fall eventscalendar 2015

your guide to eastern connecticut festivals,

concerts, parades& so much more

Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme

fireworks on the harbor, norwich

Leaf peeping at its finestFall drives. Enjoy eastern Connecticut’s blaze of autumn colors with one of Mystic Country’s scenic fall drives. Escape to these quiet Technicolor trails and prepare to be wowed by Mother Nature while you discover beautiful vistas, historic towns, interesting locales and delicious eateries along the way. Page 7

Full steam aheadB.F. Clyde's Cider Mill. Fall marks more than just the changing colors of the foliage, it marks the season opening of an eastern Connecticut tradition – B. F. Clyde's Cider Mill, the nation's oldest steam-powered cider mill. Delectable donuts, piled-high pies and, of course, that warm wonderful apple cider. Stop in on the weekends for a cider making demonstration and see the mill in action. bfclydescidermill.com

Come get lostCorn mazes. Autumn adventure awaits around every corner in these Mystic Country labyrinths. You’ll enjoy trying to navigate your way to a victorious finish. This season’s corn maze crop includes odes to Sleepy Hollow (Preston Farm), turkeys (Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm) and the Milky Way (Fort Hill Farms). Page 5

Farm freshPick-your-own. Take the ones you love more than a bushel and a peck on a pick-your-own journey. Currently in season in Mystic Country: apples, pumpkins, raspberries and mums. mystic.org

Romp through royal realmsWee Faerie Village Whimsical Kingdoms. October 1 to November 1. Come explore castles, towers and places of fiction's greatest princes and princesses (and perhaps a few sorcerers and witches) when the Florence Griswold Museum's 11 acres magically transforms into a faerie village. Imagine fanciful edifices detailed

with mini moats, pinecone pinnacles, fungus fortresses, acorn-topped timbered towers, bark-covered buttresses, fluttering feather flags, driftwood drawbridges…the list goes on and on. florencegriswoldmuseum.org

Wander the wineriesVineyards & wineries. Stop in and experience one of the most exciting and fastest growing wine regions in the United States, with wines as flavorful as the scenery is picturesque. Walk the vineyards, enjoy the scenery and chat with the winemakers who not only harvest the grapes but also infuse them with their passion. mystic.org

A little bit of countryHayrides. A fun and family-friendly way to enjoy the fall. Hayrides are available at Creamery Brook Bison Farm, Brooklyn; R-Farm, Lebanon; Buttonwood Farms, Griswold; and Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm, Sterling. mystic.org

The great outdoors25th Anniversary of Walktober. Explore over 200 free walks, hikes, paddles, bike rides, tours and events in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner when The Last Green Valley takes the month of October and transforms it into Walktober. Each excursion is labeled easy, moderate or difficult to prep you for your journey. Great for family, children and pets! Page 5 Autumn AdventuresFall and Halloween festivities. Events filled with things that go bump in the night, plus some great fall festivals for those who prefer to explore during the day. Pages 3-4

Haunted HistoryHaunted locales. The autumn air isn’t the only thing that’s chilling in the region. Take a journey around eastern Connecticut to learn about Connecticut history's people and places that still haunt us today. mystic.org/haunted-history

Mystic Country Fall FavoritesStart your New England fall travel journey right here.

Top going clockwise: Route 1, Stonington; Blue Slope Country Museum, North Franklin; B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill, Old Mystic; Holmberg Orchards & Winery, Gales Ferry

Mystic Country Fall Events 2

WEEkENDS IN OCTOBER Dark Manor Haunted House, Norwich, darkmanorproductions.com OCTOBER 1-NOVEMBER 1 Wee Faerie Village Whimsical Kingdoms, Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, florencegriswoldmuseum.org

OCTOBER 1-3125TH ANNIVERSARY WALKTOBER, Northeast Connecticut, thelastgreenvalley.org

OCTOBER 2First Friday, Downtown Putnam, discoverputnam.com

OCTOBER 3-4 Harvest Festival, Jonathan Edwards Winery, North Stonington, jedwardswinery.com

OCTOBER 3-4 CONTINUED Mystic Pirate Invasion, mysticdowntown.org

Fall Festival Tyme, cancelled Blue Slope Country Museum, North Franklin, blueslope.com

OCTOBER 4 Cornucopia Fest, UConn, Storrs, cornucopia.uconn.edu

OCTOBER 10Groton Fall Festival, mysticchamber.org

Storrs Center Stroll, storrscenter.com

OCTOBER 10-12Monty’s Fall Festival, The Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village, Oakdale, naturesartvillage.com

Chowder Days, Mystic Seaport, mysticseaport.org

Harvest Festival, Lapsley Orchard, Pomfret Center

OCTOBER 11 Connecticut Cheese Festival, Coventry, coventryfarmersmarket.com

Scotland Highland Festival, scotlandgames.org

OCTOBER 14Fall Food Stroll, New London,newlondonmainstreet.org

OCTOBER 16 & 17Paranormal Investigation Weekend,Leffingwell House Museum, Norwich, seasideshadows.com Reservations required.

