Ride a vintage train to a pumpkin field

It's the Fall harvest season so what better way to celebrate and welcome in the cooler weather than with a short ride on a vintage train to the Danbury Railway Museum's Pumpkin Patch. This popular annual family event will take place on October 18-19 and 25-26; Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sundays from noon to 4:00 PM at the museum, with trains departing hourly beginning ½-hour after opening each day. Admission is $10.00 for ages 2 and over; children under 24 months are free.

Visitors will ride the Pumpkin Patch Train through the historic rail yard in a 1920's passenger coach, pulled by a vintage ALCo RS-1 diesel-electric locomotive* to the special pumpkin patch where each child will receive a free pumpkin. 

Of course, the exhibits, artifacts, and multiple operating model train layouts inside the restored 100-year old Danbury station will be open for your education and entertainment. The kids can also enjoy the free activities such as the "coloring station," temporary tattoos, cider & cookies, and more. There is a fully-stocked gift shop on the premises. No reservations are required; the event will be held rain or shine. Children are encouraged to come in costume.

The Danbury Railway Museum is a non-profit organization, staffed solely by volunteers, and is dedicated to the preservation of, and education about, railroad history. The museum is located in the restored 1903 Danbury Station and rail yard at 120 White Street, Danbury, CT and has many artifacts of area railroading on display, including over 70 vintage railroad cars and locomotives. For further information, visit the Web site at http://www.danburyrail.org, or call the museum at 203-778-8337. For area information on Litchfield Hills visit www.litchfieldhills.com

Halloween.... historically... in Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County....

At the historic Glebe House Museum on Hollow Rd. in Woodbury on Saturday, October 26 costumed spirits will lead the way through the Ancient Burying grounds, where 30 of Woodbury's most famous and infamous 'spirits' await at their grave sites to relate tales from the darker side of 18th and 19th century Woodbury. There will be a spooky candlelit tour in the museum itself and stories and tales from Moll Cramer, the Witch of Woodbury, told in the Museum cottage. Madame Suzolo will be offering Tarot Card readings and there will be free fall refreshments for all. The Hollow will be closed to traffic and the area, including the walk to and through the cemetery will be lit with over 200 luminaries. Hours are 5 pm to 8:30 p.m.  Individual tickets are $12 and Family tickets Mom, Dad and their children are $25.

The rain date is October 27. www.theglebehouse.org.

The 6^th Annual Washington Green Cemetery Tour, with a special Swedish immigrant theme, will take place on Friday October 25 from 6:30-8:30pm.  Costumed guides will lead groups of visitors every ten minutes from the Gunn Museum to the Washington Green Cemetery where the town’s departed citizens will be stationed at their gravestones to tell their tales of tragedy and triumph. Tour groups will follow a magical path of 1,000 luminaries spanning a quarter mile through the shadowy cemetery and hear the lively and dramatic stories of Washington's Swedish immigrants. The costumed character actors stationed at each gravestone will share the perilous tales of their travels to America, their work as domestics on estates in Washington owned by wealthy New Yorkers, and so much more. The Gunn Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road, at the intersection of Wykeham Road and Route 47, on Washington Green. Rain date is Oct. 27. www.gunnlibrary.org/museum.html

The Hurd House in Woodbury on Hollow Rd. one of the oldest houses in the Western part of Connecticut is hosting a Halloween bash from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on October 26.  Children are invited to come to this magnificent historic house in costume and listen to a spooky tale, sip cider by the fire and afterward join the scavenger hunt for some ghoulish fun!  This event is free.

On October 26, Rain date Oct. 27, Plymouth is holding a PumpkinFest on the Green, 10 Park Street from 4 to 7 p.m. Bring your carved jack-o-lantern to enter the carving contest prizes; will be awarded. At 6 p.m. all the pumpkins will be lit for a spectacular display. Other event activities include face painting, live music, lantern tours of the old burying ground and a costume parade led by a bagpiper

On October 27 at 6 p.m. the Fairfield Museum and History Center on 370 Beach Road in Fairfield will host a bone chilling walking tour that explores Fairfield’s haunting legends and folklore as night descends. Participants will hear about body snatching in the cemetery, ghost legends at the Tavern and stand on the site where wary townsfolk tested alleged witches in the 17^th century.  Cost is $8 per person. www.fairfieldhistory.org

As the sun sets, the spirits come out to play…take a lantern-lit tour through the Mill Hill graveyard in Norwalk on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Listen to new chilling tales from the Norwalk spirits at “A Haunting at Mill Hill”.  Meet Anna Howard, the spirit that roams the Norwalk River and Margaret Gale, the wife of an organ grinder, who met her untimely end along a deserted Norwalk road, plus more stories of murder, death and destruction! Refreshments follow each tour in the historic Little Red Schoolhouse. Limited space on each tour, book early! Event held indoors during inclement weather.  Bring a flashlight.  For tickets call 203-846-0525 or visit www.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org.  Cost: Adults/Teens (ages 13 & up): $14, Child (ages 8-12): $9

New Canaan Nature Center's Fall Fair Oct. 13

Traditional Fall Fair activities will return to New Canaan Nature Center's annual Fall Festival on Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m such as pony rides, a "haunted" woodland trail, apple sling shots, a hay maze, cupcake and pumpkin decorating, and fire engine rides on New Canaan's antique fire engine, Old Faithful.

The giant bungee jump, one of last year's most popular attractions will also be back along with the "Kids On The Go" obstacle course and other inflatable rides.A new highlight this year will be a special visit by the New Canaan Rams Varsity Football team and coaches!  The team will greet kids at 11:00am and face off in a "red" vs. "black" tug-o-war which kids 10 & under can participate in.

The Fall Fair will feature a wide range of entertainment and live music throughout the day.  The 5th Annual Apple Pie Eating contest will also take place with categories for youth and adults.  There is an entry fee ($5 for youth and $15 for adults) and prizes will be awarded. Other live shows include birds of prey and live animal demonstrations throughout the day.

A wide range of fresh foods will be available to purchase throughout the day, including grilled hot dogs, pulled pork and vegetarian sandwiches, corn dogs, pizza, hot soup and hot and cold beverages.
A variety of homemade baked goods will be for sale courtesy of Nature Center volunteers.

Admission to the Fall Fair is free and parking is available at St. Mark's and the First Presbyterian Church.  Tickets can be purchased for $1 each for the activities and food, which range from 1-7 tickets.    For more information about the Fall Fair visitwww.NewCanaanNature.org of call (203) 966-9577.