Harvest Guide 2025 by Smckenna

FALL/HARVEST SEASON BEER RELEASE DATES

• Festbier (Oktoberfest marzen) - Sept. 1st

• Squirrel Fights (nut brown ale) - Sept. 1st

• CCB Oktoberfest Festival - Sept. 27th

• Dia de los Muertos (tequila barrel aged ale) - Oct. 14th

• Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout - Nov. 11th

HOURS Tues 3-8:30 pm, Wed-Thurs 3-9 pm, Fri-Sat 12-9 pm, Sun 12-7 pm

A welcome sign at the 2023 Deerfield Fair on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

Harvest festivals abound this fall, bringing fun for everyone

A tractor sits in an open hay field off of Schoodac road in Warner against a backdrop of leaves turning a varity of colors. The Warner Fall Foliage festival starts on Friday through Sunday with open air concerts, two parades and a 5-mile road race. For more information go to http://wfff.org.

By ASHLEY SAARI Ledger-Transcript

Asfallgetsintofullswing,the summerflowersfalltothewaysideandanewlandscapeappears–thebrillianceoffallfoliage.My hikestendtotakeanupwardtrend totakeinthenewviewsfromtheir

bestvantage. In2023,Istartedmyfallhikes withashorttrailthatstillhassome greatviews–Temple’sWhite Ledges.It’safamily-friendlyhike suitableforanyagethatoffers viewsofsurroundingvistasand mountains,withoutthestrainofa

moreintensivehikelikeMount Monadnock.

Hikinginthefallisoneofmyfavoritetimesoftheyear,notonly forthebeautifulviews,butbecause thecoolerweatherandbug-freeenvironmentprettymuchmakeit

ASHLEY SAARI/STAFF PHOTO

A mound of quartz sticks up from the summit of the White Ledges trail.

EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / MONITOR STAFF Brent and Brynne Marston go through the entrance of the corn maze at Marston Farm.

By Emilia Wisniewski Concord Monitor

Five-year-oldBrentMarston andthree-year-oldBrynne Marstonranaroundcorn stalksthreetimestheirsizeon theirfamily’sfarm.Alongside theirparentsandtheirbaby sister,Blair,thechildrenhave visitedthefieldacrossfromtheir homeeverydaysincethecorn maturedinMay.

Thecornitselfwasn’twhat drewthekids’interest itwas thedirtpathbetweenthestalks thatledineverydirection.Despite choosingthemazedesign,the familystillfoundthemselves stumpedontherightwaytothe exit.

TheMarstonFarminPittsfield willopenitsfirst-evercornmaze tothepubliconFriday,Sept.5 throughSaturday,November1on Fridays,SaturdaysandSundays. BrentandBrynne’sparents,Ben andBrittniMarston,runthefarm alongsideBen’scousinSteve,his wifeKaylaandhissisterSarah. Thefarmdatesback250years. Ben,SteveandSarahmakeuppart ofthe9thgenerationofMarston farmerstoworktheland.

EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / MONITOR STAFF

Ben and BrittnieMarston pose with their children,Brent, Brynne and Blair, infront of their new cornmaze at their Pittsfield farm.

“Itisdefinitelyawhirlwindofemotions,”Brittnisaidthreedaysbeforethe opening.“Weareexcitedandnervous. Wehopethatit’sasgreatasuccessas we’vebeentryingtomakeitandhope thatwehaveagoodturnout.”

Theideaofacornmazecroppedup aroundsixyearsagowhenStevementionedthathisfriendsmadeacorn mazeinMaine.Thefriendencouraged theMarstonstocreateonethemselves.

Conversationshadbeenongoing amongthefamilyforyears,especially withtheriseinagritourisminthe state.

“Wedecidedthat,‘Whynot?Let’stry it,’”Bensaid.

ThefamilysoughtoutUtah-based agritainmentcompanyMAiZEtohelp planandcuttheircornfield.Thecompanyhadonlyworkedwithoneother farminNewHampshire,Sherman FarminCenterConway,about80miles fromthePittsfieldfarm.

