Garlic Fest, Jousting, Salmon Festival, BBQ and Brew Fest, Dragon Boats, Contests and more: New England Fall Events Top Picks for Aug 31st-Sept 6

The moment you've been waiting for: Fall has arrived in New England!

Okay, okay, we know that September 23rd is the "official" first day but New Englanders can all agree Labor Day is when we turn the corner on summer and embrace our favorite season--fall!  

NEW CONTESTS: Win Tickets to the Portsmouth Fairy House Tour and Boston Indie Game Festival
In case you missed it, we've posted TWO new contests for this week!
The Boston Festival of Indie Games on Sept 10th is a day-long indoor event showcasing local tabletop and digital game designers from the New England area. Test out prototypes, offer your feedback about gameplay, get a sneak peak on soon-to-be-released games, meet game designers, graphic artists, and learn about the thriving local game industry! New England Fall Events visited this event last year (avid tabletop game players ourselves) and came away inspired by the inventiveness and creativity our fellow New Englanders are contributing to the game world. It's a family-friendly event but we think it's suitable for teens and older. Enter to WIN to tickets to the event in Cambridge, MA. (Contest ends 9/6).

Who doesn't love the magic of fairy houses? We've learned through the years that our New England Fall Events fans are as into these miniature, nature-inspired, fantastic little homes as much as we are!

The Portsmouth NH Fairy House Tour (Sept 24th & 25th) sets the bar very high with their 200+ fairy houses on display on the picture-perfect Starwberry Banke woods and gardens--and it's all right in our backyard! We're giving away a FAMILY Pass (4 people) to the this year's Fairy House Tour and we'll pick two winners! No limit entry! Click here to enter.


It's Garlic Weekend in Southern Vermont!

If you are a garlic-lover and an adventurous eater, the Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival is a super place to visit this Saturday and Sunday! This family-friendly annual festival is packed with interesting garlic treats - garlic ice cream and garlic margaritas!--and also plenty of non-garlic food, bouncy houses, local foods, entertainment, pizza, jams, pepper jellies, hot sauces, maple syrup, jugglers, and more.
New England Fall Events' Deb Wojcicki ventured to this delicious event last year and shared her experience with us all at "Celebrating the 'Stinky Rose' at Vermont's Garlic and Herb Festival."

Pawtucket Dragon Boat Race and Taiwan Day Festival coming up this Saturday, Sept. 3rd
One of our favorite fall events in New England is coming up this Saturday--The RI Dragon Boat Race and Taiwan Day Festival. It's a free festival full of family-friendly activities and performances. 

The Boston Chinese Folk Art Workshop showcases traditional dances, demonstrations, and other folks arts (video left) which are a feast for the eyes and ears. Anyone can sign up to participate in the hilarious dumpling eating contest (our video here) 

If you'd like to see even more wonderful performance clips from the festival, visit the New England Fall Events You Tube Channel. We have videos of the Dragon Boat Race, the Joyful Celebrations Dance, the Peacock Dance, Spears and Sleeves, and The Beating of the Drums. 

The dragon boat races take place at scheduled intervals during the morning and afternoon alongside other festivities taking place on the stage under the tent. If you're headed out to this joyful event, read about our visit to this memorable festival complete with insider tips for you to help you get the most from the experience.
"Pawtucket Comes Alive with Dragon Boats and Chinese Folk Art at Rhode Island's Taiwan Day Festival."

King Richards' Faire Opening Weekend! New England Fall Events has you covered

If you've never been to King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA then you're missing out on a a rite of passage for this annual New England fall festivals. Even if you're not exactly sure what you are getting into, we insist give it a try at least once and we're certain you'll have a great time. This festival is large (80 acres) in scale yet manages to maintain it's charm through the heartfelt community of performers and longtime Faire devotees that bring so much energy, enthusiasm, and joy to the day.

With plenty of shade beneath the tall pines, a variety of food options (beyond the requisite turkey leg), dozens of theatrical performances and jousting displays all day long, it's a relaxing way to spend a fall day. Wherever we went we heard music, singing, dancing, and laughter - what could be better than that? It's a big event and we recommend a little planning ahead to know what kind of a day to plan for. Check out our article "King Richard's Renaissance Faire Offers Costumed Charm and Good Cheer" for festival tips, planning for a family-friendly outing, and more.

