Cranberry Fest, Jack-o-Lanterns, Dog Mountain Party, Brass Bands, and Pumpkin Boats: Top New England Events for Oct 8-14, 2014

With a three-day weekend waiting in the wings we know you are eager to start planning your fall fun--so are we! Let's jump right in:

Take a scenic tractor ride around the
cranberry bogs at AD Makepeace.

Even if you are headed out of state for your long weekend, if you'll still be in New England remember that New England Fall Events will have you covered for great activities like apple picking, hayrides, corn mazes, and events in your vacation spot. 

Cranberries are King on the Cape this Weekend

One of our favorite harvest festivals is coming up this Saturday and Sunday, October 11^th and 12^th—The Cranberry Harvest Celebration in Wareham, MA. 

Local cranberry honey is delicious!

We love this all-day festival and you will definitely want to carve out a solid morning or afternoon to attend. There are scenic tractor rides around the cranberry bogs, bog harvest demonstrations, live music, cranberry displays, a huge and very diverse craft vendor tent, plenty of food vendors, kids’ activities, cooking demos, a birds of prey exhibit, swan boat rides, and even helicopter rides (extra fee). We particularly loved the educational activities such as making your own “bog-in-a-cup” to take home.

This is a great, outdoorsy, family-friendly event and a fun way to learn about the New England’s cranberry agriculture. 

Providence is Aglow with a Breathtaking Pumpkin Display

Just a taste of the mesmerizing pumpkin
display at the Roger Williams Zoo

Another favorite event of ours this weekend is the ongoing Jack-o’-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. This is an evening affair and if you plan to go on a weekend, leave yourself extra time to enjoy yourself (pro tip—park and arrive before it opens!). If you are flexible enough to attend on a weeknight, you’ll encounter swifter lines but make no mistake—this is a super popular event! 
If you have little ones, we recommend using a stroller and as it’s well-attended and held at night (trickier to see once you’ve entered the display area), you’ll thank us for arriving with a ratio of one adult per child as it’s easier to keep everyone at arm’s reach.
ENTER TO WIN a pair of tickets to the Jack-o'-Lantern Spectacular! (Contest ends 10/11)

Vermont's One-of-a-Kind Dog Mountain Hosts their Annual Fall Dog Party this Saturday!

Don't miss the last Dog Party
of the year this Saturday in VT

Dog Mountain is a unique place Vermont where dogs have free reign! This Saturday October 11th is their final "dog party" of the year. With foliage dotting the landscape it's a gorgeous time to head up to Vermont to share fall and the outdoors with your pooch. The Dog Mountain Fall Dog Party will feature live music, dog contests, prizes, a bounce house, food, and of a big bag of tennis balls for you-guessed-it: your furry friend.
"Dog Mountain is set on 150 acres on a private mountaintop spot in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The grounds are always open to people and their dogs.The unspoiled haven is covered with hiking trails and dog ponds. There is no leash law on Dog Mountain. Dogs are not just welcome here, they are cherished! Dogs are free to run, play, swim and best of all meet other dogs!" Read more about artist Stephen Huneck, his gallery, and his legacy at Dog Mountain.
More event details.

Why Turn a Pumpkin into a Boat? Beacuse you CAN! Pumpkin Fun in Damariscotta, ME

Paddle your pumpkin at the Damariscotta Pumpkin Regatta!

If you love pumpkins, or are looking for a very unqiue event, check out this weekend's Pumpkin Regatta in Damariscotta, ME.
We are so intrigued by any competition that turns giant squash into boats - paddle or motorized. Todd Sandstrum, the founder of the wonderful South Shore Great Pumpkin Challenge and Mile of Orange event in Easton, MA, will be up in Maine this weekend for the festivities and he was kind enough to share a handful of photos from this offbeat festival! Full event details for the Damariscotta Pumpkin Regatta.

Pumpkin candle DIY craft, photo
courtesy of the Free People  blog.

Pumpkins are here! Pumpkins are everywhere! 

New England Fall Events has a list of Pumpkin Patches and PYO Pumpkins for every New England state. 
Please support your local farms by purchasing your pumpkins from your local farm’s harvest.

Quick and Easy Guide to Pumpkin Patches in New England.

While you're stocking up on your gorgeous orange globes, buy a few extra gourds for making these easy and charming pumpkin candles you see on the right!

Where is New England Fall Events Headed this Weekend?

Nearly 30 marching bands will play Honk!
in Somerville, MA this weekend

With a three-day weekend lined up, we've been waiting all year to head to the HONK! Festival in Somerville, MA. We have plans to join them for the lantern making and lantern parade on Friday and we can't wait to check out as many brass bands as a human being can fit in on Saturday. We’ll spend our Saturday and Sunday evenings covering night attractions for our companion website Halloween New England and Monday we hope to swing by the Newburyport Fall Festival. 

Photo courtesy of Jeff-Foliage

New England Foliage Report from Jeff-Foliage:

This week Jeff Foliage gives us a Fall Foliage report:

"The fall foliage season has been going gangbusters from mid-Sept till the 3rd of Oct, but over the past few days the Fall colors seem to be tapping the brakes..."

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 of our top picks for the Columbus Day Weekend! You'll find even more events and seasonal fun listed on every New England state’s Fall & Activities guide and Food & Harvest Festival Guide.

Here are our recommended activities for Oct 8-14:

Cranberry Harvest Celebration

Wareham, MA   Click for event details.

Saturday & Sunday, October 11^th and 12^th, 2014 

HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands – FREE

Somerville, MA  Click for details.
Friday through Sunday, October 10^th-12^th, 2014

Fall Dog Party at Dog Mountain VT – FREE

St. Johnsbury, VT  Click for event details.

Saturday, October 11th, 2014 

Twilight Hike at Sholan Farms  – FREE 

Leominster, MA   Click for event details.
Friday, October 10^th, 2014

Jack-o’-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park and Zoo

Providence, RI  Click for event details.

Open nightly through November 2nd, 2014
ENTER our contest to WIN a pair of tickets to this event!

Riverside Blues and BBQ Festival 

Greenfield, MA   Click for event details.
Saturday & Sunday, Oct 11^th & 12^th, 2014

Damariscotta Pumpkin Regatta

Damariscotta, ME   Click for event details.

Friday through Sunday, October 10^th - 12^th, 2014

Milford Pumpkin Festival – FREE

Milford, NH   Click for event details.

Friday through Sunday, October 10th -12^th, 2014

Fall Festival at Lanni Orchards  – FREE 

Lunenburg, MA  Click for event details.

Saturday through Monday, October 11^th - 13^th, 2014

Southington CT Apple Festival– FREE

Southington, CT   Click for event details.

Friday through Sunday, October 10^th – 12^th, 2014

Fall Festival at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum

Milton, MA  Click for event details.

Saturday through Monday, Oct 11^th - 13^th, 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:

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

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 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 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.