Fall is one of the best times to visit Williamsburg, Virginia, and the area’s autumn event lineup makes a fall escape even sweeter. As the leaves crunch beneath your feet and the air turns crisp, Williamsburg offers a delightful mix of fall festivities – food and drink festivals, farmers markets, Halloween fun, and celebrations of art, music, history, and more.
Here’s a roundup of top fall events and happenings in Virginia’s Historic Triangle.
Fall Markets & Festivals
Fall vibes flow at the Yorktown Market Days - Fall Festival on the weekend of October 10-11. Head to Yorktown’s Riverwalk Landing to shop more than 40 vendors selling seasonal favorites like pumpkins, mums, kettle corn, caramel apples, autumn-inspired art, and more. Plus, enjoy free family fun like face painting, a hay maze, a petting zoo, and kid-friendly entertainment.
Yorktown Market Days
One of the area’s most adorable events, the Yorktown Market Days - Paws at the River on October 24 pairs the Saturday farmers market with pet-themed fun for a good cause. The event highlights animal rescue groups and helps adoptable pets find forever homes. Don’t miss the live performance by local musician Phil Poteat and delicious doggy-inspired baked goods, all taking place at Riverwalk Landing.
Cat people won’t want to miss the Virginia Cat Festival on November 7-8. The feline-inspired fun includes celebrity cat meet-and-greets, a costume purr-ade, expert workshops, vendors, games, activities, cat adoptions, and more. The ticketed event takes place at the new Greater Williamsburg Sports and Events Center.
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Yorktown Market Days - Harvest Festival on November 21 celebrates the bounty of the season with a cornucopia of holiday staples available for purchase: turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, cornbread, pumpkin pie, and more. Head to Riverwalk Landing for Pie-eating contests, inflatable axe-throwing, and balloon art will delight all ages, while local jewelers, painters, and photographers will sell seasonal treasures.
Art & Music Festivals
Art lovers will marvel at the beautiful displays at the annual Yorktown Art Stroll on Sunday, September 27 in and around the Freight Shed at Riverwalk Landing. The free festival features oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings as well as drawings, photography, jewelry, pottery, and other crafts.
Williamsburg's premier fine art and music festival, An Occasion for the Arts, returns October 3-4 to Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. The free event features 150+ juried and local artists showcasing their craft in a mix of formats. Plus, catch live performances from beloved local musicians, enjoy local food and drinks, and take part in hands-on, family-friendly art workshops led by local educators.
A free street fair unfolding in downtown Williamsburg, the 2nd Sundays - Williamsburg Art & Music Festival (through December) features over 180 artisans, musicians, street performers, and food vendors. Savor the season with a delicious spread of food and dessert trucks serving up hearty autumn favorites and scrumptious desserts, and relax in the beer garden with local beer, cider, seltzer, and wine. Also on the menu: live music in a mix of genres, folk and contemporary arts and crafts, local authors, and kid-friendly activities like face painting and crafts.
History Events & Commemorations
The Yorktown Victory Celebration on October 17-18 marks the anniversary of the Revolutionary War triumph that paved the way for American independence. Held at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, the event features artillery firings and immersive programming throughout the two days. The exhibits and interpretive programs will highlight food and farm culture in the 18th century.
Four Heroes of Yorktown Statue | Riverwalk Landing
Also honoring this pivotal Revolutionary War victory, Yorktown Day on October 19 brings the celebration to the streets of historic Yorktown. The festivities include a wreath-laying ceremony and a patriotic parade down Main Street to commemorate the victory at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. The Fifes and Drums of York Town will perform during the parade and at a special ceremony at the Victory Monument.
Other major attractions in the Historic Triangle also offer special fall events. From November 27-28, learn more about foodways and cooking practices of early Virginians during Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Jamestown Settlement also features homeschool family programs in the fall, covering topics from culture to the environment.
Nearby, Colonial Williamsburg’s Fall Homeschool Days also offers special programming for homeschoolers looking to experience the sights and sounds of this momentous era. Kids can meet and interact with War for Independence re-enactors, including Revolutionists and tradespeople, before supplementing their learnings with virtual tours, educational videos, activity sheets, and behind-the-scenes blogs. Be sure to ask about discounts.
Food & Drink Festivals
Perfectly timed with National Pancake Day, the Williamsburg Pancake Festival returns September 25-27. Festivities kick off Friday evening with a ticketed Pancake & Pajama Dinner featuring pancakes, live entertainment, and kids’ activities. (Join the Williamsburg Pancake Trail to earn a free ticket to this breakfast-for-dinner party!) On Day 2, The World Pancake Eating Championship and family-friendly fun come to Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchants Square. Don’t miss this sweet day of outdoor fun in the Pancake Capital of the World.
On October 3-4, indulge in local oysters and wines from around the world at the Yorktown Wine & Oyster Festival, held at Riverwalk Landing. This ticketed event features a grand tasting of wines from Virginia and beyond. In a nod to Yorktown's sister cities, Zweibrücken and Port-Vendres, sample Rieslings from Germany and sip Champagne from France while enjoying live music, food from local restaurants, and the work of talented artisans.
Then get ready to sip, savor, and celebrate at Yorktoberfest on Sunday, October 25! Sample 40+ beers, ciders, and other craft beverages from Coastal Virginia. With unlimited tastings, this is your chance to discover your new favorite brew. This family-friendly event at Yorktown’s Riverwalk Landing also features live music, food, beer classes, and local vendors.
Halloween Happenings
On select days from September 11 through November 1, Busch Gardens® Howl-O-Scream® gives thrill-seekers something to scream about with all-new scares. Explore five reimagined haunted houses, new scare zones and shows, and the ultimate rush – riding roller coasters at night. Parental discretion is advised after 6 pm. For a tamer alternative, check out the kid-friendly Busch Gardens® Halloween Spooktacular.
Meanwhile, Family Frights at Jamestown Settlement returns for Halloween-themed evenings on October 23-24. The indoor and outdoor areas – including life-sized replicas of historic ships – are transformed into a ghoul’s playground, with haunted houses, princesses and pirates, carnival acrobats, and kids’ favorite movie monsters. Kids are encouraged to come in costume to trick-or-treat in the museum’s themed outdoor areas.
For full immersion into the area’s haunted history, take a ghost tour to hear spooky true stories based on research, documented historic events, and eyewitness haunting interviews. While ghost tours happen year-round, fall is the peak season for these spine-tingling walking tours. See our guide to the best ghost tours and book as early as you can.
Experience Halloween adventure in the treetops at Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park. Check into creepy nighttime climbs and the Forest EscAPE The Night challenge. During the daylight hours, get in the spirit with pumpkin painting and scavenger hunts.
A few weeks before Halloween, the tabletop gaming festival BurgQuest 2026 (September 25-27) returns to Williamsburg with board game and RPG free play, panels, guests, game demos and game design workshops. It’s a fantasy world escape with its own take on tricks and treats.
Explore all Halloween events and festivities happening around Williamsburg.
More Fall Fun
For more fall getaway ideas, see our Autumn Activities Guide or explore all fall events and experiences happening in the Historic Triangle.