What has New England Fall Events been up to lately?

Last week New England Fall Events headed out to lovely Verrill Farm in Concord, MA to feast our eyes and bellies at their late-summer Field to Fork Harvest Dinner - oh what a treat it was!
Here are just some of the highlights: Lobster and Corn Cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Grilled Flank Steak with Thai Vegetable Slaw, Corn and Tomato Risotto, Gazpacho, Corn Spoonbread, and Grilled Rosemary Pound Cake with Stone Fruite Compote--and yes, there was even more than was listed here if you can imagine!
If you missed out on this sold-out event this time around, you can still buy tickets for their October 21st "Field to Fork: Candlelight Harvest Dinner". Reservations are an absolute must!

Where is New England Fall Events headed this weekend?
Circled on our calendar for this weekend is Monday's 31st Annual Bread and Roses Festival in Lowell, MA and we might be able to swing through to enjoy Powisset Farm's Pig Roast as well!

New England Fall Events' Top Recommendations for this Weekend's Fall Fun
We’ll always list our Top Picks for the weekend but you find even MORE listed under your state’s Fall and Activities Guide or Food and Harvest Festival Guides on our website.

Here are our recommended activities for August 31 - September 6, 2016

Sunset Kayak at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
Edgartown, MA     Click for details
Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Explore the Night Sky
Martha's Vineyard, MA    Click for details
Thursday, September 1st, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Stargazing Fall Events

Rhythm & Roots Festival
Charlestown, RI      Click for details
Friday through Sunday, September 2nd-4th, 2016

Stargazing Night At Frosty Drew Observatory
Charlestown, RI       Click for details
Friday, September 2nd 2016
Click for more Moonlight, Stargazing, and Sunset Fall Events

King Richard's Renaissance Faire
Carver, MA    Click for details

Saturdays and Sundays, September 3rd-October 23rd, 2016
Find everything you want to know about the KRF experience in our  article "King Richard's Renaissance Faire Offers Costumed Charm and Good Cheer"

RI Chinese Dragon Boat Races & Taiwan Day Festival
Pawtucket, RI       Click for details
Saturday, September 3rd, 2016
Read about New England Fall Events' memorable visit to the Dragon Boat Festival

Bow Wow Bark in the Park
Bristol, CT     Click for details

Saturday, September 3rd, 2016
Click for more dog-friendly Fall Events.

Apple Days at the Onion River Campground
Plainfield, VT     Click for details
Saturday, September 3rd, 2016

Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival
Eastport, ME     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd & 4th, 2016

Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival
Westport, CT      Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd & 4th, 2016

Mount Snow Brewers Festival
Dover, VT     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd & 4th, 2016

Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival
Bennington, VT    Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 3rd & 4th, 2016

Powisset Pig Roast
Dover, MA   Click for details
Monday, September 5th, 2016

Annual Bread and Roses Heritage Festival 
Lawrence, MA     Click for details
Monday, September 5th, 2016

Heading out apple picking this weekend? New England Fall Events has researched and confirmed features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England PYO apple orchards. Here are your quick links to the apple picking guides:

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

Looking for PYO farms in your neck of the woods? New England Fall Events' state maps allow you to scroll to find farm locations on the interactive maps-so easy! Find orchard, farm and 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.

Tomatoes, Weirdos, Moose Festival, Mad Hatter Tea, Field to Fork Dinner, Mini Makers, Food Trucks, and more: New England Fall Events Top Picks for August 24th-30th, 2016

Hello New Englanders!

September is knocking on our door and as autumn-lovers, we say, yes please! It's hard not to wake up feeling refreshed after a good night of sleeping with the windows open--don't you agree?

Blueberries, Raspberries, Tomatoes, and (Early) Apples

If you are a fruit-lover, you'll be happy to read that many places are currently offering PYO raspberries but only a handful still are picking PYO blueberries. We can't get enough and love to freeze bagfuls to tie us over through the New England winter when we just crave a taste of late-summer.

Though many folks are gobbling up the tomato harvest while we are in the peak of it, we admit we're also thrilled to see more New England apple orchards opening up for PYO apple picking with each and every day--hooray!

