Mostly Free and Fun Things to do in CT with Kids This Weekend October 5-6: Apple Festival, Farm Days, Touch-A-Truck and Parades

10/2/13 - By Pam Hegner

October is a fantastic month in Connecticut, especially if you have kids. The activities are endless, and Mommy Poppins CT is your best resource. Our October Go List, Guide to Apple Picking and CT Halloween and Fall Fun Guide will help you make autumn a memorable season.

Most of our suggestions are free and inexpensive. However, if you aren't careful, this month can put a real strain on the budget. The National Retail Federation estimates Americans will spend $6.9 billion on Halloween, second only to Christmas spending. Decor, costumes, candy, and activities can be costly, so read our post on Halloween Costume Swaps for Kids; Where to Find Free, New-to-you Costumes to save some cash.

Our events calendar is always updated with the latest happenings, and here are suggestions for this weekend!

 

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All Weekend 

Berlin Fair (Hartford County)
Three days of fun including rides, games, arts and crafts, live music, animal shows and more. There are a slew of contests to enter and enjoy, including frog jumping, racing turtles, nail driving, pie eating, children's tractor pull, and marching bands.
Friday-Sunday. Adults - $12; ages 11 and under - free.

Southington Apple Harvest Festival (Hartford County)
This family event spans the course of two weekends and brings in over 100,000 people to town. It is a wonderful event, but can get extremely crowded, so arrive early. I hear the apple fritters are to die for, but the lines were always so long I never got to try them! Live music and entertainment, rides, games, bounce houses, contests, crafts and more. The first weekend includes a fireworks show, parade and road race.
Friday-Sunday this weekend and October 11-13. Free admission .

Hammonasset Festival in Madison (New Haven County)
Come celebrate nature and Native America at one of the most-loved CT State Parks. Live animal exhibitions, live music, crafts, competitions, drumming, dancing and other Native American events. Free entrance to the park. No pets are allowed.
Saturday-Sunday. $5 per person, children 10 and under - free.

Saturday, October 5

First Saturdays at the Lyman Allan Art Museum in New London (Eastern CT)
Free, first Saturdays provide an opportunity for children to drop in for art projects all year long. This week, create Whaling Ship Collages and enjoy the new exhibit The Whaling World of the Charles W. Morgan.
Free admission 10a-12p. Art projects free from 1p-3p with museum admission - adults - $10; under 12- free.

Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival in Darien (Fairfield County)
Tons of activities at this fundraiser benefitting the school PTO for enrichment programs. Face painting, apple toss and other fun games; raffles and great prizes including tickets to the Steelers-Jets game. Explore the haunted house, enjoy Rides, food and more.
Free admission. Fees vary for activities.

Hurricane Hike in Easton (Fairfield County)
There are so many great children's hikes around the state, and many of them are free. This hike through beautiful Poindexter Preserve is geared towards ages 6-13, with a parent or caregiver. You'll view the pine grove damage caused by Hurricane Sandy last year.
Free. Please email to reserve a spot.

Kidzfest in Norwalk (Fairfield County)
Taylor Farm Park is the site of this festival that includes a huge touch-a-truck with over 25 vehicles, including an eagle one helicopter. Mascots and characters such as Batman and Spiderman will be on hand, along with face painting, music and dancing, and the Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck (go for the chocolate dipped cone, trust me) . Proceeds benefit the Human Services Council's Children's Connection, providing services for sexually and physically abused children and their families.
$5 per person.

Auerfarm's Annual Fall Festival in Bloomfield (Hartford County)
This 4-H education center is a hidden gem off Simsbury Road in Bloomfield. Their annual fall festival features hayrides, a corn maze, games, entertainment, food and 4-H exhibitions. This 120-acre farm is a lovely place to spend a fall day with family and friends.
Free.

Park Road Parade in West Hartford (Hartford County)
This West Hartford tradition attracts over 7,000 people to the Park Road district on the south side of town. Floats, bands, clowns, dogs, mascots, antique cars and more will grace the street from Ringgold to South Quaker. It is good to arrive early and get a good seat. 
Free.

 

Sunday, October 6

Walktober at the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry (Eastern CT)
This is first of three walking tours inviting people to experience the beauty of the Last Green Valley. This 1.5 mile walk goes through fields and forests to show how the Hale family lived off the land in colonial times. Built in 1776, the Hale Homestead is the birthplace of Nathan Hale, state hero. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Free.

Annual Children's Day at The Little Red School House in Newtown (Fairfield County)
This is a wonderful day to show kids what life was like back in the colonial days. Kids can attend class at this one-room school house, make a hornbook and go to recess. Class starts promptly at 12:30pm so don't be late!
$2. Pre-registration required.

Hay Day at Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington (Hartford County)
Enjoy autumn's beauty on the grounds of this 152-acre off Route 4 in Farmington. Scarecrow building, face painting, and horse-drawn hay rides will escort you through the fields as you gaze at the leaves changing. Bristol's Old Tyme Fiddlers will be entertaining the crowd, and there will be food and drink for sale.
Free.

2nd Annual Pumpkin Palooza at Angevine Farm (Litchfield County)
Pumpkin games and races, karaoke, hayrides, pumpkin painting and much more fun at the farm.
Free. 

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Have a beautiful fall weekend!