The harvest season brings beautiful fall flavors of cranberry, apple, and pumpkin to center stage - the perfect complement to the fall foliage that's soon to cover the Commonwealth in a vibrant wash of color. It wouldn't be October without the special spooks and family-friendly festivities of Haunted Happenings in Salem. Nor would the month be complete without pretzels and craft beer at Oktoberfest celebrations statewide. Make for the water to mix it up, for the world-famous Head of the Charles Regatta to cheer the competitors. Then keep the seasonal fun going into November with the 24th annual Franklin County CiderDays (Nov 2-4) for a bushel of tastings, workshops, and demos in honor of all things apples!
 
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Fall in love with Central Mass this month as apples, pumpkins, and jewel-toned leaves steal the scene! The Mass Fermentational at Worcester Common on October 6 will feature all you can drink craft beer from over 60 breweries! Leaf-Peep and learn how to take the perfect fall photograph during the Landscape of Central MA photography workshop with David Long on October 13. The ever-popular Annual Sturbridge Harvest Festival returns to the Sturbridge Town Common on October 13-14 and will include the annual scarecrow contest and craft fair. On October 12-14, 19-21 & 26-28, Great Pumpkin Nights at the EcoTarium will showcase 3000+ carved and lit pumpkins in stunning displays of dinosaurs, safari animals, and beautifully carved Jack O'Lanterns!  Flashback to the 60's, 70's and 80's during Decades Rewind at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts on October 27.

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Celebrate Pioneer Valley dinosaur history at DinoFest on Saturday, October 6 in downtown Greenfield! Blending science, arts, community building and sustainability, DinoFest 2018 will feature a Brontosaurus Brunch, Piti Theatre's "Greenfield's Grumpiest T-Rex", DinoMovies with Live Music, interactive dinosaur exhibits, a community art exhibit and more. Events kick off at 9:30 am downtown at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center and outside the Second Congregational Church on the Common. Admission is free. For the complete schedule and more details, click here. 

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Dig into fresh seafood, New England cuisine, and local brews at these upcoming Fall food fests, which usher in a season of eating on Cape Cod! Beer aficionados, mark your calendar for the Cape Cod Brew Fest, back for its seventh year on October 13 at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds. The pearl of Cape Cod's seafood is undoubtedly the Wellfleet oyster, and on October 13-14 fans from the Cape and beyond flock to Wellfleet Oyster Festival to feast on the celebrated shellfish. Then, tour Yarmouth by trolley (and taste the best of the town) on the Trolley Tour Taste of Yarmouth on November 10. Come enjoy autumn on Cape Cod! Here are 7 reasons you should from Yankee Magazine.

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Fall in love with western Mass, where arts and culture happenings are as vibrant as the autumn foliage! Music-lovers, grab your tickets to hear 14-time Grammy Award winner Paquito D'Rivera and his Quintet play during the Northampton Jazz Festival (happening all over downtown - all weekend). If poetry is your jam, journey the streets of Amherst with Before You Became Improbable, a street-theater experience featuring the words of local heroine, Emily Dickinson. Prefer prose? Don't miss the Best of Valley Voices Story Slam, hosted by the historic Academy of Music and NEPR. Find a scene for every vibe at visithampshirecounty.com.

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Discover a magical place like no other at Yankee Candle Village MA! Start your holidays with us at our annual Tree Lighting Event on November 17. Experience the magic as Santa and Mrs. Claus light up the huge tree at Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield. Enjoy live music with fun holiday favorites performed by TJ and The Peepers, plus so much more! Visit our Facebook page for a full listing of activities!

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Join the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and learn about the long history of cranberry farming on Nantucket during the Cranberry Festival (October 6). The Milestone Cranberry Bog will be harvested for viewers, who can also enjoy music, sample delectable cranberry treats and participate in activities including sack races and hay rides. Then on October 11-14, support local farmers at the NantucketGrown Food Festival. Tastings, oyster boat tours and culinary lessons will all be provided through Sustainable Nantucket.

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Enjoy eleven days of agriculture, entertainment and great food at the Topsfield Fair September 28-October 8! Cape Ann Artisans open studios tour takes place on October 6-8. Come explore the artisans exquisite natural surrounding and see the fine art and craft inspired by the scenic North Shore. Enjoy Haunted Happenings in Salem October 1-31; there is something for everyone, from family fun events to haunted history and much more.

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Experience fall in Fairhaven at Fairhaven's 6th annual Harvest Fun Day! The event will have homemade goods to purchase, including crafts, jewelry and produce. There will be plenty of children's activities, music and a dance performance by Supreme Perfection Dance Studio. Local eateries - including Dorothy Cox's and Del's Frozen lemonade - will be selling treats, and the FHS Honor Society will be holding a car wash. Anyone looking for more information can call 508-979-4085 or email [email protected]. 

 

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