It's just the beginning of apple season so the early varieties you'll find right now include Ginger Golds, Paula Reds, Jersey Macs, Pristines, and  Zestar. Northern New England farms like Maine's McDougal Orchards are already picking apples while others such as Vermont's Shelburne Orchards start PYO this weekend. 

It's always good practice to check with the farm the day-of to see if they are picking--especially since some orchards will begin selling pre-picked before pick-your-own fully ripens. 

New England Fall Events' Guide to local PYO Apple Orchards makes it easy to find contact info, maps, directions, and farm features for planning a memorable and visit. Here are links to our state apple picking guides: Connecticut, Maine,Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

And while we're at it, here are your shortcuts to find interactive farm location maps for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Fall Event Season is Only Just Getting Started!

We can't resist pointing out that the delicious and delightful Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival in Granby, MA is coming up this Saturday too! New England Fall Events stopped by for a visit last year and what a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Read about our visit: "Red Fire Farm Delivers a Colorful and Tasty Festival for All"

As August wraps up, check out several local Balloon Festivals vying for your attention this month. This week it's the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest--a multi-day affair--and the Hot-Air Balloon Festival and Crafts Show in Plainville, CT.

Great news! We recently updated our ever popular Guide to Dog-Friendly Events in New England to reflect 2016 events this fall. If you have a beloved pooch or two that you would love to share the season with, please check out dozens of wonderful, worthwhile dog-friendly events.

Check out our Fall Guide to Moonlight and Sunset Events happening across New England this season.

New England Fall Events' Top Recommendations for August 24th-August 30th, 2016

With the long weekend still a week away, you’ll be happy to know that there still are plenty of fabulous outdoor activities to help you ease out of summer and into our beloved autumn.

From Field to Fork - A Late-Summer Crop Dinner at Verrill Farm
Concord, MA    Click for details.
Wednesday, August 24th, 2016

Sunset River Kayak
Harwich, MA   Click for details
Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Night Hike at Wells Reserve
Wells ME    Click for details

Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest
Presque Isle, ME    Click for details
Thursday August 25th - Sunday, August 28th, 2016

North Country Moose Festival
Colebrook, NH and Canaan, VT   Click for details
Friday and Saturday, August 26th & 27th, 2016

Hot Air Balloon Festival and Crafts Show
Plainville, CT      Details

Friday through Sunday, August 26th-28th, 2016

Tomato Festival at Red Fire Farm
Granby, MA  Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
Read about our visit: "Red Fire Farm Delivers a Colorful and Tasty Festival for All"

WeirdoFest
Plainfield, VT    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Mad Hatter's Tea Party
Stockbridge, MA   Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming
Exeter, RI   Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Dover Mini Maker Faire
Dover, NH    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Paws for a Cause - FREE
Freeport, ME    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
Click for more dog-friendly fall events.

Cape Cod Food Truck Festival
East Falmouth, MA    Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Brew at the Zoo
Providence, RI   Click for details.
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Wells Maine Annual Chili-Fest
Wells, ME   Click for details.
Saturday, August 27th 2016

Starry Night: Planets, Stars and More with Arunah Hill
Windsor, MA     Click for details
Saturday, August 27th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Plymouth Waterfront Festival - FREE
Plymouth, MA   Click for details.
Saturday, August 27th, 2016

Dog Days at the Maple Street Pool
Essex Junction, VT    Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016
Click for more dog-friendly fall events.

Let Freedom Ring Tour at Canterbury Shaker Village
Canterbury NH      Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016

Annual Mozart Festival
Woodstock, VT       Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016

BBQ Pulled Pork Competition at Alyson's Orchard
Walpole, NH    Click for details
Sunday, August 28th, 2016

Remember, always double check with fall event hosts before heading out in case the events are adjusted for weather.

PYO Berries, Campfire Tales, Steampunk Festival, Hot Air Balloons, Oysters and more: New England Fall Events Top Picks for August 17th-23rd, 2016

Happy almost-end-of-summer fellow New Englanders!

It sure doesn't feel like fall yet as the weather has been awfully steamy but as we round into the second half of August, we are jumping out of our seat to get started with our festival-going!

Our Top Picks we recommend for the weekend will be listed at the end of this post. You can count on us to narrow down the most interesting, diverse, and worthwhile events going on every week from now through early November. Remember, our Top Pick are but a small selection from the 1700+ events we have listed this fall across New England--that is a lot of fun to be had in 3 months' time!

