Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through
the mountains, a torch flung to the trees.~ Faith Baldwin
Here is a list of some great events happening throughout the month of October:
8 Tuesday 8am. Accessible Birding With Joe at Millers River Environmental Center
100 Main St., Athol. This fall the Athol Bird and Nature Club will offer a
number of opportunities to observe both fall migrants and resident birds.
Contact ABNC president Dave Small (978-413-1772 or dave@dhsmall.net)
for additional info. and to participate in this nationwide annual event. More
info. about the club is available on the web at www.atholbirdclub.org.
New members are welcome.
8 Tuesday 7pm. Civil War Round Table: Leominster Public Library, 30 West St. Topic
will be "Slavery, What do we know?" The primary purpose of the table
is to explore the history of the war and raise funds for Civil War
preservation.
9 Wednesday 2pm-3pm. Balance Rock Trail, at the ski area parking lot 499 Mountain Rd.
Princeton. Discover what the rocks can tell us about the history of Wachusett
Mountain. Join the Park Interpreter for a guided hike to Balance Rock. The hike
is approximately one mile roundtrip. The trail is moderate in difficulty
and involves some sections of tricky footing over rocks. Wear sturdy hiking
shoes, and be sure to bring water. This program is most appropriate for people
age 6 to adult. Parent/guardian must accompany all children. This program meets
at the trailhead for the Balance Rock Trail, located at the Wachusett Mountain
Ski Area parking lot, 499 Mountain Rd. – park your car near parking aisle
number 5. This is a free event. Call 978-464-2987 for more info.
10-14 Friday-Monday. Wachusett Mountain's 23rd Annual Columbus Day Ski/Board Sale/Swap.
Bring in your used equipment to sell for cash or Wachusett credit! Buy new skis
or snowboard with cash or the credit you earn! This is the perfect chance to
upgrade your gear for the coming winter. For more information, visit www.wachusett.com.
10 Thursday 1pm-3pm. HIVE Community Art Workshop at Fruitlands. Cost... FREE with
museum admission. Take part in Artist-in-Residence, Jodi Colella's community
art project, HIVE. During the meetings aluminum screen chambers are stitched
together with steel wire. Later they will be assembled into the existing
structure that grows organically. No experience necessary. Appropriate for ages
10 and up. For more information, visit www.fruitlands.org/hive_august8.
10 Thursday 6pm. Ethnic Night at the Gardner Museum, hosted by Doris Forte. From
6-8pm. guests will experience ethnic music and culinary treats that are
representative of the Greater Gardner Community. Members $5, non-members $8.
Call 978-632-3277.
10-13 Thursday-Sunday, 8pm. Shout! The Mod Musical at Theater at the Mount. This smashing '60s
musical revue tracks five groovy gals as they come of age during those
liberating days that made England swing! With its irresistible blend of
hip-swiveling hits, eye-popping fashions and psychedelic dances, this
fun-filled musical will make you want to put on your go-go boots, throw your
head back and SHOUT! This is a Special "Alumni Night"
Performance Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of MWCC. For more information, visit
mwcc.edu/tam/shows.
11-13 Friday & Saturday
8pm, Sunday 2pm. Stratton Players presents
DINING ROOM by A.R. Gurney, Directed by Janet Cragin. Tickets $12. The Dining
Room is a humorous and compassionate play from the author of Sylvia, Later Life
and The Cocktail Hour. A series of eighteen overlapping scenes, the play visits
a host of characters as they go about their daily business. The scenes, which
range from the comic to the serious, explore the dynamic relationships of
family life. For more information, visit www.strattonplayers.com/showsandtickets.htm.
11 Friday 8pm-10pm. Black Diamond Summer Music Series at Wachusett Mountain. FREE
music from 8-10pm by New Pond Fondle outside under the tent. A BBQ will be
available outside as will a bar both inside and out. Great for the whole
family! For more information, visit www.wachusett.com/?TabId=115.
11 Friday 8pm. The No-Reply Band performs a Celebration of Beatles Music at the
Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A, Shirley. Tickets, $17.25. For details, visit
www.bullrunrestaurant.com.
12-14 Saturday-Monday 9am-5pm. Tower Hill's Harvestival! A fun family celebration. For more
information, visit www.towerhillbg.org.
12 Saturday 8am-10am. Orange Historical Society BREAKFAST ON THE PORCH 41 North Main
Street Orange. Menu: Quiche, French Toast, Pancakes, Waffles, Donuts,
Beverages. Cost: $6.00.
