Calling all leaf peepers, road trippers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Now is your time. Get out there this weekend. The leaves of deciduous varieties are at their peak and there are options aplenty, here at home and just a short drive away, for enjoying one of the best times of the year. See ya out there ...
Carter
Mountain
It's hard to know where to start when talking about this beautiful mountain-top orchard, but something tells us that fresh, hot apple cider donuts are a good place to begin. That's right, come hungry when you come to the mountain...'cause these award-winning donuts are legendary. And they come with dramatic vistas and acres and acres of fruit trees. When you're finished with this fall treat at Carter Mountain Orchard, meander into the orchard to pick-your-own apples (or you can buy fresh-picked apples) as you take in the Virginia countryside. No trip to this family orchard is complete without also popping into the onsite Bold Rock Hard Cider tasting room where you can sip on a cider crafted in the Blue Ridge Mountains using local apples from Carter Mountain. If you make the quick, approximately 1-hour, trip from Richmond this Veteran's Day weekend, make sure to check out the Hometown Heroes celebration on Saturday honoring active and retired military and first responders!
As the temperatures cool, there's no better time to hit the trail, huddle around a fire, or even squeeze in one more camping trip just in time for spectacular displays of orange, yellow, and red during peak fall foliage. And the good news is that you don't have to travel very far. Just 20 miles from Richmond, Pocahontas State Park offers 64-plus miles of pristine trails (particularly popular among bicyclists), rotating nature and history programs, three lakes (including the 225-acre Swift Creek Lake), some of the best camping around, and a variety of cabins. And if yurts are more your style, Pocahontas State Park has you covered. Bundle up, make a fire, and soak in the beauty of our state parks!
Just outside of Richmond is Upper Shirley Vineyards, an estate/winery/restaurant that is perched above one of the most scenic bends on the James River that is stunning this time of year. Located at mile maker 30, we recommend hopping on a bike and taking the Capital Trail to this rural wonderland. The tasting room is open Wednesday to Monday from 11-5, with lunch from 11-3 and small plates from 11-4:30. On their fall menu, the crispy fried Virginia oysters (with Absinthe creamed spinach, smoky bacon, and Parmesan) are not to be missed. And if you want to make it easy on yourself, let the Cap Trail Bike Shuttle turn your outing into a one-way cycling trip by dropping you and your bike off at Upper Shirley or have them drive you back!
Join or watch the fifth annual ‘King of the James’ adventure triathlon on Sunday, November 10th. Individuals and teams will
battle it out as they run the Forest Hill Trail loop, mountain bike Buttermilk and North Bank Trails, and paddle the urban whitewater found deep in the heart of Richmond’s fall line!
After your Halloween bender on fun-size sweets, get out there this weekend and celebrate this place we call home by launching a few pumpkins by slingshot, building a gingerbread house for a cause, or locating one of the best hidden coffee bars in all the land. Let’s get to it.
Pumpkin
Slingshots
With your Halloween fix in the bag, this weekend marks the perfect time to smash some pumpkins down on the farm. That’s right, our friends at Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, a farm brewery on 290 pristine acres in Goochland, have been hard at work creating targets and rounding up slingshots for some post-Halloween pleasure. The first ever Smashing Pumpkins & Saison event will take place this Saturday, giving you a chance to try two new Saisons while launching pumpkins at hay bales. Bring your own or use some of theirs!
If you’re a fan of festive craft beer, tasty desserts turned into architectural masterpieces, and a jolly good time for the entire fam, ‘yule’ love this event. The third annual Better Housing Coalition's Gingerbread House Challenge at Hardywood dares Richmonders to form teams and display their holiday spirit by constructing gingerbread houses benefiting Better Housing Coalition. Event attendees will have a chance to vote on their favorite houses, select the $500 People’s Choice Winner, and cheer on the expert judging panel who will crown the $500 Runner-Up and $1,000 Grand Prize Winner. Houses will be up for auction for the public to purchase (and take home that afternoon) in support of Better Housing Coalition's mission to transform communities through high-quality affordable housing!
