Pirates in CT, Cranberry Day, Pet Weekend, Sunset Kayaking, Pumpkins Aglow, Scavenger Hunts and More: New England Fall Events Top Picks for Sept 28-Oct 4

The grand staircase mural at the
Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT

The weekend weather couldn't have been dreamed up any better than we've had in recent weeks! Honestly, Mother Nature has been very very good to us lately and we hope that she will continue to bestow this crisp, cool, sunny weather as long as possible!

New England Fall Events has been taking full advantage of every moment of the season with the many outdoor festivals and events that we've circled on our calendar. We reminded yet again how lucky we are to enjoy celebrate this time of year and how much is right at our fingertips.

More PYO Apples varieties! And (some) Honey Crisps

Apple Picking at George Hill Orchards

Every day brings updates of more apple varieties ready for pick-your-own harvesting. There are a number of farms that have opted out of PYO this year and even a few farms that didn't have any luck with their apple crop. It may take a little extra digging to find exactly which varieties are picking at a given orchard but we have links to contact info for every PYO orchard in New England so don't be afraid to get in touch with them.

Although some New Englanders have been picking the ever popular Honey Crisps this past week, they are nearing the end of that variety soon. The good news is there are PLENTY of other varieties to look for at this time of year!

Look for McIntosh, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Jonagolds to top the list at most places. Some orchards such as Easy Pickins in CT have Macoun, Macs, Cortland and even still have PYO raspberries and (limited) fall blueberries! Kimball Fruit Farm in Pepperell, MA has you covered with apples, mums, pumpkins, donuts and everything else you think of when it turns to fall. 

As always, New England Fall Events has your complete guides, features, maps, and contact details for your local or destination-area New England PYO apple orchards. Here are your quick links to our apple picking guides: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. As picking conditions and crop availability is fluid, always check with the farm before heading out.

New England Fall Events' Top Recommendations for this Weekend's Fall Fun.
With the number of fun and charming events and festivals going every weekend it keeps getting harder to whittle down our Top Picks to just a handful. Thankfully, these are just a few of the many terrific events listed on every New England state’s Fall & Activities guide and Food & Harvest Festival Guide.

Here are our recommended activities for September 28-October 4, 2016

The Big E
West Springfield, MA     Click for details
Wednesday through Tuesday, September 28th-October 2nd, 2016
Plan ahead with New England Fall Events' essential "Complete Guide to The Big E"

Sunset Kayak at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
Edgartown, MA        Click for details
Wednesday, September 28th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events.

Art In the Orchard at Park Hill Orchard
Easthampton, MA        Click for details
Wednesday through Sunday, September 28 - October 23, 2016

Linden Place Museum Scavenger Hunt
Bristol, RI        Click for details
Wednesday through Saturday, September 28 - October 1st

Peacham VT Fall Foliage Festival 
Peacham, VT        Click for details
Thursday, September 29th, 2016

Stargazing Night  at Frosty Drew Observatory
Charlestown, RI        Click for details
Friday, September 30th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events.

Topsfield Fair
Topsfield, MA        Click for details
Friday through Tuesday September 30th - October 4th, 2016

Moonlight Tours of the Mansion at the Gore Place
Waltham, MA        Click for details
Friday, September 30th, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events.

RocktoberFest Vermont
Morrisville, VT        Click for details
Saturday, October 1st, 2016

Nature's Open House - Fairy House Tour

Farmington, CT        Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd, 2016

Maine Fall Foliage Kayak Tour
Freeport, ME        Click for details
Saturday, October 2nd, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events.

King Richard's Renaissance Faire
Carver, MA        Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd, 2016
Read about our visit to KRF and find faire-going tips in
"King Richard's Renaissance Faire Offers Costumed Charm and Good Cheer"

Cape Cod Cranberry Day
East Sandwich, MA        Click for details
Saturday, October 1st, 2016

Exeter Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival 
Exeter, NH        Click for details
Saturday, October 1st, 2016

Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming
Smithfield, RI        Click for details
Saturday, October 1st, 2016

Pet Weekend at the CT Renaissance Faire
North Haven, CT         Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd, 2016
Click for more Dog-friendly Fall Events.
Click for Dog-friendly Apple Orchards.

Pumpkins Aglow at Edaville USA
Carver, MA         Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd, 2016

Mystic CT Pirate Invasion
Mystic, CT         Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd, 2016

Day of the Dead Scavenger Hunt and Party in the Pines
Taunton, MA         Click for details
Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

Halloween Party for Individuals with Autism and their Families
Warren, RI         Click for details
Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival
Tunbridge, VT          Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, October 1st & 2nd, 2016

Trot for Special Tots 5K Race & 1-mile Fun Run/Walk
Andover, MA          Click for details
Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

NH Food Truck Festival
Portsmouth, NH          Click for details
Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

East Hill Farm's Oktoberfest Dinner with Oompah Music
Troy, NH         Click for details
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Click for more Moonlight and Sunset Fall Events

Heading out for some fall fun this weekend? 
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.

