Experience autumn on the mountaintop at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello with programs and events for all ages

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello invites visitors to continue celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary this fall with a new slate of programs and events. The wide-ranging lineup includes interactive learning opportunities, seasonal tastings, programs, and performances on the mountaintop.   

Headlining the schedule are two Fall Family Days (September 19 and 26), the perfect way to experience autumn on the historic mountaintop. Young explorers will discover Monticello’s gardens by sight, smell, touch, and sound at a Five Senses in the Garden program, and they can try writing with a quill pen, cracking a code with a wheel cipher, and investigating mystery objects at the Mountaintop Activity Center. The fun-filled days also include Meet Thomas Jefferson with actor-interpreter Bill Barker, live musical performances, and exclusive tastings from the Farm Shop—including a limited-edition, seasonal ice cream. 

The rest of the fall features more opportunities for enjoyment and exploration, including interactive learning at Home Educators’ Day and the Declaration of Independence Print Shop, thought-provoking Pursuits of Knowledge conversations, the return of the popular Fall Plant Sale, and relaxing evenings of plein air painting at Jefferson Vineyards. 

Throughout the season, visitors can take in the stunning autumnal foliage and experience Monticello’s landscapes at their most vibrant with a Garden Tour—available with any ticket—or on the Saunders-Monticello Trail. 

Explore the full lineup and learn more about each of these unique offerings below. Related photos available for use here. Credit: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. 

Home Educators’ Day -- September 10: Monticello welcomes homeschool families for a day of interactive learning and exploration alongside Monticello curators and archaeologists. Through hands-on activities, visitors will discover Thomas Jefferson’s role in early American history, explore Monticello as an architectural landmark, and learn about the lives and skilled labor of the enslaved community who shaped this plantation landscape. 

Families also can take a Family-Friendly Tour of the first floor of the main house or explore the mountaintop with a Grounds Ticket. Created with homeschool learners in mind, Home Educators’ Day offers engaging experiences for a range of ages, interests, and learning styles. Learn more and get your tickets now. 

Declaration of Independence Print Shop -- September 10: Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by producing your very own copy with a working printing press. This hands-on letterpress printing experience is presented by Arion Press and Monticello, with support from Josef Beery. Included with every ticket. Learn more here. 

Fall Plant Sale at the Center for Historic Plants -- September 19: The popular plant sale returns this fall at Monticello’s Tufton Farm, with heirloom plant varieties—many offered at end-of-season prices—and personalized garden advice from knowledgeable nursery staff. Learn more here. 

Fall Family Day -- September 19 and 26: Take in the gorgeous scenery of an autumn weekend on the historic mountaintop while enjoying hands-on activities, performances, and more. Included with every ticket. Explore the full schedule and learn more here. 

Pursuits of Knowledge: Judy Woodruff and Jamelle Bouie on Freedom of the Press -- September 21: Award-winning PBS journalist Judy Woodruff and New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie, Monticello’s 2026-27 Fritz and Claudine Kundrun Fellow, consider the role of journalism in sustaining a free society and the challenges facing the press in 2026 and beyond in this timely conversation. Learn more here. 

Plein Air Painting at Jefferson Vineyards -- September 23 and October 7: This special floral watercolor workshop at the scenic Jefferson Vineyards celebrates the beauty of Monticello’s gardens in the golden light of late afternoon. Beginner and intermediate artists will receive personalized guidance from Monticello flower gardener and local artist Debbie Donley as they create their own botanical masterpiece to take home. Learn more and register here. 

Virginia Archaeology Month Open House -- October 10: Dig into the fascinating history of the mountaintop with the Archaeology Department’s annual open house, featuring displays, exhibits on recent discoveries in the field and the lab, engaging activities for all ages, and walking tours of the vanished Monticello Plantation landscape. Included with every ticket. Learn more here. 

Pursuits of Knowledge: Danielle Allen on “Radical Duke” -- October 29: In a conversation moderated by Monticello President Dr. Jane Kamensky, Harvard University professor Dr. Danielle Allen will discuss her new book, Radical Duke: How One Aristocrat – and the American Revolution – Transformed Britain. A fascinating, explosive investigation, Radical Duke reveals how a renegade English Duke and the firebrand polemicist Thomas Paine almost brought the American Revolution to Britain. Learn more and secure your tickets now. 

About Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello 

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. As a civic institution, Monticello seeks to increase knowledge and share the ideals Jefferson articulated in the Declaration of Independence through programming and scholarship built upon a foundation of rigorous research.  

Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site, and a Site of Conscience. As a private, nonprofit organization, Monticello receives no ongoing local, state, or federal funding. Visitors and the generosity of donors make Monticello’s twofold mission of preservation and education possible. For information, visit monticello.org.