Without a doubt, Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains is my favorite season.
The colors start to change, the heat starts to subside, and the farm markets, apple orchards, and pumpkin patches are putting out awesome produce.
Simply put, it’s the right time to be out and about, enjoying the natural beauty of this region we call home!
Fortunately my wife and I live just south of the Virginia-NC border, just a 5-mile hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway. So we can easily get access to the best both states have to offer.
The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia have an especially amazing array of Fall festivals.
They celebrate tasty local libations. They celebrate the region’s world-famous Appalachian music. They celebrate the colorful foliage, the agricultural harvests, and the great venues for outdoor recreation.
Read on for our guide to the Top 10 Fall Festivals in the Virginia Mountains, including the dates, details, and overview of activities you need to know about to make plans for a fantastic Fall in the mountains.
READ MORE: Virginia Fall Foliage: The 15 Best Places to See Fall Colors in VA
Places to Stay in Virginia’s Blue Ridge
- Rockbridge Inn (Lexington, small modern hotel w/ mountain views & coffee in the lobby)
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott(Bristol, off I-81, swimming pool & free breakfast)
- Holiday Inn Express (Woodstock, IHG Hotel, convenient location & free breakfast)
- Residence Inn– (Waynesboro, with indoor pool/hot tub, full kitchens, & free breakfast)
- SpringHill Suites (2.9 mi from Clear Brook, with swimming pool & free breakfast)
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott (Front Royal, pet-friendly, swimming pool & free breakfast)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites (Staunton, IHG hotel, & good free breakfast)
- Hampton Inn (Galax, affordable hotel with free breakfast)
Fall Festivals in Virginia Mountains Guide
- Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival (Lexington VA, September)
- Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (Bristol VA, September)
- Edinburg Ole Time Festival (Edinburg VA, September)
- Virginia Chili, Blues, n’ Brews Festival (Waynesboro VA, September)
- Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival (Clear Brook VA, September)
- Shenandoah Autumnfest (Woodstock VA, October)
- 52nd Annual Festival of Leaves (Front Royal VA, October)
- Mountain Day (Buena Vista VA, October)
- Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival (Staunton VA, October)
- Autumn Folk Festival (Galax VA, October)
READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in Virginia
Fall Festivals in September
1. Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival
(Lexington VA • September 7, 2024)
A one-day gathering at the Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington VA, the Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival is an annual showcase of regional wines, craft beers, and ciders.
Their line-up of libations usually includes a dozen craft breweries, 2 local cideries, and 8 vineyards/wineries. There’s also a distillery in the mix for good measure.
This festival has live music all afternoon, both on the main stage and in the wine garden. Local food vendors offer everything from barbecue and wood-fired pizza and gourmet bistro food.
The festival goes from noon to 6:00 pm, and entry fees are $50/ticket in advance, or $60/ticket at the gate.
READ MORE: The 10 Most Haunted Places in Virginia to Visit
2. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
(Bristol VA • September 13-15, 2024)
The intra-state town of Bristol VA/TN is widely celebrated as “the birthplace of country music,” but the music scene there is much more diverse and still very much alive.
Taking place in Downtown Bristol every September, the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion continues this musical legacy with a massive festival that takes over public spaces, local dives, and killer bars.
Weekend passes are available for $115 to $145, while “any day” passes are $80.
There are several options for parking nearby, including shuttle lots, paid private parking, and very limited free street parking.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Hotels in Bristol TN/VA (With Pet-Friendly Options!)
3. Edinburg Ole Time Festival
(Edinburg VA • September 20-22)
Held in a small mountain town 18 miles north of Luray, the Edinburg Ole Time Festival is an annual event that runs for three days every Autumn.
This festival focuses on sharing the past while bolstering contemporary community spirit, 0ffering an immersive experience celebrating the town’s rich history and culture.
It’s perfect for history buffs, with living history reenactments, antique displays, and lots of traditional craft demonstrations.
Attendees can also enjoy delectable treats, meet local artisans, and participate in live music sing-alongs, with all proceeds benefitting town projects and the historic Edinburg Mill.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Pumpkin Patches in VA to Visit
4. Virginia Chili, Blues ‘n’ Brews Festival
(Waynesboro VA • September 21, 2024)
The Virginia Chili, Blues ‘n’ Brews Festival takes over Lumas Plaza in Downtown Waynesboro for one day every year in September.
It delivers on the name with a chili cook-off, local craft beer, and continuous live music.
