October Day Trips

Looking to make your October a little spookier? Check out these tours, trips, and attractions!

Weekends to October 30th Scary Acres: Part wagon ride, part corn maze, all terrifying! Explore the acres between the hours of 7PM and 10PM - look out for zombies, vampires, and dummies. $20.00 per standard ticket.

Weekends to October 31st The Haunted Labyrinth: The Labyrinth is open from 7PM - 10PM - but will you escape from the "camp of no return"? Tickets are $12 cash and $13 card.

Weekends to November 1st The Factory of Terror: Have you ever thought, 'Wow, this haunted house is great, but it needs more LASERS?' Fear not (okay, fear a little), the Factory of Terror has you covered - the Factory is offering laser tag amid its myriad terrors. It's open from 7PM - 11PM, tickets are $20.00 for adults and $14.00 for children 10 and under.

Saturday, October 24th and Sunday October 25th Rhode Island Historical Society Walking Tour - HP Lovecraft: A Literary Life: "Learn Lovecraft's beloved spots as visitors embark on an insightful and intriguing tour of Providence." Tour runs from 12PM - 1:30PM, Adult tickets are $15, Senior tickets are $12, Student and Member tickets are $10, Children 8 and under are free.

Saturday, October 31st Newport Historical Society - Photographing Stones and Souls in the Common Burial Ground: Learn about the history of one of Rhode Island's oldest burying grounds, while also picking up photographic skills (photography is the best way to capture the stones, grave rubbings are forbidden). Tickets are $15 per person, $10 for members, the tour begins at 11AM.

Autumnal Activities 2015

We enjoyed a hint of cooler weather yesterday - so turn down the AC and plan some autumn outings!

Farm Fresh RI has a guide to Apple Picking Farms all around Rhode Island - get 'em while they're good!

Coggeshall Farm Museum Harvest Fair will take place on September 19th-20th at the Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol. Performers, games, and handicrafts combine to make an unforgettable experience! Children, seniors, and military get in for $7.00, with adult tickets at $10.00 - children under 3 are free! 

Smithsonian Museum Day will be celebrated on September 26th - celebrate with a trip to one of our local museums! A list of museums who will be participating in the free admission program is available at the Smithsonian Magazine Website.

And we polled the staff - here's what they had to say about their favorite part of autumn:

"All things apple & cinnamon, fall foliage, fresh fall air cooler."

"Pumpkin food, drink, candles. Also, actual pumpkins."

"Infinate Fall cocktail at Gracie's restaurant. Also, my dog Alice is happier in cooler weather. Actually, I don't like fall. Or winter."

"I sweat ever-so-slightly less."

"Apple picking, carving pumpkins, building a Halloween gingerbread house."

Gaspee Days 2015

We hope you had a great time at the Arts & Crafts festival over the weekend, but in case you missed it, not to worry! There are plenty of patriotic events to come. And if you're of a literary bent, the library has plenty of books to tide you over until parade day!

Gaspee Days Colonial Encampment
June 12 - 14, Pawtuxet Park 2 East View St. Warwick, RI 02888

The Colonial Encampment offers visitors a walk through history, where reenactors camp out, Revolutionary War style, for the weekend. Free and open to the public. Hosted by the Pawtuxet Rangers R.I.M.

Allan & Edna Brown 5k Gaspee Days Road Race
June 13 9:30AM - 10:00AM, Broad St. Cranston, RI 02905

1,200 runners compete annually before the start of the parade, which begins at the corner of Broad and Chiswick and ends at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet. Registration opens at 7:30AM and continues until 9:00AM. Racers can also pre-register online at gaspee.com/5krace.

50th Annual Gaspee Days Parade
June 13 10:00AM - 1:00PM, Narragansett Parkway Warwick, RI 0288

The parade route begins on Narragansett Parkway in Warwick and continues through Pawtuxet Village in Cranston. The parade participants include Gaspee-themed floats, local civic and state government officials, marching bands, fife and drum corps, historical military re-enactors and representatives of various charitable organizations. Get there early and find a good spot!

