Fall is near and as the leaves begin to change color, it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and experience nature while you hear live music, sip some cider, go on hayrides and partake in other fun fall activities at a Virginia State Park.

Whether you want to stay local to celebrate or travel across the Commonwealth, I have put together a list of 15 Virginia State Park festivals and events you may want to consider.

Please note that most events are free unless stated otherwise, but parking fees will still apply at all locations. As always, check out the park’s web page with all the know before you go details before your visit.

1. Pawpaw Festival at Powhatan

This annual event at Powhatan State Park showcases the nation’s largest native fruit, the Pawpaw. Activities are for all ages and include archery, atlatl spear throwing, Master Naturalist programs, animal demonstrations, solar viewing, crafts and music along with food and beer trucks. The event takes place on Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and costs $20 per vehicle, but if you have an annual pass the cost is only $10 per vehicle. Visit the Pawpaw Festival web page for more details.

2. Estuaries Day at York River

Estuaries Day returns to York River State Park on September 27 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event includes exhibits from various agencies and organizations highlighting the park’s unique ecosystem. There will be programs and activities that focus on the wildlife and preservation of the York River and its marshes. The park is known for its rare and delicate estuarine environment and guests are invited to celebrate this unique place.

York River is a one-of-a-kind location because it is where freshwater and saltwater meet, and this creates a rich habitat for marine and plant life. It is on the York River and is designated as a Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

3. Staunton River Battlefield concert

Enjoy a fall concert by The Farm Use String Band at Staunton River Battlefield State Park on September 27 from 5 - 7 p.m. The band’s upbeat performances are a delightful blend of classic tunes creating an irresistible groove that's perfect for dancing.

The event will include activities for children and adults. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets are $5 per person. Children 12 or under get in free. The event will be outside near the picnic shelter. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Bonus event: Visit Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park during the day before the concert to enjoy a series of history lessons and park stories. "Echoes of the Past: Guardians of History" is a park ranger-led program dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of history. This program fosters a deep respect for the past while encouraging meaningful exploration and connection to the historic landscapes that continue to shape our communities in and around Sailor's Creek.

This program is free and open to the public and takes place September 27 and 28. It begins at the front desk in the Visitor Center.

For more information, please call ahead at (804) 561-7510.

4. Holliday Lake Fall Festival

Come out to the park for a day of family fun at Holliday Lake State Park’s Fall Festival on Saturday, September 27 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Celebrate the season with a variety of activities for all ages including crafts, a scavenger hunt, an archery range, hayrides, live animals, live music and prizes. Some activities may include an additional fee. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from local food trucks, so bring your appetite.

5. Grayson Highlands Fall Festival

The Grayson Highlands Fall Festival will take place Sept. 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Step back into a simple age when horses and mules ground cane into juice to be boiled into sorghum or molasses, when apple cider was the soft drink of the time, and when fresh apples were cooked in a copper kettle over an open fire all day long to render apple butter. Some of the finest local old-time bands will be featured, and food will be available for purchase from a variety of vendors.

6. Southwest Virginia Museum music and festival

During the fall season the Southwest Virginia Museum will be hosting some events that include music and will be seasonally themed for everyone to enjoy.

The park offers WiseJAMS fall music programs that preserve the important Appalachian Mountain music heritage by offering low-cost classes in fiddle, old time banjo, and guitar to small groups of students in after-school settings. For more information, please call the park at 276-523-1322.

The Hoots N Haints Festival will be held on Oct. 31. from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Halloween night, the park calls all trick-or-treaters to take a break from their candy gathering and visit the museum for some ghoulish fun and games. There will be scary stories, a gypsy fortune teller, pumpkin bowling, monster bingo, mummy races, the “Haunting on the Hill” attraction and much more. Prizes will be awarded for game winners as well as participants.

Check out the park’s event webpage for more information about upcoming events.

7. Walk on the Wild Side at Belle Isle State Park

The Walk on the Wild Side series at Belle Isle State Park is such a fun experience any time of the year, but the fall weather provides a cooler and crisp air for your hike. The ranger-led walks start in February and go through December with various topics discussed on each hike that relate to the season. This hiking series is the perfect excursion for learning more about the flora and fauna at the park. Visit the park’s event web page for upcoming events and check out the series link above for the topics on the remaining hikes this year.