12 Saturday 10am. Fruitlands' Harvest Weekend. Cost... Free with museum admission.
Celebrate the season with a variety of hands-on activities! Learn how to
throw a Native American atl-atl, create cornhusk dolls and learn how to can and
preserve the fall harvest with jams and jellies. Apple pie maven, Eileen
Kronauer, will be on hand on Sunday to share her secrets for making the best
apple pie and the Nashoba Valley Weaver’s Guild will have several types of
looms for you to try your hand at! For more information, visitwww.fruitlands.org.
12 Saturday 10am. Phillipston Fall Fair & Pumpkin Weigh-In. The Town Common comes
alive each October for the annual Phillipston Pumpkin Growing Contest, better
known as the ‘great pumpkin weigh-in.’ While such events have become popular
throughout region in recent years, the Phillipston weigh-in has the honor of
being the oldest continuing giant pumpkin contest in New England; it has been
going on for a quarter of a century! For years now, it has been held as part of
the annual Phillipston Fall Fair.
12 Saturday 10am-5pm. Sholan Farm 12th Annual Scarecrow Festival (rain date Oct
13). Come build your own scarecrow or view and vote on your favorite.
Enjoy free entertainment on Saturday and Sunday, great food, numerous
free, interactive children’s events and so much more at this fun
family festival! For information call 978-840-FARM or visit us online at www.sholanfarms.com
for more information about events, volunteer, and membership
opportunities. All events are subject to change.
12 Saturday 10am. A VIEW FROM THE TOP —10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 11:45
a.m Wachusett Mountain. Meet the Park Interpreter next to the summit pool.
There’s so much to see at the summit! Take a 45-minute tour with the Park
Interpreter, and immerse yourself in the cultural history of Wachusett
Mountain. This “great hill” has shaped our past and our present, and has helped
to create the stories of the people who have been here. This tour involves an
easy walk around the summit, though some ground is uneven and rocky; and there
is one small incline on a paved surface. This program is appropriate for all
ages. Parent/guardian must accompany all children. Meet the Park Interpreter
next to the summit pool for the guided tour. This is a free event. Call
978-464-2987 for more info.
12 Saturday 11am. Fun In The Sun Rail Jam during the Columbus Day Ski & Snowboard
Sale & Swap event at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton. Test yourself
on multiple features and see how well you’ve maintained your skills from last
season. Registration starts at 10am. Divisions foramateurs, women and pros in
ski and snowboard categories. Visit www.wachusett.com for details.
12 Saturday 8pm. Candye Kane. Bull Run Restaurant Shirley, MA.
13-14 Sunday-Monday 8am-6pm. Lanni Orchards' Columbus Day Apple Festival. Rain date 19th
& 20th. There will be hayrides, bounce house, myo caramel apples,
warm apple crisp, pick your own pumpkins, cider donuts, paint your own
pumpkins, coloring contest and much more! For more information, visit www.lanniorchards.com.
13 Sunday 9am–3pm. Celebrate the Harvest Car Show, Craft Fair and Parade at Butterfield
Park in Orange. The Orange Business Association and North Quabbin Cruisers
present a 300-plus car show, more than 50-booth craft fair, lots of food, and a
parade through downtown Orange. Free admission. Call 978-544-5335.
13 Sunday 10am. Forest Foliage 10K run, starting and ending at Dennison State Park
in Winchendon. The final event of the North Country Quad Series. To register,
visit
www.ncquadseries.com.
13 Sunday 6:30pm. Dance2Swing presents Eight to the Bar at the Leominster Elks, 134 N.
Main St., Leominster. Beginner group lesson at 6:30 (singles and couples
welcome), Swing Dance at 7:30pm. For information call 978-263-7220 or visit www.dance2swing.com.
Admission $14.
14 Monday 1pm-3pm. HIVE Community Art Workshop at Fruitlands. Cost... FREE with
museum admission. Take part in Artist-in-Residence, Jodi Colella's community
art project, HIVE. During the meetings aluminum screen chambers are stitched
together with steel wire. Later they will be assembled into the existing
structure that grows organically. No experience necessary. Appropriate for ages
10 and up. For more information, visit www.fruitlands.org/hive_october10.
16 Wednesday 7pm. Censorship Roundtable Discussion What is the role of censorship in
our society today - both formal and informal?" Panel discussion with
leaders in the community. How do leaders view this question? Is censorship
necessary? Excessive? What is appropriate? Moderated by Shirley Wagner, PhD,
emeriti faculty. Location: Fitchburg Historical Society | free. For more information,
visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org or
call 978-345-1157.
