Haunted Graveyards and Witches Dungeon Deliver Chills and Thrills

It is that spooky time of year again and Bristol Connecticut in the Litchfield Hills is "spook central"! 

For chills, make haste to the Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce Family Theme Park in Bristol, which has been called "The granddaddy of the horrifically good time." An unholy order of monks keeps watch over the graves in the dark caverns of the Catacombs here and a dark and misty fog envelops the graveyard where zombies and night stalkers have wakened from the dead. Some are real, others are amazing animatronic creations made by The Haunted Graveyard's crazed staff. Visitors walk through 14 different themed houses with over 200 ghosts and ghouls haunting the grounds of this spooktacular event.

The Haunted Graveyard is recommended for adults, teens and very brave children, the park opens at dusk weekends through November 2 and runs to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Lake Compounce will also be operating 15 thrill rides including Phobia, Boulder Dash, Ghost Hunt, Down Time, and Zoomerang.  The Zombie Lounge returns this year to the Croc Pot and is the perfect place to relax, pick up some snacks, craft beer, and signature Halloween drinks after your haunting one-mile hike through the park.  For tickets click here.

This will be the 55th season for the annual Witch's Dungeon Halloween Classic Movies Museum in Bristol, the longest-running exhibition of its kind started in 1966. This wax style museum is a tribute to the actors and make-up artists that gave audiences classic movie monsters. A highlight of the event is the guest appearance of Argyle Goolsby (musician Steve Matthews) plus the screening of the Mel Brooks classic movie, Young Frankenstein on real film at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 25.

The Graveyard Of Classic Ghouls sets the atmosphere as you enter the dungeon where accurate life-size figures of Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and others are featured in 13 scenes or dioramas based on the vintage movie chillers. Many of the figures are made from the actual life casts of the actor's faces, plus some original costumes or props, in a wax museum style setting with special voice tracks by Vincent Price, Mark Hamill, and John Agar. Many Hollywood props are on display and vintage films will be shown in the auditorium on "real" film until 10 p.m.

While waiting for each wax museum tour, you can view actual film props, actor's life casts and movie posters, or step into our film room, to view classic silent horror movies, shown on film, not video. Featuring far more life-size figures & original movie props than we have ever had on display before! Figures based on the classic films of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and more.

The location for Witches Dungeon is 98 Summer Street in Bristol at the Bristol Historical Society.  The hours are weekends in October, Friday through Sunday evenings, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Oct. 25-27 and Oct. 31- Nov. 3.  The Museum is not recommended for children under age 7. A $6 donation is suggested.   For additional information visit http://www.preservehollywood.org.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s Newest Feathered Friend is a White-naped Crane

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is the new home for a White-naped crane (Antigone vipio). The male crane, named McDuffy, arrived from Turtleback Zoo in New Jersey several weeks ago, and after a quarantine period (required for all new arrivals), has taken up residence in a large grassy habitat located next to the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat.

White-naped cranes are an elegant species native to northern Mongolia, southern Siberia, Korea, Japan and central China.  They have a white nape and vertical gray stripes on their necks, as well as a distinct red patch surrounding their eyes. They are found in in grassy marshes, wet sedge meadows and reedbeds in broad river valleys, lake depressions and boggy upland wetlands. They prefer areas where their nests can be concealed and there is little grazing pressure.

Habitat destruction of wetlands due to agricultural expansion, as well as hunting, pose the most critical threat to their survival. This species is classified as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Since 1994, AZA institutions have been sending surplus White-naped crane eggs to Russia to be reared and released to the wild. Currently, the International Crane Foundation is also involved in the conservation of White-naped cranes throughout their range in eastern Asia.

“McDuffy is a beautiful new addition and contributes to the Zoo’s demonstration of the rich biodiversity in nature,” said Gregg Dancho, zoo director. “We continually look for new and unusual species to educate and delight our guests, that also meet our mission of wildlife conservation.”

