How to Spend the Perfect Fall Day in Bluemont Before Visiting Shocktober
Shocktober is the annual fright fest in Leesburg, Virginia, that can not be missed each October. Named the Fifth Scariest Haunted House in the country by Travel & Leisure magazine, this spooky celebration of fall officially kicked off its 11th season this coming Friday, October, 1, and is the largest annual fundraiser for The Arc of Loudoun, a non-profit that provides opportunities for people with disabilities. New this year, Henway Hard Cider, Bluemont Vineyard, Dirt Farm Brewing, and Great Country Farms are thrilled to be the Craft Beverage Partners of this fantastic annual fundraiser for The Arc.
Don’t just plan for a scary night, make it a fun-filled fall day in Loudoun County prior to scaring the boots off yourself at this award-winning haunted house. We invite you to enjoy a day on the mountainside soaking up the fresh autumn air and enjoying Bluemont craft beverages to make sure you have the perfect amount of courage prior to entering Paxton Manor.
) Visit Great Country Farms to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin
Guests who purchase tickets to Shocktober receive complimentary weekday admission to Great Country Farms with extended discounts at Henway Hard Cider, Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing by proof of wristband. What’s not to love? Exactly!
Make your first stop at Great Country Farms to pick out your perfect pumpkin! With a bountiful variety of shapes, colors, sizes and textures, rest assured each guest will find their perfect pumpkin and photo op with the fall-colored Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop. Post pumpkin picking, enjoy great food, cider and music at the farm. P-Rex the Pumpkin Eating Dinosaur roars into action to enhance weekend festivities of cider pressing demos, pig races, and marshmallow roasting.
2. Wine Hiking Tour at Bluemont Vineyard
This past June we debuted our newest experience at Bluemont Vineyard, our Wine Hiking Tour, and for the last 3 months, we have been hopelessly dreaming of the trek and beautiful views of the Loudoun Valley painted by the colors of fall foliage.
Now is your chance to experience the abundance of colors of the mountainside on this one-mile hike through an 8-acre slide of heaven of the Bluemont Vineyard property, located on the first ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the edge of the Shenandoah Valley. With six guided stops along the way, you’ll hear from our winemaker, learn a few Zurchmeide family secrets, and no doubt quench your thirst with Bluemont’s finest wines.
3. Lunch at Henway Hard Cider
Hiking through Bluemont Vineyard will certainly give you an appetite! Head down to Henway Hard Cider for lunch from the Bird Bites Kitchen and start preparing yourself for the terrifying night to come at Shocktober. To show support for haunted house guests heading to Shocktober, Henway Hard Cider has brewed up a new confidence concoction, Liquid Courage, that is a must sip prior to heading to the haunted mansion.
With a blood orange base and a touch of cherry infusion, vanilla and fall spices, this seasonal sipper will pair perfectly with flatbreads, sandwiches and other bites on the menu and officially kick off your preparation for Shocktober. Liquid Courage is available on tap and by the can at Henway Hard Cider and will be sold on-site at Shocktober throughout October 2021.
4.) Pumpkin Ale Pitstop at Dirt Farm Brewing
Before you head back out to Route 7 East to head to Leesburg, you must make one more stop on your way out of Bluemont at Dirt Farm Brewing. The brewmasters at Dirt Farm aren’t playing around when they say their Peter Peter Pumpkin Ale is a true pumpkin ale.
Over 150 pounds of roasted pumpkins from Great Country Farms go into this fall favorite and the brewhouse smells like autumn for days. Be sure to stop in to pick some up from the taproom or order ahead through their online store.
5.) Overnight Stay at The Cottages at Bluemont
Now maybe we should have put this at the top of the list for planning purposes, but for those seeking a true Loudoun County getaway, the best way to experience Bluemont and Shocktober is by ending your day with an overnight stay at The Cottages at Bluemont. Immerse yourself into the rural Loudoun experience, lose track of time, and shorten your drive home after Shocktober with a stay in one of our beautiful cottages.
The Cottages at Bluemont debuted in February 2021, catapulting Bluemont into a prominent Virginia overnight destination. Today Bluemont offers five artfully restored and renovated cottages within the collection, all uniquely designed and decorated, available for visitors and guests of Bluemont properties to enjoy.