Burning of the Gaspee
June 14th 3:00PM - 3:30PM, Pawtuxet Park 2 East View St. Warwick, RI 02888

Colonial military maneuvers will signal the burning a replica of the HMS Gaspee in Narragansett Bay.

Gaspee Reads at Hall

Check out the following titles to put yourself in the spirit of revolution!

Books

Gaspee by Alex Gabbard
Waking the Merrow by Heather Rigney
The Documentary History of the Destruction of the Gaspee by William R. Staples

DVDs

Aaron Briggs and the HMS Gaspee

Recommended November Activities for the Whole Family

There's a definite chill in the air outside, but don't fret! (Well, okay, maybe fret about your gas bill.) Just because it's cold, doesn't mean there's nothing to do, check out these upcoming events and programs offered around the state.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum "Children's Thanksgiving Floral Workshop" - Offered on Sunday, November 22nd from 10:00am to 11:00am at the Carriage House, 101 Ferry Rd. Bristol, Rhode Island 02809. Participants pay $15.00 per arrangement, Members pay $12.00, registration is required.
From their website: "Blithewold's gardens are bountiful, for which we are truly thankful! Green up your holiday by joining us for this fun and festive class where we will make use of nature's gifts. Children will create and take home a unique 'pilgrim hat' floral centerpiece to add to your family's Thanksgiving table."

Coggeshall Farm Museum "Hearth Cooking Workshop" -  Offered every Sunday in November at 4:00pm, address is 1 Colt Dr. Bristol, Rhode Island 02809. Admission is $60.00 per person and $50.00 for Members. Reservations required by the Wednesday before the Sunday programs, space is limited, intended for ages 16 and up.
From their website: "Explore what it meant to "eat local" in 1790s Rhode Island. Working from the first American cookbook, originally published in 1796, guests prepare several 'receipts' at the hearth using produce made on the farm before sitting down to enjoy the fruits of their labors by candlelight." 

Museum of Work and Culture "Veteran's Day" - 10:00am on November 11th, at 42 S. Main St. Woonsockett, Rhode Island 02895. Admission is free for veterans and their families and for anyone who brings a donation of unopened socks, t-shirts, or underwear to be donated to the United Veteran's Council.
From their website: "The museum event will start immediately following the dedication of the new City of Woonsocket Veteran's Park, which is scheduled for 9:00am, rain or shine. The museum program will include a performance by musician and historian Rick Spencer who will present his repertoire of WWI songs. Refreshments will be served."

Providence Children's Museum "Mad Science" - Tuesday, November 11th at the Providence Children's Museum 100 South St. Providence, RI 02903. Shows at 2:00pm and 4:00pm, recommended for ages 4 and up. Admission $9.00, adults and children - discount passes are available at the Central Library.
From their website: "Experience mesmerizing science experiments during a mind-bending interactive show that introduces children to the scientific method, air pressure and the states of matter. Audiences will be amazed by foggy dry ice storms, giant beach balls floating in the air and more!"

Roger Williams Park Zoo "Paint Night at the Zoo" - Thursday, November 20th at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, located 1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, Rhode Island 02907. This program lasts from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. Admission is $35.00, the class is intended for participants ages 16 and up, but children 13 and up may participate if they are accompanied by an adult, registration is required. 
From their website: "You've heard the hype, now be part of it at Paint the Night at the Zoo! This instructor led workshop is designed to guide artists of all skill levels step by step through creating artwork to be proudly displayed at home. We'll provide everything you need: canvas, paints, brushes and even a glass of wine for participants 21 and older."

Recommended Fall Activities for the Whole Family

This gorgeous weather makes it the perfect time to get out of the house and go exploring! Here are some suggestions of places to go, pumpkins to pick, and things to see in the coming weeks.

The Scituate Art Festival

The Scituate Art Festival - Runs October 11 - 13th on the Village Green, Rt. 116, North Scituate, Rhode Island. The festival will be running on Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 5pm and Monday from 10am - 4pm. Admission is FREE, no pets.

