Best Local Fall Activities Around Cumberlands

Submitted by Emily Zecchini, '26

Living near Williamsburg, KY, all my life has gotten me to the point where I know about most of the fall themed events and activities around the region. Here are some that you’ll be sure to have a blast! 

Let’s start in Jellico, TN, (about 10 minutes away from Williamsburg), where the town has quite a few annual fall events. Every year there is the Fall Festival, where tons of vendors and local businesses gather in Veterans’ Park (downtown Jellico) while people walk around and enjoy the food, games, and the raffle ticket event. Not to mention they’ve always got good ol’ country music playing nearby on the stage. Every Saturday in Veterans’ Park, they’ve got farmers’ market in the morning and wrestling at night until November. And for those looking to do some good, The Light Ministry at the Church of God Mountain Assembly gets together every Thanksgiving to make dinners for those in need in Jellico. 

Moving deeper into Tennessee, there is plenty to do in Knoxville (which is about an hour away from “the Burg”). One of the main activities you can do is visit Market Square (downtown Knoxville), where there are tons of shops to check out, all within easy walking distance! Every store starts getting ready for fall and Halloween once September hits, not to mention the coffee shops that have plenty of pumpkin spice-flavored items. If coffee isn’t your favorite, try the ice cream at Cruze Farm Dairy. They have a pumpkin flavored ice cream option, plus lots of other tasty soft-serve choices, and they’ve even got vegan options too! And if you’re a big fan of UT football, head to Calhoun's on the River nearby! It’s a restaurant based around Vols fans with a beautiful view of the river and Neyland Stadium, since the restaurant is practically down the road from the University of Tennessee. Sometimes in fall, they have the UT football coach come as a guest speaker for “Vol Calls” (Calhoun’s radio show), which you can watch live and in-person while you enjoy your food.

Coming back to Kentucky, with Williamsburg being a college town, they’ve always got events going on year-round. Fall is a really good time to go hiking at Cumberland Falls because the temperature is starting to cool down, plus the leaves are changing colors. Of course, University of the Cumberlands has plenty of fall events happening on campus, like football, soccer, and volleyball games, CAB events, Homecoming, and community service events for those who want to do some good for others!

Going up toward Louisville, KY, a couple hours away, you’ll find plenty for fall activities like pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and even music festivals. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a haunted attraction that’s sure to scare you and your friends. Or, you can head over to Richmond (which is only an hour or so away from campus) for the Baldwin Farms Pumpkin Patch. They have fun farm activities for everyone! Grab yourself a pumpkin before you go, so you’ll have a jack-o-lantern for Halloween. The Manchester Music Hall in Lexington holds music festivals and concerts, so check that out, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy what they’ve got to offer!

If none of these fall activities and events entice you, searching for other fall events is as easy as pumpkin pie. Just a quick Google search will pull up a ton of ideas. My advice? Try something you’ve never done before, gather as many friends to come as you can, and just go out and have fun! You may enjoy things way more than you thought you would, and you’ll make plenty of great memories along the way.