“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” muses Anne Shirley, L.M. 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 the season’s best events, including watching gigantic pumpkins get weighed in Richmond, seeing witches dancing in Wickford, gathering around a bonfire in Misquamicut, and much more. SO get ready to circle, highlight, and dog-ear pages, and enjoy experiencing all the things that make October so special.
Block Island Ghost Tours: Follow a “ghost host” on a one-mile walking tour, held twice daily and filled with folklore, ghost stories, and tales of true crime. Tour includes a flashlight, sticker, and merch discount. BlockIslandGhostTours.com
Fall Foliage Tours: Experience changing leaves from the vantage point of a kayak with guided paddles through shallow, freshwater environments. Tours begin at the Bradford Boat Ramp. KayakCentre.com
Fall Harvest Festival: It’s fun on the farm at The Farmer’s Daughter. Enjoy hayrides, a pumpkin dunk tank, corn maze, scavenger hunt, barrel train, and more. Weekends September 23-October 29, South Kingstown, TheFarmersDaughterRI.com
Festival Farm: Weekends during fall mean kids’ pony rides and hayrides pulled by an antique tractor. The on-site Country Store is stocked with treats and sundries. Of course, there’s decorative corn, pumpkins, apples, maple syrup, and more. Hope Valley, FestivalFarmRI.com
Field Nights at Whalers: Head to Whalers Brewing Company to enjoy a drink and the handcrafted gems of Field of Artisans’ vendors. Thursdays September 28-October 26, South Kingstown, FieldOfArtisans.com
The General’s Market: This new incarnation of the oldest continually operating flea market in Rhode Island features an array of handcrafted goods, vintage finds, and more, curated by Field of Artisans. Weekends through October 8, Charlestown, FieldOfArtisans.com
Seaside Shadows Ghost Tours: Do you believe in ghosts? Seaside Shadows shares stories of Westerly’s deadly shipwrecks, cursed pirate treasure, and witches while exploring the historic architecture. Westerly, SeasideShadows.com
Westerly Land Trust Events: Find a range of programming for kids and adults all month long, mostly held outdoors at nearby preserves. WesterlyLandTrust.org
Wickford Art Association: See themed, juried art on view at From Ordinary to Extraordinary, a selection of photography on view October 6-November 5. WickfordArt.org
A month of festive fall fun awaits!
Hobbit House Photo Op: The Preserve’s Hobbit House™ opens for pumpkin-filled photographic opportunities! Richmond, PreserveASpot.com
Thriller Panel with Deborah Goodrich Royce: Enjoy wine and light bites while thriller panelists discuss their latest books, writing process, and genre; hosted by Ocean House's own bestselling thriller author. Watch Hill,
OceanHouseEvents.com
RI Grown Farmers Market: Set the alarm because there are only two Sunday mornings to go for this popular outdoor market held at Fisherman’s Memorial State Park. Narragansett, DEM.RI.gov
Annual Fall Golf Tournament: Sign up to tee off in this annual fundraiser for the East Greenwich Little League now in year 14, scramble format at the Cranston Country Club. EastGreenwichChamber.com
Atlantis Rising: Return to the beach for the International Sand Sculpture Competition, Atlantis Rising. A drone show, food trucks, and live music promise buckets of fun. Westerly, SouthCountyRI.com
Cranberry Thanksgiving: Celebrate Indigenous culture and lifeways with a ceremony, storytelling, music, games, crafts, and an Indigenous Arts Market, held outdoors, rain or shine, at SK Land Trust. Matunuck, TomaquagMuseum.org
Fungal Foray: Explore the Wahaneeta Preserve on this guided event led by the RI Mycological Society, where you’ll wander the woods to uncover and discuss fungal biodiversity. WesterlyLandTrust.org
Pumpkin Weigh-off & Fall Festival: Pasquale Farms Garden Center is excited to host the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers event (previously in Warren). See giant gourds and their proud growers, plus activities including a pumpkin smash, hay rides, kids’ activities, music, food, and more. Richmond, PasqualeFarmsRI.com