End of Summer fun at the Discovery Museums' new Discovery Woods Treehouse!

Discovery Museums of Acton, MA debuted the incredible new Discovery Woods--a fully-accessible nature playscape and treehouse constructed by DIY TV's The Treehouse Guys!
Discovery Woods "serves as a launching point for outdoor activity and woodland exploration. Accessible, elevated trails with interactive sensory and observation stations along the way. A climbing hill, adventure path, family slide, and nest swing support physical activity and risk taking. A rain garden, beaver lodge, birdhouse village and woodland nooks allow for quiet reflection and observation.

Connecting to nature has a positive impact on children's activity level, concentration, physical and mental health, and creativity, and can be foundational to healthy development. In keeping with The Discovery Museums' tradition of providing meaningful, fun learning experiences driven by kids' natural curiosity, Discovery Woods will open minds and bring families together in the joy of outdoor play."
It's no secret that New England Fall Events is a huge fan of Discovery Museums--a local treasure!
Read about our visit to Fairyborough at The Discovery Museums.

Salem Food Tours - A Memorable Culinary Tour Not to Be Missed!
One of our most beloved fall experiences was joining a Salem Food in September. The weather is ideal to head up to scenic Salem, MA so consider booking yourself early to lock up a spot on an incredible Salem Food Tour adventure hosted by Karen Scalia.
We reveled at the opportunity to delve into Salem's vibrant local food scene and check out numerous unique stops along on the tour. We can't recommend this foodie experience highly enough!
Read about our experience on the Salem Food Tour.

New England Berry and Peach Harvest Update

By now, raspberries, and tomatoes are front and center so keep your eyes peeled for local harvest festivals such as White Silo Winery's Blackberry Festival coming up this weekend in CT!

Lots of local farms are offering Pick Your Own blueberries and raspberries right now so stop by MA's Lanni Orchards and Kimball Fruit Farm, CT's Bishop's Orchards, or Maine's Doles Orchard to stock up on fresh picked fruit!
As you may have heard, the wild spring weather devastated the peach trees this year so unfortunately, nearly all New England orchards have suspended PYO peach picking for 2016.

Full Moon this Week--We'll help you find under-the-moonlight and stargazing events!

Whether you call August's full moon the Sturgeon Moon, the Grain Moon, or the Green Corn Moon, you'll love the chance to bask in the moon glow while enjoying one of dozen of full moon events going on this fall. Check out our Fall Guide to Moonlight and Sunset Events across New England.

Here are our recommended activities for August 17th-23rd, 2016

Great Falls Balloon Festival - FREE
Lewiston and Auburn, ME   Click for details
Friday through Sunday, August 19th-20th, 2016

Mahrajan Middle Eastern Festival
Manchester, NH  Click for details
Friday through Sunday, August 19th-21st, 2016

Campfire and Tales with Amoo
Hebron, NH    Click for details
Friday, August 19th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Blackberry Festival at White Silo Winery
Sherman CT     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, August 20-21st, 2016

Silver Kingdom Renaissance Festival
Charleton, MA    Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, August 20th & 21st, 2016

Gate City Steampunk Festival
Nashua NH    Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival
Lowell, MA    Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Milford Oyster Festival
Milford, CT      Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Power of Play Festival

Boston, MA      Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Gate City Brewfest & Wing Competition
Nashua, NH      Click for details
Saturday, August 20th, 2016

Kiddies Carnival - Boston Carnival Village
Boston, MA      Click for details
Sunday, August 21st, 2016

Central VT Chamber Music Festival
Sunday, August 21st, 2016      Click for details
Woodstock, VT

Sunset Kayak & Campfire
Martha's Vineyard, MA      Click for details
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Remember, always double check with fall event hosts before heading out in case the events are adjusted for weather.

Here are quick links to the Apple Picking Guides for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

And while we're at it, here are your shortcuts to the maps for Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

It's good practice to 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.

A Magical Ride to the North Pole on The Polar Express Train

by Laura Gustafson and Shannon Souaibou / New England Fall Events

The historic Blackstone Valley train
depot was renamed for the Polar Express

In November, we took our families to experience The Blackstone Valley’s Polar Express Train Ride first-hand. Celebrating its 17^th year, this is the longest running Polar Express train ride event anywhere in the world and it’s a gem to have it right here in New England. 

