September can be a hard adjustment for many, by transitioning to the cooler climates and starting school. But by engaging in fun activities on the weekends, the transition can be easier and is a good break from the long school days.
Attend fall festivals
A super fun fall activity can be visiting fall festivals with friends or family. Fall festivals are celebrations that include food vendors, amusement park rides, and fall activities. A great one to attend is The Cox Farm Festival, which runs from Sept. 14 through Nov. 5.
Filled with many family-friendly attractions, the festival includes hayrides, a music stage, slides, a goat village, and much more. Ticket prices vary depending on the day, but if you are looking for a fun time, the price is definitely worth it.
On Oct. 12 the City of Fairfax is holding its annual Fall Festival. Running from 10 a.m to 8:30 p.m, the festival includes more than 400 vendors, music stages, and entertainment stages all for a free admission.
A longer running fall festival is the State Fair of Virginia, which is open from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6 in Hanover County. A large festival, activities include a large feature of musicians, a range of amusement rides from roller coasters to ferris wheels, and food and drink vendors. The State Fair is a perfect weekend activity for those cooler fall days.
Explore corn mazes
Corn Mazes are another enjoyable fall activity to bring out your inner child. An exciting activity to get your mind off of school, this is another activity to do with a group, or solo if you are looking for a challenge.
A bit of a drive, but definitely a sight worth seeing, is the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze, which includes a 5 acre corn maze, farm animals, and thousands of pumpkins for sale. The maze runs from Sept 21 to Nov 3.
Another great option is the Corn Maze at Liberty Hills Farms which is ranked #5 on USA Today’s top 10 best corn mazes in the US 2024. The corn maze runs from Sep. 14 to Nov 11
Enjoy pumpkin patches
Another interesting activity to engage in this fall is visiting pumpkin patches. Whether you decide to take a pumpkin home, or go just for the fun, pumpkin patches are the ultimate fall vibe.
A close option for picking pumpkins is the Temple Hall Farm Pumpkin Patch in Leesburg, which runs from Sept. 28 to Oct 31. Another good option is Wayside Farm Fun which has pick-your-own pumpkins, a 10 acre corn maze, and even weekend pig races. This farm has fall activities running from Sept 21 to Oct. 27.
Sometimes it can be fun and exciting to leave the small vicinity of Falls Church City. These activities are the perfect excuse to make a weekend day trip with friends or family to explore other parts of Virginia.
Try pumpkin-spice flavored treats
As the foliage turns, America’s season of pumpkin-spice obsession begins, and whether it’s Starbucks iconic pumpkin spice latte, or Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice cookies, nothing says autumn like pumpkin-spice.
We can’t mention pumpkin spice without everyone’s fall favorite, Starbucks’s pumpkin spice latte. This cult-classic drink captures the essence of the fall season with a comforting pumpkin-spice flavor, and is always an essential drink on a cold, crisp morning.
Another autumn must have is Trader Joe’s pumpkin spice cookies. These pumpkin spice cookies are always a delightful fall snack, and go perfect with a warm drink.
Watch Meridian Football games
Meridian’s football season extends from late August to mid November, and is always a thrilling event. Meridian’s football games take place in the gorgeous fall weather, the perfect middle ground between hot and cold.
The games are an essential part of the fall season at Meridian. Our team’s compelling ability to make people show their Meridian school spirit is unmatched, and is always an outstanding community wide event.
Now with Meridian’s homecoming game right around the corner on November 26, Meridian’s spirit is stronger than ever, with tickets available on the Meridian website.
Hike at Shenandoah National Park
The only thing better than hiking up the Shenandoah mountains, is hiking up the Shenandoah mountains during the fall, providing a fun and beautiful way to take advantage of Virginia’s natural wonders.
There are many different trails available when hiking through the Shenandoah Mountains. Trails are available for advanced hikers, those new to hiking, trails specific to wildlife, and even trails that lead to waterfalls, making for a perfect autumn activity.
Hiking during the later half of fall can provide a superior hiking experience, and not to mention, a gorgeous view of the vast leafage, making it an absolute autumn must-do. You can find hiking trails on the National Park Service Website.
