Top Fall Events of 2016 | Out & About

The top fall events in New England, from cranberries to roots music, plus country fairs, harvest festivals, and other don’t-miss seasonal celebrations.

MASSACHUSETTSCranberry Harvest Celebration | October 8–9, 2016 Celebrate 200 years of cranberry growing in Massachusetts at the 13th installment of this Columbus Day Weekend festival, which attracts some 30,000 visitors from all over the world each year. Witness all phases of the traditional dry harvest (for fresh fruit) and the colorful wet harvest (fruit destined for juice, sauce, drying, and so on), and learn how cranberries are incorporated into cooking and crafts—plus live music, a farmers’ market, and more, all hosted by the A. D. Makepeace Company, the world’s largest cranberry grower and a founder of the Ocean Spray growers’ co-op. Wareham, Massachusetts. admakepeace.comCONNECTICUTChowdafest | October 2, 2016 With participants from every New England state and beyond, Chowda-fest, now in its ninth year, has become one of the largest culinary competitions in the Northeast. Vote for your favorites at Sherwood Island State Park as 40 award-winning chefs and restaurants compete in four categories: “Classic New England Clam Chowder,” “Traditional Chowders,” “Creative Chowder,” and “Soup/Bisque,” with proceeds benefiting local charities. Westport, Connecticut. 203-216-8452; chowdafest.orgMAINEAcadia Night Sky Festival | September 22–25, 2016 This community celebration of Acadia’s incredible, largely light-pollution-free sky has to be seen to be believed. Take a guided night hike; attend an educational presentation, film, or workshop; or take a boat cruise, with photography and stargazing opportunities galore at multiple locations within Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor, Maine. 207-801-2566; acadianightskyfestival.comNEW HAMPSHIREDeerfield Fair | September 29–October 2, 2016 This time-honored tradition of agricultural family fun returns to the Deerfield Fairgrounds to celebrate 140 years of livestock competitions, entertainment, musical performances, midway rides, and more, plus a demolition derby, educational exhibits, and all the classic fair food you could dream of. Deerfield, New Hampshire. 603-463-7421; deerfieldfair.comRHODE ISLANDRhythm & Roots Festival | September 2–4, 2016 Get ready for hours of entertainment as a lineup of 35 musical groups and solo performers take to the stage at Ninigret Park. This year’s bill includes Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Lucinda Williams, the Taj Mahal Trio, and more. Between acts, be sure to sample the variety of tasty food selections, including Cajun and Creole dishes. Charlestown, Rhode Island. rhythmandroots.comVERMONTBrattleboro Literary Festival | October 13–16, 2016 Celebrating the region’s rich literary roots, this festival has become a must-attend event for both writers and readers, and a great excuse for leaf peeping. Multiple downtown locations offer readings, panel discussions, and special events featuring emerging and established authors. Past participants have included winners of the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, and other major honors. Brattleboro, Vermont. brattleboroliteraryfestival.org