Written in 1985, The Polar Expressä is a Caldecott Award winning children’s book beloved by families and has been embraced as a holiday reading tradition.

Author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and continues to live in nearby Providence, RI so it is a natural fit that the very capable Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has produced this annual event for New England families, even developing it with the input of Mr. Van Allsburg. This memorable train ride is an annual outing for New Englanders and this special event precedes Academy Award nominated The Polar Express movie which came out in 2004.

At the train depot there were multiple Polar Express photo backgrounds and a place to write a letter to Santa

The Polar Express operates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the five weekends leading to Christmas.  We brought our two families on a Saturday afternoon for the 1:00pm train. There were seven of us--four adults and three children ages 2.9, 4.5 and 5 years old. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas on the trip and ours did so. We rode in the Comet car, which, after the Rudolph car, is the most affordable of the six train car/ticket options. This article will speak to our particular experience on the Comet car and it should be noted that each train car will have some variation and offer its own unique experience.

The depot was decorated inside and  offered a small concession stand. The train platform greeted us with (fake) snow! 

The website advised that we arrive at the station an hour prior to departure and mentioned there would be activities to enjoy while we waited. We managed to arrive a half hour prior, and once we’d parked and had our tickets scanned, we were in the station 20 minutes prior to the train departure. Wait times for everything were very quick and was quite appreciated!

Elves turned the pages while our
storyteller read fromThe Polar Express.

The Woonsocket Train Depot, which doubles as a gift shop, became very crowded as the passengers gathered inside so arriving a half hour before departure gives you more than enough time to enjoy the activities, especially considering the seats on the train are assigned. (But don’t cut your arrival too close because the train leaves promptly on time!)

The pre-ride “activities” consisted of taking your own photographs of your children with themed Polar Express backdrops and the opportunity to write a letter to Santa. As these are not time-consuming activities, we were able to complete them prior to boarding the train. The gift shop wares were reasonably priced as well and the indoor concessions stand sold popcorn, water and soda for $2.00.

Storyteller Jen was great at keeping
the kids engaged the whole ride through 

The train began boarding fifteen minutes prior to departure and was fully boarded in less than ten minutes. Fake snow drifted down to greet us on the train platform as we prepared to board our train car. Every passenger received a golden train ticket which would be punched by the conductor while on the train.

Each train car features their own storyteller/activity leader, a chef, an elf, and an engineer. Our storyteller on the Comet car was Jen who was very enthusiastic and made the trip a lot of fun. She kept the children well-engaged for the duration of the 90-minute train ride. It’s also nice that each train car includes music and provides microphones for their performing cast to make it easy for passengers to hear them.

L to R: The golden train ticket, the special gift from Santa, the kids stretched their legs by dancing in the aisles. 

The train cars are beautifully decorated with lace curtains, festive red and green seat covers, giant wrapped presents in the luggage racks above the seats, and garlands for atmosphere. All cars are heated and there are bathrooms on every other car (on Dancer, Comet and Cupid). The seats in the Comet car are very comfortable making it an enjoyable ride.

Getting our golden tickets punched

The train departed promptly on time. Storyteller Jen began reading the story of The Polar Express while Elf Mia and Chef Debbie moved through the car showing the pictures. Families may want to bring their own Polar Express book which would be easier for little ones to follow along in their seat.

Fifteen minutes into the ride, Storyteller Jen paused her reading of the book while hot chocolate and cookies were served throughout the car. The hot chocolate was dairy-free, came in a nice collectible travel mug, and was served at the perfect temperature for kids to sip right away. The cookies were completely nut/gluten free. 

The arrival of Santa Claus!

Once refreshments were passed out, Jen finished reading the book and the train conductor came into our car to punch our golden tickets. While the conductor punched tickets, Jen led the car in a sing-along, prompting Santa’s arrival. You could feel the excitement of the children when Santa arrived! 

The Comet car is the second to last car in line on the train and Santa arrived at our car about forty minutes into the trip which was about midway through. This Santa was very authentic and attentive to each child making for a personal experience. He took his time to talk to the children and happily paused with the families who wanted to take photos to capture the moment.

