7 Fun Things to Do in Galax VA in Autumn

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With a total land area of 8.28 sq miles, Galax is a wonderful little Virginia mountain town to visit at any time of year.

But, in our experience, Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains is always extra special, and Galax offers a lot of fun ways to celebrate the season.

Galax may be best-known as the “Old-Time Music Capital of the World,” because it’s home to the oldest and largest fiddlers’ convention in the country (the Old Fiddler’s Convention, held annually since 1935).

But there is so much more to this Southwest VA town than fiddles and flat footing.

With its quaint, yet bustling downtown, a historic theater, antique malls, craft beer, restaurants, and coffee shops, we found that there’s a lot more to Galax than meets the eye.

Read on for our guide to Fun Things to Do in Galax VA in Autumn, including events and attractions that celebrate the music, natural beauty, and culinary delights of the season!

READ MORE: The 10 Best Small Towns in Virginia to Visit

Best Galax VA Lodging Options

Hampton Inn Galax (good value w/great breakfast & indoor pool)

Galax Retreat w/ Wraparound Deck (2 bd, 2ba rental w/great view)

Cozy Fries Escape (2 bd rental w/mountain & river views)

Secluded Lakehouse, pet-friendly (4 bd, 3 ba rental, sleeps 14 w/canoe)

Downtown Galax VA Shopping — Downtown Galax, photo via Visit Galax VA

Autumn in Galax VA Guide

Walk/Bike the New River Trail
See a Show at the Rex Theater
Fall Into Art Festival
Cider Day Festival
Leaf-Peeping on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Appalachian Music at the Blue Ridge Music Center
Apple Butter Day at Matthews Living History Farm Museum

Fall Colors on the New River Trail in Galax VA — Fall Colors on the New River Trail

1. Walk (or Bike) the New River Trail

It’s amazing to realize that you can hop on the southernmost part of the New River Trail right from downtown Galax.

One minute you’re having morning coffee, and the next you’re hiking (or cycling) along part of a 57-mile trail that follows the abandoned Norfolk & Western Railroad.

Along the way, you’ll pass through meadows and forests and walk along Chestnut Creek. It flows into the New River, which is the second oldest river in the world and is one of the very few that flows in a northern direction.

This trail is especially loved by birdwatchers, who enjoy keeping their eyes and ears out for a variety of warblers and raptors, which frequent the area during their Spring and Fall migrations.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Virginia State Parks in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Marquee at the Historic Rex Theater in Galax VA — Rex Theater Marquee

2. See a Show at the Rex Theater

Located in Historic Downtown Galax, The Rex Theater has been around since 1940. These days it’s focused on showcasing live music from regional and national artists, including the following acts in October 2024:

Oct 4- The Woodbox Heroes is a band that plays fresh contemporary tunes with definitive bluegrass roots.

Oct 17- The Blue Ridge Girls are a lively trio of musicians who play a variety of old-time, bluegrass, country, fiddle, and banjo tunes. In other words, get ready for some flat footing!

Oct 18- Let by commanding bluegrass vocalist Amanda Cook, the Amanda Cook Band is a fantastic collection of musicians from Laurel Fork VA. They’ll be playing songs from their new album, Restless Souls, which comes out Oct 18.

Oct 19- Versatile singer/songwriter Olivia Jo is a relative newcomer based in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Stuart VA, making music that blends acoustic bluegrass with country and blues influences.

Oct 25- Johnny Folsom 4 is billed as “the ultimate Johnny Cash tribute,” playing classics from the Man in Black such as “A Boy Named Sue,” “Ring of Fire,” and (one would assume) “Folsom Prison Blues.”

Chestnut Creek School of the Arts' Fall Into Art Festival in Galax VA — Chestnut Creek School of the Arts’ Fall Into Art Festival

3. Fall Into Art Festival

On October 5, 2024, Downtown Galax will host the annual Chestnut Creek School of the Arts Fall into Art Festival from 9 AM to 5 PM.

As the Autumn leaves begin to turn and thoughts of the upcoming holidays start to pop into your mind, this family-friendly festival is a wonderful way to kick off the season.

Visitors can wander around the many stalls selling Appalachian-style arts and crafts. There will also be lots of interactive arts and crafts demonstrations, such as chalk art and yarn bombing.

After that, you can grab some food at one of the many food trucks, and kick back to enjoy some live music!

Making Cider at the Apple CIder Festival in Galax VA — Making cider at the annual Apple CIder Festival

4. Apple Cider Day Festival

Celebrate Galax’s 3rd Annual Apple Cider Day Festival at the Galax Farmer’s Market on September 14 from 9 AM to 1 PM.

There will be apples galore at this festival, which is full of family-friendly Fall activities. You can grab cups of fresh apple cider right off the apple press, and half-gallon bottles of cider will be on sale (so you can stock up for the season!).

There will also be a jam circle and live music for the grown-ups, as well as lots of games for the kids.

Don’t miss out on buying a raffle ticket or two for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate that you can spend at the market.

Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia — Mabry Mill in Autumn, photo by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett

5. Leaf-Peeping on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Located about 7 miles north of the BRP, Galax is a great place to stay if you want to go leaf-peeping at some of the best Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks in Virginia.

Great Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in the vicinity include View of the Piedmont (MP 203.9), View of Pilot Mountain (MP189.1), and Groundhog Mountain Overlook (MP 188.0), and Mabry Mill is just 45 minutes east.

Just south of the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax you’ll find two good Blue Ridge Parkway hiking trails, the Fisher Peak Loop Trail and the High Meadow Trail. Together, they make up a moderate lollypop trail of 3.4 miles.

At Milepost 179.3, the Round Meadow Creek Loop Trail is a sweet little 20-minute loop that takes you into the forest and past a gurgling creek.

Blue Ridge Music Center Sign on Blue Ridge Parkway — Blue Ridge Music Center Sign, photo by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett

6. Appalachian Music at the Blue Ridge Music Center

The Blue Ridge Music Center (MP 213) is another Blue Ridge Parkway gem in Galax. Its mission is to preserve and celebrate the region’s rich Appalachian music history.

Every year the Center hosts thousands of visitors, who come to enjoy old-time, bluegrass, Americana, country, and gospel music at the outdoor amphitheater and indoor theater.

There’s also a gift shop and a museum that highlights the musical culture of the region, as well as a steady stream of live music performed at various places across the property.

Coming up on October 12 is the Kids & Family Fun Day, which goes from from 11 AM to 4 PM. There will be scavenger hunts, art, dance, a guided hike, and an instrument petting zoo, with youth bands playing throughout the day.

Autumn Folk Fest Galax Virginia — Photo courtesy of Matthews Living History Farm Museum

7. Apple Butter Day at Matthews Living History Farm Museum

Apple Butter Day at the Matthews Living History Farm Museum in Galax means rolling up your sleeves and getting down to some cooking.

The 2-day event kicks off with some prep work to get the apples ready at 3 PM on Friday, October 4. There is a list of things you’ll need to bring on Friday to prepare for the butter-making the next day.

You’ll need to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, October 5 to start the apple cooking process. This can take all day– cooking will be done the traditional way, over a wood fire– so you may want to take lunch and drinks with you.

But it will all be worth it when you head back home at around 5 PM with jars of fresh, delicious, homemade apple butter under your belt! –by Emma Gallagher; photos courtesy of Visit Galax VA unless otherwise noted