16 Wednesday 7pm. Fahrenheit 451 Progressive Art Exhibition Day at the Fitchburg
Historical Society, 781 Main St., Fitchburg. The third Fahrenheit 451 Project
event hosted by the Society. Free admission.
17 Thursday 7pm. Film Screening and Conversation: Storm Center. Bette Davis
stars as a librarian in the 1950s who "stands up" to local pressure
from the City Council to remove a controversial book- The Communist Dream- from
the shelves. Location: Fitchburg Public Library | free. For more
information, visit fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.
18-20 Friday-Sunday 9am-3:30pm. Tower Hill's Garden Sculpture Workshop. Instructor: DJ Garrity.
Create a unique marble sculpture for the garden, home or gallery in this
three-day workshop with Sculptor DJ Garrity. Workshop participants will
discover how to use basic hand tools to finesse an image from stone which
carries their unique creative imprint, in a program designed for both the
novice or those with experience. The format of the workshop will follow
techniques established in the artist's book titled "The Rhythms Of
Stone", a basic guide to direct stone sculpture. For more information,
e-mail registrar@towerhillbg.com
or call 508-869-6111x124.
18-19 Friday & Saturday
dusk till 10pm. Athol Lions Haunted Hayrides
at Silver Lake Park, Athol. Take a mile-long trip around the lake in wagons
pulled by antique tractors. Try not to be frightened by the skits, graveyard
and creepy crawly things. Scary fun for everyone. Call Ricky Misner at
413-522-6899 after 4pm.
18-19 Friday & Saturday
7-11pm. Haunted Trail at Barrett Park, 40 Barrett
Parkway, Leominster. Take a scary ride in Johnny’s hometown! Ticket sales end
at 10pm. Repeats Oct. 25-26.
18 Friday. Westminster Farmers' Market presents Pumpkin Fest. For more
information, email hertel@mapleheightsfarm.com.
18 Friday 7pm. Bucky Lewis, the hilarious comic, returns to the Old Mill
Restaurant, 69 State Road (Route 2A), Westminster. Dinner and show $35
(Adults only). Advance purchase only, call 978-874-5941 to reserve or for more
information) Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 7:00 p.m.
19-20 Saturday- Sunday 10am-4pm. Fruitland's presents Marjorie Glick: Luminous Autumn Landscape:
Transformed by Color Use and Principles Behind the Hudson River Painters. Members
$180, Nonmembers $210. The workshop will begin with a visit to the Fruitlands
Museum Art Gallery to view and study the museum's collection of Hudson River
School paintings focusing on their luminous use of color. Inspired by these
paintings, and by the spectacular landscape at Fruitlands, learn to capture the
unique glow and luminosity of the Autumn Landscape in Plein Air . Students may
work in any medium of their choice and instruction will focus on seeing and
mixing color and composition. Registration required. E-mail education@fruitlands.org
or call 978.456.3924 x239. For more information, visit fruitlands.org.
19-Saturday, Keene Pumpkin
Festival, Main St., Keene NH. www.thekeenepumpkinfestival.com.
19-20 Saturday-Sunday. Wachusett Mountain's 30th Annual AppleFest. Our most popular fall
festival celebration including over 70 craft exhibitors, farmers' market, special
family fun side shows both weekends! Kids entertainment and peak fall foliage
viewing from the SkyRide. Oktoberfest themed food specialties and music. For
more information, visit www.wachusett.com.
19-20 Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm. APPLE TASTING & TASTE OF LOCAL at Lanni Orchards. Rain or
Shine. Stop by and try a Macoun or Honeycrisp and vote on your favorite apple.
For more information, visit www.lanniorchards.com.
19 Saturday. Altered Book Display at Rollstone Studios. For more information,
click here: Rollstone Studios rollstoneartists.com/upcoming-events-old-format.
19 Saturday 11am. Progressive Art Exhibition Day. Make your way from the Art
Museum to Rollstone Studios with a stop at the Historical Society for a
hands-on altered book art creation. On display at the locations will be the art
created by participants of the Altered Book Workshops as well as school
workshops- with artists in attendance. Locations: 11 a.m. at the Fitchburg
Art Museum | noon at Fitchburg Historical Society | 1 p.m. at Rollstone Studios
| free.