Spooky Nights,Brooklyn Fair Grounds, Brooklyn,brooklynct.org

OCTOBER 16-17, 23-24Evenings at Hale: Things that Go Bump in the Night, Nathan Hale Homestead, Coventry, ctlandmarks.org

October

3 Mystic Country Fall Events

1) Scotland Highland Festival 2) Fall Festival Tyme, North Franklin 3) Harvest Festival, Pomfret Center 4) Wee Faerie Village Whimsical kingdoms, Old Lyme 5) CT Cheese Festival, Coventry - Photo courtesy of Winter Caplanson/Connecticut Food & Farm 6) Roseland Cottage Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, Woodstock 7) Mystic Pirate Invasion 8) A Hempstead Halloween, New London 9) Great Pumpkin Festival & Fall Foliage Ride, Putnam 10) Trick-or-Treating, Mystic Seaport, Mystic 11) Niantic Halloween Parade 12) Dark Manor Haunted House, Norwich

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OCTOBER 16-18World Series of Speedway Racing, Thompson International Speedway, thompsonspeedway.com

OCTOBER 16-17, 23-24 & 30Nautical Nightmares, Mystic Seaportmysticseaport.org

OCTOBER 17Scarecrows and Cocoa Day,Leffingwell House, Norwichleffingwellhousemuseum.org

OCTOBER 17-18Roseland Cottage Fine Arts and Crafts Festival, Woodstock, historicnewengland.org

OCTOBER 17-18 & 24-25Pumpkin Tours of Bison Farm,Creamery Brook Bison Farm, Brooklyn,creamerybrookbison.net

OCTOBER 22-24 & 29-30 Sea Scare, Mystic Aquarium, mysticaquarium.org

OCTOBER 23 New London Halloween Town,Downtown New London,newlondonhalloweentown.com

Ghost Stories on Groton BankAvery-Copp House, Groton, averycopphouse.org

OCTOBER 23 & 24Spooky Nature TrailDenison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic, dpnc.org OCTOBER 23-25 Nightmare on Main,Windham Textile & History Museum, Willimantic, millmuseum.org

OCTOBER 24Great Pumpkin Festival & Foliage Train Ride, Putnam, discoverputnam.com

A Hempsted HalloweenHempsted Houses, New London, ctlandmarks.org

OCTOBER 24 CONTINUEDDowntown Storrs Trick-or-Treating,Storrs Center, storrscenter.com

OCTOBER 25Niantic Halloween Parade, discovereastlyme.com

OCTOBER 30Downtown Putnam Trick-or-Treat Night, discoverputnam.com

OCTOBER 31Halloween Trick-or-Treats

Olde Mistick Village, oldemistickvillage.com

Mystic Seaport, mysticseaport.org

Main Street, Willimantic, willimanticdowntown.org

Scarecrow kingdom, Davis Park, Danielson, killingly.org

Mystic Country Fall Events 4

1) Scotland Highland Festival 2) Fall Festival Tyme, North Franklin 3) Harvest Festival, Pomfret Center 4) Wee Faerie Village Whimsical kingdoms, Old Lyme 5) CT Cheese Festival, Coventry - Photo courtesy of Winter Caplanson/Connecticut Food & Farm 6) Roseland Cottage Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, Woodstock 7) Mystic Pirate Invasion 8) A Hempstead Halloween, New London 9) Great Pumpkin Festival & Fall Foliage Ride, Putnam 10) Trick-or-Treating, Mystic Seaport, Mystic 11) Niantic Halloween Parade 12) Dark Manor Haunted House, Norwich

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THEMED MAzES

Scott’s Yankee Farmer436 Boston Post Road East LymeMaze Theme: Rainforest Adventurescottsyankeefarmer.net

Fort Hill Farms260 Quaddick Road, ThompsonMaze Theme: Milky Wayforthillfarms.com

Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm227 Ekonk Hill Rd, SterlingMaze Theme: Turkeysgetlostinthemaze.com

Preston Farm92 Connecticut Route 2, PrestonMaze Theme: Sleepy Hollowprestonfarmscornmaze.com

Now that’s a corn maze. But if Fort Hill Farm’s ‘Best Milk in the Milky Way’ Corn Maze Adventure is too daunting, they have a smaller ‘Little Dipper Labyrinth’ for you to explore.

Corn mazes

Some mazes can take one to two hours to complete. Comfortable shoes are a must. Please contact farms for dates and times. Pictured above, Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm.

