There’s something about fall in Hampton Roads that just feels good. The cooler weather starts settling in, the leaves begin to change, and there’s no shortage of things happening around the area. Here are a few that caught my attention.

Bergey’s Barnyard — Chesapeake

A little bit of country without leaving Chesapeake

If you’re looking for a classic fall afternoon, this one checks just about every box. Bergey’s has a 10-acre corn maze, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo and even a corn gun. And when you’re finished outside, Bergey’s Breadbasket is right next door for homemade ice cream, sandwiches, pies and baked goods.

The 2026 corn maze runs through October 31, with different activities and pricing depending on the day.

See Bergey’s 2026 fall details →

Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival — Norfolk

October 17 & 18 | Historic Ghent

Stockley Gardens is already one of my favorite parts of Ghent, and for one weekend this fall it fills up with more than 125 artists, live music, food and plenty to wander through. It’s free, it’s outdoors, and it’s an easy way to spend a few hours enjoying the neighborhood.

Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday: Noon–5 PM
Free admission

Festival schedule and details →

Olde Towne Ghost Walk & A Grave Affair — Portsmouth

October 30 | Olde Towne

This one feels especially right for Halloween. The annual Ghost Walk takes you through the historic streets of Olde Towne, where costumed storytellers bring local legends, ghost stories and a little Portsmouth history to life.

Before or after your walk, A Grave Affair takes over two blocks of Court Street with more than 60 costumed vendors, live music, entertainers, food and plenty of Halloween atmosphere. The bazaar is free; the Ghost Walk is separately ticketed.

Ghost Walk: 5:30–9:30 PM
A Grave Affair: 6–9:30 PM

Ghost Walk details →   A Grave Affair details →

Autumn in the Air — Virginia Beach

November 7 | Mount Trashmore Park

Fall doesn’t end with Halloween. Virginia Beach keeps it going in November with an afternoon at Mount Trashmore featuring live folk, Americana and rock music, activities for all ages, and food and drinks available for purchase.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket, find a spot on the grass and enjoy one more fall afternoon outside before winter starts creeping in.

Saturday, November 7 | Noon–5 PM
Free admission and parking

See Autumn in the Air details →

It’s Not Really About the Gutters

Fall leaves look great on the trees. In your gutters? Not so much.

Keeping gutters and downspouts clear isn’t really about taking care of the gutters themselves. Their job is to manage a surprisingly large amount of water coming off your roof and move it safely away from your home.

When gutters clog, water can overflow and work its way behind them, potentially damaging the wood and other materials along the roofline. Let that water collect around the foundation and you can also end up with erosion, excess moisture underneath the home, and conditions that encourage fungal growth.

A few things I always recommend checking this time of year:

• Keep gutters and downspouts clear. Remove leaves, pine needles and other debris that can restrict water flow.
• Watch them during a good rain. Check for overflowing gutters, leaking seams or downspouts that aren’t draining properly.
• Make sure everything is secure. Gutters and downspouts shouldn’t be loose or pulling away from the house.
• See where the water is going. Make sure it isn’t pooling or collecting next to the foundation.

Former inspector’s tip: If your downspouts empty right beside the house, add extensions. They’re inexpensive, and I recommend carrying that water at least four to six feet away from the foundation whenever possible. It’s a simple improvement that can help prevent moisture problems, erosion and potentially expensive foundation repairs.

This Is My Time of Year

I’ve never made much of a secret about it: fall is my favorite time of year.

Once the Hampton Roads heat and humidity finally give us a break, the windows and doors open up, fresh air starts moving through the house again, and I suddenly find myself wanting to tackle things I’ve successfully ignored all summer.

A few days ago, all I wanted to do was trim a few branches from my neighbor’s fig tree that were hanging over my garage. Simple enough. Run seven minutes down the road to Lowe’s, grab a $10 bow saw, come home, cut a few branches and be done with it.

Except Lowe’s didn’t have the saw. Another Lowe’s did, but I wasn’t driving all the way to Suffolk for a $10 saw. So I headed for Home Depot, managed to drive right past it, eventually found my way back, bought the saw and finally made it home.

A few branches later, I figured since I already had the ladder out, I might as well clean the gutter too. Then I got talking with my neighbors, and naturally, I volunteered to come back the next day and trim a few more branches around their shed and courtyard.

So my quick trip for a $10 bow saw somehow became a two-day project.

That’s pretty much how things go around my place.

This is also when I start enjoying the kitchen again. I grew up in Wisconsin, and cooler weather still makes me think about pots of chili, stews, roasts and those meals that simmer for hours and make the whole house smell good.

The grill gets more use. Buddy and Kasha get more time outside. Morning coffee on the porch lasts a little longer. And there’s usually some little project going on that seemed much simpler when I started it.

Maybe that’s really why I love fall. After spending most of the summer hiding from the humidity, it feels good to come out of hiding.