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By Katie Bianco, Jess Feldman, Holly Gambrell, Stefanie Gans and Jennifer Zeleski
A-maze-ing fall season
As an adult, I have to admit I wasn’t a huge fan of Halloween. I’m just not into dressing up like a sexy cat. But, since having kids, my zest for the Halloween of my youth has returned. I’ve already got my children’s Halloween costumes ready (Jessie and Buzz Lightyear, for those who are interested) and I’ve made my annual bucket list of fall fun. We went apple picking last weekend, and this weekend the Temple Hall Fall Festival (through Nov. 5) is on our social calendar. I can’t believe last year was my first year going, but it felt like such a lovely discovery. It has an insane corn maze, a zillion different things the kids can run and bounce on, a cow train that is surprisingly thrilling and, of course, pumpkin picking. Halloween, here we come! -Katie Bianco, Editor // Temple Hall Farm: 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg; $8-$15 (under 2 free)
It’s going to be lit, literally
Carving pumpkins used to be one of my favorite activities as a kid. Partly because it allowed me to wreak havoc in my family’s kitchen, but mostly because it meant I would get to roast pumpkin seeds with my mom and make a less-than-attractive creation, that I obviously thought was awesome. Now with a full-time job, small kitchen and four roommates, I don’t really see myself making the time to spread pumpkin guts around my home. Lucky for me, Jack’s Pumpkin Glow is coming to Reston this Thursday with a vast display of 6,000 pumpkins, all hand-carved by artists and carpenters alike. Plus, I can get my pumpkin seed fix at the concession stand on my way out. Be sure to get tickets soon, as this one-of-a-kind installation will only be in NoVA through Oct. 27. -Jess Feldman, Editorial Assistant // Jack’s Pumpkin Glow: Lake Fairfax Park: 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston; $16.99-$19.99 children, $22.99-$29.99 adults
It’s officially spooky season
May I say, I am PUMPED for October. It’s the start of the best time of the year. Think about it: October through December has Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas (and my birthday). It’s truly a magical three months. To kick-start the spooky vibes, I’ll be heading to Shocktober, opening in Leesburg on Friday, Oct. 4. Last year, the haunted house was ranked as the fifth-scariest haunted house in the nation by Travel & Leisure. I heard this year boasts a bunch of creepy clowns, which is horrifying. I can’t wait. -Holly Gambrell, Digital Editor // Shocktober Haunted House: 601 Catoctin Circle NE, Leesburg; begins at $40
The joy of being basic
What can I say? I’m somehow a suburban mom with two young kids, so of course I’m going to the farm this fall to post pictures of apples and pumpkins and piglets on Instagram Stories. But I haven’t gone all soft: I’ll be supporting Cox Farms because its messaging is on point. -Stefanie Gans, Dining Editor // Cox Farms: 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville; through Nov. 5; $7-$20
Watch sunsets, not Netflix
There’s one thing I didn’t expect when I moved to Northern Virginia a short five months ago. No, not the stop-and-go traffic that I sit in every day, or the amount of entertainment there is throughout the week (hello … live music at a local Whole Foods? Where am I?). It was the picturesque sunsets. Upon leaving Target a few nights ago, my partner and I even paused to admire the view of an especially gorgeous sky over the parking lot (how romantic). Orange and pink hues painted the evening sky for the entire summer, and the changing of the seasons hasn’t challenged the nightly beauty. But as it turns out, those purple-ish hues I’ve been catching are more than just Mother Nature blending my favorite colors for an added brilliance. They could be from a distant Russian volcano. As the days are still too hot to plan my fall activities, I am going to catch a few more sunsets during this winery tour, as suggested by our October cover story. Time to enjoy the last few weeks of daylight saving and sip my stresses away. -Jennifer Zeleski, Editorial Assistant // Various locations
