Fall in Hampton means cool, crisp mornings, pumpkin-flavored treats and seasonal festivities for the whole family. Whether you’re looking to get your spooky on or just to enjoy the pleasant weather outside, here are some upcoming events in Hampton to attend:

Jurassic Quest – Oct 7-9

The Hampton Roads Convention Center will be converted into the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic Periods for guests to experience for themselves what it was like to be among dinosaurs of all kinds. Jurassic Quest is the only interactive dinosaur event that has over 100 true to life-size animatronic dinosaurs, from the very small to the gigantic! Future paleontologists can dig up fossils, ride their favorite life-sized dinosaur, enjoy walking dinosaur and baby dinosaur shows, and enjoy a dinosaur-themed play land in addition to face painting, crafts and much more.

Historic Phoebus Fall Festival – Oct 8

Historic Phoebus will transform Mellen Street into a vibrant outdoor festival featuring handmade arts and crafts, street food, live music and craft beer & cider. The family-friendly event will feature performances from the Troy Breslow Band, In Layman Terms, The Storyweavers, Tiki Bar Band and Brasswind. Free entry for all ages! 

Peninsula SPCA’s 16th annual Barktoberfest – Oct 8

Don’t miss this pupped up event at Mill Point Park! The shelter’s annual fall festival fundraiser will feature live music, local craft brew tastings, costume contests for pets and people with cash prizes, and games and activities for folks and their pups!  The popular and pup-tacular costume contest for pets and people will begin at 2:30 p.m. featuring two categories, Pets Only and Pets & People, and prizes will be awarded for first through third place in each category.

Visit Hampton, VA Championship Race Night at Langley Speedway – Oct 8

Come out for a night of fast cars and fun at Langley Speedway, hosted by your’s truly, Visit Hampton, VA!

Coastal Virginia Cider Festival – Oct 15

Sly Clyde Cider Works will host Virginia’s best craft cideries for a cider fest, complete with food trucks, live music, a maker’s craft fair and lawn games! Tickets include unlimited 5 oz tastes and a tasting glass keepsake. Must be 21+ to enter all day!

Fall Day of Destruction at Langley Speedway – Oct 15

Fort Monroe Ghost Walk – October 21-23

The Fort Monroe Ghost Walk has returned to share with you the haunting tales that accompany the very real history of Fort Monroe. This year we will explore homes, buildings, structures as we share with you a brand new route, new stories and new experiences! Chairs that rock by themselves, a soldier in an attic, the very real and odd pirate history of Fort Monroe are just a few of the mysterious tales you will experience when you join us for this year’s Fort Monroe Ghost Walk, Where History Meets Mystery.

Bluebird Gap Farm Fall Festival – Oct 22-23

Each year the City of Hampton ushers in the fall season at the Bluebird Gap Farm Festival. The festival offers a variety of children’s activities, hayrides, a giant straw slide, master gardening, punkin’ chunkin’, storytelling, live entertainment, and much more. Entry and activities are free. Food and pumpkins are available for purchase.

Hampton Horror Tours – Oct 25-28

Hampton Horror Tours by the Hampton History Museum are back after a two-year pause with fun and fright – new stories, new personages to meet from the mists of time, and plenty of surprises in store. These 60-minute tours are fundraisers for the museum and include eerie tales, the grisly side of Hampton history, a spooky lantern tour of the St. John’s Church graveyard, and other points of fright along Queen Street and around Downtown Hampton.

Be on the lookout for: 

The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex Opening

One of the largest competitive, aquatic indoor spaces in the Mid-Atlantic, the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex is slated to open this fall. The facility will offer swimming and diving events, artistic swimming, water polo and more, featuring an assortment of amenities including a culinary center, multipurpose room. Check social media for updates on opening festivities, membership rates, etc. 

Hampton Roads Harbor Tour 

The newly-renovated Hampton Queen boat, coming this fall, will allow guests to enjoy two-hour narrated sight-seeing tours as they cruise the Hampton Harbor. The tour begins at the Docks at Downtown Hampton and proceeds out on the Hampton River, passing Hampton University and Blackbeard’s Point.