All Things Fall in Staunton

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And suddenly, it’s fall in Staunton. The 85-degree days are gone, and it’s time to air out the sweaters, find the perfect corn maze, and sniff out the best pumpkin spice creations. From leaf-peeping, pumpkin picking, harvest festivals, and autumn flavors, here’s how to make the most of fall in Staunton.

Fall Foliage

You can’t beat the Shenandoah Valley for fall color. To see the leaves at their brightest, plan to leaf peep at the peak of the season, which usually falls in mid to late October..

• Explore the trails at Montgomery Hall Park and Betsy Bell Wilderness Area to see some of Staunton’s best colors in a peaceful setting. For another quick (but heart-pumping) stroll, climb the steep steps to the Sears Hill pedestrian bridge for an amazing glimpse of downtown Staunton in her autumnal glory.

• Hit the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway for incredible views of forests and the Valley from above. Both scenic roads offer parking at overlooks and trailheads.

• Hikes in George Washington and Jefferson National Forest offer fine opportunities to view those magical shades, especially from places like Sherando Lake Recreation Area or Crabtree Falls.

Fall Events 

Your favorite fall festivals have returned for 2026!

• The Fall Foliage Art Festival sets up in Waynesboro on October 10-11. Talented artists display and sell their paintings, prints, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, and more. 
• Staunton Pride: Live music, drag, vendors, food trucks will come to the Gypsy Hill Park bandstand on October 17 for the annual Staunton Pride Festival. Proceeds from the festival support the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center.

• Wade’s Mill will host its 30th annual Apple Butter Festival on October 17. See (and participate in) traditional apple butter creation, listen to Caravan of Fools and the Danny Goodson Band, enjoy tasty food and drink, and shop for local crafts from over 40 vendors.
• Staunton Jams, a  free, weekend-long music and art event will take over downtown Staunton on October 23-25 with a Fall FundRager, hosted by 106.3 WQSV, Queen City Music Studios, and The Judy Chops and supported by a number of Staunton businesses. Check Facebook for news and updates and how to “continue using the power of music to uplift our neighbors and strengthen the community we call home!” 

• Check out the calendars of ongoing Oktoberfest activities at The Alpine Goat Brewery and Stable Craft Brewing. 

Spooky Staunton

Whether you like spending Halloween with treats or terrors, Staunton has the ideal spooky experience for you. 

Ghost Tours and Haunted Houses

Get ready for Halloween by learning about Staunton’s spooky history with a Ghosts of Staunton Historic Haunts walking tour. Guides on the 90-minute tour will lead the way to Staunton’s paranormal hotspots. You can also opt for the hour-long Spirits of the Spotts-Coffman House tour, which takes you inside one of Staunton’s most haunted residences. 

Join Augusta County Historical Society for a fascinating Shadows, Secrets, and Sin tour of Staunton’s historic Thornrose Cemetery. You’ll learn about “a unique group of individuals whom few people know about today but whose stories of tragedy, violence, and murder filled newspapers, courtrooms, police reports, and eyewitness accounts throughout Staunton’s early history.” 

Madam Redrum’s Nine Gates of Doom (Waynesboro) prides itself on being one of the most frightening haunted attractions in Virginia. The immersive walk-through experience has “revamped” itself and will feature “new and horrible treats around each corner.” Harrisonburg’s Fear Forest features multiple interactive, haunted spaces that will terrify even the bravest scare seekers!

Spooky Stages

The fall season at the Blackfriars will set the mood for Halloween with productions of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which is full of magic, illusion, and shipwrecks as well as  Jen Silverman’s Witch, a dark comedy featuring devilish temptation and its consequences. Fans can also catch David Catlin’s stage adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a tale of ambition, humanity, and monstrosity that defined the gothic horror genre. 

Don’t let your dinner go unentertained. Admire (and chew) the scenery as you consume art (and food) onboard the Virginia Scenic Railway during one of their immersive Murder on the Menu dinner theater shows. The railway also has seasonal Autumn Special excursions designed to showcase the brilliant fall colors.

Looking for Halloween costume inspirations? The Reimagined Runway: An Upcycled Fashion Experience features wearable art and costumes created from thrifted and repurposed materials and benefits the American Shakespeare Center. (October 10)

Trick or Treating and Fun for Families

Staunton Parks and Rec and New Directions Center will host a Frightfully Fun Film Night on October 23 at the Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand. Enjoy community pumpkin carving and a screening of the movie Sketch. Families should also plan a ride on the Gypsy Hill Express for the 2nd annual Spooky Express (October 24). The ride is free and promises to be “a little bit scary and really fun.”

Looking for decorations of backdrops for those fall portraits? You’ll find many varieties of pumpkins and other decorative gourds at Middle River Farms or Troyer’s Farm, which has a 10-acre corn maze. A third option is Mulberry Hills Farms, which offers pick-your-own pumpkins and hay rides.

The following organizations are hosting Trick or Treating events:

• 10/16 Henry Funeral Home Drive-through Trick or treating
• 10/23 Staunton Sheriff’s Office Trunk of Treat
• 10/24 St. Paul’s Church’s Family Harvest Party (ages 0 – 5th grade)
• 10/24 Staunton High School FCCLA Trunk or Treat event
• 10/24 Augusta County Sheriff’s Office Trunk or Treat

Parties for Grown Ups

• 10/24: Monster Bash at Expo (adults only)
• 10/24 Interstellar Dance Party & Costume Contest at Silver Line Theatre Exchange
• 10/31: Marino’s Lunch Halloween Bash with costume contest and Don’t Look Up
• 10/31: Redbeard Brewing Company’s Halloween Party will have a costume contest and music by Bloo Lagoon

Fall Flavors 

We know you daydream about apples, pumpkins, and anything with a hint of spice and cinnamon. Here’s a sampling of some of Staunton’s best fall flavors.

The Staunton Farmers’ Market showcases the colors of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and plants in its new West End location.

Sips

• Looking forward to this year’s editions of Redbeard Brewing Company’s Moriarty barrel-aged Imperial Stout? You’ll be hard-pressed to choose between Weller, Russell’s Reserve, and Eagle Rare varieties!

• Have you been to the new Ciders from Mars space on Beverley Street? Stop in and taste delicious hard cider and hard-cider cocktails pressed from local apple varieties like Winesap and Gold Rush from local orchards.
• The fall lineup of seasonal cocktails (and mocktails) at Byers Street Bistro is guaranteed to warm you up with flavors like cinnamon, caramel, coffee, and maple syrup. .

Savories

• Maude & The Bear offers ever-changing seasonal tasting menus highlighting local ingredients.
• Try Zynodoa’s Autumn Olive pork schnitzel with pimento cheese mashed potatoes and baby kale pepper jelly gastrique. Pair with a seasonal cocktail, of course!

• Seed to Tail features seasonal ingredients and freshly baked breads in all of its sandwiches and salads.

Sweets

• Savor a dish or cone of your favorite fall-flavored gelato like pumpkin pie, cinnamon, or hazelnut at The Split Banana.
• Cranberries serves its pumpkin spiced latte either hot or over ice. And both versions are delicious!

• Reunion Bakery has something fresh waiting for you. Try a pumpkin cheesecake cruffin, a caramel chai scone, or an apple pie danish.

Head to Staunton this autumn to experience all the seasonal fun!