Pick of the Month: Oct. 19: Yorktown Day Observance. Ceremonies, a parade and tactical demonstrations by the Commander-in-Chief's Guard commemorate the anniversary of the surrender of the British army to General Washington at Yorktown, the victory that secured independence for the United States of America. Yorktown Battlefield. Free. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 757-898-2410, www.nps.gov/colo.

Oct. 1-31: Halloween with Virginia's James River Plantation. Historic landmark plantations and regional dining establishments, from Williamsburg and Hampton Roads to Richmond along the James River, offer ghostly and spirited activities to suit every taste. Visit the website to see the variety of haunted tours, candlelight dinners and vacation packages, as well as regular house and garden tours. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. www.jamesriverplantations.com.

Oct. 3: Rhythms on the Riverwalk Fall Concert Series. Annual concert series in Yorktown featuring some of the area's finest artists performing jazz, big band, swing and patriotic music. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 757-890-3500, www.yorkcounty.gov/tourism. 757-877-2933. www.villageevents.org.

Oct. 3-5: Scottish Festival at Rockahock Campgrounds in Lanexa. Discover your Scottish roots, or just explore this unique culture, at the Williamsburg Scottish Festival, one of the largest such events in the country. The festival will host a Mini-Tattoo performed by several award-winning pipe & drum bands and U.S. military bands; traditional Scottish Dancing, bag piping & drumming, Highland Athletics; Celtic Rock & Fusion bands; Clan Tents; historical re-enactors; sheepdog trials; vendors of traditional clothing, jewelry, arts & crafts, military memorabilia, Scottish souvenirs, food and beverages of all sorts, and much more. http://www.wsfonline.org.

Oct. 4: Yorktown Wine Festival - The Best of Virginia in Yorktown. 11a.m.-6 p.m. Sample wines from premier wineries throughout Virginia. Food and art vendors on-site. Rain or shine. At Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown. $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. 757-877-2933. www.villageevents.org.

Oct. 4: 7th Annual Antique Show & Flea Market. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at New Town on Discovery Park Boulevard in James City. 757-253-8126. Oct. 4-5: Fall Festival of Folklife. Experience Southeast Virginia's biggest celebration of traditional crafts, trades and entertainment at this annual festival held in Newport News Regional Park. Stroll through the craft and trade demonstration areas, enjoy continuous entertainment on four stages, sample regional and traditional foods and admire the wide variety of handmade items for sale. $5/vehicle. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 757-926-1400, www.nnparks.com.

Oct. 4, 11, 18, 24-25: James River Plantation Progressive Ghost Feast Tour & Dinner. Experience an evening of spirited tale telling in Williamsburg's James River Plantation country. Hear the Legend of Rippons Run, visit the Harwood graveyard and hear of the Beechwood Tragedy. Each house tours is alternated with a to-die-for dinner course. Enjoy tours by the owners of Piney Grove (1790), Ashland (1835), Ladysmith (1857), Dower Quarter (1835) and Duck Church (1917). Admission. 5-9 p.m. 804-829-2196, 804-829-2480, www.pineygrove.com.

Oct. 5: An Occasion for the Arts. Merchants Square, Downtown Williamsburg. Annual juried festival of nationally acclaimed artists, performances by jazz, classical, Dixieland, acoustic, country and rock musicians; youth art and stage; and food. Free. 800-368-6511, anoccasionforthearts.org.

Oct. 10-11: 2008 Italian Festival. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Walsingham Academy, 1100 Jamestown Rd. Family fun, Italian food, tastings by 10 of Virginia's top wineries. Wine for sale by bottle or case. Entertainment includes Virginia Opera Company on Saturday, Wise Guys band on Sunday Dean Martin impressionist both days. For kids, bounce house, face-painting, balloon sculpting. Many Italian food specialties. Forty arts & crafts vendors. Tickets w/wine tastings & souvenir glass: $12 in advance, $15 at gate. Without wine, $5 advance, $8 gate. Active duty military & dependants free. Kids 15 & under free. Parking free. Proceeds fund educational projects and scholarships. Sponsored by the Colonial Italian American Organization of Williamsburg. 757-220-5535, www.ciaowilliamsburg.

Oct. 11-12: Prelude to Victory: Washington Prepares for Yorktown. Colonial Williamsburg. Meet part of a vast army on its way to lay siege to Yorktown in what proves to be the decisive battle of the American Revolution. The army and townspeople form up on the street in front of the Courthouse to receive Generals Washington and Rochambeau. Offer encouragement as the army displays its proficiency in firing demonstrations. Washington and his officers address the battalion concerning the upcoming siege. Admission. Call for information. 800-447-8679, www.history.org.

Oct. 11, Nov. 15, Dec. 13: Yorktown Market Days at the River. Saturdays, in historic Yorktown. 8 a.m.-noon (November and December, market opens at 8:30 a.m.) Features local produce, fresh meat and seafood, baked goods, herbs, specialty cut flowers, handmade soaps, live musical entertainment, quality art, and a wealth of vendors. 757-890-3300, www.yorkcounty.gov/publicinfo.

