Russet, orange, gold, magenta, the colors of the foliage, the nip in the air, and the warm smells of cinnamon and pumpkin. These factors all play a part in the overall comforting feeling of fall. Fall brings change, coziness, and festivity. This collection of key destinations is highly recommended for those who love fun fall activities. These festivities set the perfect fall mood. All of the following activities are within an hour of Oakton High School, making them easily accessible to students.
The Brood Ramble is a great option for Basset hound owners or hound lovers. This event takes place at Frying Pan Farm Park on September 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Competitions like longest ears or best costume will be held alongside agility contests like tunnel runs and bar jumps. Finally, there’s the infamous Basset 500 Race. This event has three categories: girls, boys, and seniors for the 500-meter race. Those who don’t have a Basset hound but still want to participate can rent a hound for an hour. Other activities include raffles, auctions, and vendors. This event is a fundraiser for BROOD, an organization that rescues Basset hounds in Virginia and surrounding states. Not only is this a unique fall activity, but it’s a great opportunity to raise money for a good cause.
The Mosaic Fall Festival is a great place to support small businesses in the community, and it’s a one-stop shop for unique vendors. It takes place at Mosaic District from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 27 and 28. The market includes 90 special, handmade, and vintage vendors. Alongside the vendors, there’ll be over 50 stands offering local and fresh produce, baked goods, and other snacks. Live music will take place on Strawberry Lane featuring local bands and artists. Fall-themed selfie stations will be held as well.
Emilia Chamoun (9) said her favorite fall activities to do in her community are taking long walks and carving pumpkins. Mason Neck State Park is a great place to take long walks this fall because it’s rated as one of the top nine spots to see fall foliage in Fairfax County. There are three levels for trails and hiking: easy, moderate, and difficult. The easy trail ranges from one-half to one mile long. The moderate trail is one to five miles long, and 60% of the trail is flat. The difficult trail is over five miles long, and 70% of the trail is on an incline. Another popular hiking area less than ten minutes away is Pohick Bay Regional Park. Here, there are equestrian trails where the fall foliage can be admired from horseback.
Finally, those who want to stray off the path of a cozy fall and tread into scary waters should check out Haunted Hollows in Warrenton and Fields of Fear at Cox Farms. Nhiene Ngo (9) said her favorite fall activity to do in her community is Fields of Fear. Cox Farm’s Fields of Fear includes fearful attractions such as Cornightmare, Dark Side Hayride, the fairgrounds, and The Forest: Back 40. Haunted Hollow at Maple Tree Farm, another spooky option, is a trail in and around an abandoned haunted farm. For those who prefer to stay in the pleasant fall spirit, both of these locations, Maple Tree Farm and Cox Farm, offer a fall festival. Both these festivals include fall staples like food, pumpkins, and corn mazes.
Fall, the season of in-between and change, is the peak time to participate in the community because of the cool temperatures and festivity. These fall activities definitely embrace that signature fall mood. They’re also especially accessible to students because they are all fairly close to the area and reasonably priced.