BrettHerbst,thefounderofMAiZE, hashelpeddesign4,000mazesin280 placessince1996anddescribedacorn mazeasa“livinglabyrinth”thatcreates auniqueexperienceforfamilies.

“Ican’treallythinkofanytypeofan

activitythatcreatesthatsimilarofadynamicwhereallagesinteractonthe samelevel,”Herbstsaid.“It’sjustavery interactiveexperiencethatreallyjust bondspeopletogetherbecausethey’re tryingtofigureoutabig,giantpuzzle.”

TheMarstonsgrewfiveandahalf acresoffeedcornatthestartofthe yearandwatcheditreachmaturityin thespring.OutofthousandsoftemplatesfromMAiZE,thecompany pitchedadesigntothefamilythatpicturedcountrysingerLaineyWilson holdingamicrophone,withhorseshoes inthetopleftcornerandaheartinthe topright.

“[MAiZE]hadjustsignedsomespecialdealwithLaineyWilsonandthey proposedit,”Brittnisaid.“We’reall LaineyWilsonfanstoo,soofcourse we’lldoLaineyWilson.”

Thecompanycametothefarmand usedageographicdigitalmaptocarve outthepathinthecornfield alldone withinoneday.Toensurenocorn growsinthepathafterward,they sprayedtheareaswithherbicide.

Inadditiontothemaze,thefarmwill have22foodvendors,twosmaller mazesforchildren,asandboxwith

cornkernelsandapettingzoowith localbabyanimals.OnitsfirstSaturday, themazewillhaveaspecialfullmoon eventopenuntil11p.m.Thelightswill gooutat8p.m.,andattendeeswillbe guidedbythemoonlight.

Gettingthewordoutaboutthemaze tookmanydifferentforms:regularly postingonFacebook,puttingadsinthe paperandcreatingsignageontheroad. Thisand“gettingalltheducksinarow” withtownregulations,Brittnisaid,was themostchallengingpartwhilepulling theeventtogether.

“Weallworkfull-timejobsontopof farming,sothishasbeenahuge stressorfortheentirefamily,making thetimetogetthisupandrunning,” Brittnisaid.

Shesaidsheisexcitedtonotonly benefitthetownanditsbusinesses throughrevenue,buttoalsosee“the communitycometogether.”

“ThisissomethinghugeforPittsfield,”Brittnisaid.“Theydon’treally haveanyeventsbesidestheballoon rally,sothisisgoingtobehugeforthe town.”

Formoreinformation,visitmarstonfarmnh.com.

An abundance of apples

Carter Hill Orchard prepares for apple season

By Rebeca Pereira Concord Monitor

ToddLarocquesatinanAdirondackchaironaquietJulydayoverlookingrowsoflushtrees.

Ahead,afamilylingeredinthe shadeofCarterHillOrchard’s gazeboafterpickingtheirownblue-

berries.Businesswasjustas leisurelyinsidethecountrystore, whereLarocque’s15-year-old daughter,Ellianna,staffedtheregister.ComeSeptember,though, Larocqueknewtheorchardwould jolttolife.

“Ontheweekends,it’sjustwall-

to-wallcars.Wehavetwoorthree guysparkingcarsjusttokeepthe trafficflowing.There’salineforthe doughnutsbecauseyousometimes can’tkeepup.Ijustkeepthinking sometimesit’slikeIgointoan amusementparkonabusyday,”he said.

Fordecades,thesamecrophas drawnzealouscrowdstotheConcordorchard.Peopleflockfromfar andwidetopickthefruit shiny, vibrant,juicyandcrisp andpurchasedifferenttreatsmadefromit. TheMacintoshtreesatthefootof thehillhaveyieldedoneoftheor-

Todd Larocque picks out the non-producing peaches at Carter Hill Orchard in Concord.

chard’smostpopularvarietiessince themid-80s.Youngerdwarftrees chosenfortheadvantagesoftheir height smallertreesareeasierto climbandmaintain climbthe slopeofthehillincompactrows. Somearereadytopickassoonas earlyAugust.

