Plaza (pictured above) - November 5 | Event Website
  • 21st Annual Harvest Soup & Wine Festival - AmRhein Wine Cellars - November 5-6 | Event Website
  • Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival - Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest - November 12 | Event Website
  • The Grand Thanksgiving Buffet Celebration - The Regency Room at The Hotel Roanoke - November 24 | Event Website

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Outdoor Adventures, Sporting Events, Fun Runs

CIAA Football Championship - Salem, Virginia

Get an up-close look at the scenic beauty of fall in Virginia’s Blue Ridge by taking part in many of the outdoor adventures and sporting events happening in the region. You can join fun runs and guided hikes, as well as check out multiple championships and races that offer great scenes for spectators.

  • Bearwallow Breakdown - Buchanan Town Park - September 24 | Event Website
  • Jaunt for Justice 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run - Fallon Park - October 1 | Event Website
  • Fall Waterways Cleanup - Various Locations - October 1 | Event Website
  • Salem Half Marathon, 8K and Kids Fun Run - Salem Farmers Market - October 8 | Event Website
  • Kids Fishing Derby - Waid Park - October 8 | Facebook Event
  • Virginia’s Blue Ridge Gran Fondo - Botetourt County - October 9 | Event Website
  • Anthem GO Outside Festival - Downtown Roanoke - October 14-16 | Event Website
  • SORVA Race Against the Clock - Mill Mountain - October 15 | Event Website
  • First Bank Fall 5K & 10K Run - Fincastle - October 15 | Event Website
  • Fall Foliage Tree Tour - Mountain View Park & Fishburn Mansion - October 20 | Facebook Event
  • 16th Annual Into to the Darkness Night Trail Run - Explore Park - October 22 | Event Website
  • CIAA Cross Country Championships - Green Hill Park - October 27 | Event Website
  • Spooky Sprint 5K & Wellness Fair - Wasena Park - October 29 | Event Website
  • Fall Frenzy 2022 - Camp Bethel - November 4-6 | Event Website
  • Run for Donuts 5K - Sherwood Memorial Park - November 5 | Event Website
  • CIAA Volleyball Conference Championship - Salem Civic Center - November 11-14 | Event Website
  • CIAA Football Conference Championship - Salem Football Stadium (pictured above) - November 12 | Event Website
  • VHSL State Cross Country Championships - Green Hill Park - November 13 | Event Website
  • Star City Half Marathon & 10k - River’s Edge Park - November 19 | Event Website
  • VHSL Volleyball Championship - Salem Civic Center - November 20 | Event Website
  • Cranksgiving 2022 - Twisted Track Brewpub - November 20 | Facebook Event
  • The Rescue Mission of Roanoke Drumstick Dash - River’s Edge Park - November 24 | Event Website
  • Thanksgiving in the Barn - New Freedom Farm - November 24 | Facebook Event

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Concerts, Performances, Art Events, Arts & Craft Festivals, Movie Nights

Blue Ridge Folklife Festival - Ferrum College

Check out the local arts scene in the region by jamming out at a concert, touring local art studios and galleries, and shopping for local goods at numerous art & craft shows that take place every fall around the Roanoke Valley. 

  • Movie at the Museum: Ghostbusters - Virginia Museum of Transportation - September 23 | Facebook Event
  • 2022 Roanoke Roots & Reggae Fest - Wasena Park - September 24 | Event Website
  • Star-B-Q: Easton Corbin - Salem Farmers Market - September 28 | Event Website
  • Roanoke Comedy Fest - Various Venues - October 7-9 | Event Facebook Page
  • Craftsmen's Fall Classic Art & Craft Festival - Berglund Center | October 7-9 | Event Website
  • Dracula Rides Again - Showtimers Community Theatre - October 7-16 | Event Website
  • Local Colors Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration - Downtown Roanoke - October 8 | Event Website
  • Mountain Magic in Fall Bluegrass, Antiques & Crafts Festival - Buchanan Town Park - October 8 | Event Website
  • Bloktober Fest & Grandin Village Art Walk Dedication - Historic Grandin Village - October 8 | Facebook Event
  • Scary Movie Monday: Hocus Pocus & Hocus Pocus 2 - Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage - October 10 | Facebook Event
  • Titian to Monet: European Paintings from Joslyn Art Museum Special Exhibition - Taubman Museum of Art - October 14 - January 8 | Event Website
  • Scary Movie Monday: Labyrinth - Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage - October 17 | Event Website
  • Blue Ridge Folklife Festival - Ferrum College (pictured above) - October 22 | Event Website
  • Open Studios Botetourt - Art in the Country - Botetourt County - October 22-23 | Event Website
  • Blue Ridge Potters Guild 23rd Annual Show & Sale - Patrick Henry High School - October 22-23 | Event Website
  • Scary Movie Monday: Edward Scissorhands & Dark Shadows - Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage - October 24 | Event Website
  • Mysterious Musical Moments - Roanoke Valley Community Band - Hidden Valley High School - October 25 | Event Website
  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Grandin Theatre - October 28 | Event Website
  • Hocus Pocus - Salem Memorial Ballpark - October 28 | Event Details
  • 2022 Dirty Dancing Weekend - Mountain Lake Lodge - October 28-30 | Event Website
  • Frankenstein - A Modern Adaptation - Hollins University - October 28-30 | Event Website
  • Monster Indoor Flea Market - Berglund Center - October 29 | Event Website
  • Roanoke Ballet Theatre: Dracula - Jefferson Center - October 29 | Event Website