Your Guide to Pet-Friendly Apple Orchards and Corn Mazes in New England

Calling all pet lovers! Are you looking to share your favorite fall traditions with your furry pal?

It isn't always easy to find New England Farms that are pet-friendly in their orchards and mazes so New England Fall Events has done the work to create a guide for the farms where your dog will be welcomed.

A few things to know—most orchards and corn mazes are not able to accommodate dogs so you should start with the assumption that most will not (which is why our pet-friendly guide will be precious to you!).

Dogs are welcome in the orchard at Drew Farm, Westford, MA

Some places are dedicated to the dogs...well, at least one is. If you can, swing through Vermont this Columbus Day weekend for the annual special Fall Dog Party at Dog Mountain in October you and your pup will be treated to a truly one-of-a-kind place.

There are a variety of reasons why a farm may not allow dogs. Most farmers and farm staff are pet lovers themselves but certain towns may actually have laws prohibiting dogs on an orchard and this can vary from town to town. Don't hold it against the farm--many are required to comply.

Some pick-your-own orchards may have permitted this in the past but sadly the privilege was abused by a few, er, bad apples.   As orchards are frequented by hundreds of families in any given fall weekend, some farms opt out of being dog-friendly in case young children are fearful, even of your friendly Fifi.

As pet-friendly orchards and mazes are VERY rare, if you do plan to bring your furry friend along with you, please exercise great consideration, awareness, and etiquette so that these handful of orchards will be able to continue their open door policy towards dogs. 

Pet Friendly Orchard Etiquette

• Leashed - Your dog must be on leash at all times. As tempting as it is to allow your dog some freedom in the orchard, this is a non-negotiable point for every orchard we spoke to.

• Behavior – All farms were quick to mention that dogs must be well-behaved around adults, other dogs, and especially children.

• Vaccinated – Your dog must be fully vaccinated.

• Clean up – The fastest way to ruin this oh-so-delicate pet-friendly arrangement is not cleaning up after your dog after he does his business. Don’t even think about it. If someone sees dog poop they will surely complain and you will earn the fury of your fellow dog-owners for putting the open-pet policy in jeopardy with your irresponsible care--yikes! Be prepared and bring what you need to clean up after your dog.

• Be respectful or you will be asked to leave – All farms were very clear that there are times where a dog may be asked to leave (perhaps just to the car if the weather is cool enough). They are dog lovers too but they also have the responsibility to make sure the orchard is safe and comfortable for everyone. Please cooperate and do your part to be a mindful dog owner so that farms can continue to offer this option.

The following farms were personally verified as being pet-friendly at the time of publishing. Some are always pet friendly; others have designated days only. Please note the difference and don’t be afraid to call ahead if you’re unsure.

Pet-Friendly New Hampshire

DeMeritt Hill Farm          
66 Lee Rd.  Lee NH
(Click for farm info)

Pet-Friendly Massachusetts

Clearview Farm
4 Kendall Hill Rd. Sterling, MA
(Click for farm info)

Drew Farm                        
31 Tadmuck Rd. Westford MA  
(Click for farm info)

Fairmount Fruit Farm    

887 Lincoln St. Franklin MA      
(Click for farm info)

Long Hill Orchard           
520 Main St./Rte 113 West Newbury MA
(Click for farm info)  

Nashoba Valley Winery & Orchard 
100 Wattaquadoc Hill Rd. Bolton MA
(Click for farm info)
Your leashed pooch can even chill on the porch while you are inside enjoying a glass of wine!

Monthly Twilight Hikes at Sholan Farms
1125 Pleasant St. Leominster, MA
(Click for Twilight Hike info)
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome to tag along on these monthly Friday night hikes.

Pet-Friendly Rhode Island

Escobar Farm and Corn Maze
255 Middle Rd. Portsmouth RI
(Click for farm info)

Pet-Friendly Connecticut

Treat Farm                    
361 Old Tavern Rd. Orange, CT
(Click for farm info)

Pet-Friendly Vermont

Percy Farm Corn Maze  
Route 108 Stowe VT                         
(Click for maze info)

Mad Tom Orchard
2615 Mad Tom Rd.
East Dorset, VT
(Click for farm info)

Offering Designated Pet-Friendly Corn Maze Events

Marini Farm Corn Maze 
259 Linebrook Rd. Ipswich MA      
Hosts a pet-friendly corn maze weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Sept 10th and 11th, 2016.
(Click for event info)