Themoretartvarietiesripenfirst. MacintoshandPaulaRedaregreat forsnacking,pie-makingandapplesauce.InSeptember,Cortlands, SnowSweetandMacounshave theirmoment.Galas,alsoinseason, aresweetandgreatforsnacking, whileEmpiresareknownfortheir creaminess.Fanfavorites,like GrannySmith,PinkLadyand HoneyCrisp,aretypicallyavailable inOctober,astheweathergrows colderandtheseasonbeginsto winddown.

Applesgenerallysweetenasthe seasonprogresses,andasaresult, sodoescider.

Wheneachvariety’stimearrives, Larocquebringsapplesbythecrate intoalargebarnforselection. Floodingthecrateswithwaterso thatapplesfloatontoaconveyor beltwithoutmuchmanualeffort,a sortingmachinethendropsapples intobinsbysize.Blemishedor bruisedfruitgoestothecidermill, whilegrade-Aapplesaresold.

“Mostofthetime,ablemishis justablemish.Weknowitcouldbe fromtheapplerubbingontheleaf, fromthewindblowingorrubbing thebranchintotheapple.It’sjust theoutsideappearanceanddoesn’t changetheflavor,butpeoplegenerallylikeperfect-lookingapples,” Larocquesaid

Theorchardbeginspressingapplesatitson-sitecidermillatthe startoftheseasonandtreatsthe ciderwithultravioletlighttokill pathogensbeforesellingitunder thebrandnameNewHampshire CiderWorks.Applesthatdon’t windupjuicedandbottledtransformintoanarrayoffavoritefall treats,mainlyapplepieandapple ciderdoughnuts.

Operatingthe60-acreorchard hassaturatedLarocque’slifewith allthingsapple.Asitturnsout, therecanbetoomuchofagood thing.

“Itakethreeorfourbitesonan appleandI’mdonewithit,”he said.

Hisdaughteragreed.Forher,similartoherfather,thefamilybusinessitselfhasbeenfarmorere-

wardingthanthecrop.

Elliannahasfondchildhood memoriesofhidingoutinaboxin thekitchenduringthebusiestdays ofappleseasonandpretendingto rocketofftoMarswhileherparents interactedwithcustomers.Now,it’s herturntostandbehindthe counter.BetweenclassesatBishop Bradyanddanceafterschool,her weekdaysarebusyinthefall,but shereservestimeontheweekends tostaffthecountrystore.

Shemighthelptosugarthe doughnutsorbringthemoutfor customerstoenjoy.

“IjustlikethatIgettomeetalot ofdifferentpeoplewhocomefrom everywhere.It’salotoffun,”she said.

RebecaPereiracanbereachedat rpereira@cmonitor.com

NEW BOSTON ARTISANS' HOLIDAY MARKET

A peach at Carter Hill Orchard is just starting to ripen.

Autumn adventures foliage

AsSeptemberwhispersitsarrivalandtwilightcomesearlier,theWhiteMountains transformintoatechnicolor wonderwithfierymaples,golden birchesandamberoakspaintingthe hillsidesinbreathtakingflourish. Butthisisn’tjustaspectacleof color;it’stheclosingacttoawhole seasonofadventureandcelebration.

Beginyourexplorationwitha journeythroughnature’shidden corridors.AtbothFlumeGorgeand LostRiverGorge&BoulderCaves, boardwalksleadthroughgorges whereriverssnakethroughboulder caves,disappearingbeneaththesurfaceonlytoemergeagaindownstream.

Whileyou’reinthearea,check outClark’sBearsforsomefamilyfriendlyfun,includingbearshows, trainridesandaclimbingtower. Theattractionparkwillbeopenfor theseasonuntilmid-October,so makesuretopackintheamusement beforethen.

Orifyou’reinthemoodforahike, FranconiaNotchStateParkhas manytooffer,fromArtist’sBluff withfamousfoliageviewstothe stunningFranconiaRidge.No matterwhereyougo,theleaveswill bestunningandtheairwillbewonderfullycrisp.

InLittleton,strolldownthewalkableMainStreettofindboutique shops,cafésandlocalartgalleries, creatingtheperfectblendofsmalltowncharmandvibrantculture. TheLittletonCanningCompanyoffersabroadarrayofsweettreats, cannedgoodsandkitchenwares a marvelousplacetostopforasouvenir.

