Hey neighbor,
Spooky season officially starts in Culpeper this weekend. Culpeper Renaissance's Haunted Hustle sends costumed runners through Yowell Meadow Park Saturday morning, the Cedar Mountain battlefield turns into a dog-adoption party, and Belmont Farm rolls out Oktoberfest brats with its whiskey and beer. Out toward Jeffersonton, Wollam Gardens throws a free fall flower festival and a bluegrass festival runs from late morning to 10 PM. Add a candlelit night at Salubria, a cruise-in downtown, and a free book festival at Revalation Vineyards on Sunday, and there's something for every kind of Culpeper weekend. Grab your calendar, we're pulling up.
— J Patrick
✨ Fairy Pick of the Weekend
Haunted Hustle 5K & Spooky Sprint
Haunted Hustle 5K & Spooky Sprint
Saturday, October 3 | Registration 9:00 AM, 5K starts 10:00 AM 📍 Yowell Meadow Park, N. Blue Ridge Ave, Culpeper (start at the Gardner St. parking lot)
The 2nd annual Halloween run from Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. — costumes strongly encouraged. There's a timed 5K for ages 12 and up ($35), the Spooky Sprint for ages 6–11 ($15), and a free Pumpkin Patch Race for the littlest runners ages 1–5 at 11:30 AM.
Stick around after the finish for a free family after-party with a kids' Halloween costume contest, food truks, and water and bananas for the runners. Every entry supports the new Culpeper Downtown Collaboration Grant, which helps downtown businesses team up on events and promotions — so your 5K time goes straight back into Main Street.
📅 Weekend Rundown
Friday, October 2
🏛️ "We Declare" Exhibit — 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Carver 4-County Museum, 9432 James Madison Hwy, Rapidan. An exploration of natural rights and the 27 grievances that pushed colonists to declare independence in 1776.
🃏 TCG Open Play Friday Nights — 4:00–7:00 PM, Collector's Den, 205 S East St, Suite 101. 🔁 Weekly. Free — Pokémon, Magic, One Piece, Lorcana, and more.
⚔️ Friday Night Magic: Commander — 5:00–9:00 PM, Final Boss, 201 N Main St. 🔁 Weekly. Sign in with the Companion App for a free prize raffle.
🎙️ Trivia Night with the Trivia Guy, Brandon Hamilton — brewery opens 5:00 PM, trivia kicks off 6:00 PM, Belmont Farm Distillery, 13490 Cedar Run Rd. 🔁 Weekly Friday. Free to play.
🕯️ Salubria After Dark — 6:00–10:00 PM, Historic Germanna, 2062 Germanna Hwy, Locust Grove. The historic house glows with candles and jack-o'-lanterns for an evening of its darker tales. $20.
Saturday, October 3
🥬 Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market — 7:30 AM–12:00 PM, Culpeper Baptist Church, 318 S West St. See Farmers Markets below.
🎃 Haunted Hustle 5K & Spooky Sprint — 5K at 10:00 AM, Yowell Meadow Park. ⭐ Fairy Pick — see above.
🐕 BARK in the PARK — 10:00 AM–1:00 PM, Culpeper Battlefields State Park – Cedar Mountain Unit, 9465 General Winder Rd, Rapidan. Dog adoptions with the Culpeper Animal Shelter and Salty Paws Brigade, K9 demos, battlefield tours, and pet vendors. Free.
🧘 Yoga @ The Vineyard with Sterling Howell — 10:15–11:15 AM, Revalation Vineyards, 2710 Hebron Valley Rd, Madison. $15.
🚶 Downtown Culpeper History Walking Tour — 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, meets at 111 Commerce St. $25/person, also runs Sunday.
🍪 Halloween Cookie Decorating Class — 11:00 AM–2:00 PM, Sweet Bites By Laura, 14353 Deertrack Trail. A three-hour class — go beautiful or go scary, and take your cookies home. $50; message to sign up.
🌸 Fall Flower Festival at Wollam Gardens — Wollam Gardens, 5167 Jeffersonton Rd, Jeffersonton. Live music, pick-your-own flowers, floral workshops, food, and a great backdrop for fall family photos. Free; pack a picnic. Hours not posted yet — check before you go.
🪕 6th Annual Broken String Bluegrass Festival — 11:00 AM–10:00 PM, 5255 Higher Ground Trl, Jeffersonton. A full day of bluegrass; lineup and ticket details still to come.