Run for the Pumpkins Trail Run: Run a classic 5K or up the distance with a new 10K offering, held at Bradford Preserve, part of the Westerly Track & Athletic Club’s Fall Race Series. Free kids’ 1K follows the main event. WesterlyTrackClub.org
Wakefield Oktoberfest: Don your dirndl or lederhosen and grab a stein for a full day of food, drink, and live entertainment on three stages, held the same night as the final Riverfire of the year. Wakefield, ContemporaryTheaterCompany.com
Yankee Steam-Up: Sparks fly during the region’s oldest steam engine show for model makers, engineers, and history buffs at the New England Wireless & Steam Museum, with live music by CruisinBruce, as well as food and beverages. East Greenwich, NEWSM.org
Friday the 13th Spooky Harbor Lights: Village shops and restaurants stay open while the harbor is aglow with a mini water fire, plus live music, food trucks, free face painting, balloon twisting, and henna applications; rain date is October 20. Wickford, Facebook: I Love Wickford Village
Annular Solar Eclipse: Head over to Frosty Drew Observatory as they open their campus to view this spectacular partial solar eclipse. Charlestown, FrostyDrew.org
German Festival: Enjoy Oktoberfest by the sea when Wickford transforms into a German village with folk music, vendors, authentic foods, and a beer garden serving up local craft brews. Wickford, Facebook: I Love Wickford Village
Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night: The Misquamicut Players reenact Monty Python’s parody of Guy Fawkes’ attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605. A bonfire will set the stage for this comedic night at The Windjammer. Misquamicut, Facebook: Windjammer Surf Bar RI
OktoberVets 5K: This fundraiser for veteran transitional housing offers fun for all with a 5K and .152K fun run through Wickford Village. All race participants will be given a T-shirt, race medal, and swag bag. North Kingstown, VFW152.org
Scarecrows at the Pier: The challenge is on to build the best scarecrow at this event now in its 10th year. Food and music are all part of the afternoon. NarragansettRI.gov
Spooktacular & Kid’s Craft Day: The Fayerweather Craft Guild has planned an enjoyable day of hands-on Halloween art projects, along with demos, activities, treats, and a craft fair. South Kingstown, FayerweatherCraftGuild.com
HopArts Studio Trail: Hopkinton and Richmond artists and artisans open their studios to the public for the weekend, offering demonstrations, details of their craft, and work for sale. Learn more on page 56. Hopkinton and Richmond, HopArts.org
Manfredi Farms Harvest Fest: Barrel train rides, hayrides, a petting zoo, local vendors, and pumpkins galore are all part of the second annual event that checks all the boxes for a fall day of family fun. Westerly, Facebook: 2nd Annual Manfredi Farm’s Harvest Fest
Citizens Pell Bridge Run: The four-mile road race and walk is the only day of the year pedestrians are permitted to cross the famous Newport Pell Bridge. The all-ages and all-speeds fundraiser starts in Jamestown at 7:15am and finishes in downtown Newport. PellBridgeRun.com
Dress Rehearsal & Bling Your Broom: Participants of the RI Witches Guild Witch’s Dance Parade will gather at 10am at NK Community Center to learn the Witch’s Dance and embellish brooms and hats for the upcoming parade. North Kingstown, RIWitchesGuild.com
Pumpkin Festival: This popular event held at Kinney Bungalow will have hayrides through Sunset Farms, bouncy houses, a DJ spinning spooky tunes, face painting, pumpkin painting, and so much more! NarragansettRI.gov
Rocky Horror Picture Show: See the cult classic on the big screen (note: rated R) with performers RKO Army, who shadowcast the film with costumes and props (things can get messy), and also perform to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller." East Greenwich, GreenwichOdeum.com