Forsweepingviews,climbaboard theMt.WashingtonCogRailwayor drivethepopularMt.Washington AutoRoadtoMountWashington’s 6288-ftsummit,wherethe panoramaofautumn’spalette stretchesformiles.Bringajacket, though,asitcangetalittlewindyat thetop.

Forarushofadrenalineamidthe fallfoliage,diveintotheregion’s manyothermajorattractionsand soarabovethetreesonziplines,ride throughCrawfordNotchoralong theriveronscenictrains.Take ascenicchairliftorgondolarideat oneofthelocalskiareas,where breathtakingviewsoftheautumn landscapeunfoldbeneathyou.

Autumnalsobringsfestivalsand localcelebrationsthatperfectly

complementoutdooradventures. FavoritesincludetheSandwichorFryeburgFair,theHighland Games&FestivalandOktoberfest, bothatLoonMountainResort, HappyHauntingsatStoryLand, HollyJollyHalloweenatSanta’sVillageandthewhimsicalReturnof thePumpkinPeopleinJackson. Thesegatheringsoffereverything fromregionalfoodandcraftsto spookyfamilyfuninthecoolfall air.

Andwhat’sautumnwithoutapplesandmazes?WindyRidgeOrchardoffersorchardpicking,fresh cider,andhotciderdoughnuts all setagainstabackdropofglowingfoliage.Furthereastin Conway,ShermanFarmbeckons familiesintoitsexpansivecorn

maze,openweekendsfromlate SeptemberthroughOctober.Just overtheborderfromtheWhite MountainsinDanville,VT, theGreatVermontCorn Mazesprawlsacross24acresof windingtrails,bridges,andevenan undergroundtunnel,makingitthe largestandmostelaboratecorn mazeinNewEngland.

IntheWhiteMountains,fallisn’t justaseason it’salivingtapestry. Whetheryou’remeanderingbeneaththefoliage,exploringhidden gorgesorsavoringthewarmaroma offreshbakedciderdonuts,the WhiteMountainsinfallofferanunforgettableblendofadventure,seasonalfestivalsandcommunities thatknowhowtorelisheverycrisp, colorfulmoment.

Harvest festivals abound this fall, bringing fun for everyone

By Rebeca Pereira Concord Monitor

Leavesarechangingcolorand applesaresweeteningto ripenessontreesacrossNew Hampshire.Cornmazes,hayrides andlengthylinesforciderdonuts havesproutedatfarmsandorchards.Allaroundtheairiscrisp withfall.

Theseharbingersoftheseason

bringusanothertime-honoredtradition:harvestfestivals.

Withthrillingridesandnodsto NewHampshire’shistoryandagriculturalindustry,theselocalfestivalsinfuseourdayswithcelebrationandfun.

Enthusiastsandfirst-timerswill findthatthesefestivalsoffera rangeofactivitiesfromraucousdemolitionderbystomoretame,

Wool Arts Tour Map

family-friendlyfun,includinglive music,pettingzoosandhistorical exhibits.

Deerfield Fair

Legion.Admissionisfree.

Warner Fall Foliage Festival

FromFriday,Oct.10toSunday, Oct.12,the78thannualWarner FallFoliageFestivalwillbeinfull swing.Saturdaystartswitha5K race,achildren’sparadeanda farmers’market.Thefestivalbrings alobsterdinner,foodtrucksandan icecreameatingcompetitionas well,sobringyourappetite.Admissionisfree.

Spinner Farm

192 Old County Rd, Deering, NH

Windfall Farm

5 Old North Branch Rd, Antrim, NH

Glory Be Farm

268 Bible Hill Rd, Bennington, NH

Ten Talents at La Bergerie Dumas

420 Slip Road, Greenfield, NH

Maple Lane Farm

24 Maple Lane Farm, Lyndeborough, NH

TheDeerfieldFair,whichruns fromThursday,Sept.25toSunday, Sept.28,isoneofNewHampshire’sbiggestexpositions.With animalshows,astackedline-upof liveentertainersandnumerous specialevents,likesheepdog herding,itpromisesfunforallages. Admissionforchildren12years andyoungerisfree.Ticketinformationcanbefoundatdeerfieldfair.com.