Food trucks from all around the state are on-hand for the popular event, and local artisans and producers come to sell their wares.
General admission to the festival is $20/person, with options for VIP tickets that include beers, food, concert seats, and even concierge services.
READ MORE: Celebrating Autumn at Oktobrewfest in Tazewell County VA
5. Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival
(Clear Brook VA • September 21-22, 2024)
The Blue Ridge Mountains of NC and VA are renowned for their apple production.
Clear Brook VA’s annual Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival offers an ideal opportunity to sample the best fruit the region has to offer.
Apple pie rules the day, with both a baking contest and an eating contest. Many of the concessions center around apples, too, including hard ciders and delicious apple dumplings.
Other attractions at this Shenandoah Valley festival include live music, a classic car show, a kids’ play area, and plenty of local vendors.
Admission to the festival is $10, with kids under the age of 10 getting in for free!
READ MORE: Apple Picking in Virginia: The 20 Best VA Apple Orchards to Visit
Fall Festivals in October
6. Shenandoah Autumnfest
(Woodstock VA • October 5)
Selected as one of the Top 10 Autumn Festivals in the country by USA Today, HGTV, and Travel Channel, the Shenandoah Autumnfest is held at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock VA.
This festival features dozens of local craft breweries, cideries, and wineries, and live music fills the air.
There’s a log-splitting contest, apple butter-making, and Virginia BBQ cooking on the grill. Crafters will also be offering demonstrations of their work throughout the day.
General admission to the festival is $10, while tasting tickets are $30 (including a souvenir tasting glass), and VIP treatment comes for $75/person.
Note that Shenandoah Downs harness racing typically coincides with this event.
READ MORE: 10 Best Haunted Houses in Virginia for Halloween
7. 52nd Annual Festival of Leaves
(Front Royal VA • October 11-12, 2024)
Any Blue Ridge Mountains festival held in October is going to involve primetime Fall foliage.
So why not make it all about the leaves (or, at the very least, name it thusly)?
The Annual Festival of Leaves showcases those Fall colors in Front Royal VA, which is best known for the northernmost entrance to Shenandoah National Park.
This festival offers up local crafts, foodie fare, and 200+ vendors showing out every year. Attendees are also treated to 3 music stages, a kids’ zone, and a boozy beverage garden.
It’s a small town community festival in a historic Virginia mountain town, and it’s all about having fun in beautiful surroundings. In short, it’s a wonderful way to get into the spirit of the season!
READ MORE: Fall in Shenandoah National Park: 10 Places to See Fall Foliage
8. Mountain Day
(Buena Vista VA • October 12, 2024)
Thousands of people flock to the small town of Buena Vista VA (about 7 miles southeast of Lexington) each year in October to celebrate Mountain Day.
This VA Fall festival takes over downtown, packing 20th-22nd Streets with vendors, crafters, live music, and art.
Mountain Day was founded in 2013, with the aim of supporting arts in the region. It continues to offer art classes, a theater company, and the Artapalooza children’s art festival.
Like any good Autumn festival, Mountain Day has entertainment, fun food choices, and lots of community organizations. But this one has a focus on local history, fine art, and children.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Corn Mazes in Virginia to Visit
9. Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival
(Staunton VA • October 18-20, 2024)
The Blue Ridge Mountains are widely regarded as a playground for cycling enthusiasts, including those who traverse the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival draws as many as 750 riders each year to take an epic bike ride.
Tickets are good for the weekend, and there are special Saturday and Sunday rides on the schedule.
Rides can be as intense as a “full century” (or 100-miler), but there are also easygoing, family-friendly rides that are under 15 miles.
On-site camping is offered, running $20/tent for registered campers and $40/tent for walk-ins (based on availability). Other accommodation options, including glamping, are also available.
READ MORE: Fall in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia: 10 Places to See Fall Foliage
10. Autumn Folk Festival
(Galax VA • October 26, 2024)
The Autumn Folk Festival is part of a huge weekend celebration (including Pumpkin Carving Night on October 24) at the Matthews Living History Farm Museum in Galax VA.
This day is wrought with German and Scots-Irish history and cultural traditions from the old days.
Musicians play Irish and Old-Time music on the woodworking shop porch. Demonstrators show off heritage skills, including the German Witches Broom Dance, which is performed by the Appalachian Mischief Makers.
Food and drinks are available throughout the day, and the Light the Porch event begins at 5 PM. Children come in Halloween costumes to join in the fun, and all attendees are encouraged to bring a carved pumpkin! -by Jonathon Engels
