"Beneath an autumn sky grateful hearts gather to share in the blessings of this beautiful life".
Wood smoke drifting in the air, leaves falling silently to earth, pumpkin pie baking in the oven, family and friends gathered together, this must surely be October. Here are some fun ways to spend an October day:
1-2 Friday & Saturday, 8 pm. Leading Ladies at Theater at the Mount, 444 Green St., Gardner. The musical comedy who-dunnit from the creators of Cabaret and Chicago. Tickets $20. Call the box office, 978-632-2403 or visit the mwcc.edu website. Repeats Oct. 8 – 10.
1-3 Friday and Saturday, 8 pm, Sunday 2 pm. Moonlight & Magnolias at Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Avenue, Fitchburg. The hysterical behind-the scenes story of how the beloved novel Gone with the Wind was brought to the big screen. Tickets $12, call 978-345-6066 or Stratton Players
2 Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. The Annual Horseshed Crafts Fair at the First Church of Christ Unitarian, on the Town Green, Lancaster. Over 80 crafters offer hand made items such as jewelry, quilts,baskets, ceramics, painted clothing, needlework, toys, wood items, silk flowers, holiday gifts, art works and more. Call the church at 365-2427.
2-3 Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. 12th annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival at Forster’s Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Rd., Orange. Always scent-sational, it’s the ‘Festival that Stinks.’ Two days of peace, love and garlic, with chef demos, food courts, music, workshops, and garlic games galore. Admission $5/day, $8 for weekend pass. Kids 12 and under free. Visit www.garlicandarts.org.
2-3 Saturday & Sunday, 11 am–4 pm. Harvest Festival at Overlook Farm, 216 Wachusett St., Rutland. Explore the homes in the Heifer Global Village to learn about traditional harvest celebrations in Peru, Poland, Kenya and more. Take a hay ride to the gardens, purchase local organic produce, browse the shop featuring fair trade and handcrafted items from around the world, meet the farm’s animals and learn about Heifer International. Admission $5 (under 12 free). Call 508-886-2221.
3 Sunday, 4 pm. Historical Piano Concert, Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St., Ashburnham. Pianist Malcolm Halliday and tenor, Stanley Wilson: Works of Chopin and Mendelssohn, with a piano of the composers’ lifetimes, from The Frederick Collection of Historical Grand Pianos. For details, Frederick Collection. Admission $10, children and students free. Call 978-827-6232. http://www.frederickcollection.org
5 Tuesday, 4:30 & 7 pm. Remembering Galileo: Scenes from The Life of Galileo at Percival Auditorium, Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. Remembering Galileo opens with a theatrical performance scenes from Bertolt Brecht’s play The Life of Galileo. Professor Richard McElvain will re-enact his stellar performance of the title role; with additional characters in the play performed by Fitchburg State theater students. Open dress rehearsal on Oct. 4 at 6 pm. Tickets: $5/general public; $3/students (at the door). Call 978-665-3709. www.fsc.edu/cultural.
7 Thursday, 3–9 pm. First Thursdays celebration in downtown Fitchburg. Main Street in Fitchburg becomes home for the First-Annual “Fall Music Fest.” Community members, the University community and all of North Central Massachusetts residents are invited to celebrate fall, and Fitchburg’s distinction as the region’s premier town/gown community. Contact First Thursdays Director David M. Roth, 978-340-0486.
7 Thursday, 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Opening of Exhibit on NatureWorks at Rollstone Studios, 633 Main St., Fitchburg. Light refreshments. Part of the “First Thursdays” events in downtown Fitchburg. Call 978-348-ART1.
8-10 Friday & Saturday, 7:30 pm, Sunday, 2 pm. The Cemetery Club at Barre Players Theater, 64 Common St., Barre. Three Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to the cemetery to visit their husband’s graves. When Sam enters the scene, everything goes awry! Call 978-355-2096.
9 Saturday, 10 am–5 pm. Scarecrow Festival at Sholan Farms, 1125 Pleasant St., Leominster Come build your own scarecrow or view and vote on your favorite. Enjoy free live entertainment, great food, children’s activities. Call 978-840-3276. Rain date, Oct. 10.
