Fall in Big Stone Gap, Virginia: A Local’s Guide 🍂

Fall in Big Stone Gap, Virginia: A Local’s Guide 🍂

Fall has a way of making the mountains feel a little more like home.

The mornings get cooler, the ridges surrounding Big Stone Gap begin trading their summer green for shades of gold, orange and red, and suddenly a drive you’ve made a hundred times deserves another look.

I’m Jill, the owner and maker behind Clean Glow Co., and Big Stone Gap is the place I call home. Fall has always felt especially at home here in Southwest Virginia. Maybe it’s the mountains. Maybe it’s the cooler evenings, the music and festivals, or the return of all things cozy.

Probably all of the above.

If you’re thinking about visiting Big Stone Gap, Virginia, this fall, here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy the season—along with a few Fall 2026 events worth putting on your calendar.

 

Take in the Fall View at Powell Valley Overlook

If there’s one stop that belongs on a fall trip to Big Stone Gap, it’s Powell Valley Overlook.

The overlook gives you a sweeping view across Powell Valley with the Appalachian Mountains stretching out around it. But come fall, when the mountains begin changing color, the view becomes something else entirely.

It’s one of those places where you can plan to pull over for five minutes and somehow end up standing there much longer.

And yes, take the picture. You’re going to want it later. 😂

 

Walk the Greenbelt on a Cool Fall Day

Fall is one of my favorite times to slow down and enjoy the Greenbelt Walking & Bicycle Trail.

The trail winds around Big Stone Gap, following portions of the Powell River and connecting several areas around town.

You don’t need hiking boots or an entire afternoon, either.

Grab a coffee at 404 Cafe & Creamery, throw on a sweatshirt and take a walk beside the river while the leaves are changing.

Sometimes that’s enough.

 

Spend an Afternoon Exploring Downtown

One of the nice things about visiting a small town is that you don’t need an elaborate itinerary.

Take some time to explore downtown Big Stone Gap. Grab lunch at Good Times Coal Fired Pizza, browse locally made goods at Bus Stop Artisan Market, and don’t forget to look up every now and then, the mountain backdrop surrounding downtown is something those of us who live here probably take for granted. 🤎🏔️

If shopping small is part of your plans, I’ve already put together my guide to 5 Best Places to Shop in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, featuring everything from local makers and Appalachian art to antiques and vintage finds.

And yes, you can find Clean Glow Co. locally while you’re exploring, too. 🤎

 

Experience Blue Highway Fest 🎶

If bluegrass belongs on your fall soundtrack, this is one to put on your calendar.

Blue Highway Fest returns to Big Stone Gap October 8–11, 2026, bringing four days of bluegrass music to town. Most performances will take place at Bullitt Park, with opening-day events at the 3rd Street Stage downtown. 

The 2026 lineup includes artists such as Balsam Range, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Dailey & Vincent, Blue Highway, The Seldom Scene and many more. 

It’s one of those events that just fits here: mountain music, fall in Appalachia and a small town full of visitors.

If you’re traveling to Big Stone Gap specifically for the festival, give yourself a little extra time to explore town while you’re here.

 

Celebrate Appalachian Tradition at Home Craft Days

If there’s one event that really captures the traditions of our region, it’s Home Craft Days.

The celebration returns to Mountain Empire Community College October 16–18, 2026 and continues a tradition that began in 1972. The weekend celebrates Appalachian culture through music, food, artisans and demonstrations of traditional crafts such as weaving, pottery, woodworking, basket weaving, broom making and quilting. 

The weekend begins with a free Friday evening concert on October 16, followed by the craft festival from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, October 17, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, October 18. 

And this year there’s a little extra reason for me to be excited:

Clean Glow Co. will be there for our second year. 🤎

So if you’re coming to Home Craft Days this year, come say hello! You’ll get to experience one of our area’s longstanding fall traditions while supporting makers and artisans from throughout the Appalachian region.

This is exactly the kind of event I love seeing celebrated here at home.

Add a Little Appalachian Folklore to Your October 👻

Fall in Big Stone Gap isn't only about pretty leaves.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park has several appropriately spooky events planned for October 24, 2026.

At noon, the museum is hosting A Creepy Cryptids Program, exploring legends and mysteries from Southern Appalachia. Later that afternoon, visitors can learn about the symbolism found on historic gravestones, followed that evening by Shadows of the Past, a guided walk through Big Stone Gap’s historic Glencoe Cemetery. 

History, old cemeteries and Appalachian folklore in late October?

Yeah. That feels pretty appropriate. 😂

 

Spend Halloween at Hoots ’N’ Haints 🎃

If you’ll be in Big Stone Gap on Halloween, the Southwest Virginia Museum is also hosting its Hoots ’N’ Haints Family Festival on October 31 from 5–9 p.m.

The free family event includes Halloween games, spooky stories, a fortune teller, the museum’s “Haunting on the Hill” attraction and hot chocolate, with children 12 and under receiving free tickets to play the games. 

It's a fun way to finish out October and another reminder that some of the best things happening in a small town are the community traditions that bring everybody together.

Slow Down and Enjoy the Season

You don’t need a packed schedule to enjoy fall here.

Stop somewhere local for coffee. Take the long way home. Drive through town with the windows cracked. Sit beside the river. Browse a shop you’ve never been inside. Get something warm to eat.

Fall in Big Stone Gap isn’t really about having twenty attractions to check off a list.

It’s about being here when the mountains change.

 

Fall 2026 Events at a Glance

For anyone planning a fall trip, here are a few dates to save:

October 8–11 — Blue Highway Fest

October 16–18 — Home Craft Days

October 24 — Creepy Cryptids, historic gravestone program & Glencoe Cemetery walk

October 31 — Hoots ’N’ Haints Family Festival

Event details can change, so check with the event organizer before making travel plans. 

Fall Looks Good on Big Stone Gap. 🤎🍂🏔️

There’s a reason this season feels so at home in Appalachia.

The mountains become a little more colorful. The air gets cooler. Music, festivals and handmade traditions fill the calendar. And everyday places somehow become worth slowing down to notice again.

For me, it’s also one of my favorite seasons as a maker. Clean Glow Co. was born right here in Big Stone Gap, and so much of what I create is inspired by these mountains, the changing seasons and the feeling of home.

Whether you’re coming for a festival, spending a weekend exploring Southwest Virginia, or simply taking a drive to see the leaves, I hope you’ll give yourself enough time to experience Big Stone Gap the way it’s meant to be experienced.

Slowly.

We’ll be here. 🤎🏔️