Autumn in the Air: What Not to Miss at Free Festival at Mount Trashmore Park

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation’s fall festival returns for the third year Nov. 1.

The air is crisp, the leaves are turning, and one of Virginia Beach’s favorite fall traditions is back. Autumn in the Air returns to Mount Trashmore Park for its third annual celebration, noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. This free community festival is packed with live music, local food trucks, a brand-new vendor market and seasonal activities for all ages.

Live Music

The "Banjos, Brews & Bites" stage sets the tone with three live performances that blend folk, Americana and rock.

The Storyweavers (12:15-1:30 p.m.) – Acoustic Folk winners at the 2024 Veer Music Awards, this group combines Appalachian sounds with heartfelt storytelling and a live American Sign Language performance.
Monarch (2-3:15 p.m.) – A harmony-rich blend of folk, classic and rock, Monarch brings a fresh vibe sure to amaze, and the songs will transport you to best time in music.
Lucky 757 (3:45-5 p.m.) – This hometown favorite caps off the day with classic sounds of the 50s and 60s, with original style.

Beer Garden and Food Trucks

Take a break from the festivities and enjoy a cold drink or a hot bite in the heart of the park. The beer garden, operated by Voodoo Brewing Co. Virginia Beach, will offer a selection of craft beverages for guests ages 21 and older.

Choose from a wide variety of local food and drink vendors offering both savory and sweet options:

Bear House Coffee and Mello Beans Coffee serve coffee, tea, lattes and lemonade.
Hot Mama’s Kitchen offers hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue and sausage.
Potato Peeps has loaded baked potatoes and a variety of fries.
Rio Good Food serves tacos, quesadillas, elote and more.
Sweet Tweets offers lumpia, hot dogs, funnel cakes, cotton candy and snow cones.
Sweet Life Cupcakery has funnel cakes, fried Oreos, caramel apples and other sweets.

Both cash and credit cards are accepted.

Yard Games and the Field of Fun

Enjoy a variety of autumn-inspired yard games, including pumpkin bowling, ring toss, tic-tac-toe, Connect 4, and cornhole. Returning this year are glitter tattoos and a nine-hole mini golf course for even more seasonal fun!

For those seeking more active excitement, guests can jump into the fun with inflatable football, basketball and bounce house games. Kids and families can also visit the Field of Fun to meet beloved mascots Barks and Rex, explore the sensory zone hosted by the Parks & Recreation Therapeutic and Inclusion team, and interact with animals at the Teeny Tiny Farm petting zoo.

Resource and Vendor Village

New to this year’s festival is a Resource and Vendor Village, featuring 17 exhibitors, including City departments, community organizations, pet-friendly businesses and local artisans. Guests can explore:

City resources: Three City departments providing information and services.
Pet-friendly exhibitors: Four vendors offering dog treats, accessories and resource information.
Community resources: Three vendors featuring men’s clothing, insurance and school-related information.
Artisan goods: Six jewelry vendors and one crochet vendor showcasing handcrafted pieces.

The Village offers a great opportunity to connect with local businesses, discover community resources and shop for one-of-a-kind handmade items.

TreeTopia

Fall is the perfect time to plant a tree, and TreeTopia is your destination to learn how. Explore the importance of trees in Virginia Beach’s local ecosystem through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. Meet the City’s new arborists, horticulture experts and community partners, including Park & Landscape Services, Bee City USA, Tree Stewards and Southeastern Tree Forestry Virginia.

Guests can take home a free tree sapling while supplies last and participate in the #VBPlantingPals photo challenge by sharing pictures of their new leafy friends on social media.

Know Before You Go

Admission and parking are free
Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome
Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed
Bags and small coolers will be checked at entrances
Tents and large coolers are not permitted
Alcohol must remain within the designated beer garden

Whether you're a returning fan or a first-time guest, Autumn in the Air is your chance to soak up the season with live music, fresh food and festive fun surrounded by the beauty of Mount Trashmore Park.

Don’t forget to capture your favorite moments and use the hashtags #VBParksRec and #AutumnInTheAir for a chance to be featured on Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation’s social channels. For the latest updates and full event details, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/AITA and follow Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation on Facebook.