Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Ah, the cool, damp mornings, the droplets of dew clinging to the increasing number of spider webs and the occasional falling leaf offer proof that the autumn season is quickly approaching. Fall, as we commonly know it, is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s also one of my busiest.

Busy Season Ends and More Fun Begins at Wilderness Road State Park, Virginia

While Labor Day annually marks the conclusion of the Virginia State Park’s busy “season”, that’s not quite the case at Wilderness Road State Park. For us, when the busy “season” ends, the fun just begins. Between Labor Day and Christmas, Wilderness Road will host a number of special events including: the Candlelight Ghost Tour & Haunted Dinner, the Heritage Festival, Martin’s Station Fall Encampment, Pumpkins in the Park, a Frontier Christmas and the Karlan Country ChristmasFest.

So, yeah, we have a busy few months in front of us. But it’s so much fun. Each of these events challenges our staff in various ways and, in turn, offers park visitors some truly unique experiences.

In just a few short weeks, several park staff will don costumes from the Victorian age to present stories about the Wilderness Road, the Ely family that built the Karlan Mansion and more. The Ghost Tour offers guests a different prospective on the many stories that help shape this region, with each tour led, via candlelight, along the trail, through one of the old barns and into the Karlan Mansion. This event has quickly become one of the area’s most popular, with all 120 tickets sold in less than two weeks.

Then we shift gears to the Heritage Festival-Martin’s Station Fall Encampment weekend. The Heritage Festival, sponsored by our Friends support organization, has celebrated our region’s Appalachian culture for nearly 20 years.

Thaddues and Garret are just two of the characters you can meet on the Ghost Tour at Wilderness Road State Park, Virginia
Thaddues and Garret are just two of the characters you can meet on the Ghost Tour

The Heritage Festival is set for October 10, 2015 offers handmade crafts, demonstrations, homemade food, a chili cookoff, live Bluegrass music and more.

The Fall Encampment, scheduled for October 9 – 11, 2015 provides visitors with a glimpse into the fall season as it was on the Wilderness Road in the 18th century. Several frontier demonstrations, such as lye soap making, open-hearth cooking and candle making highlight this historic event.

Bluegrass on the mansion lawn at Wilderness Road State Park, Virginia
Live Bluegrass music on the Mansion lawn highlights the Heritage Festival

The end of October means Halloween. According to Southern Living magazine, Halloween is the second most-celebrated holiday next to Christmas. And by the look of the crowds that gather for our annual Pumpkins in the Park event, I can see why. Pumpkins has quickly become one of the tri-state’s “can’t miss” events with nearly 3,000 participating in last year’s event which offers pumpkin painting, face painting, costume contests and is highlighted by the Haunted Trail Hayride. The hayride brings local folklore to life with a 30-minute journey along a wooded trail complete with amazing props and live scenes.

This year Pumpkins in the Park will be held on October 30 – 31, 2015.

Voodoo was practiced throughout the area at Wilderness Road State Park, Virginia
A VooDoo witch awaits those that venture on the Haunted Hayride

A Frontier Christmas, on December 11, 2015 allows guests to journey back in time to see how the holiday was celebrated on Virginia’s 18th century frontier. Sip warm cider while joining in yuletide carols as the Christmas spirit illuminates the fort at Martin’s Station.

On three consecutive weekends, beginning November 28 -29, 2015 the Karlan Country ChristmasFest will offer guests a unique look into our most treasured of holidays. The Karlan Mansion will be adorned with nearly 25 trees decorated by the local community, churches and businesses. Each Saturday, the park will offer entertainment such as the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree, live music from local church choirs, a visit from Santa and Ms. Claus, fun times with Tickety Tok the Elf and dinner with the Grinch. On Sundays, the Friends will offer refreshments as an open house celebration, giving visitors a chance to see the decorated trees and discover all the projects the Friends have assisted the park with throughout the year.

Elf and Santa at Wilderness Road State Park, Virginia
Tickety Tok the Elf and Santa highlight ChristmasFest

So, as you can see, a lot will be happening at Wilderness Road State Park over the next few months. The change in the weather is one reason I look forward to this time of year, but the events that await is truly why it’s my favorite.

For more information about these upcoming events at Wilderness Road State Park, please call the park office at 276-445-3065, visit our website here, or visit the Friends’ website.

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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