Hooksett Pumpkin Fest Psychic and Craft Fair

Ayoungfairwithspiritualflair, theHooksettPumpkinFestPsychic andCraftFairofferspsychicreadings,hand-craftedgiftsandabonanzaofmetaphysicalitems.The fairisinitsthirdyearofoperation andwilltakeplaceonSaturday, Oct.4attheHooksettAmerican

New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival

Thousandsofpumpkinswilltake overdowntownLaconiaforthis one-dayextravaganza.Happening onSaturday,Oct.25,theNew HampshirePumpkinFestivalarrivesjustintimeforHalloweenand boastsa34-foottallpumpkin tower,morethan100foodand craftvendors,abeertent,live musicandlotsoffunforeveryone. Admissionisfree.

PUMPKINS & PUPPETS

Jose Sanchez of Miller Amusements prepares the lighted sign for the Orbiter ride at the Deerfield Fair.

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Galaappleshangonatreeon GouldHillFarminContoocookonThursday, September 4, 2014.

How do you like them apples?

By Jonathan Van Fleet Concord Monitor

Noteveryapplewascreated equal.Someofushavegrownupto viewtheMcIntoshandCortlandapplesasthequintessentialfruitsof fall,duetotheirpopularityand ubiquity.

Notsofast.Awholehostofapple varietiesareavailablethistimeof yearinorchardsallaroundusthat havebeenaroundforafewhundredyearsbeforethespreadof thesemorepopularmodernvarieties.

Whenyougettoyourfavorite pickingpasturethisyear,askabout anyheirloomvarietieshidinginthe backrows.Sometimesthefruitisn’t aslargeorshiny,buttheflavorscan beaworldapart.

Considergoingforoneofthe triple-threatvarieties,whichare goodforeatingfresh,squeezing intociderorcookingandbaking.A coupleofthosearetheNorthern Spy,Gravenstein,Braeburnand Jonagoldvarieties.Perhapswalkon thewildsideandseeiftheyhave anyHudsonGoldenGemsorpinkfleshedRedfieldapples.Iftheydo, yourorchardlifecouldbechanged forever.

Here’saroundupofafewofour favoritespotstopickapplesand enjoyfallintheConcordandMonadnockareas.

Apple Hill Farm

580MountainRd.,Rt.132,Concord.Phone:(603)224-8862.Online:applehillfarmnh.com

Appleview Orchard

1266UpperCityRoad,Pittsfield. Phone:(603)435-3553.Online: www.applevieworchard.com

Carter Hill Orchard

73CarterHillRd.,Concord. Phone:(603)225-2625.Online: www.carterhillapples.com

Gould Hill Farm

656GouldHillRd,Contoocook. Phone:(603)746-3811.Online: gouldhillfarm.com

Hackleboro Orchard

61OrchardRd,Canterbury. Phone:(603)783-4248.Online: hackleboroorchard.com

McLeod Orchards

735NRiverRd,Milford.Contact: mcleodorchards@gmail.com.Online:mcleodorchards.com

Meadow Ledge Farm

612Route129,Loudon.Phone: (603)798-5860.Online: www.meadowledgefarm.com

Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard

66MasonRd,Greenville.(603) 878-2101.Online:washburnswindyhillorchard.com

perfectforawalkinthewoods. Which,formuchofthehiketothe peak,iswhattheWhiteLedges hikeconsistsof.

Alsosometimescalledthe KendallLedges,thistown-owned propertyisn’tthemost-strenuous hike.It’salittleoverahalf-mileone way,withatraileasilytraversed thereandbackagainwithinan hour,andatagradethat’saccessibletomosthikers,includingchildren.Thetradeoffisthatthereis essentiallyoneviewfromthetop, thoughitisagreatview.

ThetrailheadisoffHowardHill RoadinTemple,adirtroadoffthe mainhighway,withakioskand smallamountofoff-roadparking. Thetrailstartsonafairlywide, well-maintainedtrail,traveling alongsidesomeprivatefields.Almostallofthetrailfollowsalong somestunningexamplesofNew Englandstonewalls,includinga longstretchthatismultiplefeet thick,withseverallayersofstones. Perhapsthestonecropfromthe surroundingfieldswasparticularly plentiful.