From their website: "The Scituate Art Fesitival, in its 48th year, is an annual Rhode Island tradition over the Columbus Day weekend. Scituate is a picturesque New England Village nestled in the northwest corner of Rhode Island. Visitors stroll the beautiful Village Green, taking in some of the most unique varieties of art, craft, sculpture, and antiques. Autumn provides the backdrop for this wonderful festival, bestowing crisp air and colorful foliage to energize the body and the spirit." 

RISD Fall Art Sale

The RISD Alumni Art Sale - Runs Saturday, October 11th from 10am - 4pm. The sale will take place outdoors on Benefit St. in Providence, Rhode Island. 

From their website: "All artists participating in the sales are RISD alumni or current RISD students selling original work including prints, photographs, apparel, ceramics, glass, textiles, and more!"

Confreda Farms Fall Festival

Confreda Farms Fall Festival - Runs every weekend from September 13th - November 2nd, from 10am - 6pm. Located at 2150 Scituate Ave. Hope, Rhode Island. Enjoy hayrides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze and much more!

From their website: "It's time for another season of family fun on the farm! Mark your calendars, because Confreda's Fall Fest is opening for the season! We'll have our outdoor food court, kiddie rides, PYO pumpkins with a FREE hayride to our pumpkin patch, and don't forget our MAiZE! With new games and attractions, this will be the best year yet for family fun at Confreda's Fall Fest!" 

Scary Acres

Confreda Farms Scary Acres - Runs weekends September 19th - October 26th from Dusk - 10pm. Located at 2150 Scituate Ave. Hope, Rhode Island. For those of you who prefer a more haunting trip to the farm, Scary Acres lives up to its name, giving visitors frights galore in their haunted corn maze! Tickets cost $20.00 per person, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

From their website: "Two attractions with one goal...to terrify you at every turn! First, you'll travel by rickety wagon into the eerily dark and mysterious woods where zombies and bloodthirsty werewolves have been prowling for months...Evil lurks in the darkness as you desperately try to find your wa ou of the maze. All you have is light from the moon and your flashlight to guide you." 

Spookyworld

Spookyworld: Terror in Rhode Island - Runs weekends September 26th - November 1st from 6pm - 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 6pm - 10pm on Sundays. Located 1000 New London Ave. Cranston, Rhode Island. Enjoy three haunted houses for one price! General admission is $24.99 Friday and Saturday, $22.99 all other days. Might not be appropriate for children, alcohol is available, parents please use your best judgment. 

From their website: "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the most terrifying night of your life...Festival of Fear is a 3-D attraction filled with all of the morbid, disgusting creatures only found within a good ol' fashioned freak show... A nice night stroll makes a turn for the worse when you find yourself in the middle of an old cemetery filled with the hungry undead inhabitants from all ago. Find your way out, or be trapped inside the Devil's Playground for all of eternity... From the second you enter Darkness Falls you are completely immersed into complete darkness with no lights and just the dim glow of your glowstick to light the way."

Haunted Labyrinth

Haunted Labyrinth - Runs weekends September 26th - October 31st from 7pm - 10pm. Located 804 Dyer Ave. Cranston, Rhode Island. One of Rhode Island's most famous haunted houses is a treat for those looking to get spooked! Admission is $10 per person. 

From their website: "Haunted Labyrinth is celebrating 30 years of being the longest running haunted house in New England. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of our youth. Our haunted house is run entirely by adults and youth volunteers. It started many years ago with the goal of encouraging leadership and ministry while providing a scary and fun attraction to the public."

What Cheer Day

Rhode Island Historical Society: What Cheer Day - Runs Saturday, October 25th, beginning at 10am. Located 52 Power St. Providence, Rhode Island. Watch history unfold before your eyes at the John Brown House; learn about how our forefathers lived many years ago. Admission is $15.00 per person for non-members.

From their website: "Think Plimouth Plantation with a dash of coffee milk: It's our 3rd annual What Cheer Day! The John Brown House comes to life with costumed interpreters playing the roles of the Brown family and their 18th-century neighbors, exchanging gossip, frequenting the local fortune-teller and, of course, drinking coffee. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day experiencing the sights, smells, and tastes of Rhode Island History!"