Autumn In New England

Hello everyone, leaf peeping is a free wonderful way to spend a fall day. Leaf peeping means to looking at or to taking photos of the fall foliage. Well that is today's definition, it actual goes back a ways to even before I was a kid. I do recall my father, while trying to get to an event, using leaf peeper to describe a very slow car in front of him. If you are taking a drive to look at the foliage I do recommend instead of driving slow pull over for a better view, it will also insure some safety for you and other drivers. In my list below there are sites that will give the best views as well as walking tours, just pack a lunch and you are on your way! Even though I am from NH and now live in RI, and am used to seeing the beautiful foliage I still take the time to enjoy it because I love it so much.

The best time to book autumn trips? Well, that would be hard to say, for some locations it would be a year in advance, but off the beaten track you can find things on short notice. Booking hotels for festivals, and even leaf peeping, can be difficult, but some still have places available up to August. I wouldn't wait to long to plan a trip to New England in the fall though. Festivals, tours, leaf peeping, Halloween haunted walks, there is just so much to do, what I would do is perhaps leaf peep during the day and then a festival in the afternoon or evening. Pack a picnic, peeping and festival entry is normally free, food and souvenirs is what will cost money. Well like I said I posted some links below to help you enjoy leaf peeping to its best. Have fun, I know you will love it!

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I am originally from a town in NH called Keene, and in 1991 Keene had its very first "Pumpkin Festival". It was a huge hit, it used to be that people came to the small city for the fall colors, and thousands still do, but now thousands more from the USA and around the world book a year in advance all the hotel rooms in town and the surrounding areas. They do this in order to view thousands of lit jack-o-lanterns in the town's main street. Scaffolding is set up to hold all the carved pumpkins days in advance, as well booths selling t-shirts and other memorabilia about the event (many in concert style), apple cider, pie, and candied apples from area orchards, maple syrup, pumpkin foods of all types (bet you didn't know how many pumpkin treats there are), record books books of past festivals, posters, and other pumpkin souvenirs.
Then the day of the festival people file in, registering carved pumpkins, both kids and adults alike. School classes, each child carving there own and above the group pf personal pumpkins are ones with one letter in each spelling out the school name and grade. You will also see some of the most amazing art work. Then at an appropriate time in the evening all the pumpkins are lit and counted for the record books by Guinness record book officials. Below you will see how Keene did each year .

UPDATE : The 19th annual Keene Pumpkin Festival eclipsed the city's six-year-old jack-o'-lantern record, cramming 29,068 into the city's downtown. That number was still short of the world record set by Boston.

Some 70,000 people crowded into Elm City, more than tripling its population Saturday, from places as far away as the Czech Republic, England and Scotland, according to volunteers with Center Stage, the festival's nonprofit organizer.

But in 2006, Beantown, which has a population of more than 600,000, took on Keene and won, with 30,128 gourds.

"I really felt that we still have the record," said Bob Parent of Keene, who, along with his wife, Pat, has attended every festival since its inception, when it was called the Harvest Festival. "Boston just has so many people. It's pretty impressive what we're able to do here."

read more at official site link below

1991 First "Harvest Festival" 600
1992 1st World Record! 1,628
1993 2nd World Record! 4,817
1994 3rd World Record 10,540
1995 Rainy Pumpkin Festival 9,812
1996 4th World Record 13,044
1997 5th World Record 13,432
1998 6th World Record 17,693
1999 Pumpkin Festival 16,349
2000 7th World Record 23,727
2001 Pumpkin Festival 22,633
2002 Rainy Pumpkin Festival 18,882
2003 8th World Record 28,952
2004 Pumpkin Festival 27,584
2005 "Year of the Flood" Pumpkin Festival 22,157
2006 Pumpkin Festival 24,682
2007 Pumpkin Festival 25,644
2008 Pumpkin Festival 22,568
2009 Pumpkin Festival 29,068
2010 Pumpkin Festival 22,943


Keene holds the festival rain or shine, and even during the flood of 2005. They had their last world record recorded in 2003, it was their 8th World Record at 28,952.
Revenues from the festival goes toward the town; the repairs it needs and help for the people who need it.
It is amazing to see so many beautifully lit pumpkins and all the wonderful art and ideas! visit official site Keene Pumpkin Fest

Image by castleroy

Renaissance faires are a re-creation of a 16th century English marketplace at festival time. Actors, dancers, puppeteers, jugglers, minstrels, mimes, magicians and musicians perform each weekend for the favor of visitors to the fair. Even beggars and guards roam the streets. There is jousting knights on horseback, games, rides that are run by hand (no machines) created for the 16th century time period.

Last year when we went to King Richard's Renaissance Faire in Carver, MA. We arrived late in the day and were greeted by a neighboring "Queen" demanding to know why we where so late. The costumes and the surroundings make you feel you have gone back in time. Many of the people who go now wear costumes as well, and you can buy and rent costumes there if you would like to dress for the times. The next thing I saw was a woman selling beautiful flowered wreaths and then a man making the most wonderful candles shaped like dragons, wizards, fairies, and gnomes; and a puppet show for kids to watch. To eat you pay for tickets, but all the entertainment and shows are free. Well, I mean you pay to get in of course, but then all the shows are free. Just a lot of fun, a place full of magic, I love the faire.

Next is the The Connecticut Renaissance Faire. It is a bit cheaper in price because it isn't as well known, but just as packed full of the same entertainment, costumes, and fun. Youtube clips of both are below. Along with some photos I took at King Richard's Faire.