The White-naped crane is a popular symbol of the Korean New Year celebration, and a symbol of peace for the people of the Korean peninsula.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Let your curiosity run wild! Connecticut's only zoo, celebrating its 97^th year, features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Guests won't want to miss our Amur tigers and leopards, Mexican and Red wolves, and Golden Lion tamarin. Other highlights include our Spider Monkey Habitat, the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, plus the Pampas Plains featuring maned wolves, Chacoan peccaries and Giant anteaters. Guests can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful, indoor carousel. For more information, visit beardsleyzoo.org.

Head Out to Hopkins Vineyard's Wine and Cheese Market

Hopkins Vineyard overlooking beautiful Lake Waramaug is a perfect spot to visit this autumn.  If you are foodies that love wine and cheese, don't miss the Wine and Cheese Market on October 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Hopkins Vineyard has teamed up with Jones Winery, Land of Nod Winery, Spring Hill Vineyards and Sunset Meadow Vineyards to host a wine and cheese tasting and market. This event will feature wine from each of the vineyards as well as cheese and food samples from a host of local vendors. Another highlight of this event are the handmade gift items from talented local craftspeople and artisans that will be for sale. If you want a bit more than cheese samples, not to worry, food for purchase will be available from the Clambaking Company.  This company specializes in fresh seafood and BBQ, so there will be something to delight every palate.

Hopkins Vineyard is located on 25 Hopkins Road in Warren Connecticut.  The tickets for this event are $25 per person and $12 for a designated driver. For tickets click here.

If you miss this event, keep in mind that the picnic area at Hopkins Vineyard is open daily this October. You can either bring your own picnic lunch and pick up a bottle of Hopkins wine from the shop or purchase one of the cheese platters stocked with Arethusa and other gourmet cheeses at the shop.

Go on a Magical Garden Hike

If you are looking for an enchanting and whimsical walk this fall, plan to take a walk to the Garden of Ideas located on 653 N. Salem Road in Ridgefield that is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm.  Here you will find 12 beautiful acres of cultivated and wild gardens, marshlands and woodlands that are sure to please garden lovers of all ages.

courtesy garden of idea

Visitors will enjoy ornamental, vegetable, sculpture and woodland gardens amid 12 unspoiled acres.  The treehouse is a special delight especially for children because of its' storybook setting.  The boardwalk trail that meanders through the wetlands is especially scenic in the autumn. Visitors should keep their eyes peeled for ducks and birds that make their home here.

Playful sculptures that pop up along the garden trails offer a touch of whimsy and a circular stone labyrinth encourages meditation. Visitors should be on the lookout for the traveling garden gnomes that appear in different places throughout the garden.  Best of all, spots to sit back and take in the beauty of this enchanting garden are located throughout this charming garden.

Native American Ceremony and Dancers Celebrate the New Algonquian Village @ Institute for Native American Studies - October 12, 2019

 The Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington has good reason to celebrate and you are invited to join the fun at the Algonquian Village Renewal Ceremony on October 12 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  

This is your chance to be one of the first people to visit the new revitalized Village consisting of wigwams and a longhouse and, to be part of a special Native American Smudging Ceremony by Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke. This fascinating ceremony will cleanse the new longhouse and chase away evil spirits in the village. The Thunderbird Dancers, the oldest Native American Dance Company in New York that have performed all over the world will be on hand to perform dances of celebration in the village. This amazing dance troupe keeps alive the traditions, songs, and dances they have learned that would otherwise be lost. For those interested in how the village was actually constructed, Kalin Griffin, IAIS Educator and, primitive technologist will be on hand to talk about the techniques used to reconstruct the village using only stone tools.

