The 44th Annual West Point Crab Carnival filled the downtown waterfront on October 2 and 3, and it's over now. The rest of fall downriver from McCauley Park doesn't spread out evenly. It bunches into three dates: Friday, October 16, Saturday, October 17, and Saturday, October 31. Most of what's left happens on those days, and the easiest way to rent a boat on the river ends on the first one.
That changes how you plan the next three weeks. One open Friday and two open Saturdays cover most of what West Point and the Mattaponi still have to offer this season.
The summer markets have already ended
The usual weekend markets are finished. The West Point Farmers Market ran from May 16 through September 5, 2026, at The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park. The King William Farmers' Market met on Friday evenings from June 5 through the end of August at the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribal Grounds, 13476 King William Road, according to WRIC's May 2026 report.
So there's no standing Saturday market to fall back on this fall. The Town of West Point has two special market mornings left, plus a short run of evening events. Here's what's listed through November, as of early October:
| Date | Day | Event | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 16 | Friday | Food Trucks by the River, Halloween night | The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park, 1000 Chelsea Road | 5 to 8 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | Friday | Last listed day for self-service kayak rentals | West Point Creek, 1302 Lee St. | Daylight |
| Oct. 17 | Saturday | Meet the Artists | Mattapony Reserve, 1581 Mattaponi Reservation Circle | Check with venue |
| Oct. 17 | Saturday | Arts Alive presents Radio Recall | Robinson/Olsson Auditorium, 1040 Thompson Avenue | 7 p.m. |
| Oct. 31 | Saturday | Halloween Market | The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Oct. 31 | Saturday | Halloween party | Mattapony Reserve | Check with venue |
| Nov. 14 | Saturday | Arts Alive presents Virginia's Li'l Ole Opry | Robinson/Olsson Auditorium | 7 p.m. |
| Nov. 28 | Saturday | Holiday Market | West Point Town Park, 325 8th Street | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
Town event details come from the Visit West Point & King William events page. The Mattapony Reserve dates come from the winery's own fall events post. The kayak rental season is listed on the Visit West Point paddling page.
October 16 is the last day for two things
Food Trucks by the River runs on select Friday evenings in spring, summer and fall. This year it went once a month: May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, and now October 16. The July night was canceled for weather, which is a reminder that an outdoor riverfront evening depends on the forecast.
The October lineup is a Halloween night with Jim Davidson playing, wine from Gauthier Vineyard, and food from Sno-to-Go, Don Chido and The Scottish Pig, from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park. Visit West Point's fall roundup describes it as Halloween fun at Riverwalk Park with live music and food trucks. If you'd like to try Gauthier's wine somewhere else after the season ends, the vineyard is in Barhamsville, in New Kent County, and has an indoor tasting room.
That same Friday is also the last listed day for the self-service kayak station at West Point Creek. The Town of West Point runs it with Rent.fun at 1302 Lee St., and the rental includes a kayak, paddle and life vest. Here's how it works, according to the Rent.fun listing:
- Download the app and create an account.
- Scan the QR code at the station to unlock a kayak.
- Return the kayak and end the rental in the app.
- Rentals are first-come, first-served. You can't reserve ahead.
- The rate is $25 for the first two hours, then $15 for each additional hour.
The two sources don't quite agree. Visit West Point lists the season as May 1 through October 16, 2026, while the Rent.fun page currently shows "Closed for the season" alongside "Open every day from Sun-up to Sun-down." Check the app before you drive down with an afternoon on the water in mind.
Paddling in fall has a following for a reason. Visit West Point's fall guide calls the rivers here "spectacular" this time of year and lists herons, bald eagles, osprey, waterfowl, muskrats and fiddler crabs along the banks. The same guide reminds paddlers that conditions on tidal water change quickly. It suggests checking weather and tides, dressing for cooler water, and wearing a properly fitted life jacket.