Through Oct. 15: "A New World: England's First View of America," at Jamestown Settlement. The watercolor drawings of John White, the earliest visual record by an Englishman on the flora, fauna and people of the New World, are presented in an exhibition from the British Museum. White accompanied a number of expeditions sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh to Virginia in the 1580s and was governor of the short-lived colony at Roanoke Island, part of modern North Carolina. Scenes of the Algonquian-speaking people of the region, as well as other parts of the Americas and peoples of the world are among the more than 70 White drawings in the exhibition. Companion lecture series at 7 p.m., Saturdays, Aug. 9 and Sept. 20. Reservations recommended at 757-253-4415 or rsvp.lecture@jyf.virginia.gov.

Oct. 17: Berkeley Plantation Autumn Sunset and Spirits Tour. Come early to explore the beautiful October gardens at Berkeley in Charles City. Meet your costumed guide at the gazebo on the West Lawn. Relax and enjoy light hors d'oeuvres as well as the magnificent panoramic views of sky, field and James River as sunset falls. At twilight, marvel at Berkeley's amazing history as your guide leads you through a candlelight tour of the elegant 1726 mansion. Reservations are required. Admission. 804-829-6018, 888-466-6018, www.berkeleyplantation.com.

Oct. 17-18: Night of the Living Museum at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News. This is a nonscary Halloween celebration for families with children ages 12 and under. Enjoy live animal shows and a lantern walk through the night forest. Explore the haunted World of Darkness, meet the Storytelling Witch, Pumpkin Lady, Museum Wizard, Spider Lady and fortune-telling Gypsies. Search for gold in the maze. Wear a costume and join the Halloween parade. Enjoy creepy crafts and kids' games. Admission. 6-9 p.m. 757-595-1900, 757-595-9135, www.thevlm.org.

Oct. 18-19: Yorktown Victory Celebration. Revolutionary War military and artillery demonstrations and special interpretive programs at the Yorktown Victory Center mark the anniversary of America's momentous victory at Yorktown on Oct. 19, 1781. Special programs are also held at Yorktown Battlefield, and are administered by the National Park Service. Townwide events on Yorktown Day, Oct. 19, include a parade and patriotic exercises. Admission. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 757-253-4838, 888-593-4682, www.historyisfun.org.

Oct. 18-19: Tour the Godspeed. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Godspeed, one of three re-creations of the ships that brought English colonists to Virginia in 1607, will be docked at the main pier in Yorktown and will be open for visitors. The ship was newly constructed to commemorate America's 400th Anniversary in 2007 and is normally on exhibit at Jamestown Settlement. This is an exceptional opportunity to visit the ship away from its homeport. Sponsored by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Riverwalk Landing. Free. 757-887-1776.

Oct. 25: The Great Pumpkin Party. Get a jump start on your Halloween festivities with this free "not-so-scary" family event that includes free make-and-take crafts for the kids, entertainment, treats and a costume parade. Come early or stay late and enjoy the great shopping and dining all along Merchant's Walk and throughout the City Center area in Newport News. 4-8 p.m. 757-926-1400, www.nnparks.com.

Through Oct. 26: Howl-O-Scream. Can't get enough of all the thrills and chills at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream? Just wait until this year as the park celebrates its 10th season of chills and thrills. Admission. 757-253-3350, www.buschgardens.com.

Oct. 27: Haunted Forest. 6-9:30 p.m., Upper County Park in James City County. Free Parking & Shuttle from Toano Middle School. Journey through the forest for $1/person or half price if you wear a costume. Venture out after dark to experience a walk through our Haunted Forest for the fun, for the fright, for the things that go bump in the night! Children 6 and younger and their parents will especially enjoy Goblinville with its moonwalks, playground equipment and a pumpkin patch hayride that travels through a maze of pumpkin faces and nursery rhyme characters.Pumpkin bowling, arts & crafts, games and ghouls together create a night of frightful family fun. Visit the concessions and munch. 757-259-5415.

Through October: Williamsburg Farmers' Market's Sixth Season. 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday. Enjoy the great variety of local, seasonal, fruits and vegetables, along with delicious baked treats, seafood, and beautiful plants and flowers from over 30 vendors. Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg. 757-259-3768 for more information.

Nov. 1: Fall Festival. Free and open to the public. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Music Ministry at Wellspring United Methodist Church in Williamsburg presents its annual Fall Festival & Bazaar, the perfect opportunity to do all of your Christmas shopping. This family friendly event offers crafts, games and surprises for the children; a Fall Cafe with Bob's famous Brunswick Stew; Bake Sale; Silent Auction; and much more! Rain or shine. 757-258-5008.

Through Dec. 2: Secrets of the Chocolate Maker. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month this fall and winter, guests witness the process of 18th-century chocolate making in a special program in the Governor's Palace Kitchen at Colonial Williamsburg, from grinding cocoa beans to forming a chocolate patty to be grated into powder. See beans winnowed, roasted, crushed and spiced in the creation of distinctive delights. Admission. 800-HISTORY, www.history.org.