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Halloween, Trick-or-Treating, Haunted Houses, Ghost Tours, Scary Attractions

Blue Ridge Nightmares - Roanoke, VA

From getting scared out of your mind to just having a good time taking the kiddos trick-or-treating, we cover the entire spectrum of types of Halloween events in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. And, of course, over-the-top costumes are always highly encouraged!

  • Terror Manor - Downtown Roanoke - September 23 - November 5 (Thursday - Saturday) | Event Website
  • SWVA’s Bigfoot & Friends - Salem Civic Center - September 24 | Event Website
  • Blue Ridge Nightmares Haunted Attraction - Roanoke Industrial Center (pictured above) - September 30 - October 31 (Thursday - Sunday) | Event Website
  • Ghost Walk 2022 Hearing Impaired Tour - Salem Museum - October 6 | Event Website
  • Ghost Walk 2022 - Salem Museum - October 7-8 | Event Website
  • Trick-or-Treat at The Parakeet Garden - Science Museum of Western Virginia - October 11-30 (Tuesday - Sunday) | Event Website
  • Halloween Murder Mystery - Twisted Track Brewpub - October 19 | Event Website
  • RDC Halloween Cornhole Tournament - A Few Old Goats Brewing - October 22 | Event Website
  • Salem Red Sox Spooktacular - Salem Memorial Ballpark - October 22 | Event Details
  • Haunted Hike - Fishburn Park - October 27 | Event Website
  • Bat Night! - Mill Mountain Discovery Center - October 27 | Event Website
  • Kazim Shriner's Trunk or Treat - Salem Civic Center - October 27 | Facebook Event
  • Cardinal Bicycle Halloween Fun Ride - Cardinal Bicycle Grandin - October 27 | Facebook Event
  • Hallowine Costume Dance Party - Beliveau Farm Winery - October 28 | Event Details
  • Historic Fincastle Ghost Walk - Historic Fincastle - October 28-29 | Event Website
  • Spooktacular Saturday - Explore Park - October 29 | Event Website
  • Zoo Boo - Mill Mountain Zoo - October 29 | Event Website
  • Main Street Trick-or-Treating - Main Street Salem - October 29 | Event Website
  • Candy Corn Express & Trunk or Treat - Virginia Museum of Transportation - October 29 | Event Website
  • Dead Reckoning Halloween - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - October 29 | Event Website
  • Halloween Dance Party with Whitetop Mountain Band - The Floyd Country Store - October 29 | Event Website
  • Big Lick Brewing Co. Halloween Party - Big Lick Brewing Company - October 29 | Event Website
  • 3rd Annual Downtown Candy Crawl - Downtown Roanoke - October 29 | Event Website
  • Martin's Halloween Street Party - Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill - October 29 | Facebook Event 
  • Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner - Jump Into Mystery at Well Hung Vineyard - October 30 | Event Website
  • Scary Movie Monday: Haunted Mansion - Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage - October 31 | Event Website

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For a complete list of what’s going on in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, take a look at our Calendar of Events. We can also help you make some weekend plans with our page on Events this Weekend, which updates every week to showcase what’s happening for the upcoming weekend.

Visit the Fall section of our website for information about unique seasonal experiences and things to do.

To learn more about the region, give us a follow on social media and sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter.

Happy fall!