20 Must-Dos: Richmond, VA Fall Bucket List🍂✨

Fall in Richmond is the best time of the year in my opinion! Between the gorgeous foliage, spooky Halloween energy, cozy vibes, and festivals galore, this city really knows how to show off in October. Whether you’re new to RVA or just looking for some seasonal inspo, here’s my ultimate Richmond Fall Bucket List of things to do, see, and eat.

🌳 Outdoor Adventures

• Bike or hike the Virginia Capital Trail – 51.7 miles of gorgeous James River + historic views. Do a short section or go all in from Richmond to Jamestown.

• Hike the North Bank Trail – One of the best urban hikes in RVA with river views, colorful leaves, cemetery views and some sneaky skyline overlooks.

• Kayak the James River – If you think the James is fun in summer, wait until you paddle through fall foliage with that crisp autumn air. Perfection.

• Belle Isle & Canal Walk – Stroll the canal, snap skyline pics, then cross the pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle for crunchy leaves + trails.

• Stroll through Hollywood Cemetery – Yes, it’s a cemetery, but trust me, it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the city for fall colors and Richmond history.

• Haunts of Richmond Ghost Tours - Guided evening ghost tours through downtown’s most haunted streets and historic spots. A perfect blend of spooky storytelling and Richmond history.

If you want my full list of Best Spots to see Fall Foliage, you can watch the video here:

🎃 Fall Festivals & Spooky Fun

• Richmond Folk Festival – Brown’s Island absolutely comes alive with music, food, and dancing October 10-12 this year. Free and awesome.

• Maymont Garden Glow – Fire pits, food trucks, and glowing light displays in the gardens. A dreamy evening out.

• Oregon Hill Halloween Parade – A beloved neighborhood tradition with DIY floats, costumes, and that quirky RVA vibe.

• Halloween House Hunting – Walk or drive through The Fan, Church Hill, and Museum District to see the best decorations. People go all out here.

🍁 Fall Walks & Scenic Strolls

• Monument Avenue + the Fan – Grab a coffee and wander through historic neighborhoods as the trees turn every shade of orange and gold.

• Forest Hill Park – A Richmond fave for leaf-peeping picnics, trails, and fall photo ops.

• University of Richmond campus – With Gothic architecture, brick walkways, and lakes framed in fiery leaves, it’s like stepping onto a postcard.

• St. John’s Churchyard – Famous for Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty” speech, but in fall? The leaves are crunchy perfection. Bonus points if you jump in a pile.

🖼 Museums & Cozy Stops

• Poe Museum – Perfectly spooky for October. Bonus points if you visit on a rainy day or spot their black cats wandering.

• Cozy Café Crawl – Pumpkin spice everything, chai lattes, apple tarts - some of my favorite spots for Fall drinks & treats are Perk!, The Purrfect Bean, Riverbend Roastery, Blanchards, Grit, Lamplighter, Minglewood, and Afterglow.

• Watch a Movie at The Byrd Theatre - Nothing says spooky season like watching a classic horror flick in Carytown’s 1928 movie palace, Wurlitzer organ prelude and all.

🏆 Final Must-Dos

• Leaf-Jumping at St. John’s – Yes, this deserves its own mention. The leaves are a plenty here!

• Photo Walks – Grab your camera and spend a golden-hour evening capturing RVA’s fall skyline.

• Simply Sit & Soak It In – Find a bench by the James, sip your cider, and remind yourself how lucky we are to live in Richmond in the fall.

👉 Want a more detailed list (and to tag along on all our cozy, spooky, pumpkin-spiced adventures), check out my Vlogtober series on YouTube right here: 🍂🎥

I hope you found this list helpful! There are more blogs on my website about Richmond travel tips.

You can also follow me on YouTube for my lifestyle vlogs & travel videos in Richmond or Instagram for daily updates.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to DM me on Instagram any time.

💚 Lauren