5 Mystic Country Fall Events

WalktoberCelebrating the great outdoors This year marks the 25th anniversary of Walktober, an event designed to explore the beauty and treasures of the National Heritage Corridor known as The Last Green Valley, a region that remains more than 78% forests and farmland. More than 200 free walks, hikes, paddles, bike rides, tours and events are scheduled throughout the month in the northeast corner of the state. Download the guide at tlgv.org.

NON-THEMED MAzES

Holmberg Orchards & Winery12 Orchard Lane, Gales Ferryholmbergorchards.com

Buttonwood Farm471 Shetucket Turnpike, Griswoldbuttonwoodfarmicecream.com

R-Farm 353 Tobacco Street, Lebanonr-farmct.com

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NOVMEBER 1-7 Mystic Restaurant Week, mysticchamber.org

NOVEMBER 27Holiday Santa Parade & Tree Lighting, Willimantic, willimanticdowntown.org

NOVEMBER 27-29Artists’ Open Studios Tour, Northeast Connecticut, aosct.org

NOVEMBER 27 - 28Field Days, Mystic Seaport, mysticseaport.org

NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 20Lantern Light Tours, Mystic Seaport mysticseaport.org

NOVEMBER 28Santa Arrives by Tugboat, Mystic, mysticchamber.org

Tree Lighting & Lighted Boat Parade,Mystic, mysticchamber.org

Niantic Holiday Stroll, nianticmainstreet.org

Celebration of Lights and Song, New London, newlondonmainstreet.org

Norwich Winterfest Parade, norwichct.org

NOVEMBER 29Holiday Dazzle Light Parade, Putnam discoverputnam.com

November

DecemberDECEMBER 1 Mystic Holiday Stroll, Downtown Mystic, mysticdowntown.org

DECEMBER 3 - JANUARY 3The Magic of Christmas, Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme florencegriswoldmuseum.org

DECEMBER 4Stonington Village Holiday Tree Lighting & Stroll, stoningtonboroughct.com

Frosty's Big Night Out, Danielson, killingly.org

DECEMBER 5Groton Lights Parade, mysticchamber.org

Holiday Carnival, Olde Mistick Village, Mystic, oldemistickvillage.com

Winter Welcome, Storrs Center,storrscenter.com

DECEMBER 5-6Artists’ Open Studios Tour continues, Northeast Connecticut, aosct.org

DECEMBER 11Festival of Lights, Olde Mistick Village with Mystic Aquarium, oldemistickvillage.com

DECEMBER 11-13The Holly & Ivy, New Londonnewlondonlandmarks.org

DECEMBER 12 Niantic Light Parade, discovereastlyme.com

DECEMBER 13Killingly’s New England Christmas, killingly.org

DECEMBER 20Community Carol Sing, Mystic Seaport, mysticseaport.org

Downtown Mystic Winter Solstice Luminary, mysticdowntown.org

DECEMBER 26- JANUARY 1Holiday Magic, Mystic Seaportmysticseaport.org

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L ife’s simple pleasures beckon along Connecticut’s

Route 169. The 32-mile drive is a designated

National Scenic Byway that winds through

Connecticut’s Quiet Corner, countryside so rich in New

England character you won’t believe you are only two hours

from New York City.

Start your adventure in Lisbon at Exit 19 off Connecticut’s

I-395. Lush pastures, lichen covered stonewalls, farm stands,

orchards and historic homes await.

In Canterbury, look for the home of Connecticut’s State

Heroine, the Prudence Crandall Museum, a National Historic

Landmark and State Archaeological Preserve. It was on this

site in 1833 that Crandall founded the first New England

academy for African-American girls.

In Brooklyn you’ll see a monument to Israel Putnam nestled

amidst colonial era architecture. A Revolutionary War hero,

Putnam is known for one of the American Revolution’s most

memorable quotes, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of

their eyes,” at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Heading into Pomfret watch for boutiques selling regionally

made crafts and fine arts. Tiffany windows in the local

Episcopal Church are symbolic of the quality of the art found

in this bucolic town.

Continue north to Woodstock, home of Roseland Cottage.

Built in 1846 in the fashionable Gothic Revival style of the

era, this distinctively pink house was home to the Bowen’s, a

wealthy New York City family who summered on the estate. Of

note are the orderly parterre gardens and the nation’s oldest

surviving indoor bowling alley.

The drive can also be done in reverse starting just south of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

For more scenic drives, visit mystic.org/scenicdrives.

Scenic Fall Drive: National Scenic Byway Route 169 Traverse one of the last unspoiled areas in the northeastern U.S.

Eastern Regional Tourism District / 27 Greenmanville Avenue / Mystic, CT 06355mystic.org / 860.536.8822

Produced by the Eastern Regional Tourism District (ERTD). The ERTD has made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this guide, but assumes no responsibility for errors,

changes or omissions. Dates are subject to change without notice. Please call in advance to verify information. Copyright © 2015 Eastern Regional Tourism District. All Rights Reserved.