Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Jack-o'-Lanterns, Pumpkins on the Pier, Apple Fests and Food Trucks: Top New England Events for Oct 1-7, 2014

Welcome October! Nothing says fall like looking at the calendar and seeing that we have landed in the loveliest month of the year. It seems like everywhere you look the leaves are working their way into brighter hues and even a drive to the store is made more scenic with the arrival of fall colors. In short, it's time for a road-trip!

Even if you want to hit the road for a day-long drive don't know where to end up, New England Fall Events provides you with quick and easy guides for every New England state. 
Pumpkins on the Pier CT - New England Fall Events
Walk out on the Walnut Beach Pier
to enjoy the jack-o-lantern display

One of our very favorite annual festivals is coming up this Sunday October 5th--The Pumpkins on the Pier Festival in Milford, CT. When a MA-based friend of mine asked me for a worthwhile road-trip (under 2 hour drive) for her family with children ages 3 and 6, this was my top choice. For one, even though their travel time will be just shy of 2 hours the festival provides a full-day of varied activities starting at 11am and running through 7pm ending with a laser light show so they'll be there for hours and the kids will be tuckered out for the drive home. 

With pie-eating contest (for adults and kids), magicians, plentiful activities like pumpkins golf, carving, play areas, pumpkin painting and a pumpkin patch you'll happily spend hours here. Best of all is the lovely display of jack-o'-lanterns lined up along the pier stretching into Long Island Sound--it's just a beautiful event. We have festival tips and will give you the low-down on Pumpkins on the Pier on our blog feature.


Apple Days - Old Sturbridge Village - New England Fall Events
Gorgeous foliage at last year's Apple Days
Another favorite event of ours this weekend is Apple Days at Old Sturbridge Village.  Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, this charming celebration of the apple offers tastings of antique apples, make your own sachets, DIY orange and clove pomanders, cider boil down demonstrations, cider making demos, and ox-powered cider mill, lovely foliage, hiking trails, old-fashioned games and much more.
We love this 1830 New England living history museum and it's a lovely place to spend a fall day.


It's Pumpkin Season! With endless ways to admire, eat, and carve up those cheerful orange globes, remember that New England Fall Events has a list of Pumpkin Patches and PYO Pumpkins for every New England state. Please support your local farms and swing by to enjoy their pumpkin bounty.
Quick and Easy Guide to Pumpkin Patches in New England.

Where is New England Fall Events Headed this Weekend?
Fright Fest Six Flags New ENgland - Halloween New England
Six Flags transforms into Fright Fest
With October underway, we're heading off to Connecticut for a few days to cover some events for our companion website Halloween New England but we'll pop by the Southington Apple Festival and Pumpkins on the Pier on our way back.

We may even swing through Six Flags New England to take in their special fall Fright Fest activities for a second time and we'll carve out a few hours for more apple picking!

New England Foliage Report from Jeff-Foliage:
Jeff Foliage Errol NH
Leaving Errol, NH ~ Jeff Foliage
This week Jeff Foliage gives us a Fall Foliage report from Maine:

"Maybe you missed it? The peak fall colors have arrived!
Frosty temps earlier in September have created favorable conditions for turning colors. We drove from Rangeley Lake Maine on Sunday the 28th and all along Route 16 into NH, we saw high color straining towards peak fall color. We got a flat and this caused us to …" Click here to read Jeff's full report.

New England Fall Events' Top Recommendations for this Weekend's Fall Fun
Here's a sample of some wonderful events to keep on your radar heading into the weekend! Find even more terrific events listed on every New England state’s Fall & Activities guide and Food & Harvest Festival Guide.

Here are our recommended activities for Oct 1-6:

Jack-o’-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo
Providence, RI  Click for event details.
Opens Thursday, Oct 2nd and runs nightly through November 2nd, 2014

Penguin Book of Witches Party at the Salem Witch Museum – FREE
Salem, MA   Click for event details.
Thursday, Oct 2nd, 2014

Pumpkins on the Pier Festival – FREE
Milford, CT  Click for details.
Sunday, October 5th, 2014
Read about why Pumpkins on the Pier is one of our favorite annual events!

Apple Days at Old Sturbridge Village 
Sturbridge, MA  Click for event details.
Saturday and Sunday, October 4th & 5th, 2014

Southington CT Apple Festival and Fireworks – FREE
Southington, CT   Click for event details.
Friday through Sunday, October 3rd - 5th, 2014

Champlain Mini-Maker Faire at Shelburne Farms
Shelburne, VT   Click for event details.
Saturday and Sunday, October 4th & 5th, 2014

Pumpkin Festival at DeMeritt Hill Farm – FREE
Lee, NH   Click for event details.
Saturday and Sunday, October 4th & 5th 2014

Adam Fears and Adam Craig headline Country Music Concert for a Cause
Easthampton, MA   Click for event details.
Saturday, October 4, 2014

NH Lakes Region Barrel Tasting Weekend at Hermit Woods Winery
Meredith, NH   Click for event details.
Saturday and Sunday, October 4th & 5th 2014

Bike Applecycle Maine 
Lymnan, ME  Click for event details.
Sunday, Oct 5th, 2014

NH Food Truck Festival at Redhook Brewery
Portsmouth, NH  Click for event details.
Sunday, October 5th, 2014

Heading out apple picking this weekend? New England Fall Events has complete guides, features, maps, and contact info for New England PYO apple orchards. Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

Need help mapping out where to go? New England Fall Events’ state page maps are handy for scrolling and spotting farms near home or near your road-trip destination. Orchard and fall attraction maps for ConnecticutMaineMassachusettsNew HampshireRhode Island, and Vermont.

Remember, always call ahead before heading out to PYO as some farms will adjust their hours for weather or they close to allow more time for fruit to ripen.

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