🍺 Oktoberfest at Belmont Farm Distillery and Brewery — 12:00–8:00 PM, 13490 Cedar Run Rd. Belmont's whiskey and beer (plus a new cider coming this fall) paired with bratwurst.
🚗 CARS Cruise In Car Show — 5:00–8:00 PM, Southgate Shopping Center, 309 Southgate Shopping Center. 🔁 First Saturday. A cruise-in for a cause benefiting Christ-Centered Addiction Restoration Services, with 50/50 and raffle tickets.
Sunday, October 4
🚶 Downtown Culpeper History Walking Tour — 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, meets at 111 Commerce St. $25/person, same tour repeating from Saturday.
📚 No Book Left Behind Festival — 12:00–5:00 PM, Revalation Vineyards, 2710 Hebron Valley Rd, Madison. The 4th annual family-friendly festival celebrating books and helping kids read. Free. While you're there, catch Richard Young's landscape paintings in both tasting rooms (on view through Oct 31).
🥬 Farmers Markets
Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market — Saturday, 7:30 AM–12:00 PM, Culpeper Baptist Church lot, 318 S West St. Produce, eggs, meat, baked goods, and more from area growers, run by Culpeper Renaissance Inc. The season runs through October, so enjoy the last few Saturdays.
🚛 The Flavor Route Sponsored by Trukfoo!
If you're here → go eat here. No touring truks have logged confirmed Culpeper stops for Oct 2–4 yet, but Saturday has plenty of event food. Check trukfoo before you head out.
Saturday, October 3
🎃 Food truks @ Haunted Hustle after-party, Yowell Meadow Park — confirmed by Culpeper Renaissance, lineup TBA
🌭 Bratwurst @ Oktoberfest, Belmont Farm Distillery, 13490 Cedar Run Rd, 12–8 PM — confirmed
🌸 Festival food @ Fall Flower Festival, Wollam Gardens, 5167 Jeffersonton Rd — confirmed, vendors TBA
🍺 Weekend food truk @ Old Trade Brewery & Cidery, 13270 Alanthus Rd, Brandy Station — unconfirmed, based on the regular weekend pattern
👉 Want the full, always-updated schedule? Head to trukfoo.com to see every truk's stops in real time.
Around Virginia
Central Virginia / Richmond
Saturday, October 3 | 11:30 AM–7:00 PM & Sunday, October 4 | 12:00–6:00 PM 📍 N. 2nd St between E. Broad & E. Jackson Sts, Jackson Ward, Richmond
A free two-day homecoming for the neighborhood once called the "Harlem of the South" — three stages of live music, a Kidz Zone, food vendors, Artists Row, the antique car club, and free historic Jackson Ward walking tours.
Charlottesville
Sunday, October 4 | Gates 9:30 AM, first race 12:00 PM 📍 Foxfield Racecourse, 2215 Foxfield Track, Charlottesville
The laid-back, family-friendly edition of Charlottesville's steeplechase: seven races, a Children's Tent, truck touch, parades of beagles and hounds, and stick pony races on the track. Tickets required.
Northern Virginia
Saturday, October 3 | 11:00 AM–7:00 PM 📍 Historic Church Street & Town Green, Vienna
One of NoVA's biggest fall festivals — craft beer and wine, live music, global food, and a Kids Zone across Church Street and the Town Green. Free admission, rain or shine.
Hampton Roads / Virginia Beach
Saturday, October 3 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM 📍 Town Point Park, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront
More than 100 hands-on activities built for kids 10 and under — workshops, costumed characters, storytelling, military demonstrations, music, and dance lessons. Low-cost admission; little ones 1 and under are free.
Shenandoah Valley
Saturday, October 3 | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM 📍 Shenandoah County Fairgrounds, Woodstock
Traditional Virginia whole-hog barbecue cooked over hardwood coals, tastings from Valley breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries, live music, and Shenandoah Downs harness racing from 1 PM. Recommended for 21+; kids 14 and under get in free.
That's the lineup, Culpeper. Whether you're hustling in costume at Yowell Meadow, meeting a new best friend at BARK in the PARK, or raising a stein at Belmont Farm — get out there and live it. Downtown doesn't slow down, and neither should you.
See you next weekend.
Pull up soon,
J. Patrick
🚀 Before You Go
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The Pull-Up is your weekly guide to food truks, festivals, local events, and hidden gems in Culpeper and beyond. Published by FestiveFly. Written by J. Patrick.