Arguably Massachusetts' most beautiful season, fall comes alive in the Commonwealth during October. Vibrant foliage and intoxicating aromas are enhanced by a bounty of festivals and events. From cranberry harvests to Halloween haunts, woodcarving classes to oyster shuck-offs, delights await a variety of tastes and interests this month. We encourage visitors and residents alike to start new, seasonal traditions! For more on what's happening, visit massvacation.com/events.

In autumn, Mother Nature curates the most spectacular outdoor exhibition - and finds her equal in the luminous paintings inside the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. Autumn foliage sets the Clark's 140-acre campus ablaze, inviting visitors to wander the walking trails, explore the quiet woodlands, and treasure the experience of being at one with nature. Inside, the Clark's collection is rich with paintings by French Impressionists, Old Masters, and treasured American icons like Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent. It's fun, though, to tour the galleries in search of some of the stunning works highlighting the season, including Autumn in Montclair by George Inness. A lunch break in the Clark's Café 7 highlights locally sourced meats and vegetables with a menu that Zagat says makes it "worth the drive to the Berkshires." 

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Affectionately dubbed Nantucket Noel, holiday festivities begin the day after Thanksgiving with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Community Caroling. Gather at the top of Main Street to watch over 100 Christmas trees magically come alive! Joyous caroling fills the air, led by the Accidentals & Naturals.  Clever and crafty local children decorate the trees in time for Christmas Stroll the following weekend, December 2-4.  Don't miss Santa's arrival via Coastguard Cutter Saturday, December 3 at noon!  Find more information on Nantucket Island.

From jack-o-lanterns to giant pumpkins, October has it all! October 1-31, party with ghouls and ghosts at Salem's Haunted Happenings festival. It's a fang-tastically festive celebration of all things Halloween and offers claw-some activities for all ages, from the Grand Parade and Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair to ghost tours and more! After getting your fill of spooks and frights, visit the Topsfield Fair (September 30 - October 10). Enjoy 10 days of concerts, rides, great food, and the giant pumpkin contest! Find more information on North of Boston.  Find more information on North of Boston.

Join the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra on October 15th for their first concert of the season on October 15th - Powerful Beauty. Christopher James Lees will conduct Adam Schoenberg's Finding Rothko, Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto and Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. More information can be found here and tickets can be purchased here.   Find more information on Southeastern Massachusetts. 

Fall in love with Central Mass this month as apples, pumpkins, and jewel-toned leaves steal the scene! The Global Harvest Festival at Hiefer Farm in Rutland on October 1 &2 features international crafts, live music, apple cider, and a pick-your-own pumpkin patch! The ever-popular Fall Fest Weekend returns to Tower Hill Botanic Garden October 8-10 and will include apple, cider, and honey tasting, and cooking demos! On October 22, the 13th Annual Great Pumpkin Fest at EcoTarium will showcase 1000+ carved and lit pumpkins!  Find more information on Central Massachusetts.

Mike's Maze in Sunderland celebrates the National Park Service centennial! At Warner Farm (23 South Main Street), you'll find a stunning depiction of Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser that surges up in this 8-acre corn field, with Teddy Roosevelt's striking profile emerging from the misty cloud. John Muir, "Grandfather of the National Parks" observes the sublime scene from below, silhouetted against his beloved pines. A great experience for families, company outing or team-building. Call 413-665-8331 for reservations or visit mikesmaze.com.  Find more information on Franklin County.

Expect the unexpected at ArtWeek from September 30 through October 9! ArtWeek is an award-winning bi-annual creative festival featuring more than 180 unique, unexpected, and creative experiences that are participatory, interactive, or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process. An added bonus - over 65% are FREE! Find more information on Greater Boston. 

Fall for the Arts this October on Cape Cod! Highlights include live performances by local musicians, open houses at cultural venues, readings & lectures, art activities for children, guided heritage walks, plein air painters, special exhibits and more! Presented by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod in partnership with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. Other upcoming events include the Yarmouth Seaside Festival October 8-10, Wellfleet Oyster Fest October 15-16 and Halloween in Provincetown October 28-31!  Find more information on Cape Cod.

Celebrate the art of prints, books, and zines at Print Works in Northampton Sunday, October 2, featuring Zea May's Printmaking annual print fair, the Northampton Print & Book Fair and BIG INK, a live woodcut art demo. Then later this month meet over 250 extraordinary artists and master craft makers traveling from every corner of the country to show off original works of art at the Paradise City Arts Festival on Columbus Day Weekend, October 8-10.  Find more information on Hampshire County.