8. Harvest Celebration at New River Trail

New River Trail State Park will host a Harvest Celebration on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that will feature blacksmith and whittling demonstrations, harvest tool displays, tours of the historic village and Dutch oven cooking. Family activities such as pumpkin carving, face painting, hayrides, corn husk doll crafts and Jake Tales story time. This is a free event, and the Inn at Foster Falls will have a special lunch menu available for purchase.

9. Wilderness Road Heritage Festival

The annual Heritage Festival will take place at Wilderness Road State Park Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experience a unique celebration of Southwest Virginia's cultural heritage. This event features handmade Appalachian crafts available for purchase on the Karlan Mansion lawn. Watch as demonstrators showcase their time-honored skills. Musicians grace the stage to keep you entertained, while the children can enjoy fun and educational activities all with an Appalachian theme.

Bonus event: The park will also host a Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

10. Fall for Twin Lakes Festival

Experience the beauty of the autumn colors at the Twin Lakes Fall Festival Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family-friendly activities include pumpkin decorating, hayrides, a scarecrow stuffing competition as well as a chance to meet animal ambassadors.

Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Pumpkins will be available for purchase by our Friends of Twin Lakes State Park, an all-volunteer non-profit organization. The winner of the scarecrow decorating contest will receive a Virginia State Parks gift certificate. Don’t forget to check out the craft marketplace, featuring local artisans and unique handmade goods, perfect for early holiday shopping!

Standard parking fees will apply or a donation of 4 non-perishable canned goods.

11. Chippokes Harvest Festival

The 12th Annual Fall Harvest Festival at Chippokes State Park provides a wonderful opportunity to get outside and enjoy the season. This event takes place on Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is sponsored by the Friends of Chippokes at one of the oldest continuously farmed properties in the nation.

Chippokes' Harvest Festival features music and family activities such an antique tractor pull, pumpkin painting, corn cob dolls, corn hole, tractor-drawn hayrides, and an active sawmill site. There will be various local food and craft vendors with a wide array of selections for purchase.

See antique harvest equipment in operation and watch costumed interpreters cook on the hearth in the 1850s Brick Kitchen. Guided tours of the antebellum Jones-Stewart Mansion and self-guided tours of the Farm and Forestry Museum are included.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a craft vendor, contact the park office at 757-294-3625 or email kathryn.lane@dcr.virginia.gov.

12. Sky Meadows Fall Foliage Festival

Experience the colors of the season in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Fall Foliage Festival at Sky Meadows State Park on Oct. 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy breathtaking views of the changing leaves, wagon rides and scenic hikes through vibrant forests. The festival features family-fun activities, community partners, live music, and delicious fall treats, making it a delightful event for all ages. Come and embrace the beauty of fall and connect with nature while creating lasting memories.

13. Leesylvania Fall Festival

Enjoy the Potomac River's cool autumn breeze with your friends and family at Leesylvania State Park's Annual Fall Festival on Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate the season with hayrides, kids costume contest, crafts, trunk or treat and pumpkin painting.

14. Clinch River hayrides

Fall is an ideal time to hike at Clinch River State Park. Enjoy a hayride and pumpkin carving program on Oct. 25 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Registration is required for this program and there will also be a $5 fee. There will be an area set up at the orchard where a bonfire will be and hot cocoa will be provided.

There will be two hayrides: One begins at 2 p.m. and the other at 4 p.m. There will be a limit of 20 people per hayride. To sign up and register call the park at 276-762-5076 or email at clinchriver@dcr.virginia.gov.

For more information about fall events, visit the park’s event webpage.

15. Art and Wine Festival at Caledon

The annual Art and Wine Festival at Caledon State Park is the perfect time to tantalize your senses with the tastes from local wineries and restaurants, the vision of beautiful art from local artists, and the sounds of great music. This is a family-friendly event spanning two days: Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine.

Non-tasters and children enjoy free admission and tickets are required for each day. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the gate; parking is $5 per vehicle. Carpooling is recommended. Please bring cash as Wi-Fi connections are spotty and credit cards may not be taken by all vendors.

Bonus events: The park offers fall wagon rides and other programs that allow guest to explore the fall colors at Caledon.

Visit a Virginia State Park

Check out at least one or more of these wonderful fall events and share your photos with us using #VirginiaStateParks.

Keep checking the events webpage for this year’s Halloween Events.

A couple of Halloween events that I recommend are Kiptopeke’s pumpkin painting and Natural Bridge’s Lantern Tour.

Be sure to reserve your overnight stay to enjoy more time at the parks. Visit the Virginia State Parks Reservation System.

Happy fall everyone!