Witch’s Dance Parade: Last year’s parade brought over 2,500 spectators with 483 witches strutting their stuff, leading to some changes to accommodate crowds. There will be a different route (Brown Street lot, Hussey Bridge, Beach Street to town pavilion), shuttles, tickets for shaded seating, and a Roll + Glow brigade for bikes, scooters, etc.; rain date is October 22. Wickford, RIWitchesGuild.com
Witch’s Ball: The “O” Club is the setting for this first-ever evening of witchy revelry, with costumes, small bites and cash bar, entertainment by Ten31 Productions and Providence Drum Troupe, belly dancing, tarot card readings, henna, and more. North Kingstown, RIWitchesGuild.com
West Bay Open Studios: Meander through North Kingstown, Warwick, and East Greenwich for a self-guided tour of artists in various mediums, and their maker spaces. WestBayOpenStudios.com
Annual Witches Paddle: Calling all witches, goblins, and ghouls! Watch or be part of the spectacular news-making paddle around Wickford Harbor and costume contest with prizes. Registration required. Wickford, KayakCentre.com
Spooky Sip N Stroll: Wickford takes on all the Stars Hollow feels as village shops and eateries stay open late for the Spooky Sip N Stroll and Scarecrow Contest. Our own editor in chief Elyse Major will be among this year’s judges. Wickford, Facebook: I Love Wickford Village
Spooky Views – A Halloween Stargazing Experience: This after-dark event promises peeks at dying stars, a kid-friendly storytime, scavenger hunt, and a broadcast of 1938’s War of the Worlds by Orson Wells (which terrified listeners at the time) at the Sky Theater. Candy will be available throughout the night (Milky Ways, perhaps?). Charlestown, FrostyDrew.com
Children’s Halloween Party Cruise: All aboard for a costume contest, treats, and Halloween tunes as the cozy boat cruises across Narragansett Bay and into Newport Harbor. Jamestown, CoastalQueenCruises.com
Music & Dinner on the Farm with Bill Harley: Experience a farm-fresh dinner served picnic-style while being entertained by two-time Grammy-winning singing storyteller Bill Harley. No dogs but babies under one attend free. East Greenwich, PatsPastured.com
Spooky Historic Walk with Tim Cranston: Wickford’s town historian will lead a walk around the village. Details to be announced. Wickford, Facebook: I Love Wickford Village
Trick-or-Treating: Participating shops and restaurants around Wickford Village participate in this event that caps Wicked Weeks. Facebook: I Love Wickford Village
With Field of Screams taking time off, here our places across the state to get your scream on:
13th World
Cumberland, 13thWorld.com
Factory of Terror
West Warwick, FactoryOfTerror.com
Scary Acres RI
Cranston, ScaryAcresRI.com
Seven Cedars Farm
Smithfield, SevenCedarsFarm.us
Slater Park Haunted Tunnel
Pawtucket, Facebook: Haunted Tunnel RI
5 Ways to Make the Most of October
SLOW DOWN: Prime leaf-peeping spots might be closer than you think. On your next drive or errand, set your mapping app to “avoid highways” – a nice way to slow down and enjoy roads less traveled.
STOCK UP: Farm stands and farmers markets have different end dates, so if you pass by an “open” flag, be sure to stop and shop for small-batch favorites like local honey, preserves, and of course, produce.
GAME DAY: Have fun rooting for the home team by attending a URI football game. On October 7, the Rams play the Bears at Brown Stadium on the East Side of Providence. Don your blue and represent. Rhody, Rhody, Rhody! Tickets at GoRhody.com
NOW SERVING: Don’t miss seasonal pop-ups like Jamestown’s Hard-Pressed Cider Company, which sells fresh cider donuts and non-alcoholic “sweet” apple cider, hot mulled cider, and cider slushies, only ‘til mid-December. HardPressedCiderCompany.com
MAKE STRIDES: Grab your Barbie pink and sign up for the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, held on October 15 in PVD. Participate solo or join or start a team for a day of celebrating and raising funds. ACSEvents.org
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