At the top of most everyone’s list for October is finding magical moments, carving pumpkins with family and friends, and setting up decorations leading up to Halloween.  There’s almost too much to do when fall finally rolls around including long walks in crisp temperatures and weekend excursions to pumpkin patches and haunted houses.

In Greenbrier, Monroe, and Raleigh Counties, there are a few special places to celebrate the fall season where you can experience family photo ops, pumpkin picking, hayrides, and/or a sprawling series of frightening haunts to get you in the spirit of Halloween.

Byrnside Branch Farm in Monroe County

Byrnside Branch Farm is an excellent place for a taste of sweet fall treats, local culture, and selecting unique and decorative pumpkins, mums, and gourds for your home. A Taste of Eggcellence Catering Company will be on site serving delicious foods, delectable desserts, and fall-inspired beverages.

The farm will have fun activities including a petting zoo, hayrides around the corn maze, bonfires for families and groups, hay wagon rides to a field to pick sunflowers and take photos, and also private hayrides to the sunflower field. And lastly, don’t forget to get lost in the labyrinth of corn stalks in the day or after dusk for a totally different moonlit experience. This maze is made up of acres upon acres of corn with hours of twists and turns.

Byrnside is located on Willow Bend Road in Union, Monroe County. They are open Fridays from 5p-10p; Saturdays from10a-10p; and Sundays from 1p-8p through November 1st. Follow Byrnside on fb @byrnsidebranchfarm.

Lewisburg Lanterns in Greenbrier County

At Lewisburg Lanterns, enjoy games for the kids, pre-picked pumpkins and/or pick your own! Located behind Seneca Trail Animal Hospital in Lewisburg, this farm is offering 9 types of pumpkins including Jack-O-Lanterns, Pie Pumpkins, Jill Be Littles, Kandy Korn Pumpkins, Mini Warts, Warty Gobblins, Fairytales, Cushaw Squash, and Porcelain Dolls! 

There are games including pumpkin bowling and ring toss; as well as pumpkin decorating, photo ops, hay wagon rides, and a mini corn maze for the kids. Game wristbands are $10 and includes access to all games, and a pie pumpkin with the option to decorate it at a craft station. Carola & Sons are offering horse drawn carriage rides through the pumpkin patch (12 and under $5; adults $10) and mini mule wagons for children 12 and under for $5.

Lanterns farm is located 1 mile north of Lewisburg Diamond and Gold and I-64 on Rt 219. They are open Friday from 2p-6p; Saturdays from 11a-5p; and Sundays from 11a-5p through October 31st. Follow Lewisburg Lanters on fb @lewisburglanterns

Fright Nights in Raleigh County

If you’re looking for thrills and chills, check out Fright Nights at the Resort at Glade Springs.  Organizers say they are anticipating 2020 to be their best season yet. There will be five haunt experiences including Ghost Town, Slaughter House, Mr. Beard’s Freaks, and Phobias, Asylum, and Deadwood Manor. Fright Nights is guaranteed to send you off screaming, jumping, and squealing in fear. The Resort at Glade Springs is located at 255 Resort Drive in Daniels, WV. Fright Nights operates every Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30p-10:30pm through Halloween. Admission is $25/person and $40/fast pass ticket.

Between the beautiful mountain landscapes and cows grazing along the country roads, there’s no place more magical than West Virginia when fall comes around. Byrnside, Lanterns, and Glades’ goals are to create a safe, family-friendly, inexpensive environment for their guests to enjoy the outdoors in a memorable way. Whatever you are looking for this October, we are sure you will find some fun in the wild and wonderful! Later next month, make plans to visit Crickmer Farms

– Hashtag Lewisburg City Paper, #127. October 2020.