“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” muses Anne Shirley, LM Montgomery’s endearing character in the classic novel Anne of Green Gables. While written well over 100 years ago, that phrase continues to be popular with fans of the tenth month. So why all the fuss about October? Along with closing with Halloween, it’s the month with the first frost of the year, which means the peskiest insects have left the building, nights are consistently cool enough to open the windows for the best sleeps of the year, and, of course, the foliage dazzles with the brightest orange and red hues of the year. We’ve compiled a list of season highlights – and we’re proud to be a sponsor of two of them – Coggeshall Farm Museum Harvest Gala at Blithewold (October 7) and Night at the Mansion at Linden Place (October 28). So get ready to circle, highlight, and dog-ear pages, and enjoy experiencing all the things that make October so special.
Carve a Pumpkin for A Coggeshall Halloween: Carve designs on pumpkins and bring them to Coggeshall Farm Museum (October 19 & 20) to be displayed during A Coggeshall Halloween (October 20, 21, 27, and 28), a series of days filled with Halloween-themed fun, games, music, and treats for the entire family. Bristol, CoggeshallFarm.org
Enchanted Hour in the Mansion: The Parlour at The Vanderbilt provides the moody backdrop for conversations with local medium Basil Love. Sit by candlelight on a velvet sofa and have your tarot cards read before heading to the bar for a special off-menu cocktail based on the theme of your reading. Newport, AubergeResorts.com
Fall Railbike Rides: Experience three miles of unique vistas along Narragansett Bay as you ride to the Bayside Station for a Fireside Tour, with a break for BYO s’mores over small campfires. Portsmouth, RailExplorers.net
Johnson’s Roadside Farm Market: Just over the state line near Warren, pull over and explore the bounty indoors and out of this expansive market. Find fall decor, flowers, pumpkins a plenty, and treats like hot apple cider, warm apple cider donuts, candy apples, and so many Rhody-made goods! Swansea, MA, JohnsonRoadsideMarket.com
Live Music & Food Trucks: Enjoy jazz tunes and delish eats from the Village Greek Food Truck or Newport Chowder Co. while sipping wine at Greenvale Vineyards on select weekend nights. Portsmouth, Greenvale.com
Newport History Tours: Learn the history behind burial grounds, legends and lore, and other local history with a variety of fascinating tours throughout October. NewportHistoryTours.org
Private Adirondack Experience: Along with first-come, first-served seating on the lawn at Castle Hill Inn, plan ahead and reserve a private group of chairs for six to 12 friends, with cocktail service and menu add-ons. Pro-tip: plan for sunset. Newport, CastleHillInn.com
Pumpkin Palooza: Celebrate fall with special events every weekend, from a ride on a magic pumpkin coach and pumpkin painting to a DIY scarecrow workshop. Warren, FrerichsFarm.com
RI Land Trust Days: Get outside with guided walks, wildlife hikes, and other nature programming in our state’s protected open spaces with all kinds of events facilitated by expert naturalists through October 29. RILandTrusts.org
Rhode Island Witches Guild: What began as a group of witchy women performing their spooky dance in Wickford has grown into a statewide guild of witches performing and hosting broom decorating workshops across the state throughout October. RIWitchesGuild.com
Sunday Bird Walks: Norman Bird Sanctuary leads guided morning walks throughout the conservancy for novice and expert birders on select Sundays through October. Middletown, NormanBirdSanctuary.org
Tiverton Farmers Market: Still held outdoors at the Tiverton Town Farm Recreation Area, Sundays through October host shopping for everything from baked goods to meats and seafood, honey, herbals, produce, and more. TivertonFarmersMarket.com
Wednesday Morning Walks: Rise and shine mid-week to join naturist Laura Carberry on an outdoor walk for ages 14 and older. Locations across the state are determined weekly; advance registration
required. Various, ASRI.org
Audrain Newport Concours and Motor Week: Dining pop-ups, seminars, cocktail hours, and Gatsby-esque VIP parties are all part of this can’t-miss event for car enthusiasts, building up to a showing of rare and vintage automobiles. Newport, AudrainConcours.com
Folk at the Farm: The Collaborative hosts a lineup including Jake Blount, The Whelks, The Vox Hunters, and The Atwater Donnelly Band at Frerichs Farm. Warren, TheCollaborative02885.org
French & Breton Bal Folk Dance: Dance to the folksy sounds of French bagpipes, accordions, fiddles, and even the didgeridoo for this Bay Spring Community Center concert and dance instruction. Barrington, BSCCRI.org
Great Townie Pumpkin Festival: Along with decorating your own festive gourds, this family-friendly event at Crescent Park has a variety of vendors, games with prizes, food, and more planned. Riverside,
CrescentParkCarousel.org
Norman Bird Sanctuary Harvest Fair: The 45th annual fair features craft and food vendors, hay rides, face-painting, and even a big ol’ messy mud pile. Participate in the home and garden competition and enjoy live music. Middletown, NormanBirdSanctuary.org
Columbus Day Sidewalk Sale: Enjoy breezy browsing by the water at this annual event where participating shops put their wares outside and offer special discounts. Newport, BowensWharf.com
Great Pumpkin Harvest Party: Activities at this party geared toward ages two to 12 include face painting, mini golf, bouncy house obstacle course, scavenger hunt, and a costume parade at 3pm. Barrington.RI.gov
Pumpkin Palooza Puff Painting: Part of the Citizens Free Family Fun Day, kids can enjoy a morning at the craft table, a nature story, animal interview, and more, all before using puff paint to render their own pumpkin pièce de résistance. Bristol, ASRI.org
Coggeshall Farm Museum Harvest Gala at Blithewold: Held at Blithewold Mansion, celebrate Coggeshall Farm Museum’s 50th at the second annual Harvest Gala. Festivities begin with an open bar cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres, and silent auction. Sandra Polanik, event coordinator at Coggeshall Farm Museum and Old Sturbridge Village says “guests can look forward to a lively auction, performances by TEN31, dancing the night away with the music of Honey Train, and more – all while experiencing the breathtaking views of Blithewold’s landscape,” adding that it will be “an extravagant night of celebrating with engaging experiences, exquisite food, and enticing cocktails.” Bristol, CoggeshallFarm.org
Newport Marathon & Half Marathon: Support local charities in this Boston Marathon qualifying race , or simply elevate your morning jog!