Afterpassingagateattheendof thefirstportionofthetrail,the hikebecomesmorewooded,

thoughthetrailremainswideand clear.Onthewayup,Iencountered agartersnakesunningonthetrail, whoscootedintoaholeinthe stonewallthemomentitheardme coming–thoughIwasabletosnap agoodphotobeforeitdisappeared.

Anexcerptfrom“AHistoryof Temple,NewHampshire,17681976,”postedatthekioskatthe trailhead,laysoutthe–atthetime –recentgiftoftheledgestothe town’sConservationCommission, tobeusedinperpetuityaspublic land.

ThelandwasdonatedbyAbbie KendallFish,wifeofCharlesFish, andwasdeededtothetownin 1975“tobemaintainedasanatural areaforthebenefitofallTemple residents.”Thepropertyhadbeen intheKendallfamilyfornearly200 yearsbeforebeinggiftedtothe town.Theconservationareagrew in1978withadonationfromthe Richardsonfamily,makingtheentireparcelaboutnineacres,witha shorttrailleadingto500feetof ledgewithasprawlingview.

“Thisledge,whichisanoutcroppingofwhitequartzabouttwo hundredfeetlongandahundred feetwide,isnowcoveredbya

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ASHLEY SAARI/STAFF

The White Ledgestrailhead on Howard Hill Road.

ASHLEY SAARI/STAFF

A quartz found at the top of the White Ledges.

ASHLEY SAARI/STAFF

A garter snake makesits way to a hiding spaceafter sunningitself on the trailside.

growthoftreesandplants.After thebuildingoftheDistrict4 schoolhousein1855,schoolchildrenusedtoclimbuptothisledge, whichisbehindthesiteofthatold school,toexploreandcarryhome anypiecesofthebeautifulquartz thattheycouldpickuporbreakoff. Sometimesthemorerarerosequartzcanbefoundaspartofthis

formation,”theexcerptreads. Itseemsquartz-huntingisstilla popularpastimeforhikersonthe ledge.Afterexitingthewoods, thereisonlyashorttrail,linedwith high-bushblueberries–andsomewhatincongruously,alargegrape vineIspottedmidfield–andgoldenrodgonetoseed.Youcansee whattheledgesarenamedfor–a

largemoundofwhitestone gleaminginthesun,perfectfora quickscrambletothetop.

Exploringtheledge,aswellasa smalloffshoottotheright,you’ll spotpilesofquartz,eithercollected orbrokenofffromprevioushikers, perhapslookingforanexampleof therarerrosequartz.

Ifyougo

Temple’sWhiteLedges

Theparkingareaislocatedon HowardHillRoad,locatedoff Route45.Trailheadisaboutonetenthofamiledowntheroad,on theleft.Someoff-streetparkingis available.

Thiscolumnoriginallyraninthe MonadnockLedger-Transcripton Dec.12,2023.

ASHLEY SAARI/STAFF PHOTO

A view from the top.

Fall: A season of festivals and celebrations

By JESSECA TIMMONS Ledger-Transcript

Fallisthebusiesttimeofyearin theMonadnockRegion.Every weekendbringsfestivals,celebrationsandfairs.Thechallengeis tryingtodecidewhichonetoattend!

TheKeenePrideFestivalisSaturday,Sept.21,fromnoonto7p.m. indowntownKeene.Thefestival, whichincludesover150vendors andattractsaround5000guests,is thelargestprideeventintheregion.Thisyear’shostsareactor, singer-songwriterandcomedian KellyMantle,draglegendSherry VineandMissGingerSoulless,a performerandfounderofKeene Pride.Theeventincludeslive music,circusacts,dragkingsand queensvendors,activitiesand more.Forinformationgoto:

https://www.keenepride.org/festival.