Once you’ve finished slinging pumpkins and building gingerbread houses, seek out Recluse Roasting, a coffee bar tucked away in a side alley in Scott’s Addition. Set amongst dark reclaimed wood and polished brass, Recluse offers the perfect hole-in-the-wall vibe with a moody interior that is overflowing with ferns and moss. The unique, DIY space was personally built by owners Aimee Biggerstaff and Jack Fleming, who have worked in the coffee industry for years as baristas, managers, and head roasters committed to ethical sourcing. On Sunday, the duo will offer a pop up at the coffee bar, which serves as a culmination of their collective work in coffee and a reflection of the experiences they’ve gathered along the way. While you’re there, make sure to try the Marigold and Honeycrisp Apple Shrub, Recluse’s small batch ode to autumn inspired by the last of the marigolds that they’ve been harvesting in their garden. Chewy's Bagels, a pop up micro bakery, will be serving bagel sammies on sourdough too!
There's nothing like oysters over an open fire in the fall, especially if you're cracking 'em open with a locally made oyster knife by Grid Supply Co. These handmade beauties feature wooden handles created from charred bourbon barrels from Reservoir Distillery and road-tested with some of the best shuckers in Virginia.
Fall is here — and so are the events making the most of the season. No, we’re not talking pumpkin patches and hay rides, but rather trails, ales, good causes, and some local art thrown in there too. Here’s your trail guide for finding events worth hiking for this weekend.
Hammers
and Ales
The Richmond Community ToolBank, a nonprofit tool lending program that provides fellow not-for-profit organizations with year-round access to an inventory of tools for use in volunteer projects, is hosting a bash this Saturday with live music, local beer, and an impressive list of regional chefs slinging their best small plates. Partygoers can expect the likes of Ned Curry from Perch (and the acclaimed Gold Cart popup), Travis Milton from Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards, Brad Slemaker from River City Roll, and George Dolphin from Dank Eats. And there will be live music by The Green List and Väsen Brewing will be on tap. Best of all, this party gives you a chance to celebrate with—and thank—the many nonprofits around town doing good work.
We can't wait to hit the trails on Saturday for one of our favorite annual fundraisers to support the youth of Blue Sky Fund! Hike for Kids is a family-friendly event right in our own backyard that brings together over 400 hikers to enjoy the James River Park System while raising funds and awareness of outdoor education programs by the Blue Sky Fund. Hikers are invited to enjoy some of the best urban trails in the country with either a 3-, 8- or 14-mile loop - and then celebrate the journey at a post-hike party with food, beer, games and live music at the Virginia War Memorial.
The Current Art Fair flows again! Though it took a brief hiatus, Jennifer Glave and BJ Kocen, owners of Glave Kocen Gallery, are bringing back the big event as the new owners and operators of Current Art Fair. The only contemporary art fair of its kind in Virginia, Current will feature commercial galleries and internationally recognized artists alongside local nonprofits, 20+ exhibitors, and plenty of contemporary works by young, emerging and mid-career artists too. New to the fair this year, the VMFA Artmobile will make an appearance as well as S23 To-Go Print Truck, Art on Wheels, and Creation Stations designed for anyone to create artwork or watch a demo with Richmond artists. In addition, the Current Theatre will feature films curated by Enjoli Moon of Afrikana Independent Film Festival, a Matt Lively animation piece, a short documentary "The Builder" created by Shockoe Artspace, Noah Scalin and his "Creative Sprint," and a variety of panel discussions with your favorite artists. And don't miss the Sunday Morning Jazz Brunch!
Vitals:
Friday - Sunday / Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center / Current Art Fair
Bonus Tip:
MIGRATION FLOW, a 2-day celebration by Alfonso Prez Acosta, will take place this Saturday and Sunday marking the first public celebration of National Immigrants Day in Virginia. Alfonso, a Colombian visual artist and teacher, is the Art Program Director at Sacred Heart Center. He says the goal of the event is to provide an environment for participants to dwell in the unknown (of multicultural languages, dance, music, and food) and plunge into deeper connection with others from differing immigrant communities. On Saturday, audience members will have an opportunity to meet and connect with one another, create drawings as part of a live exhibition, and learn new and different dances through a workshop and a closing party. On Sunday, Alfonso and participating dancers will share their migration and dance stories in an intimate conversation with the audience. MIGRATION FLOW takes place at Canvas, 3108 Semmes Ave.
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