NewportMarathon.com
Warren Walkabout: Park, walk, take the free trolley, or hop on a pedicab to explore historic downtown at this annual celebration of arts, food, independent businesses, and history; live music all over town and artist demonstrations add to the scene, with each Sunday following a different theme. DiscoverWarren.com
Indigenous People’s Day Nature Activities: Kids off from school? The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium has you covered with a day of educational fun. Crafts, nature stories, animal interviews, and a fall foliage walk are part of the 10am-3pm agenda. Bristol, ASRI.org
Film Screening: If David Byrne wearing a giant suit counts as a Halloween-themed event, we’re in. See the newly restored 1984 Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense by Jonathan Demme on the big screen. Newport, JanePickens.com
Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch: Each year 1 Queen Anne Square is filled with pumpkins as far as the eye can see. Also find gourds, mums, pick-your-own, and more. Newport, TrinityNewport.org
Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Fest: Sip on Whalers, listen to live music, and eat lobster rolls, fish tacos, calamari, and oysters to your heart’s content. Newport, BowensWharf.com
Needle Felted Pumpkins: Artist and educator Tala Wunderler-Selby teaches how to sculpt small fuzzy pumpkins using simple tools and wool. Bristol, ASRI.org
Pell Bridge Run: Wake up early to participate in this annual bridge run, a picturesque four-mile journey, all while supporting dozens of nonprofit organizations. Newport, PellBridgeRun.com
Trunk or Treat: This all-inclusive event presented by Crescent Park Carousel in partnership with Team No Filter is free, but all children must be registered in order to participate. Costumes are optional. Riverside, CrescentParkCarousel.org
Garlic Roast: Garlic lovers, this event is for you! Held at the Tiverton Town Farm Rec Area, this first-annual celebration of the mighty bulb includes vendors selling garlic-infused foods, a “Tent Talk” about the benefits of planting and eating, and more. TivertonFarmersMarket.com
Happy Owl-ween Celebration: This all-ages costumes-encouraged event is sure to be a hoot with a day of fright-free tricks and treats along the Audubon trail. Outdoor explorations, games, crafts, and a series of owl presentations are planned. Bristol, ASRI.org
Aquidneck Island Halloween Family Festival: Trick-or-treating with over 25 vendors, crafts, food, and more are all part of this popular event held at Knights of Columbus #256. Don’t miss the costume contest at 12:30pm. Middletown, Facebook: Knights of Columbus - Middletown/Newport Council #256
Film Screening: Filmmaker and URI assistant professor Jason Jaacks will be present for the Mount Hope Farm screening of his film In Search of Tzotz. The documentary follows a photographer and world-renowned scientist as they search for two of the rarest and largest bat species on Earth. Bristol, MountHopeFarm.org
Fall Hiking on Prudence Island: If you’ve always wanted to explore the third-largest island in Narragansett Bay, this planned Audubon hike is a great first foray. Hike five-to-six miles at a moderate pace, with views of coastline, salt marsh, and forest. Bristol, ASRI.org
The Cabinet of Curiosities: A NIGHT AT THE MANSION: Revel in one of two dinner theater seatings, each accompanied by a multi-course autumn-inspired menu and unlimited champagne. Specialty cocktails, tarot and palm readings, and aerialists add to the ambiance. Newport, AubergeResorts.com
Night at the Mansion Halloween Haunt: The Federal-style mansion that appeared in the film The Great Gatsby will be decorated in hair-raising decor and aglow in creepy candlelight for the third annual Halloween party, which is sure to be a mix of spooky and elegant! If the mansion’s Derby Day Party in May sets the standard, attendees are sure to wow in costumes, so plan ahead. Enjoy tarot card readings, live entertainment, surprise guests, pop-up prizes, and more. Bristol, LindenPlace.org
Halloween Parade and Party: The Point Association hosts an afternoon parade and party sure to be brimming with New England charm, held in the neighborhood that boasts one of the largest concentrations of colonial houses in the US. Newport, ThePointAssociation.org
Trunk or Treat: Rather than going door to door, head to Fort Adams State Park where kids get to visit a fleet of car trunks in this special edition of Cars + Coffee. Admission is typically a canned good. Newport, AudrainAutoMuseum.org
Block Island Ghost Tours
BlockIslandGhostTours.com
Factory of Terror
West Warwick, FactoryOfTerror.com
Ghosts of Newport
GhostsofNewport.com
Haunted Bristol and Warren Tours
Facebook: Haunted Bristol Tours
Providence Ghost Tour
ProvidenceGhostTour.com
Scary Acres RI
Cranston, ScaryAcresRI.com
Seven Cedars Farm
Smithfield, SevenCedarsFarm.us
Slater Park Haunted Tunnel
Pawtucket, Facebook: Haunted Tunnel RI
13th World
Cumberland, 13thWorld.com
Westerly Ghost Tour
SeasideShadows.com
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