Since the 1980s the replicated 16^th century outdoor Native American Village at the Institute has been a favorite of visitors, students, teachers, and staff. Walking on a winding forest path leading to the village that was constructed to resemble the way a Native American community in Connecticut would have looked centuries ago is one of the most memorable aspects of a visit to the Institute. Entering the village, visitors feel transported back in time as they explore the longhouse, a cluster of wigwams, shelters, and gardens. One of the most intriguing aspects of the village is that it is made using only trees and bark and other things found in the natural environment using traditional tools and techniques. Today’s visitors to the Institute and those that plan to visit in the future will continue to enjoy this beautiful village and learn about the fascinating culture of the Eastern Woodland Indians.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. We have a 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Go on a Nature Walk this fall @ Deer Pond Farm

There is nothing like a walk on a beautiful autumn day in Western Connecticut's Litchfield Hills or Fairfield County.  It is even more fun to discover a new place to walk, such as the Connecticut Audubon Society's recently opened Deer Pond Farm in Sherman, Connecticut.

Deer Pond Farm covers 835 acres and offers hikers a network of 20 miles of trails through a variety of habitat from rugged hardwood forests and meadows to wetland environments. A bonus that many trails offer is fabulous views of the surrounding landscape because trails are situated at elevations between 900 and 1200 feet.

The Connecticut Audubon has reported that about 100 species of birds have been spotted on or near the sanctuary including forest birds such as Broad-winged Hawk and Scarlet Tanager, marsh birds such as Virginia Rail and early seasonal birds like the American Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

This fall, Deer Pond is offering several programs that will help visitors get the most out of their visit to this recreational haven. On October 16 and 18 for example, the expert and beginner bird watchers are invited to join staff for a guided bird walk in search of resident and migratory songbirds and hawks. Participants will explore diverse habitats that support a variety of birds that will be identified by sight and sound. This walk, that begins at 8 a.m. is about two hours long and will cover moderately heavy terrain.

On October 12 at 9 a.m. Deer Pond Farm has a family fun event beginning at 9 a.m. that will be an easy and very interactive walk where kids will be amazed to discover what is happening in the natural world that they live in. Highlights of this walk include time in the bird and pollinator garden, by the pond to learn about pond life in the autumn and a discussion about citizen science and how it impacts everyone. This program begins at 9 a.m. and will last about an hour and a half and cover easy terrain.

Deer Pond Farm is located on 57 Wakeman Hill Road in Sherman. All programs are free for members and $5 for non-members. The grounds of the sanctuary are open year-round, dawn to dusk. For more information click here to visit their website.

Sloths, Scarecrows and Boo @ the Zoo!

The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport is planning a series of fantastic October events sure to please the entire family and even provide a spooktacular time! Beginning on October 14 and running through October 31 the scarecrows will be on parade again at the zoo. Kids from schools far and wide compete in this scarecrow contest where you are the judge! Don't miss the scarecrow exhibit on the greenhouse lawn, and be sure to vote for your favorite. Contest winners will be announced on October 28.

If you love sloths, come to the zoo and help us celebrate International Sloth Day on October 20th. You will learn about the life cycle and natural habitats of sloths, which are native to South and Central America. It is always fun to spot the zoo's two-toed sloths in the rainforest exhibit! The zookeeper recommends that you look up to spot this animal with brownish-greenish skin!

Bats are so important to the environment and October 24-31 is Bat Week at the Beardsley Zoo and around the world that is arranged by conservation organizations in the United States and Canada. There will be many opportunities all week long for visitors to the zoo to learn about bats with a highlight being arts and crafts and other fun activities that will be taking place in the research station.

The grand finale of October @ the Beardsley Zoo is the annual Boo at the Zoo that is taking place on October 27 from noon to 3 p.m. This spooktacular afternoon will include harvest hayrides ($2 additional) around the grounds of the zoo and many other seasonal activities. Kids will enjoy arts and crafts, story- time, cool critters and, candy of course! If you are under 12 and come in a costume and are with a paying adult, you get into the Zoo for free!

October Barn Talks @ Hollister House Garden

On the heels of a successful spring program, Hollister House Garden announces their fall series of educational lectures.  The lecture series known as “Barn Talks” at Hollister House Garden has been developed to inform and inspire gardeners and garden lovers.  Guest presenters are horticultural industry professionals with decades of experience, who will share their passion and knowledge on topics of interest to gardeners.

