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Things To Do in Connecticut this Weekend: Pumpkins, Scarecrows, County Fairs

A corn maze is open in Middlefield! Photo Courtesy of Lyman Orchards
A corn maze is open in Middlefield! Photo Courtesy of Lyman Orchards
9/18/19 - By Donald Eng

This week the calendar says we are officially entering fall...and that means we can turn our attention to pumpkins and harvest fun. Head over to Seymour for the annual Pumpkin Festival, or travel to Pumpkintown, USA to see the famous collection of jack-o'-lantern people. Kids love making their own scarecrows in Simsbury. And corn mazes are cropping up everywhere!

There also are plenty of other activities this week. Newtown is hosting a free program about polination and Norwalk is celebrating its first-ever Norwalk Strong. And this isn't even counting all the traditional county fairs, like these in Guilford and Orange.

These fall weekends are particularly action packed so make sure that you subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you won't miss any of the fun! As always, our event calendar is constantly being updated with the latest activities. Have fun!

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Meet some new
Meet some new "friends" at Pumpkintown USA. Photo courtesy of Connecticut Office of Tourism

Things To Do All Weekend

Guilford Fair

Guilford
Come to The Guilford Fair, Connecticut’s 2nd oldest agricultural fair.   READ MORE

Bristol Mum Festival

Bristol — Free
The Bristol Mum Festival is an annual community tradition. Free to attend with lots of food, fun, and music. The Bristol Blues will also feature their Blues & Brew Fest & Garden.  READ MORE

Pumpkintown USA

East Hampton
One of New England's premier non-scary Halloween villages, Pumpkintown USA annually draws about 25,000 visitors. The Village at Pumpkintown USA is home to more than 70 Pumpkinhead people and their pets. The unique village includes a fast food restaurant called MacPumpkins, a saloon, a jail, a church, barbershop, country store, farm, and a fire station. READ MORE

Lyman Orchards' Corn Maze

Middlefield — Free for children
Lyman's has been growing their corn for a unique 18th Century Revolutionary period corn maze this year! Think: Ben Franklin! Enjoy this 4-acre maze carved into Ben Franklin's likeness, lightning, a key and #allamerican. READ MORE

Big Adventures: Dinosaurs

Norwalk
Jump into a time machine and travel back 190 million years to see a full size “living” Dilophosaurus, Connecticut’s State Dinosaur. Then zoom back to 2019 to a paleontologist’s laboratory and discover the clues dinosaurs left behind. READ MORE

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire

Lebanon
Step back to the past at The Connecticut Renaissance Faire. It's a time to play and unwind, to feast and drink, and a time to celebrate the old-fashioned way. READ MORE

Orange Country Fair

Orange
Pig racing, birds of prey demonstrations, homing pigeon releases, music, food, rides and more at the Orange Country Fair. READ MORE

Things To Do Saturday

Scarecrow Day

Simsbury
Build your own scarecrow on the green. READ MORE

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day

Bristol
Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center will open its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticketholders on Saturday September 21, 2019 as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 15th annual Museum Day. READ MORE

Harvest Moon Festival at the Pequot Museum

Naugatuck
Just in time for the Fall solstice, the Museum will showcase Indigenous and non-Indigenous farmers, crafters and culture for a family-friendly day full of activities. Throughout the day, they will host programs and events that provide important information about eastern woodland culture and lifeways. READ MORE

International Red Panda Day at the Beardsley Zoo

Bridgeport
Come see Rochan, the adorable Red panda and his companion, Meri at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. The Zoo’s Education staff will be giving talks on this adorable member of the Zoo family. Learn about Red pandas and help create as many Red Panda Rangers as possible in a single day. A Red Panda Ranger is a special title given to children who help spread the word about red pandas. READ MORE

Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival in New Britain

New Britain
Admire hundreds of antique and classic cars spanning decades of automotive history, all on a picturesque 40-acre hilltop campus. This is an event for the whole family. Wayne Carini of the television show Chasing Classic Cars will serve as the Grand Marshal with his family. READ MORE

Newington Waterfall Festival

Newington
The Newington Waterfall Festival will take place in Market Square and feature food vendors, artists & crafters, children's activities, live entertainment, and a Farmers Market. There's something for everyone at this fun-filled celebration! READ MORE

Seventh Ever Touch A Truck

Naugatuck
Come see and explore many exciting constructions trucks, emergency vehicles and custom cars. Food trucks, vendors and games.  Quiet hour to be held from 12pm- 1pm for guests with special needs or sensitive ears. READ MORE
Hayrides are happening all over the state. Photo courtesy of Ambler Farm
Hayrides are happening all over the state. Photo courtesy of Ambler Farm

Things To Do Sunday

Annual Seymour Pumpkin Festival

Seymour — Free
This annual Festival will take place (rain or shine) at French Memorial Park and offers carnival rides & games, entertainment, petting zoo, children’s contests, arts & craft vendors, and food booths run by local civic, school, and non-profit organizations.   READ MORE

Simsbury Fly-In and Car Show & Food Truck Festival

Simsbury
The largest event of its kind in New England will be held again this year on Sept. 24 with even more fun for the entire family. The Fly-In is like a special kind of country fair, built around displays of over 700 beautiful airplanes and cars, with 100+ businesses displaying their products, many aerial demonstrations, and an amazing array of 15+ food trucks to satisfy your hunger. Other attractions throughout the day include; engine demonstrations, car and aviation related seminars, live music, gyrocopter demonstration, drone demonstration, and a formation flying... READ MORE

Ambler Farm Day in Wilton

Wilton
Families from Wilton and beyond descend upon the farm for their pinnacle event of the year; a fall festival filled with activities for all ages! Fan favorites include the Apple Slingshot, Hay Maze, Build-Your-Own Scarecrow, Hayrides, Pie-In-The Face, a Pumpkin Patch, Dunk-A-Local Celebrity + more! READ MORE

Norwalk Strong

Norwalk
Norwalk is a city on the move and Norwalk Now wants everyone to get moving! Norwalk Strong is a celebration of fitness, health, and the active lifestyle found throughout the city. This day-long event is an opportunity for you to explore Norwalk businesses in the health/wellness fields and take advantage of services, products, and activities that fuel your mind, body, and soul. READ MORE

Sunday at the Sanctuary - Bees, Beetles, Butterflies & Blossoms

Newtown
Come and celebrate all things pollination with a Pollinator Party at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Sanctuary. Explore these incredible creatures and the plants that sustain them! READ MORE

Wigwam Escape

Washington
Wigwam Escape is an immersive, hands-on learning experience through the Institute for American Indian Studies. Visitors will experience the daily live of native people in 1518.  READ MORE

Voluntown Farmers Market

Voluntown
Local farmers and artisans gather under the maple trees to sell their goods, including local crafts, produce, soaps, jewelry, and more. READ MORE

Opening Day: Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room at MoCA Westport

Westport
Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room magically transports participants as one’s eyes adjust slowly to the play of light across its perforated walls, an ever-changing constellation reveals itself. Bring your camera!  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center
Naugatuck Event Center Lot
Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary
Institute for American Indian Studies
Voluntown Elementary School