5 October Events to Look Forward to Every Year

Fall is a special time in Almost Heaven and celebrated accordingly. Experience the best of October at these events.

1. West Virginia Pumpkin Festival

This event started in 1986 with the goal of helping local farmers raise and sell pumpkins. Since then, it has evolved into one of the largest festivals in the state. Live entertainment is continuous throughout the three-day festival, changing up every single hour. Artisans set up shop to display and sell their creations. Craftsmen share their knowledge of blacksmithing, pottery making, quilting, woodworking and much more. And of course, there are more pumpkin flavored treats than you’ll know what to do with.

2. Get Spooky at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

There’s no place quite like an abandoned lunatic asylum to get into the Halloween spirit. During the whole month of October, the asylum features zombie paintball, flashlight tours, and a haunted house. If you’re especially brave, reserve your spot on a ghost hunt where you can spend the night in the chilling facility chasing down ghouls till the sun comes up.

3. FestivALL Fall

During this weekend festival, the capital city of Charleston turns into a work of art. With an assortment of both indoor and outdoor activities, you will be able to experience theater, fine art, live music, and much more. Take a stroll on the Carriage Trail Leaf Walk and marvel at the beautiful fall foliage on display. Local theater groups will be performing, musical acts will be performing, and there will even be interactive art at this free event. Kids will also love the spooky science experiments and other hands-on crafts happening throughout the festival.

4. All Things Apple Butter

At the Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs the smell of apples, cinnamon and spices will be wafting through the air during the 2-day event. Large copper kettles are the centerpieces of this festival. Anyone can stir and take home the delicious apple butter being made on site. That’s not the only noteworthy activity you can participate in there. The festival also has friendly competitions such as an egg toss, hog call and turtle race. With no admission fee and activities for all ages, this is the perfect day or weekend experience for everyone from grandma to the kids.

5. Black Walnut Festival

What started in the small town of Spencer in 1954 as a gathering where you could bring your walnuts, have them weighed and then sold to the nut company. Now the event is one of the state’s most beloved festivals each year. The West Virginia Black Walnut Festival has something fun for every member of your family. From carnival rides and games, a kid’s parade, baking contest, car show and more, there’s no wonder this festival has been a staple in the state for so long.

This post was last updated on March 18, 2022