Saturday

Boston Book Festival - Copley Square, Boston
Saturday, 10/15, 10:30am-5:30pm

Boston Book Festival hosts author presentations, panels, and hands-on demonstrations at venues throughout the Copley Square area, from Trinity Church to the Boston Public Library. A street fair in the square features exhibitors and live music throughout the day.

Activities for kids and teens include a keynote presentation by Mo Willems; a bookmaking workshop; and author presentations and workshops. Consult the website for a complete schedule. FREE

Ongoing family activities include:

• StoryPlace (11am-4pm, Boston Public Library Popular Reading Room 700 Boylston Street): Kids can create arts and crafts, listen to storytellers Jef Czekaj and Norah Dooley, and meet story time favorites Curious George, Geronimo Stilton, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and more.
• Passport to Imagination: Families can pick up a kids’ passport at the Boston Book Festival tent and take part in fun kids’ activities throughout Copley Square, picking up stamps at participating exhibitors and at StoryPlace. Completed passport win prizes!

The Bremen Town Musicians - Seully Hall, Boston Conservatory, Boston
Saturday, 10/15 two performances, 12n and 2pm

The Boston Conservatory Opera presents The Bremen Town Musicians, a children’s opera based on a Grimm fairy tale. The work includes music by Rossini, Offenbach, Donizetti, Verdi and Sullivan. FREE

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer in Concert - Center for the Arts, Natick
Saturday, 10/15 2pm

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are talented singers, songwriters, instrumentalists, educators and record producers who have brought together generations of families with music. They play dozens of instruments from banjos to mandolins to rocking’ electric guitar, steel drum and ukulele. They sing, yodel, scat and chicken cluck in harmony, inspiring effortless participation from every audience.

Harvest Festival - Verrill Farm, Concord
Saturday, 10/15, noon-4pm

The afternoon of family fun includes pick-your-own pumpkins, raffle items, a la carte food, treasure hunts, hay rides, pony rides, and more.

FREE admission. Activity, game and raffle tickets are 5 tickets for $10; proceeds from ticket sales and food purchases support pediatric care at Emerson Hospital.

Rockport Harbor Fest - Rockport
Saturday, 10/15, 10am-6pm

The Rockport HarvestFest is a family-focused event featuring live music, kids’ art activities, a scarecrow stroll, and the Local Fare Fair, which highlights Cape Ann and New England food producers. FREE admission

Saturday and Sunday

Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus - TD Garden, Boston
Performances through Sunday, 10/16

The Greatest Show on Earth® brings its BARNUM 200 tour to Boston, with clowns, high wire artists, elephants, and the Masters of Musculature team, who contort their bodies in unbelievable ways.

Don’t miss the All Access Pre-Show, which starts one hour prior to show time available to all ticket holders. See animals up close, visit with performers, get autographs, try on costumes, and enjoy the circus fun. (Ages two and older must have a ticket.)

Newton Harvest Fair - Newton Centre Green, Newton
Saturday and Sunday, 10/15 & 10/16, 11am-5pm

The two-day festival includes kiddie amusement rides and activities led by the YMCA/Newton, plus a scarecrow decorating contest (pre-registration required; $5) on Saturday. On Sunday, the festival expands to include over 100 craft booths, ethnic and American food, kiddie rides and activities, live entertainment, and pumpkin decorating. Plus, the Green Solutions Expo features the latest solutions you need to reduce your carbon footprint. FREE admission

Cranberries Alive - Edaville USA, Carver
Saturday and Sunday, 10/15 & 10/16, 10am-5pm

Train enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy an authentic train ride through spectacular scenery – oftentimes past actual cranberry harvesting– as well as a wide array of carnival rides and amusements. Visitors see, taste, touch, and learn about the mighty cranberry while enjoying the delights of a New England harvest. The Cat in the Hat and Curious George (in costume character form) put in an appearance, too!

Applefest - Wachusett Mountain, Princeton
Saturday and Sunday, 10/15 & 10/16, 10am-5pm

AppleFest features a Craft Fair with over 75 craft exhibits and farmers’ market booths; clowns, jugglers, magicians; pony and hay rides; chainsaw carving demonstrations (!); foliage sky rides to the summit (additional fee); and a mountainside barbecue.

Purchase tickets in advance for discount.

Sunday

Bell Raising Celebration - Old South Meeting House, Boston
Sunday, 10/16 11am - 2:30pm

The Old South hosts a grand celebration to commemorate the raising of its newly acquired historic bell, made by Paul Revere in 1801, to its clock tower.

From 11am to 12:30pm, visitors can see the bell on display. At 1pm, the festivities begin on the plaza across from the meeting house. Participants include: a brass ensemble from Boston Landmarks Orchestra, the Old South Church Choir, an ensemble from Back Bay Ringers and singers from the Boston Children’s Chorus. Bring your own bells and join in a chorus of bells city-wide that will chime in celebration as the bell is hoisted to the tower at 2pm. FREE