Fall is the perfect time to make some long-lasting memories, and there are plenty of events in Hampton Roads to spark adventure. Mark your calendars for these family-friendly activities coming up in October.
Children’s Storytime at Barnes & Noble Lynnhaven
Oct. 17, 24, 31: Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Barnes & Noble welcomes kids and parents of all ages to come and enjoy a reading of a new children’s book. Crafts and snacks will also be provided. 11–11:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble at Lynnhaven, Virginia Beach.
Baby Care 101 at Toys R Us
Oct. 17: CHKD is hosting an information seminar for new and expecting mothers and fathers. Parents will receive basic tips on baby care for the first six months of infancy from pediatric professionals. Some topics include sleep safety, diapering, cord care and bathing. 6:30–7:30 p.m. Toys R Us/Babies R Us, Virginia Beach.
Shipwrecks & Ghost Lore: A Virginia Beach Ghost Tour
Oct. 17, 20, 24, 27, 31: Experience real history and real hauntings around Virginia Beach. The tour will tell the tales of true stories and local legends of ghosts, witches, pirates and shipwrecks. Adults $12; children 15 and under $5. 7–8 p.m. Virginia Beach Surf and Rescue Museum, Virginia Beach.
Family Frights
Oct. 20–21: Jamestown’s Halloween-themed museum night will make Halloween come a little earlier this year. Kids and their parents will get the chance to trick-or-treat in re-created 1600s forts, walk through haunted houses and graveyards, hear spooky ghost stories, witness witch trials and even climb aboard the three haunted ships Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery. Children ages 4–12 $7; Adults $3; Children under 3 free. 6:30–9 p.m. Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg.
Harvest Festival
Oct. 21–22, 28–29: Turn your annual pumpkin patch visit into an all-day affair at Hunt Club Farm’s Harvest Festival. Every weekend in October, you can enjoy hayrides, petting zoos, a Ferris wheel or simply relax and shop at the Farm’s market. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Hunt Club Farm, Virginia Beach.
Male Mentoring Program
Oct. 26: The Big Brother Big Sister program has paired up with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to host a male mentoring program for boys ages 9–18. The program aims to empower the boys toward higher education by participating in positive, esteem-building activities and self-creation. 4:30–5:30 p.m. Pearl Bailey Library, Newport News.
Downtown Hampton Halloween Block Party
Oct. 28: Gather in the haunted streets of Downtown Hampton for an evening of tricks, treats and terrifyingly good times. There will also be food, refreshments and live music by Full Spectrum. 6–10:30 p.m. Downtown Hampton.
Out of This World Family Day
Oct. 28: An exclusive space exhibition, Picturing Innovation: The First 100 Years at NASA Langley, is the perfect family outing for young, aspiring astronauts. In addition to the exhibit, there will be a variety of activities and crafts, as well as a visit from Cady Coleman, a retired NASA astronaut. Free. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk.
HAM-O-WEEN!
Oct. 31: Smithfield’s safe trick or treating will take place along Main and Grace Streets with a costume and jack-o’-lantern contest held at The Smithfield Times. 5–8 p.m. Downtown Smithfield, Smithfield. 757-357-3288.
See more fall frightening and fun Halloween Happenings here.
Coastal Virginia Magazine
Offering up stellar editorial and photography on a range of feature topics from personal and business profiles to the region's cuisine and style scene, Coastal Virginia Magazine provides an in-depth glimpse into what's happening in the region. Each issue offers up something new, from the annual Top Docs feature to Best Of CoVa Readers' Choice Awards, while still always providing insight from the regular columnists and news on the latest local events in the Datebook section.
