Fall brings cooler temperatures, the return of football and kids heading back to school. It also brings a spate of festivals, ranging from old-fashioned fairs to apple picking, wine tasting and celebrating the arts. Here’s a sampling of some of the best the region has to offer.

State Fair of Virginia
One of the largest festivals each fall is the State Fair of Virginia, a tradition since 1854. For the second year in its new location, the fair will still have all your favorite rides and attractions, as well as a new magic show, balloon stunts and fire training. Meadow Event Park, near Kings Dominion, boasts 360 acres and includes a 75,000 square foot exposition hall, a 10,000 square foot multi-purpose pavilion, 143 horse stalls and an equine facility. This year’s fair will run from September 23rd through October 3rd, 147 hours of fun. On the Festival Stage, you can see performances by Molly Hatchett, The Wallers, Joe Diffie with Amanda McIntosh and more. You will smell the aromas of famous State Fair food such as fried Oreos, elephant ears, Italian sausages and crab cakes. You can judge animal competitions or tour one of the many educational or agricultural exhibits. With rides and shows for guests of all ages, the State Fair continues to be a fun outing for the whole family. For pricing, directions and entertainment schedules, please visit www.statefair.com.

More on the State Fair of Virginia

31st Annual Arts Around the Lake
Attend the 31st annual Arts Around the Lake and stroll the banks of Westhampton Lake, visiting with more than 100 Richmond area artists displaying and selling their work. Artists working in various mediums are juried every four years and chosen to participate in this arts festival at the University of Richmond. Lee Kirby West, Chairman of the event, says, “Arts Around the Lake is sponsored by the Greater Richmond Alumni Chapter to benefit its scholarship fund. For thirty-one years, this festival has been helping to fund a scholarship for a daughter or granddaughter of a UR alumna. As a student, I was one of the recipients of this scholarship. Now, as an alumna, I am currently serving as the chair of the Arts Around the Lake Committee. This festival is held during Family Weekend at the University of Richmond and it attracts approximately 12,000 people to campus, including current students and parents, alumni and community members.” Local vendors will provide food and refreshments. This year’s event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th. Admission and parking are free. No dogs are allowed. More information can be found at www.uronline.net/aal.

Apple Harvest Festival
For decades, families and fruit lovers have visited Carter Mountain Orchard, located in Albemarle County, for the annual Apple Harvest Festival. A celebration of the harvest, the Festival typically has 10 or more varieties of apples ready for picking and approximately 15 varieties available as ready-picked. The Festival features live music from the Lamplighters, the Virginia Vagabonds and other local artists. According to Cynthia Chiles of the Orchard, several local craft vendors are on hand every year, along with the Albemarle/Charlottesville Pilot Club selling hot dogs and baked goods. In addition to apple picking and music, the wine tasting room, country store, bakery and Mountain Grill will be open. Families will also enjoy the hayride, a fifteen-minute tour of the orchard with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, and Charlottesville, and face painting and balloon art for children. The festival will be held on two weekends, October 2nd and 3rd and October 9th and 10th, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Don’t forget to check out the apple butter, apple cider, apple donuts, apple pie and all things apple. For more information, visit www.CarterMountainOrchard.com.

Richmond Folk Festival
An offshoot of the National Folk Festival, held in Richmond from 2005-2007, the Richmond Folk Festival is in its third consecutive year. One of the largest festivals in the Richmond area, drawing up to 175,000 visitors and requiring in excess of 1,200 volunteers, this year’s festival will be held October 8-10. Drawing entertainers and attendees from all over the country, this year the festival will feature seven stages and nearly 30 performers. Denise Bird of Bird Marketing explains that while the format of the festival remains the same, no two years are the same. “Each year, we bring in a whole new crop of performers.” The festival also features an amazing array of foods from around the world and a folk art marketplace with local artisans and products. Children will enjoy the Genworth Financial Family Area with a stage, crafts and games, put on in coordination with the Children’s Museum of Richmond. The Richmond Folk Festival is a FREE event and will take place rain or shine on the banks of downtown Richmond’s riverfront and Brown’s Island. Additional information regarding the performers, hours of operation and parking is available at www.richmondfolkfestival.org. 

Chesterfield Berry Farm Pumpkin Festival
Nothing says fall quite like pumpkins, hayrides and haunted houses. For all this and more, plan to visit the Chesterfield Berry Farm Pumpkin Festival October 9th and 10th, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is fun for all ages; guests can ride a pony, jump in the moon bounce, walk through Pirate’s Cove and visit the Animal Corral. Or you can get lost in the Haunted House Corn Maze or check out the Scary Fun Barn. Special family pumpkin pricing will be available when you take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch. Later, children can play in the toddler area while adults enjoy live music, watch the pig races or taste wine from the Peaks of Otter Winery. Guests of all ages will want to look for Jack the Pumpkin and his sidekick, Scarecrow. Shannon Magnuson of Chesterfield Berry Farm says highlights of the Festival include the “Thriller” dance, pumpkin ice cream and pumpkin milk shakes, which taste like pumpkin pie. Also available will be homemade BBQ, coleslaw and lip-smackin’ beans. Admission prices are $11.95 per person, $8.95 for eniors and free for children under two. For more information, including directions, please visit www.chesterfieldberryfarm.com.

Powhatan Festival of the Grape
This year’s 8th annual Powhatan Festival of the Grape will once again be held in Powhatan’s Historic Courthouse Square. Featured on the National Register of Historic Places, this structure was designed by New York architect Alexander Jackson Davis and completed in 1849. Featuring 25 Virginia wineries, the festival will include local favorites Barboursville Vineyards, James River Cellars and Ingleside Vineyards. Wine tastings and a wine glass will be included with admission. Bottle purchases will also be available. In addition, the festival will have live music from the popular Casper and Steve Bassett, along with plenty of delicious, regional food. Tina Bustos, Executive Director of the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce, says, “From oysters to Brunswick Stew, we bring the best of Powhatan to thousands of attendees.” Also on hand will be more than 100 juried arts and crafts vendors. Children will delight in Jonathan the Juggler and the clowns on site. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, October 23rd from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, and children under 12 are free. More information is available at www.powhatanwinefestival.com.

Meadow Highland Games & Celtic Festival
For all things Scottish, Richmond offers the Meadow Highland Games & Celtic Festival (formerly the Richmond Highland Games & Celtic Festival). Jay Lugar, Marketing Director, describes the festival as a weekend celebration of Celtic culture on a rolling terrain at The Meadow Event Park. He says, “Amid the backdrop of falling leaves and brisk air, you’ll find music, food, and large men throwing stuff.” In its 15th year, this festival features over 60 vendors of jewelry, crafts and handmade items including some from all over the U.S. and Europe. Also being held during the festival is the Heavy Scottish Athletics Championship, attracting athletes form across the country. There will be two entertainment stages with live music, traditional food and beer, sheepdog trials and bagpipes. Children will enjoy “Wee Ones” activities, smaller versions of some of the athletic events, and the Young McDonald’s Farm area. The Festival will be held October 23rd and 24th with ticket prices ranging from $14 for advance purchases to $27 for a weekend pass. Children under 10 are free. Dogs are welcome, too, with rabies certificate and non-retractable leash. For more information and directions to The Meadow Event Park, please visit www.meadowceltic.com.