<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2eD9U0_0vkhmF7M00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2eD9U0_0vkhmF7M00" width="1765" height="1174" ><figcaption>There is a wide array of activities around Harrisonburg to fill your weekend such as hiking through the mountains, celebrating the cooler weather with autumn-themed events and taking advantage of apple season at an orchard. Landon Shackelford | The Breeze</figcaption></figure>While JMU provides many exciting on-campus activities during Family Weekend, there are additional options scattered around and outside Harrisonburg for families that don’t want to get caught in the buzzing crowds.<h2>Pumpkin Festival at Back Home on the Farm</h2>Only 11 minutes from campus, Back Home on the Farm is holding its annual Virginia Pumpkin Festival, which will be open through Nov. 3.The festival is open on weekdays and weekends with ticket prices depending on the day. On weekdays — Tuesday to Friday — tickets purchased online cost $10, and tickets purchased in person are $12. On the weekends, prices rise to $13 online and $16 in person. The festival is open from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.This event is home to a multitude of fun, family-friendly activities. Some include putt-putt golf, a vintage-style carousel, a petting zoo with farm animals, a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. The pumpkin patch is home to all sizes and colors of the autumn favorite — from green to white to the classic orange. Its corn maze pays homage to the Peanuts’ 75th anniversary, with the maze in the shape of one of the comic’s beloved characters, Snoopy.“I think the festival is a great place to go with family,” sophomore accounting major Jack Campbell said. “[The festival] has a relaxing environment and feels nostalgic in a way.”Apart from a kaleidoscope of activities, the festival also provides an assortment of food and drinks sold to please everyone’s sweet tooth or savory cravings. Its website says that the whoopie pies and apple cider doughnuts are must-haves, along with the homegrown burgers and bonfire-side s’mores. It also offers freshly squeezed lemonade — a classic for any festival.“I tried a whoopie pie,” Campbell said. “I would go back again just for that.”From jams and jellies to toys for young children, there are many souvenirs to choose from.<h2>By the Fire Fridays</h2>If you’re looking for a more relaxing and chill way to spend the weekend with your family, By the Fire Fridays could be just that.Located at Brothers Craft Brewing on Liberty Street, By the Fire Fridays include local bands and musicians, beer for those of age and several food trucks. This event is on select Fridays until Oct. 11. The food trucks — ranging from Maine lobster to classic barbeque — and live music acts change every Friday. The event and food truck schedule can be found on the Harrisonburg Tourism website.Admission is free, but make sure to bring your own lawn chairs to enjoy the live music.For those who would rather spend time inside, Brothers Craft Brewing also hosts game nights on Thursdays. It has options ranging from the Nintendo Switch catalogue to classics like Jenga. Its range of drinks can fit everyone’s taste, with a pumpkin spice drink for fall lovers and a raspberry vanilla flavor for those who want something a little more sweet. The brewery also offers non-alcoholic drinks, such as soda and flavored teas, so those under 21 won’t feel left out. With warm lighting and cozy seating, it’s a great environment for family bonding and entertainment. Brothers Craft Brewing is a family-owned business and strives to “focus on both the community that [they] live in and the community that [they] have created,” according to its website.<h2>Apple picking at Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse</h2>For those looking for a more classic fall activity, look no further than Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse. 30 minutes from Harrisonburg, Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse is home to a beautiful orchard that’s perfect for apple and peach picking, depending on the season. It’s also a family-owned business that’s been passed down through generations.While its peaches are only in season during August, it has over 30 types of apples that you can choose from. From Galas to Granny Smiths, each variation has its own harvest times which can be found on the orchard’s website. Family Weekend falls around the time to pick its Golden Delicious and Jonagold apples. The harvest season for its apples ends around late October to early November. The orchard is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week except Sunday, when it opens at 1 p.m.Visitors can either directly harvest from the orchard or choose from crates of pre-harvested apples. The orchard measures the apples in bushels and pecks, and its pricing for each can be found on the website and in person.Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouse is home to much more than just its orchard full of apples and peaches. You can also visit Old Hill Cidery and try more than 10 crafted hard ciders. The cidery is always experimenting with and developing new flavors, which can be taste-tested exclusively on the farm when available. The flavors of cider include Virginia strawberry, Virginia peach, Virginia blackberry and Virginia cherry. Each cider is available during its respective season and can be bought in a pack of cans or a bottle. A tasting room is located in the orchard’s heart, so you’ll be surrounded by the source of its rich ciders as you taste them. It also has non-alcoholic cider for a more family-friendly option. The website says its sweet cider is “sought-after and well-loved” among visitors and is available from early September through Christmas.The orchard overlooks the Shenandoah Valley and “promises breathtaking views each day,” according to its website, as it wants customers to not only enjoy its products but also the environment that surrounds them. The orchard itself stretches 60 acres, including its cidery, greenhouse — which doubles as a wedding venue — and three vacation rentals.<h2>Hiking trails</h2>There are plenty of activities for those who love nature in and around Harrisonburg. A popular choice is the many hiking trails near Harrisonburg — and some that are a further drive away. Hightop Mountain, Reddish Knob and Fridley Gap are just a few of the available options.The hike up to Hightop takes about two to three hours to complete. It’s roughly 2.8 miles long and is about 40 minutes east of Harrisonburg. There’s a parking fee of $30, as it’s located in the Shenandoah National Park. According to Harrisonburg’s tourism website, the trail’s difficulty is moderate and the peak “stands at 3,296 feet, making it the highest peak in the South District of Shenandoah National Park,” with a full view of the skyline and other mountains.Fridley Gap is a beginner-friendly trail that only takes about an hour to complete. It’s 25 minutes east of Harrisonburg and is located on the Massanutten Mountain in the George Washington National Forest; it requires no fee to enter or trek. The peak’s elevation is 153 feet, and the hike is only one mile long, making it an easier trail for hikers of all ages. There’s a swimming hole and a small waterfall located a half mile into the hike, providing refreshments to hikers on a hot, humid day.Reddish Knob is another beautiful mountain to trek. It’s slightly farther than Hightop — about an hour away from the ’Burg. There’s no parking or entrance fee. Reddish Knob is also great for bird watching, as hawks, turkeys and a variety of different bird species are known to fly above the peak — or cut you off as you make your way up. “I definitely think going to Reddish Knob is a perfect activity to do with friends and family,” sophomore media arts and design major Sophie Patch said, as she has visited the peak twice. “Every JMU student should go at least once to experience it.”The highest elevation of the mountain is roughly 4,400 feet, and directions for trails and where to park can be found on Reddish Knob’s website. The high elevation offers a picture-esque view of sunrises and sunsets.“Watching the sunrise at Reddish Knob was magical,” Patch said. “When going up everyone always thinks it’ll be a cloudy sunrise, but it always ends up clearing up right when the sun comes up and it’s super pretty.”<h2>Fee-Free Day at Shenandoah National Park</h2>If you’ve ever wanted to visit Shenandoah National Park but didn’t want to pay the $15 to $30 fee, Sept. 28 is your lucky day. It’s National Public Lands Day, which the park will celebrate with free admission. National Public Lands Day focuses on preserving and restoring National Parks around the country. You can sign up to volunteer at any participating National Park if it’s hosting volunteering events. This doesn’t mean you have to volunteer to enter, however — entering the park is free for everyone, volunteer or not. You can hike, fish, bike and stargaze if the night sky is clear enough.“Being near the Shenandoah Valley [and National Park], there are tons of amazing hikes with incredible views to see all the beautiful fall colors,” Patch said.Harrisonburg and its surrounding cities offer a little bit of everything to please the entire family for the fall season. There are pumpkin patches and apple picking for those who are looking for something more classic, hikes for those itching for the outdoors, and live music and fire pits for those who just want to relax. Harrisonburg’s fall isn’t only beautiful, but also entertaining.“When the trees turn different colors in Harrisonburg it becomes so pretty,” Campbell said. “It feels different than fall back home since it’s colder here. I feel there are enough fall-related activities here. I really like going to the corn maze, hiking and going to the amazing coffee shops in the area.”</div></body>

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Best of both worlds: More to do off campus and around the 'Burg

While JMU provides many exciting on-campus activities during Family Weekend, there are additional options scattered around and outside Harrisonburg for families that don’t want to get caught in the buzzing crowds. Pumpkin Festival at Back Home on the Farm. Only 11 minutes from campus, Back Home on the Farm...