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Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend Things To Do in Connecticut: Pumpkin Trains, Scarecrows, and More!

Get on board for fall fun this fall holiday weekend in Connecticut! Pumpkin patch photo courtesy of the New England Railroad
Get on board for fall fun this fall holiday weekend in Connecticut! Pumpkin patch photo courtesy of the New England Railroad
10/5/22 - By Ally Noel

Looking for the best things to do this Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend in Connecticut? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Whether your town celebrates Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, there's fun to be had! Connecticut is brimming with autumn activities and Halloween things to do this weekend. This season's last county fair and a walk through the scarecrows for great family activities. There are also chances to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in Mystic and South Windsor.

Don’t miss our full list of fall festivals and fairs in Connecticut. Find the best Halloween events, or visit a drive-thru with pumpkins, lights, and spooky activities. 

And don't miss your chance to win! Mommy Poppins is sponsoring a pretty amazing giveaway: The grand-prize winner will get a 2 night all-inclusive trip for 2 adults and 2 children (including airfare from the continental US, food, & beverages) to Velas Vallarta family resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Enter to win our Family Fun Resort Getaway. 

To see what else is happening around the state, browse the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar. For the latest and best family-friendly activities, subscribe to our weekly newsletters. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Have a wonderful fall weekend with your family!

More Things to do in Connecticut this Week with Kids 

 

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Stick around Connecticut for family activities this holiday weekend! Scarecrow photo courtesy of the Greenwich Historical Society
Stick around Connecticut for family activities this holiday weekend! Scarecrow photo courtesy of the Greenwich Historical Society

Things to do in Connecticut on Columbus Day Weekend

Hollowed Harvest - Greater Hartford Area

Plymouth – select dates through October 30
Experience the spooky family-fun of Halloween at the Hollowed Harvest! The Hollowed Harvest brings to life thousands of incredible Jack-O'-Lanterns creating stunning landscapes and larger-than-life displays designed to amaze audiences of all ages!​ Be amazed at our towering Jack-O'-Lantern sculptures, the  epic Jack-O'-Lantern Tunnel, & our intricately-carved Jack-O'-Lanterns at the Marshfield Hollowed Harvest! READ MORE

Wee Faerie Village: Fathom Point

Old Lyme – Through October 30
The Florence Griswold Museum presents its annual Wee Faerie Village. This year's theme is Fathom Village: A Sea Faerie Civilization. Visitors of all ages marvel at the detail and craftsmanship as they explore over thirty hand-crafted, faerie-sized buildings nestled throughout the Museum’s 13-acre historic site. READ MORE

Pumpkin Patch Train

Thomaston – October 7-October 10
Experience the views and colors of autumn throughout the Litchfield Hills on our Pumpkin Patch Trains! These special excursions run along the beautiful Naugatuck River, crossing several bridges allowing for spectacular views of the river and surrounding scenery. Visitors will additionally enjoy a view like no other from the face of the Thomaston Dam as the train climbs into the hills, looking down on the valley and river below. During the Pumpkin Patch trains, visitors will also make a stop at the Naugatuck Railroad’s very own pumpkin patch. Kids are able to select their very own... READ MORE

Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival

Bethlehem – October 8- October 9
Enjoy garlic cooking demonstrations, live band performances, and many garlic dips, spreads, cheeses, and oils that will be free to sample. Visit the produce stands for fresh garlic and a variety of other fall produce. READ MORE

Riverton Fair

Riverton – October 7-October 9
Often referred to as the last country fair of the season, this old-fashioned event on the scenic Farmington River features exhibits, animals, vendors, food, midway rides, music, wood chopping events, and more. READ MORE

Greenwich Historical Society Fall Scarecrow Festival

Cos Cob – October 8
Join the outdoor fun at the annual Fall Scarecrow Festival. Bring family and friends to compete in the annual scarecrow building competition, dance to live music by True Blue, and enjoy delicious food provided by Pizza Post, in celebration of their 50th anniversary. READ MORE

Chili Challenge

Windsor – October 8
Join us for our local 26th Annual CHILI CHALLENGE Saturday, October 8, 2022 11am-4pm! Dozens of participants will be making chili and decorating their tents. Buy a ticket and taste a ton of chili. A great town event. READ MORE

Dances With Leaves

Hampton – October 8
Autumn is the perfect time to get outside and discover the forest! Young explorers and their caregivers are invited to join environmental educator and Master Naturalist Lynn Kochiss for an autumn discovery adventure. Come look for signs of autumn. Sing and play with falling and dancing leaves.  READ MORE

Riverfest @ Mystic Seaport

Mystic – October 8
Join Mystic Seaport for the annual Riverfest Festival. Take a ride on a riverboat, rowboat, sailboat, paddleboat...you get the idea! Enjoy delicious food and live music or meet oyster farmers and fisherman. READ MORE

Downtown Sounds: Fall Edition

Shelton – October 8
  Get ready for Downtown Sounds Fall Edition! Join us for a real good time with The Alpaca Gnomes, One Time Weekend and Manny James - incredible CT based bands right in your backyard.  Enjoy local brews, pumpkin painting for the kiddos, delicious local food options & more!  READ MORE

Southington Apple Harvest Festival

Southington – October 8 - October 9
Situated around the beautiful Southington Town Green, the Apple Harvest Festival is a family-oriented event which attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors annually. READ MORE

Woof Woof the Shadow Pup Theatre Production

Fairfield – October 8
Feel the magic of Woof Woof the Shadow Pup in this heartwarming theatre show for all ages! With fascinating shadow characters, puppets, and projections, you don’t want to miss this performance about sharing our feelings. Get your tickets today! woofwoofshadow.com Follow us @woofwoofshadow on Facebook and Instagram for updates on upcoming shows and for children's development tips from Yale Child Psychologist, Dr. Nancy.  READ MORE

Fall Family Fest Sundays at SMNC

Stamford – October 9
Celebrating the season by bundling all the fun and games of a mini-festival into a single admission price, on three Sundays this Fall. Each Sunday will feature added attractions, enhanced programming, and fun offerings to delight the whole family until 2 pm.  READ MORE

Indigenous Peoples Day - Mystic Seaport

Mystic – October 10
Spend Indigenous Peoples’ Day immersing yourself in Indigenous history and culture. In the morning enjoy the warmth of the hearth in the Buckingham-Hall House while Silvermoon LaRose from the Tomaquag Museum cooks and teaches about Indigenous seafood and harvest recipes. In the afternoon learn about Indigenous maritime history from Dr. Jason Mancini. 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Cooking Demonstration with Silvermoon LaRose (Narragansett/Niantic)  2:00 -3:30 pm: “Narragansett Chief; or, The Adventures of a Wanderer”: Recovering Native American Histories... READ MORE

Indigenous People Day - Nowashe Village

South Windsor – October 10
Nowashe Village is proud to announce a wide variety of offerings in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day from 11a to 4p. READ MORE

Whittingham Discovery Center

Stamford - October 10
Whittingham Discovery Cente is open to the public daily. This state-of-the-art visitor and environmental center has FREE educational exhibits and activities for all ages.    READ MORE

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