The27thWinchesterPickleFestivalisSaturday,Sept.27from10 a.m.to4p.m.Theeventisrainor shine,andthecanningcontest startsat11a.m.Thepopularfestivalinthesouthwesterncornerof thestatedrawsabout5000guests eachyearandincludesapickle eatingcontest,pickleparade,live musicandvendors.Forinformation gotowinchesternhpicklefestival.org.

TheFriendsoftheGreenfield MeetinghouseOktoberfestisSaturday,Sept.27from4to7pmat OakParkinGreenfield.Theannual eventraisesmoneyforrenovations tothe230-year-oldGreenfield Meetinghouse.Theeventincludes localvendors,livemusic,localbeer, wineandmead,andacraftand

COURTESY

Pickles for sale at the Winchester Pickle Festival.

farmer’smarket.Forticketsor informationgotogreenfieldmeetinghouse.org

TheNewHampshireWool ArtsTourisOct.11and12.This tourincludesfivefamily-owned sheepfarmsinDeering,Bennington,Antrim,Greenfieldand Lyndeborough.Farmswillhost demonstrationsofspinningand shearing,woolcraft,fiberarts andotherfarmproducts.Forinformationanddetails aboutthis year’stour,gotowww.woolartstournh.com.

The28thannualMonadnock ArtOpenStudioTourisOct.11, 12and13.Thefreetour,which wascreatedbythefriendsofthe DublinArtColonyin1995, includesthestudiosofnearly70 artistswhoworkinDublinand surroundingtowns.Artistsincludenotedpainters,ceramicists,collageandmixedmedia, photographers,bookbinders,illustrators,textileartists,woodworkers,jewelrymakersand more. Theopeningreception, whichwillpreviewtheart of everyartistonthetour,isSaturday,Oct.5at7p.m.atBass HallattheMonadnockCenter

borough.Theartistswillbepresent,andtheeventincludesrefreshmentsandanartraffle. Thetourcoversawidegeographicareaandtakessome planning;studiosarewell markedbutcanbefarapart. Profilesofalltheartistsand mapsofthetourareavailableat monadnockart.org/monadnockart-open-studio-tour.

TheFallFoliageArttourtakes placethesameweekendandincludesnotableartistsinnearby townswhicharenotpartofthe MonadnockArttoursuchas Temple,Swanzey,NewIpswich andRindge.Forinformationand amapgotofallfoliageartstudiotour.com/temple_artists.html.

PeakIntoPeterborough2025 isSaturday,Oct.18from10a.m. to4p.m.Thefree,familyfriendlyfestivalindowntown Peterboroughincludesvendors, localbusinesses,food,music andactivitiesforchildren. The popularannualSoupContest willtakeplacefrom11:30a.m. to1:30p.m.;guestsareinvitedto casttheirvoteforbestsoup,and thecontestisfree.Musicwill takeplaceatMainStagein DepotPark,behindToadstool

Monadnock Art Open Studios Tour

COURTESY ASHLEY WADLEIGH

The Greenfield Oktoberfest raises funds for the historic Greenfield Meetinghouse.

COURTESY

Hannaford employees at the 2024 Keene Pride Festival.

Books.Formoreinformationgoto business.greatermonadnock.com/events/details/2025peak-into-peterborough-52300.

October10through12isalsothe annualMilfordPumpkinFestival. Thefestivalincludesmusic, pumpkin-themedactivitiesforchildren,foodanddrinkvendors,the popularhauntedtrailbyHaunted SpringandtheGreatPumpkin WeighOff.Theopeningceremony, onFriday,Oct.10,from6:30to7 p.m.attheMilfordOval,features theannuallightingoftheTownHall pumpkin.Thefestivalincludesa dancejam,appearancesbyaCompanyofWitches,andbeer,wine andspirittastingonthelawnofthe townhall.Formoreinformationgo tomilfordpumpkinfestival.org/activities-music.

TheKeenePumpkinFestivalis Saturday,Oct.18,startingat2p.m. Theyouthandchildren-centered eventincludesvendors,activities, musicandthousandsofjack-olanternshand-carvedbyvolunteers. Thefestivalwindsdownaround darkafterthejack-o-lanternsarelit. Findinformationatpumpkinfestival.org.

ThePeterboroughVivaBachFestival.Peterborough’sannualBach