Visit the sites

King Richards Renaissance Faire

Connecticut Renaissance Faire

I live in RI now, and one of the most spectacular things I first saw was Waterfire. Boats go down the Providence River to Waterplace Park in downtown Providence making sure the mini bonfires that line the center of the river are kept feed a steady stream of wood. Waterfire is the art installation created by Barnaby Evans in Providence, RI. It started in Waterplace Park in 1994 and grows bigger every year. There is also the romantic feel of Venice's canals with a gondola that offers rides up and down the river for lovers or all ages. A wonderful, beautiful experience, Waterfire is ending for this season on October 10th. Don't miss it! I particularly love it when it is cooler with the fall moon above. I have added my own video of Waterfire below. I hope you will enjoy.

Visit the official site
WaterFire

here are a few new england festivals I found if you know of any others or have a lens about one please let me know below thanks!

Flaming Leaves Festival

Lake Placid, NY
This annual two-day event has something for everyone in the family - from watching the best ski jumpers in North America compete, live blues bands, tempting barbecue and great brews, inflatables, games, craft vendors and more - all with unparalleled views of the Adirondacks and the peak fall foliage. Take a chair lift or elevator to the top of the famed 120 meter ski jump for some of the best views in the Adirondacks during the peak fall foliage. Join us this weekend for one of the most exciting events of the Fall season!

VT, Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival

Apple Festival Glastonbury

Wachusett apple festival

Fort Adams Fortress of Nightmares

Newport boat show

topfeilds fair

Scottish Festival Goshen Conn

Durham Fair - Durham, CT

Shrewsbury Mass
Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festivaln

Cape Cod Cranberry Growers
cranberry fest

Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival

appleumpkin fest

http://cosmicsociety.com/tours.html

HAUNTED CONNECTICUT TOURS
NEW for 2009!

Reservations are already beginning for the 2009 Halloween Season.
Space is limited, so reserve your tour now!

Remember, if you have a group we can schedule your custom tour at any time of the year and learn how to receive a free tour. You can also turn your day or evening tour into an overnight with Haunted INN CT tours!

Another in Conn
http://www.invisiblepast.com/
Invisible P.A.S.T. wants to take you with us ~ On real ghost hunts!

Not that we're bragging but...

Invisible P.A.S.T. is the only ghost hunting tour group in Connecticut that schedules events year round. We have put in place many different Spirit experiences for all the right frights.

Mass / Boston Ghosts and Gravestoness

Old Town Trolley Tours invites you to explore our premier "frightseeing" tour, Ghosts & Gravestones Night Tour. Prepare yourself for an evening of fun, scares, and ghost stories as you are guided through some of America's most haunted cities: Boston, Savannah and St. Augustine. Hear local tales of

Haunted Gettysburg Tour
Have you ever had a strange 'feeling' on the Gettysburg battlefield? Perhaps you thought you saw someone or something that vanished inexplicably before your eyes, or maybe you heard voices and sounds where, plainly, no one was visible. Why do so many people report strange occurrences on the battlefield of Gettysburg? It seems the town has far more than its share of supernatural incidents, almost all in some way connected to the battle. Those affected can be men, women or children, just about anybody who ventures onto the hallowed grounds. Some of these soldiers ended their natural lives suddenly, others lingered painfully until gasping their last breath.
Or try
http://www.ghostsofgettysburg.com/

Ghosts of NY

And In VT
Queencity Ghostwalk

Mollie Stewart, the owner of Spellbound Tours in Salem, Massachusetts, is a licensed Ghost Hunter with the International Ghost Hunters Society and a certified Parapsychologist. She has been conducting ghost tours since 1996, beginning in the most haunted city in America, New Orleans. She is the head of Paranormal Investigators of New England, a private company specializing in paranormal research and investigations. Ms. Stewart has been featured on Good Morning America, Showtime, the Travel Channel and has another upcoming segment on the Travel Channel this Fall, called "Haunted Salem".

The Boston Spirits Walking Tour
Dare to look for these and other Boston Spirits on this 90 minute tour.
We meet at Boston Common Visitor Information Center,
148 Tremont Street, on selected evenings at 8:00 p.m.
This unique tour takes you to downtown Boston's most infamous haunted locations.

From the site
New England Curiosities
York Village Shadows of the Past - 7/30/09 - Thursday - 8:00 pm.

Historic Portsmouth Legends and Ghosts - Friday 7/31/2009 - 6:00 pm.

York Village Shadows of the Past - 8/1/2009 - Saturday - 8:00 pm.

Haunted Pubs of Portsmouth - 8/4/2009 - Tuesday - 6:00 pm

Lantern Walks at the Rosewood - 8/5/2009 - Wednesday 7:00 pm

Shadows & Stones Cemetery Tour - Friday 8/7/09 - 9:00 pm

New Tours and Events Announced for the Lake Sunapee Region! Visit our Special Tours Page!

Nightmare New England spooky world
Welcome to Nightmare New England, your number one destination for thrills and chills this October!
Nightmare New England is a massive 20-acre Halloween Scream Park located at Funway Park in Litchfield, NH. The scale and variety of the Park offers something for even the boldest of Halloween fanatics. We feature FOUR TERRIFYING Haunted Attractions at one location and a "Monster Midway" where you will be greeted by dozens of freakish characters that freely roam the grounds of the Scream Park. The Monster Midway will also feature concessions, gifts, photo opportunities, go-karts (voted #1 in NH!), batting cages, two themed 18-hole mini-golf courses and more!

Over 27,000 Sq. ft of terror await you at New England's largest Halloween Scream Park!

Check out our Attractions page for more information about "Buried Alive", "Raven's Claw Cemetery", "The 3-D Freak Show" and "Sleep Stalkers"!

Nightmare New England
"New England's Halloween Scream Park!"
http://www.NightmareNewEngland.com
454 Charles Bancroft Highway
Litchfield, N.H. 03052

Morbid Mountain
a Scream Fest and haunted HeyRide