After the 16th, the closest launch is in Aylett
If you have your own kayak or canoe, the rental station closing doesn't matter much. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources runs a public Mattaponi launch listed simply as "Aylett," with directions from Route 360 East to Route 600. DWR's own write-up calls it Aylett Landing and places it about 100 yards east of Route 360 on West River Road, on a lane just before St. David's Episcopal Church. The fall guide names Aylett as a starting point for a trip on the Mattaponi, and that river runs down to West Point.
October 17 gives you an afternoon and an evening
The day after the food trucks, two separate events fill one Saturday.
Mattapony Reserve, at 1581 Mattaponi Reservation Circle, is holding Meet the Artists on October 17. The Reserve describes itself as an Indigenous-owned winery, eatery, tasting room and museum, owned by Ginger and Lonnie. Visit West Point's fall guide describes it as sitting high above the banks of the Mattaponi, with a museum collection that includes ancient relics and a shop selling pieces made by Native American artisans.
Before you go, know that the Reserve's own pages don't agree on hours. The contact page lists Friday 5 to 8 and Saturday and Sunday 12 to 6. The homepage FAQ lists only Saturday and Sunday. The events post doesn't give start times. Even the fall guide tells visitors to check directly with Mattapony Reserve for current hours, and that applies to both October dates.
At 7 p.m., the Arts Alive 2026–2027 concert series opens at Robinson/Olsson Auditorium, 1040 Thompson Avenue in West Point, with Radio Recall. Tickets and season subscriptions are sold through Arts Alive. An afternoon at the Reserve and an evening concert fit in the same Saturday because they're scheduled hours apart.
October 31 offers a morning and a party
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and it's the second date with two events.
The morning market at the Pavilion
The Town of West Point's Halloween Market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Pavilion at Riverwalk Park. The town's listing includes seasonal produce, jewelry, gifts, baked goods, jams and jellies, autumn decor and coffee. Kids' activities include Gaga Ball, free face painting and activities with the West Point Police Department, and Nino's Pizza Truck will be there for lunch. Visit West Point's fall guide calls it the "Tent or Treat Halloween Market" and adds tent-or-treating and a costume contest. Because the two listings use different names and activity lists, the town's Facebook page is the place to check for last-minute updates.
It's the town's first market morning since its Autumn Market on September 26.
The evening at the Reserve
Mattapony Reserve is holding a Halloween party the same day, with live music and a costume contest. No start time is posted yet. If you're planning to go to both, confirm the timing with the Reserve before you count on doing them back to back.
November moves indoors and into Town Park
After Halloween, the pace slows to one Saturday every two weeks. On November 14, Arts Alive brings Virginia's Li'l Ole Opry to Robinson/Olsson Auditorium at 7 p.m.
On November 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Holiday Market moves from the riverfront Pavilion to West Point Town Park at 325 8th Street, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The town says it will feature the regular farmers market vendors plus a few new ones. The list includes fresh-cut greenery, centerpieces and wreaths, baked goods, jams and jellies, sweet treats, coffee, candles, artwork, dog treats and crafts. It's the last market morning of 2026 on the town calendar.
If you'd rather go for a drive without a ticket or a start time, the fall guide suggests a loop past the King William County Courthouse, built in 1725 and recognized as the oldest courthouse building in continuous use in the United States. The same guide notes that King William County is home to the Mattaponi Indian Tribe and Reservation, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe. If you're heading out from Aylett, there's the Wawa at 12065 King William Road, which was scheduled to open on February 19, 2026, as the Daily Press reported.
That leaves October 16 for the river and the food trucks, October 17 for the Reserve and the concert, and October 31 for the market and the party. After that come November 14 and November 28, then the West Point Chamber's Christmas on the Town in downtown West Point on Sunday, December 6.
At Cowan Realty, we spend a lot of time on the Route 360 side of King William County, and calendars like this one are part of how we get to know it. If a fall Saturday in West Point has you thinking about your own next move, Renee is happy to talk it through. Work with Us.