Santa happily paused for a photo

A recording of Josh Groban singing “Believe”, the Academy Award-nominated song from The Polar Express film, could be heard while Santa walked through the car presenting each child with their first gift of Christmas—a small gift that has an important relevance in the Polar Express story.

At one point the train even stopped at “The North Pole”—depicted by a candy stripe pole visible outside—which allowed for the engine to be switched for the return ride back. On the return ride there was more sing-along time and the children were invited to dance in the aisles. 

They were given crayons and a custom, commemorative coloring book complete with a pictures of the Woonsocket Train Depot and of our train conductor Bob! We were given Polar Express bingo cards to play on our way back to the station. At the end of the ride, Santa returned to our car to thank everyone for coming.

After the ride, Santa waits in his sleigh

inside the depot for family photos

Back at the station there are opportunities to take more pictures of your children with Santa in his sleigh against an attractive Polar Express backdrop. Though the pictures-with-Santa line was extremely long, the queue moved swiftly and we made it to our picture in ten minutes.

All in all, it was a great afternoon! Start to finish, (from our arrival at the station to heading home) the experience took us two and a half hours. To see the joy on our children’s faces and to hear my daughter say excitedly, “He knows me!” when she saw Santa is a memory I won’t soon forget.

Tips for Families Attending the Blackstone Valley Polar Express Train Ride

The train cars were decorated with red
and green seat covers, garlands, and more

• The Blackstone Valley Polar Express website has a ticket purchase section which offers different tiered pricing for the various train cars. From highest price to most affordable, you can choose from the premium cars Prancer, Dancer, and Dasher, and the coach cars include Comet, Cupid, and Rudolph which are all the same price. See pics of the (undecorated) cars. 

• Price tiers for each car will reflect a slightly different experience. The Prancer Car is the dining car so you’ll find tables with place settings and it’s a perk that your family can be seated facing each other. 

The kids played Polar Express Bingo
to pass the time on the train.

• For 2016, the Premium Cars will also include free gifts such as Polar Express teddy bears (Dasher), Polar Express Santa hats (Dancer), or the Polar Express ceramic mug (Prancer) included with your ticket purchase and have individual armchair seats and large observation windows. The premium cars also have fewer seats per car (and are always the first to sell out) so in addition to being roomier, they offer a more personal, more intimate experience with your family and the performers. 

• The Coach Cars are all very comfortable and festively decorated as well but they include conventional forward facing bench seating and will include more passengers. 

• Although every car will include the Santa visit, Polar Express Bingo, collectible coloring books, sing-alongs, storytelling, cocoa, cookies, collectible travel mug, and gift from Santa, the various performers will offer their own twist on their show. For example, the Dasher performer brings a guitar and leads a more musical show so your families’ experience may vary slightly.

The cookies on the train are nut-free
and gluten-free for everyone to enjoy.

• In 2016 they are offering 3 ticket price tiers--Adult, Children's tickets (13mos-12y), and an Adult with Baby lap-sit option (infants up to 12 mos).
  Adult tickets range $44-68 (Nov) and $52-82 (Dec).
  Children (13mos-12y) tickets range $42-67 (Nov) and $49-79 (Dec).
  Adult with Baby lap-sit tickets range $54-78 (Nov) and $62-92 (Dec).
  Prices on the train cars increase in price the closer get closer to Christmas.
  Knowing the ticket prices and how kid-focused the event is, we think kids who are at least 2-3 years of age are best suited to the experience. 2016 upgrade info.

• The Blackstone Valley Polar Express Train Ride operates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the five weekends leading to Christmas. Trains depart at 4:00pm and 7:00pm on Fridays, 1:00pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm on Saturdays, and 10:00am, 1:00pm, and 4:00pm on Sundays. 

We appreciated the time Santa took 
with each of the children on the train.

• Pictures can be taken at the train depot with Santa, Conductor, Chefs and Train Engineers and in front of the lovely Polar Express backdrops--all are all included with your ticket price! You should plan to use your own camera to take pictures as there is not a formal photographer (and therefore no extra photo purchase fees). Santa pics are only post-ride (to keep the anticipation for his arrival on the train ride) but the others are available before you board the train. Though the post-ride line to have photos with Santa was very long, it moved quickly and we made it through in 10 minutes.

