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.

Fantasy Faire, Game Festival, ChiliFest, Pirate Fun, DinoFest and Contests: New England Fall Events for Sept 9-15, 2015

We had a memorable time last weekend
at King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA!

With a busy weekend coming up--so many events!

Last weekend was a memorable one as New England Fall Events had fun time at the Vermont Garlic and Herb Festival and the opening weekend at King Richard's Faire. Stay tuned for our wrap ups of our adventures coming soon!

New England Fall Events delivers the most trusted fall event coverage in area--here's why:
We know that it's never enough to just tell you what's going on in the area every weekend --though that's pretty important too. We visit events first-hand to answer all the questions you may have--What's the parking situation? Should you plan for an hour or a whole day? Are there food options for kids with allergies? Is it stroller-friendly? Is it crowded or have elbow room? What about bathrooms and where to grab a bite?
We take the worry and stress out of trying something new. We help you made an informed decision about what kinds of events fit your style and interests.

Fairy fun all across New England!

In case you missed it...Fairy Houses are kinda popular
Judging from everyone's enthusiasm from our recent article about the upcoming Portsmouth NH Fairy House Tour, we can see how much our readers love events like these!  With an event as special as this tour, you'll learn all the reasons why it's a worthwhile road trip and how much time to spend (hint--a full day).
Click to read: Portsmouth NH Fairy House Tour is a Magical and Imaginative Weekend

If you are looking for more events like these then you'll want to bookmark the following:

Fall Guide to Fun Fairy and Princess Events in New England

Contests for Kids Museums and the Portsmouth  Fairy House Tour

We have TWO contests running right now so act fast to enter to win a pair of tickets to the Discovery Museums of Acton, MA and enter to win a family pass to the Portsmouth Fairy House Festival.

Lots of dog-friendly events going on
this weekend across New England.

Fall Fun for You and your Pooch!

One of our most shared guides of the season so far has been our pet-friendly event guide so if it slipped past your radar, here's a quick link: Pet-Friendly Fall Events for You and Your Pooch.

There are FOUR wonderful dog-friendly events this weekend:
Pet Rock Festival in Sturbridge MA
The Walk for Greyhounds and Chili Cookoff in Walpole, NH
Doggy Daze Corn Maze at Marini Farm in Ipswich, MA
and the Somerville Dog Festival in Somerville, MA!

Looking to go apple-picking this fall with your pup? We have a Guide to Pet-Friendly Apple Orchards and Corn Mazes across New England! Remember to share with your fellow pet lovers!

The Vermont Mac and Cheese
Challenge is great gourmet fun!

It's a Food Lovers Weekend in New England!

If you love gourmet mac and cheese then you may want to buy tickets today for the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Mac and Cheese Challenge! We had a gut-bustingly delicious time there last fall and we know you'll love it too! We have insider tips on attending this festival (with kids or without) so do yourself a favor and read "Our Tasty Carb-venture at the VT Mac and Cheese Challenge".

We can't recommend enough you check out the family-friendly Salem Spice Festival this Saturday and Sunday. The focus is on sweet and savory spices and their uses and history--and the setting couldn't be lovelier!
Seeking more heat-spice? Visit ChiliFest at Mike's Maze!

Where is New England Fall Events Headed this Weekend?

The debut weekend of "Alice
in Sunderland" at Mike's Maze

We'll be super busy on Saturday visiting ChiliFest at Mike's Maze in Sunderland, MA to celebrate their corn maze opening weekend, the Festival of Indie Games in Cambridge, MA, and the Pour the Core Hard Cider Fest in Boston. Sunday we hope to swing through the Schul-Verein Oktoberfest in Walpole, MA for some traditional German fun.  

New England Fall Events' Top Recommendations for this Weekend's Fall Fun

This weekend is abundant with fall fun options--there are many worthwhile events vying for your attention. Our weekly Top Picks are below but remember to visit your state’s Fall and Activities guide or Food and Harvest Festival Guide for many more fall events and food festivals.

Here are our recommended fall events and activities for September 9th-15th:

Acadia Night Sky Festival

King Richard's Faire singers

Bar Harbor, ME     Click for details
Thursday through Monday, September 10-14, 2015

Cocktail Walk Winooski VT with Vermont Farm Tours
Winooski, VT     Click for details
Thursday, September 10th, 2015

Twilight Hike at Sholan Farms - FREE
Leominster, MA      Click for details
Friday, September 11th, 2015

Norwalk Oyster Festival 
East Norwalk, CT     Click for details
Friday through Sunday, September 11th-13th, 2015

Pirates abound at Eastport Pirate Fest

Eastport Pirate Festival - FREE
Eastport, ME     Click for details
Friday through Sunday, September 11-13th, 2015

Fall Newport Secret Garden Tour
Newport, RI     Click for details
Friday through Sunday, September 11th - 13th, 2015

Fantasy Faire at Frerichs Farm - FREE
Warren, RI     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 12th & 13th, 2015

ChiliFest at Mike's Maze
Sunderland, MA     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 12th & 13th, 2015

Dinosaur Fun at Granby's DinoFest

Granby DinoFest
Grandby, MA     Click for details
Saturday, September 12, 2015

French Heritage Festival and Soiree
Woonsocket RI     Click for details
Saturday, September 12, 2015

Boylston Schul-Verein OktoberFest
Walpole, MA     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 12th & 13th, 2015

Boston Festival of Indie Games
Cambridge, MA     Click for details

Sample gourmet mac and cheese to
your heart's content in Windsor, VT

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Mystery Scavenger Hunt at Cedar Hill Cemetery
Hartford, CT     Click for details
Saturday, September 12th, 2015

Pour the Core Hard Cider Festival
Boston, MA     Click for details
Saturday, September 12, 2015

Salem Spice Festival – FREE

Salem, MA   Click for details.
Saturday and Sunday, September 12^th & 13^th, 2015
Read about our visit and why it's a great family-friendly event.

DeMeritt Hill Farm Family Weekend – FREE

Salem Spice Festival offers  a peek into
the seaport's trade history with family fun

Lee, NH   Click for details.
Saturday and Sunday, September 12^th & 13^th, 2015
Read why we can’t get enough of this postcard pretty farm.

RI Audubon Raptor Weekend

Bristol, RI     Click for details
Saturday and Sunday, September 12 & 13th, 2015

Vermont Farmstead's Mac and Cheese Challenge at Harpoon Brewery
Windsor, VT    Click for details
Sunday, September 13th, 2015

All you need to know about our visit to this
gourmet tasting event!

“Bee Here Now” at Shelburne Orchards
Shelburne VT    Click for details
Sunday, September 13th, 2015

Pet Rock Festival 
Sturbridge, MA      Click for details
Sunday, September 13th, 2015 (rain date Sept 20th)

Ready for apple picking this weekend?  As always, New England Fall Events has you covered with our Activity Guides complete with farm features, maps, and contact info for your local or vacation-area New England apple orchard. Here are your quick links to the Apple Picking Guides:

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

It's easy to use our attraction maps to see what farms and attractions are near you! Visit our Orchard and Fall Attraction state 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.