9, 10 Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Art Tour - Monadnock Art/Friends of the Dublin Art Colony presents the Art Tour each October during the peak of the colorful foliage season in southwestern New Hampshire. The Tour is self-directed, and it's free for the interested public. Art lovers from all over New England, and beyond, enjoy touring the beautiful countryside, following the distinctive Art Tour signs, and discovering the often tucked-away places where artists work. Studios are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. During the last Art Tour there were 50 open studios with 58 artists participating. To purchase advance tickets, visit: www.macdowellcolony.org/NHBenefit2010. or call 603-924-3886.
9-10 Saturday, 8 am–5 pm, Sunday, 8 am–3 pm. Battle of Sayler’s Creek Civil War Re-enactment at Murdock Farm, Elmwood Road, Winchendon. The last battle, in 1865, between the North and South will be re-enacted by the New England Brigade and the Liberty Greys. For details, call the Winchendon Historical Society, 978-297-2142.
9-11 Saturday—Monday. Fall Harvest Days at Laurel Ridge Farm, Route 119, Ashby. Bring the kids to a real working farm. Hands-on events all weekend! See cider pressing, wool spinning, butter making, horse-shoeing, sheep dog demonstrations, horse-drawn carriage rides. Enjoy a pulled pork BBQ or local foods like cheeses, jams, ice cream. Call 978-386-0200 or www.laurelridgefarm.com.
10 Sunday, 9 am–3 pm Celebrate the Harvest Festival, Butterfield Park, 83 East River St., Orange. Craft fair, huge car show, multi-division bi-centennial parade and more. Visit www.orangebusinessassoc.org.
10 Sunday, 4 pm. Historical Piano Concert, Ashburnham Community Church, 9 Chapel St., Ashburnham. Pianist Cicilia Yudha: Music from the Romantic Period, including Sonata No. 3 in b-minor, Op.58 by Chopin; other works to be announced. Piano from The Frederick Collection of Historical Grand Pianos. For details, visit Frederick Collection. Admission $10, children and students free. Call 978-827-6232.
12 Tuesday, 7 - 8 pm. Native Americans: Introduction to New England Ethnohistory at Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Curator lecture series with Dr. Mike Volmar. Several early accounts describing southern New England before 1650 will be presented and discussed. Object examination will include King Phillip’s war club, the James the Printer deed and Mary Rowlandson, a colonial American woman who was captured by Native Americans and wrote about it. Call 978-456-3924.
14 Thursday, 6 pm. Red Apple Farm talk at the Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl St., Gardner. Al Rose of Red Apple Farm talks about the orchard, cider making and other apple activities. Wine and cheese reception at 6, talk at 7. Admission $3. Call 978-632-3277.
15-17 Friday & Saturday, 7:30 pm, Sunday, 2 pm. The Cemetery Club at Barre Players Theater, 64 Common St., Barre.
16, Saturday, 20th Anniversary of the Keene Pumpkin Festival, Main St. Keene NH. The Keene Pumpkin Festival is held on a Saturday in mid-October from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. While you're waiting to see what that many pumpkins lit at one time looks like, the entire family can spend the day downtown with special activities for the kids including a costume parade, a seed spitting and pie eating contests, live music on three stages, facepainting, craft booths, lots of food provided by area non-profits, and much more. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display. www.pumpkinfestival.org.
16 Saturday, 10 am–5 pm. Forge-in and Blacksmith Festival at Riverfront Park, off Boulder Drive, Fitchburg. Features include an artistic blacksmith competition, Great Pumpkin Carve, artists, crafters, live music, seasonal foods and children’s activities. Watch blacksmiths create works of art. Bring your carved pumpkin, or carve one at the festival. Free admission. Visit www.achla.com or call 978-343-7475.
16 Saturday,10 am–5 pm. Tully Lake Triathlon at Tully Lake Campground, Royalston. The Trustees of Reservations sponsor this full day of activities, capped off with the main event: a 17-mile paddle/run/bike triathlon. Food vendors, music, free kids fun-o-thon (ages 6-12). Visit www.coolrunning.com or call 978-249-4957.
16-17 Saturday & Sunday, 10 am –5 pm. Octoberfest at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area at 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Over 60 craft exhibitors, farmers’ market, chainsaw carving demo, apple pie contest kids entertainment, music and more. Call 978-464-2300 or visit www.wachusett.com. Tickets $10 adults, $6 kids.
