Image via sourappleproject.tumblr.com

This time of year is our favorite! We get to begin wearing our favorite sweaters, drink our fill of pumpkin spice lattes, and watch those leaves turn vivid shades of yellow, orange, and red. We at LUSH know that finding seasonal, family-friendly entertainment for your days off can sometimes feel like a scavenger hunt. To save you some hassle, we put our heads together and came up with a few destinations worth checking out in this region of both rural and urban delights! 

Image courtesy of Cassandra Reinhart

When we think autumn, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, sweet apple ciders and pies, bumping hayrides and roaring campfires come to mind. If you’ve been craving a day filled to the brim with these fall favorites, Belvedere Plantation is the place to go! We loved winding our way through the Plantation Market & Bakery, tempted by the mouth-watering pastries and fudge. We fawned over the pygmy goats, picked a pumpkin to carve for the office, cheered our favorite pigs across the finish line at the Swine Speedway, and kept warm with hot cocoa in hand. The kids will love the Fun Barn and Pumpkin Mountain Slide. We had a great time and think you will, too! So don your boots and rustic flannel and head on out to Fredericksburg for the Fall Harvest Festival! It’s open now until the Fall Finale Festival on November 7th. Follow the link to the Belvedere Plantation website for ticket info and more details.

Image via coxfarms.com

Cox Farms is another great suburban getaway for the day. Located in Centreville, it’s about 30 miles from DC, making it a quick drive for fidgety little ones. It offers an assortment of activities, including hayrides, rope swings, slides, and a corn maze! We even got to hang out with several piglets and their mother, an alpaca, and some albino bunnies. Your tribe will definitely build up an appetite exploring the grounds, but you can rest assured that there are several outposts for delicious foodstuffs located in various areas of the farm. That enticing smell is the cinnamon spiced almonds, and don’t forget to grab a bag of kettle corn! We enjoyed hearing a bluegrass band play while we ate our lunch. Everywhere we turned, people of all ages were having a blast. Be forewarned: the laughter and smiles are infectious!

Looking for a Halloween scare you’ll never forget? Gather your friends or invite your date to the final weekend of the Fields of Fear (Oct. 30th-31st). Wander through The Forest, have a Cornightmare, and hop on the Dark Side Hayride for a frightfully fun night!

Ticket info for both day and night activities is available on the Cox Farms website.

Do you dare? Image by Emilie Kyle

Has it been a while since you got decked out for Halloween? Well, here’s a great reason to dress up this year: The local Fraternal Order of Eagles club in Old Town will be hosting a “Dance Thru the Decades” on Friday, October 30th in support of Alzheimer’s research. It won’t interfere with trick-or-treaters, so no excuses! There will be scary movie trivia with prizes, a 50/50 raffle, costume contests (best costume, best couple, scariest costume, and most innovative costume) with great prizes for each, and the band is Close to Home. You’ll get all the “Thriller” and “Monster Mash” your feet can dance to! Enter the season of giving by supporting a good cause. 

Your $20 ticket is available now, or you can pay a donation of $25 cash at the door. Light refreshments-including one beer, a glass of wine, or punch-are included; additional beverage tickets are purchasable. Must be 21. Doors open at 7; band goes on at 8.

Don’t let FOMO paralyze your fun! Come dance the night away with us and see what your favorite interior designer will be dressed up as! We’d love to see you there, so contact Emilie today to purchase your ticket in advance.

What have you been enjoying around our region during this fun season? Let us know in the comments!

Written by Emilie Kyle and Cassandra Reinhart
Edited by Cassandra Reinhart