Carter Mountain Orchard needs entry passes Nov. 7-8 and 14-15, its last pass weekends, and closes at 5 p.m. in November. Chiles in Crozet is open daily.

Last checked Oct. 31, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from Carter Mountain Orchard and its fall ticketed entry page, Chiles Peach Orchard, the City of Charlottesville’s Monster Mash listing and markets page, and the Virginia Film Festival.

Peak fall weekends around Charlottesville now need a plan: Carter Mountain Orchard, minutes from downtown, requires entry passes for visitors 12 and older on its last two ticketed weekends, Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 14-15. Weekdays are free to enter, and the orchard closes at 5 p.m. in November. Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet is open every day.

Updated Oct. 31: the Monster Mash and Virginia Film Festival have passed; November closing time added.

Before you go

  • Carter Mountain Orchard: 1435 Carters Mountain Trail, daily, closing at 5 p.m. in November; buy passes
  • Chiles Peach Orchard: 1351 Greenwood Road, Crozet, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 29
  • Monster Mash: Charlottesville Parks and Recreation, 434-970-3260

Carter Mountain Orchard

The orchard sits on a mountain minutes from downtown Charlottesville and down the road from Monticello. From mid-August to mid-December it sells pick-your-own and ready-picked apples, fresh cider, apple cider doughnuts and pies; in fall the orchard fills with pumpkins, gourds and harvest decorations, and runs hayrides. It also has a country store, a wine shop and a Bold Rock tap room.

Fall weekend passes, for ages 12 and older:

Pass Price Use
Single entry $10 a person One chosen ticketed day
Anytime Pass $20 a person Any one ticketed day, limited supply
Season Pass $25 a person Unlimited 2026 ticketed weekends

Passes cover entry only; picking, hayrides and special events cost extra. Children under 12 do not need one. Buy before you leave home on busy days. Vehicles longer than 20 feet cannot be accommodated on ticketed days. The orchard also runs a drive-thru for apples and fall favorites on ticketed days, with no pass needed.

After the fall season the orchard stays open year-round on a shorter schedule; its posted winter hours run Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from mid-January to late March.

Chiles Peach Orchard, Crozet

The same family’s orchard near downtown Crozet is open April through December. Since Oct. 26 it opens 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 29 (closed Thanksgiving Day), then Friday through Sunday to Dec. 20. It sells ready-picked and pick-your-own fruit, vegetables, flowers, apples and pumpkins. On October weekends, apple pickers 12 and older need an Apple Orchard Pass, reserved online.

In town

  • City Market, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 100 E. Water St., through November, with local produce and baked goods. See our farmers markets guide.
  • UVA football at Scott Stadium: the last home games are against Cal on Saturday, Nov. 14, and North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 21. See Friday night football.
  • Past this fall: the city’s free Monster Mash (Oct. 24) and the Virginia Film Festival (Oct. 21-25).

Fall color on city trails

For a free fall walk, the paved Rivanna River Trail runs about 2.3 miles north from Riverview Park, and the Pen Park Nature Trail follows the river for 1.5 miles. See our parks and trails guide.

What this means for you

  • Going to Carter Mountain on a weekend? Buy a pass first, or go on a weekday for free entry.
  • Want pumpkins without the crowds? Chiles in Crozet is open every day.
  • The last pass weekends at Carter Mountain are Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 14-15.

Related guides: things to do this month, Friday night football and getting around.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need tickets for Carter Mountain Orchard in the fall?

On weekends from Sept. 12 to Nov. 15, visitors 12 and older need an entry pass: $10 for a set day, $20 for an Anytime Pass or $25 for a Season Pass. Weekdays are free to enter, and children under 12 never need a pass.

Where can I pick pumpkins near Charlottesville?

Chiles Peach Orchard at 1351 Greenwood Road in Crozet sells ready-picked and pick-your-own apples and pumpkins and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 29, closed Thanksgiving Day. Carter Mountain Orchard also has pumpkins, gourds and hayrides in the fall.

What are Carter Mountain Orchard’s hours?

The orchard is open daily this fall and closes at 6 p.m. in September and October and at 5 p.m. in November. It is at 1435 Carters Mountain Trail, minutes from downtown Charlottesville.

Is there a fall festival in downtown Charlottesville?

The city’s free Monster Mash at Ting Pavilion was Saturday, Oct. 24, and has passed for 2026. The City Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 100 E. Water St. through November.