The October series line-up is as follows:

Saturday, October 5 Forcing Bulbs for Winter Delight

Presented by Page Dickey, garden writer, lecturer designer, and board member at Hollister House Garden. 

If you follow the beloved author and passionate gardener Page Dickey on Instagram you are familiar with the pots of beautiful blooms that decorate Church House in the winter.  In this illustrated talk and demonstration Page will show us that a great variety of the bulbs we buy in the fall can be potted up in October and put somewhere cold (a cold frame, cellar steps, a refrigerator) for about 12 weeks, then brought out to light and sun and coaxed into bloom for the winter months. Less expensive and much more delightful than florist flowers to decorate your house! Page will show you how she has been forcing bulbs for years and she will share her favorite ones.

Saturday, October 12^th  Overwintering Houseplants - Growing Techniques that Work

Presented by Barbara Pierson, Horticulturist and Nursery Manager at White Flower Farm where she is the face and voice of many of the how-to gardening videos on their website.

Flowering and foliage houseplants thrive outdoors during the summer months and the transition to the indoor home environment for winter can be a challenge. In this illustrated talk Barb Pierson will share species-specific growing instructions and simple techniques to ensure that your favorite plants remain happy all year!

Barn Talks take place on Saturday mornings from 10-11:30 am in the barn at Hollister House Garden. Reservations are suggested and can be made online at www.hollisterhousegarden.org/lectures.

HHG Members $25, Non-members $35/$40 at the door. 

Hollister House Garden is a non-profit corporation and one of only 16 exceptional gardens designated a Preservation Project by the Garden Conservancy, whose mission is to identify and preserve important private gardens across America for the education and enjoyment of the public. In 2010 Hollister House achieved its prestigious listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The property has also been named a Town Landmark Site by the Town of Washington.

Hollister House Garden is open to visitors April 26th through October 12th. Wednesday and Friday hours are 1-4PM and Saturdays 10-4PM. Private group visits are welcome weekdays by appointment only.  Directions to the garden’s 300 Nettleton Hollow Road location are also available on the website.  

Garlic Festival In Litchfield Hills - A tasty way to spend a fall day!

Are you looking for a tasty way to spend a fall day in Litchfield Hills Connecticut?  If you are a garlic lover then you are in luck on October 12-13 when the Garlic and Harvest Festival takes place at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds (304 Main St. N. Bethlehem) from 9 am - 6 pm each day. The admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $1 for children under 12.

At this tasty fair, you will discover everything imaginable made with or from garlic. Nibble your way through a vendor area with free samples where you will find a wonderful assortment of dips, sauces, spreads, cheeses, oils, and much more.  A highlight of this event are the cooking demonstrations that take place throughout the day.  After watching the cooking demos you might want to head to the food court where vendors sell an amazing assortment of goodies from garlic ice cream, scrumptious garlic lobster rolls, garlic butter grilled cheese and hot pretzels with garlic mustard to name a few of the culinary delights served up. 

There are plenty of activities for children as well.  The midway offers rides, including a giant ferris wheel with a birds eye view of activities, plus arts and crafts as well as a pumpkin carving contest, a sand art area, and face painting.  

A special treat for garden lovers are the garlic lectures on the history, anatomy, cultivation and medicinal value of garlic. The presentation on how to raise garlic from Professor Dorthea Di Cecco and garlic farmers Richard and Penny Sandora will answer any questions that you have about how to raise this pungent herb.

Explore Putnam Cemetery with the Greenwich Historical Society

On October 6 join the Greenwich Historical Society in a fascinating walk and lecture through the historic Putnam Cemetery located at 35 Parsonage Road in Greenwich from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. The cemetery is located in a quiet residential neighborhood and is affiliated with adjacent Saint Mary's Cemetery at 399 North Street, which is a Catholic cemetery; the two cemeteries share the same office.  