17 Saturday, Peak into Peterborough, On Saturday October 17, at the height of the fall foliage season in New Hampshire, the town of Peterborough will be awash in bright gold and orange banners signaling the beginning of the Annual "Peak Into Peterborough" celebration. The name of the event is a play on words that is intended to capitalize on what should be the "Peak" of the fall foliage season. But hearing the name suggests that you give Peterborough a quick glance. Either way, the Monadnock Region is the place to be for spectacular fall foliage. Reserve today, rooms fill up early! Turn that quick glance into a day-long detour into the Currier and Ives corner of New Hampshire. The event is going to hit the peak of foliage right on the head. And the colors this year are going to be absolutely incredible. Gold and orange street banners will welcome visitors to "Our Town."
20 Wednesday, 2 & 7 pm. Remembering Galileo: “Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens” at Ellis White Lecture Hall (Hammond Campus Center), 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. Simon Callow portrays Galileo in this stirring blend of documentary and re-creation. Conversation after the film will continue exploring the center themes of the series. Post-performance talkback with Drs. Bruce Duncan and John Paul after the 7 PM screening. Free.Call 978-665-3709 or www.fsc.edu/cultural.
23 Saturday, 9 am–2 pm. Historic Leominster Homes Tour sponsored by Pilgrim Congregational Church-UCC will include the Doyle House, Pilgrim, several other private homes built in the 1700s and an 1812-horse power house are included. Advance sale tickets are $15. Tour day price is $20. Call 978-534-5164 or pilgrimchurch1743@comcast.net.
23 Saturday, 7 pm. Wachusett Music Series at the First Church of Christ Unitarian (Bulfinch Church) 725 Main Street, Lancaster. Les Sampou performs. ‘Lonesomeville’ is the diary. It takes you through lonely hotel rooms, endless highways, and the bedrooms of hard-living lovers. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. Call 978-365-2043 or visit www.wachusettmusic.com.
23 Saturday, 8 pm. Cherish the Ladies at Weston Auditorium, Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. With their virtuosi instrumental talents, beautiful vocals and stunning step dancing, this powerhouse group combines all the facets of Irish culture and puts it forth in an entertaining package. Tickets: $28/$25/$10. Call the box office, 978-665-3347.
23-24 Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–5 pm. Celtic Fest at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area at 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Over 60 craft exhibitors, farmers’ market, chainsaw carving demo, apple pie contest kids entertainment, Irish dancers, music and more. Call 978-464-2300. Tickets $10 adults, $6 kids.
24 Sunday, noon - 5 pm. Bluegrass and Brews at Nashoba Vallery Winery, 100 Wattaquaddoc Hill Rd., Bolton. Relax, sit back, and enjoy some bluegrass music by Southern Rail. The festival highlights the hand crafted micro-brewed beers of Nashoba brewer Thomas Knight. Winery tours available. No admission or parking fees.
27 Wednesday, 7 pm. Remembering Galileo: A Conversation with Dava Sobel at Kent Recital Hall (Conlon Music), 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. The Remembering Galileo series concludes with a talk by Dava Sobel, author of Galileo’s Daughter, winner of the 1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for science and technology, a 2000 Christopher Award, and was a finalist for the 2000 Pulitzer Prize in biography. Tickets: $10 general public; $7 seniors; $3 students (at the door). Fitchburg State College, 978-665-3709 or visit www.fsc.edu/cultural.
29 Friday, 2–4 p.m. Symposium at Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton. Christ Enthroned as Orthodox Image and Poetic Text: The Revolutionary Iconophilia of Vladimir Mayakovsky, with Michael Flier, the Oleksandr Potebnja Professor of Ukrainian Philology at Harvard University, and Sally (Sarah) Pratt, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Southern California. Call 978-598-5000.
30-31 Saturday & Sunday. Fall Harvest Days at Laurel Ridge Farm, 1128 Main St., Ashby. Farm and horse demonstrations, carriage rides, bring the kids to see the baby animals. Locally grown produce and meats, local glass bottled milk and more. Call 978-386-0200 or visit www.laurelridgefarm.com.