19 Saturday 11am. Pumpkin Decorating and Nature Walk at Cogshall Park in
Fitchburg. Meet us at the Gazebo at 11:00 for some fall fun. A snack and drink
are provided. (suggested ages 2-8) siblings welcome. Contact Noreen Alves
at strengthfam@gmail.com
or 978-602-8657 for more information.
19 Saturday 11am–3pm. A Glimpse of Pepperell’s Past at the Community Center, 2 Hollis St.,
Pepperell. As part of Archeology Month in Massachusetts, Pepperell’s Historical
Society will provide a glimpse into the past, including Colonel William
Prescott, famous for leading troops during the Battle of Bunker Hill, and
Prudence Wright, who captured a British spy during the Revolutionary War… and
much more! Free admission. Contact Diane Cronin, 978-433-3232.
19 Saturday 7:30pm. Wachusett Music Series presents Kate Redgate Band at First Church of
Christ Unitarian, 725 Main St., Lancaster. Kate Redgate has never let a life
less than easy stand in the way of her creative process; indeed her choices and
the results have fueled her songwriting for the better part of 20 years.
Tickets, $18 in advance, $22 day of show. Visit www.wachusettmusic.com
or call 978-365-2043.
19 Saturday 8pm. Peter Yarrow, singer-songwriter known for hits like “Puff the Magic
Dragon” and “The Great Mandala” performs at the Bull Run Restaurant, Route 2A,
Shirley. Tickets, $30. Visit www.bullrunrestaurant.com.
19 Saturday 9:30pm. Strand Theatre Proudly Presents. LIVE STAND UP COMEDY! Doors open at
9 pm. Comedians include Patty Ross, Stephen Donovan, and Paul Nardizzi. Tickets
available at The Strand Theatre Box Office of by calling (978) 365-5551. For
more show information, visit www.strandmovies.com/comedy.shtml.
20 Sunday. Wachusett Mountain presents the Cider House 5K Run/Walk. Join
Wachusett for this first year race to kick off the second day of AppleFest. the
Cider House 5K takes place on off-road terrain across the mountain. For more
information, visit www.wachusett.com.
22 Tuesday 6pm. Fitchburg Historical Society's TV Film screening: Premiere of
“The Bicycles of Fitchburg: 50 Years of Iver Johnson” with collectors Scott
Kinsman, Peter Capodagli and Joel Kaddy, an Anne O’Connor Production. Free
admission. For more information, visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org
or call 978-345-1157.
22 Tuesday 6:30pm. Country Auction at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1 Forest St.,
Baldwinville. This live auction features something old, something new, always
something interesting, from jewelry to furniture. Preview at 4:30pm.
23 Wednesday 8pm. Richard Marx at the Bull
Run Restaurant Shirley, MA.
24 Thursday 2pm-4pm. HIVE Community Art Workshop at Fruitlands. Cost... FREE with
museum admission. Take part in Artist-in-Residence, Jodi Colella's community
art project, HIVE. During the meetings aluminum screen chambers are stitched
together with steel wire. Later they will be assembled into the existing
structure that grows organically. No experience necessary. Appropriate for ages
10 and up. For more information, visit www.fruitlands.org/hive_august8.
24 Thursday 7pm. Twelfth Annual Veterans’ Round Table at the Gardner VFW on West St.
Alan Dernalowicz will again return as the moderator of this popular speaking
program that connects military veterans from World War II with those who have
served in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan. Discussion
from 7-8pm. Free program. Call 978-632-3277.
25-26 Friday & Saturday
7pm-11pm. Haunted Trail at Barrett Park, 40 Barrett
Parkway, Leominster. Take a scary ride in Johnny’s hometown! Ticket sales end
at 10pm.
25 Friday. Westminster Farmers' Market's Last Open Market. For more
information, email hertel@mapleheightsfarm.com.
25 Friday 10am-noon. Halloween Stroll in downtown Gardner (Route 68). Trick or treating
for pre-school age kids. Look for the bright orange flyer in the windows of
participating businesses. Free story hour at the Levy Heywood Memorial Library
at 10am. Children must be accompanied by parents, teachers or guardians. Visit www.gardnersquaretwo.com.
25 Friday 7pm. “Mountain Moonshine Mystery,” a Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner
at the Old Mill Restaurant, 69 State Road (Route 2A), Westminster. All
yew Yankees come along and try to figure out this one, y’all. Dinner and show
$35 (advance purchase only, call 978-874-5941 to reserve or for more
information. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 7:00 p.m.
