Fairs and Festivals
Southington Apple Harvest Festival, Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 and Oct. 6- Oct. 8. Southington Town Green located at 75 Main St. in Southington: Annual festival that is one of the largest and longest running festivals in the Northeast featuring events, entertainment, activities, specialty foods, crafts and fun for all ages.
South Meriden Annual Car Show 2023, Oct. 1, 1 p.m. (Rain Date: Oct. 8), Wilcox Tech located at 275 Oregon Rd., Meriden: Check out the array of cars, trucks, jeeps, and bikes. There will be trophies awarded, food, 50/50 raffle, and a live band.
Silver City Wine Tasting & Brewfest, Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Meriden YMCA Mountain Mist located at 576 High Hill Road in Meriden. 25th Annual event including wine and beer sampling, food, music, art and more!
Celebrate Wallingford, Oct. 7- Oct. 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Center & Main Streets, Wallingford: Free 2-day festival featuring the Taste of Wallingford. Sample the food of local restaurants, enjoy live entertainment, arts & crafts shows, children's activities, and more.
Connecticut Hard Cider & Doughnut Fest, Oct. 14, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Rain or Shine), The Truck Bar located at 151 Webster Square Rd.: Enjoy An event that is part Bar Hop, part Fall Sweets Celebration. It features 4 Bars & Restaurants and includes free doughnuts, hard cider, hard seltzer specials and beer. All guests must arrive from 2:00-4:00PM ONLY to register & receive event wristbands good for drink specials & (2) fresh free doughnuts.
Scary haunts and events
Trail of Terror, Weekends from Sept. 30 to Oct.29, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 60 N. Plains Hwy, Wallingford: Enter the front gate at your own risk. Walk along the outdoor trail through 30 different scenes venturing through crawl spaces, squeeze walls, across a rope bridge, aboard a boat, under a spinning carousel, and through a vortex tunnel. New this Fall is The Harvest. Beware and keep a watchful eye for the Harvester, with eyes that glow like burning coals and teeth that shone like knives.
Phantom Fall Fest, Weekends from Sept. 30 to Oct.29, noon to 10 p.m., Lake Compounce: Enjoy your favorite rides all day and horror thrills all night. Fog, freaks, FX- like the new, next-level mayhem of Alice in Wonderland and escape the zombie madness in new scare zones like Deadsville.
Evidence of Evil- Haunted Orchards, Sept. 29 - Nov. 4, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Lyman Orchards Pick Your Own located at 105 South Street, Middlefield: Venture out into the Lyman Orchards woods and enjoy four new terrifying frights along the haunted trail.
Haunt on Eden: Klowns 'N Khaos Unleashed, Sept. 30 - Oct. 28 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Haunt on Eden Mt. Southington Ski Area located at 396 Mt Vernon Rd., Plantsville: Enjoy a walk-through haunted attraction.
Rails to the Darkside, Sept. 29 to Oct. 28, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Trolley Museum located at 58 North Road, East Windsor: Listen to the tale of yesteryear, as you learn of a hastily moved cemetery whose bodies were left behind, their angry souls seeking their revenge on your ride on the vintage trolleys into the dark woods; visit the vortex tunnel if you dare; and end your experience in the Visitor Center where more horror lies.
Para Experience, Beyond the Veil: A Paranormal Event, Oct. 13, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Gallery 53 located at 53 Colony St, Meriden: Event featuring Connecticut’s leading paranormal practitioners, Thomas Patrick Gormley and Jenna Beth Rush. hear about Tom and Jenna Beth will relate their hair-raising experiences investigating paranormal activity and hauntings right here in Connecticut. Also, a Spirit Investigation Tour of 53 Colony Street. As well as several mediums, a tarot card reader, and an artisan showcase of paranormal-inspired handcrafted objects.
Family friendly events
Pumpkin Patch Trolley, Sept. 30 - Oct. 29, 10 a.m. To 4 p.m., Trolley Museum located at 58 North Road, East Windsor: Take your child on a ride to the pumpkin patch field on a trolley car where they can pick out a free sugar-sized Pumpkin. Then decorate the pumpkins, play in the corn box, enjoy the outside harvest play area, and the museum exhibits and displays.
Fall Festival & Corn Maze, Sept. 16 to Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10 Country Line Drive, Cromwell: An array of activities including Hayride (Handicap Accessible), Corn Maze with Farm Track Game, Corn Pit, Pedal Go-Karts, Little Pedal Go-Karts, Hay Maze, Farm Animals and a Pumpkin Patch.
The Middletown Farmers Market Sept. 29 - Oct. 27, Fridays, 10 am-2 pm, Union Green Corner of Main & Pleasant Street.