The largest of its kind in Greenwich, Putnam cemetery dates from the town’s Great Estate era and has provided a tree-shaded resting place for titans of industry, finance, and the arts for over a century.  Some of the notables interred here include the grandparents of George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush, pianist and conductor, Victor Borge, architect Thomas Hastings and Jeremiah Milbank, founder of Borden's milk among many others.

Join Greenwich historian Davidde Strackbein and Certified Arborist Eric Kamen on an autumn tour of this important town landmark.

Torrington House Tour Sept. 28

Once again on Saturday, September 28, The Torrington Historical Society is hosting a house tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  This house tour includes the following six houses that provide house tour participants with a variety of architectural styles. Tickets are available online and on the day of the tour. Check-in is at the NW CT Chamber of Commerce located on 333 Kennedy Drive in Torrington. For online tickets https://www.torringtonhousetour.org/touroverview.html.

William Shotola House, 1947
This attractive house in a well-preserved north end neighborhood was built just after WWII for William Shotola, the assistant sales manager for the Torrington Company.  It was constructed in the colonial revival style and is unique for the use of clinker brick on the exterior. The home is beautifully decorated with a mix of antique and contemporary furnishings and creative paint colors.

Lorrain Thrall house, ca. 1825 
This Greek Revival style farmhouse was built around 1825 by Lorrain Thrall, a successful farmer.  The exterior is high style and very well preserved. Over time, the home underwent renovations and additions but the house still has much of its early 19th-century character as evidenced by the original wide board flooring and distinctive wood moldings. It is exceptionally well furnished and decorated.  

F.L. Dougal House, ca. 1914
This architect-designed colonial revival home was built in 1914 for F.L. Dougal who was a foreman at the Coe Brass Branch of American Brass. The home has been meticulously restored on the outside retains many of the original interior features including oak woodwork, original chandeliers, butler’s pantry, and built-in dining room cupboard.

Homer Thrall House, ca. 1902 
This well-preserved historic home in the Wilson Ave neighborhood was built around 1902  for Homer Thrall an employee of the Excelsior Needle Company.  This house is architecturally classified as an American Four Square. The house retains its original character outside and inside. The spacious interior features original oak woodwork, hardwood floors, and an impressive fireplace mantel.   

William J. Allison House, 1957
A post-WWII boom in new, single-family housing led to the creation of Torcon Drive in the mid-1950s.  William J. Allison, a machine operator at the Torrington Company, is listed as the first owner of this house in 1957. His daughter Shirley lived here until 2015.  The home has hardwood floors and is furnished in a stylish mid-century modern aesthetic well suited to contemporary tastes.   

​Doolittle House, ca. 1850
Returning by popular demand from our first house tour, this mid 19th century home is a real gem. The house was constructed in the Greek Revival Style. The current owners have restored the 1850 house with its original moldings and wide floorboards. A new kitchen was created within the historic home and a great room addition was added. The home blends historic preservation with new construction.

A Pefect Way to Spend time this Autumn

As they say, time is of the essence and sometimes we just don’t have enough of it! With this in mind, the Glass House in New Canaan Connecticut has added a special one-hour tour of the property in September and October.

The Glass House, or Johnson House, designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1997 is a historic house museum in New Canaan, Connecticut built-in 1948–49. It was designed by Philip Johnson as his own residence, and "universally viewed as having been derived from" the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois design, according to Alice T. Friedman. It was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture. The building is an example of minimal structure, geometry, proportion, and the effects of transparency and reflection. The estate includes other buildings designed by Johnson that span his career.

This fall the Glass House has added a one-hour afternoon tour in September and October. It is billed as the most concise tour of this magnificent property that will focus on the Glass House and its promontory, with minimum walking.

All tours originate from the Visitors Center and Design Store at 199 Elm Street, New Canaan. Tours are taken to and from the site in a shuttle from the Visitor Center. Tickets are required for admission so it is best to check ticket availability and reserve a ticket prior to your visit. The one-hour tour is available on Monday and Friday at 9:45 a.m. and in September and October on Thursday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25.