25 Friday 7pm. 3rd ANNUAL LUCY'S LOVE BASH MONSTER MASH. Fundraiser-Halloween
themed dance and raffle. All proceeds to benefit Lucy's Love Bus...www.lucyslovebus.org.
The Colonial Hotel Gardner.
25 Friday 7:30pm. Music from the 60s & 70s with Lee Wolloff in the pub at the Old
Mill Restaurant, 69 State Road (Route 2A), Westminster. Call
978-874-5941.
26-27 Saturday-Sunday. Wachusett Mountain's 4th Annual BBQFest. The fun continues weekend
two with crafters, farmers' market, entertainment-- and the finger-licking
great time of the BBQ Fest! Benefits the Greg Hill Foundation. For more
information, visit www.wachusett.com.
26 Saturday. Halloween Party & Ghost Walk on Shirley Town Common. After dark
the spirits of yesteryear inhabit the common; take part in a spooky ghost walk,
attend the Halloween Party at the Center Town Hall. You’ll be led by lantern
light on a narrated walk and be treated to some local folk lore and ghost
stories, then enjoy refreshments and music. Adults $5, Children, $3.
Visit www.shirleymeetinghouse.org.
26 Saturday 9am-2pm. First Parish Unitarian Church of Hubbardston On the Common in
Hubbardston hosts the Annual Fall Indoor YARD SALE. Chinese Auction, Spices,
Rummage, Coffee & Pastry, White Elephant, Toys & Games, Books &
Puzzles, Knitting, Jams and Jellies, Quilt Raffle. Lunch available.
26 Saturday 9am–4pm. Harvest Fair at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1 Forest St.,
Baldwinville. Raffles, theme baskets, handcrafts, baked goods and more.
26 Saturday 10am-4pm. Fruitland's Jill Pottle: Collage Workshop. Members $85, Nonmembers
$115. Explore materials and learn the art of collage using existing images,
paper, paint and mixed media, in this one-day workshop with Jill Pottle.
Registration required. E-mail education@fruitlands.org or call 978.456.3924
x239. For more information, visit fruitlands.org.
26 Saturday 10am. Solidarity Saturday Tour and Market at Seeds of Solidarity Education
Center, 165 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange. Experience Seeds of Solidarity’s farm,
home and education center that integrate solar greenhouses, energy efficient
buildings, abundant market gardens, and solar electric and hot water systems.
This is a free tour with no preregistration required. Donations to support
their youth and community programs are appreciated. If you wish, bring a
potluck dish to share andvisit the solar powered farm stand after the tour.
Visit www.seedsofsolidarity.org.
26 Saturday 12:30-2:30pm. Trick or Treat on Main Street, Fitchburg, starting at the MBTA
station at 100 Main St., Christ Church at 569 Main St., or the Fitchburg Art
Museum, 185 Elm St. Children up to age 12 are invited to trick or treat in a
safe and fun environment, while supporting Main Street businesses. The
festivities include a costume contest and Halloween Bash at the New Players
Theater Guild Center for the Performing Arts on Rollstone Street. Call
978-400-0171.
26 Saturday 1-4pm. Halloween Parade in downtown Leominster. Lineup at 12:30pm at
Leominster Credit Union parking lot, 20 Adams St. Rain date, Oct. 28.
26 Saturday 8pm. The Alexis P Suter Band performs at the Bull Run Restaurant, Route
2A, Shirley. Tickets, $22. Visit www.bullrunrestaurant.com.
27 Sunday 1pm. New England Vampire Folk Belief: Archaeological Evidence at
Fruitlands. Cost... Free with museum admission. Were there vampires in
New England? Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni will talk about how areas of New England
were hot spots of vampire folklore in the 19th Century. Bellantoni worked to
excavate a grave site – whose location was revealed when two children playing
in a quarry found human skulls – of suspected vampires. The evidence revealed a
posthumous mutilation of the corpse, likely by townspeople who believed the
deceased to be a vampire. Presented as part of the Massachusetts Historical
Commissions’ Massachusetts Archeology Month. For more information, visit www.fruitlands.org.
27 Sunday 6:30pm. Dance2Swing presents Dan Gabel & The Abletones Big Band at the
Leominster Elks, 134 N. Main St., Leominster. Beginner group lesson at 6:30
(singles and couples welcome), Swing Dance at 7:30pm. For information call
978-263-7220 or visit www.dance2swing.com. Admission $14.
27 Sunday 8pm. Steve Forbert "Alive On Arrival Tour". Bull
Run Restaurant Shirley, MA.