• We traveled to the Blackstone Valley Polar Express Train Ride from the Framingham, MA area and it took us about 45 minutes to get to the station. The depot was easy to locate.  It took about seven minutes to park but only two minutes in line to have our tickets scanned to get into the station. Parking is free. 

Photos with Santa Claus after the ride

• Due to the crowds inside the station we would not recommend bringing a stroller.

• Pajamas are encouraged and welcome for this event—yes, for both kids and adults!

• The gift shop is located inside the depot and accepts cash and credit cards.

• Anyone needing to use the restroom before boarding the train would need to exit the station to visit Guest Services around the side of the building.

• The train is wheelchair accessible containing a lift for non-motorized wheelchairs.

• Tickets sell very fast for this beloved annual event and the tickets sell out every year. Believe it or not, certain tickets are already on sale for 2016 on select dates and select cars.

• New changes coming for 2016: Certain premium cars will include extra goodies such as a Polar Express Teddy Bear (Dasher car), a Polar Express Santa hat (Dancer car), and the exclusive Polar Express ceramic mug (Prancer car).

Note: The photography in this article was provided by I Love Olive Photography and may not be reproduced, shared, or borrowed without credit and permission. 

Vermont's Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival - Where Medieval Engineering Meets Squash

by Deb Wojcicki / New England Fall Events

A late September treat for us, New England Fall Events enjoyed the 7th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival in Stowe, Vermont.

This one-day, family-friendly festival provided an exciting afternoon of fun featuring food and drink, the People's Choice Chili Cook-off, children's activities, music, and of course, the all-important pumpkin chuckin'!

The premise of this event centers around the engineering challenge of designing trebuchets of all size and types to hurl pumpkins across a field to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd. Twenty-six teams entered the competition this year in four categories: Heavyweight, Middleweight Open, Middleweight Junior and Lightweight.  Teams consisted of friends, family, and even Boy Scout troops.

For the uninitiated, trebuchets are a type of gravity-driven catapult employing a counter-weight system to sling projectiles towards some far-off target. Imagine a line of medieval-looking siege-machines set up in a field preparing to do battle...except instead of hurling rocks at castles, here they were competing with each other for the distinction of flinging pumpkins the farthest.

The larger the machine, the larger the pumpkin it can accommodate. As the trebuchets launched away, the projectile pumpkins rolled, bounced and splattered all over the field with officials chasing after the fruit to measure and record the distance flown.

Some spectators in attendance were there to appreciate the mechanical engineering involved; others were transfixed by the competition itself - either way, these machines were truly magnificent to watch.

When not mesmerized by flying pumpkins, children were entertained by giant board games, blocks and games of throwing skill. The bands played on and off during the event, which ran from 11:00am to 4:00pm. The chili cook-off judging began at 12:15pm and for a mere $5, festival attendees could taste the various chili offerings and vote for their favorite blend. Four teams entered the chili cook-off so there was plenty of variety and adult beverages could be purchased to round out the lunch.

The pumpkin chuckin' action began at 12:30pm and throughout the afternoon. The 8th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is scheduled for Sunday, September 25, 2016 and it's a fine afternoon, we're sure, for trebuchets and chili.

Tips for Planning Your Trip to the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival:

Tickets are $5 at the door for adults and children 5 and older; younger kids get in for free.

Cash is king for food and drink at this festival.

Bring lawn chairs, a blanket, umbrellas, bug spray, sunscreen or anything else you'll need to be comfortable while you are watching the competition; there are no grandstands or picnic tables, but you may sit on the grass if you wish.

Dogs and outside food & beverages are not allowed.

There are a few tents for the food and such, but no indoor space to speak of. The event runs rain or shine.

Restroom facilities consist of porta-potties, but no lines were observed so there seemed to be plenty.

Trebuchet mishaps are rare, but they do occur. If you are watching from behind the trebuchet line, you may be asked to move while the machine in front of you is firing. Be prepared for a short wait between launches as the competition waits until the spectators are safely dispersed.

There are three rounds of competition, so get there when you can - it goes all afternoon.

Ample free parking is provided in a field adjacent to the event.

Traffic going in to the event was fairly smooth and parking easy to find; be patient when you leave as people tended to leave en masse at the end of each round of competition.