2023 Fall Foliage Tour, Oct. 13, 7 a.m. to Oct. 15, 6 p.m., The Original Southington Drive-In, Southington: The Fortunato Rally is a scavenger hunt style vintage car rally that gathers teams of automotive enthusiasts to exercise their vehicles over a 1,000+ mile 3-day tour of New England states. Registration required by Oct. 6
Lego Block Party, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Meriden Public Library located at 105 Miller Street, Meriden: Event for kids in grades K-5 to use their imagination and create. Make a LEGO creation to be put on display at the library.
Paint the Pumpkin Pink at Lyman Orchards,Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lyman Orchards located at 32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield: This year’s fall color is pink. Help Lyman Orchards in the fight against Breast Cancer at this event by purchasing sugar pumpkins or carving pumpkins and adding a touch of paint, glitter and jewels.
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert, Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Oct. 22, Enjoy a live on stage performance of the hit songs in the film by a band of about 10 musicians. Though there won’t be any in-person characters or in-person original cast members you will still hear all of the original character voices that you know and love from the soundtrack in sync with the film on the big screen.
Killah Halloween,Oct. 22, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Falcon Grove located at 144 Prout Hill Rd., Middletown: Free event featuring trick-or-treating and advanced packages, music, vendors, best costume contest, and lots of Spooky Surprises!
Day of the Dead Celebration, Oct. 26, 3:30 p.m.to 5:30 p.m., Meriden Public Library located at 105 Miller Street, Meriden: In observation of The Day of the Dead learn about the holiday celebrated throughout Latin America. Traditions vary, but the idea is always the same: to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. Create a traditional ofrenda/altar with photos to honor those who have passed; other crafts (tissue paper flower-making) and coloring; and enjoy traditional pan de muerto and cider.
Witch Upon A Star,Oct. 28, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Meriden YMCA, Meriden: Children in pre-school and grades K-6 wear your costumes and enjoy a fun evening of Bingo, face painting, scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, carnival games, food, build your own s'mores, and live performances. Also, meet your favorite fairytale characters and get their autograph! Collect 25 autographs and get a free youth ticket to a Meriden Youth Theater fall show ($10 value).
Hocus Pocus Film Premiere, Oct. 31, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Meriden Public Library located at 105 Miller Street, Meriden: Enjoy a screening of the classic 1993 film Hocus Pocus. On Halloween an unsuspecting boy in modern-day Salem resurrected three 17th-century witches, who were hung for their murderous crimes, and he must now figure out how to get them back in the ground.
Trunk Or Treat, Oct. 31, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Yalesville United Methodist Church located at 8 New Place St, Yalesville: Annual event where children of all ages can dress up and walk through the church parking lot with their family for treats. Trunks are decorated and filled with candy.
Arts and crafts
Drawing with Paul, Sept. 18 - Oct. 23, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Gallery 53 located at 53 Colony St, Meriden: Learn to draw or improve your drawing skills with award-winning Connecticut artist Paul Iezzi. In this six-week studio workshop he will guide you in realizing your goals.
Hand-Built Pottery,Tuesdays & Thursdays -Sept. 12 - Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, Gallery 53 located at 53 Colony St, Meriden: Potter Nancy Scilipote will teach participants how to create ceramic items using ancient hand building techniques such as coil building, slab building and pinch pots You will also learn how to enhance your creations with surface textures and glazes.
Cheshire Art League 14th Annual Fall Art Show & Sale, Oct. 14- Oct. 22,, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Cheshire Nursery (garden center & florist) located at 1317 South Main Street Route 10, Cheshire: 14th Annual free event. Enjoy the art show, buy some art and more.
Music
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert (Touring), Oct. 1, 6 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
The Doobie Brothers - 50th Anniversary Tour, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Mohegan Sun: Concert
Meriden Twilight Concert series, Oct. 7 and Oct. 14, noon to 6 p.m., The Meriden Green.
Almost Queen: A tribute to QUEEN, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Enjoy an authentic QUEEN tribute show featuring a live performance showcasing signature four part harmonies and intricate musical interludes.
Eladio Carrion, Oct. 12, 8 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
Buddy Guy- Damn Right Farewell Tour, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
Fall Out Boy, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., Xfinity Theatre: Concert
Lady A, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
Nessa Barrett, Oct. 20, 8 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, Oct. 21, 8 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
Godsmack, Oct. 25, 7:30pm, Toyota Oakdale Theatre: Concert
Music Through the Decades - Joel Zelnik and Francine Evans, OCt. 28, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Meriden Public Library located at 105 Miller Street, Meriden: Sing along and dance to your favorite tunes as you take a musical journey through the years featuring music from the turn of the century (1900’s) through the 2000’s. Hear anything from Soul, swing, Motown, disco, Sinatra, Bette Midler, Glen Miller, Elvis and more.
The Four Horsemen-tribute to Metallica, OCt. 28, 7 p.m., Crystal Bees located at 240 Spring St., Southington: Enjoy a very special performance of music by Metallica. Opening the show will be Black Sabbath tribute Sabotage.