There will be pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere at The Trustees of Reservations’ signature fall events, Halloween on the Hill at Long Hill in Beverly and The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show in Stockbridge. Both events open in late September.
Long Hill’s Halloween on the Hill opens on Sept. 29 and runs through Oct. 29 and features more than 1,000 pumpkins, mums, light displays, themed decorated areas in the woodlands, and other new spooky displays, including the Hall of Faces and a pirate ship. Oct. 6 is Member Day at Long Hill and Trustees members will enjoy discounts on concessions that day.
The Long Hill event requires advance purchased time-entry tickets. Admission is Wednesdays through Sundays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. A sensory-friendly hour is available from 4-5 p.m. on Fridays.
The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show opens Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 29. It will feature more than 1,500 jack-o-lanterns, hundreds of mums, pumpkins and countless gourds, most of which were grown at Naumkeag. Hot cider and treats will be available to purchase on site. Timed entry tickets are required for this event and must be purchased in advance. Admission is available Wednesdays through Sundays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. There is also an early hour option from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 will be Member Night, with Trustees members enjoying special discounts on concessions.
Tickets for both pumpkin shows went on sale to Trustees members on Sept. 7 and opened to the public on Sept. 11. Details about both shows can be found at www.thetrustees.org/program/halloween.
Other Halloween-themed events at The Trustees include:
Ghoulish Gardens at the Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover – Starting Oct. 1, come stroll through the meadow to read the Story Walk by the Stevens Memorial Library and find the pumpkins hidden throughout the rest of the property. Ghoulish Gardens will be available on various dates throughout October. Check out the events listing on the Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens webpage for more details.
Boo in the Barnyard at Weir River Farm in Hingham – Join us on Saturdays starting Oct. 14 for this program that includes meeting some of the barnyard animals, a festive scavenger hunt, craft making, and a sweet treat. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes. An autumn-themed StoryWalk also is part of the fun. This program is offered multiple times throughout the day, and a Sensory-Friendly Boo in the Barnyard will be offered at 10 a.m.
Kiddos in the Kitchen: Pumpkinpalooza at Powisset Farm in Dover – In this children’s cooking class offered Oct. 18, children will learn to bake Halloween treats using the flavor of the season – pumpkin. This is a drop-off class for children ages 7-12 and class size is limited to 12 children.
Appleton Culinary Workshop: Baking School – Spooky Pies Join baker Kami at Appleton Farms in Hamilton and Ipswich from 6-8 pm. Thursday, Oct. 19, to learn how to bake a festive Halloween pie. Participants will receive pie dough and their own Halloween-themed desserts to take home.
Ghostly Gardens Scavenger Hunt at Berkeley Community Garden in Boston – Stop by the Berkeley Community Garden, 500 Tremont St., on Oct. 21 from 4-8 p.m. for an outdoor Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. Costumed characters will hand out treats. Local hot apple cider, cider donuts and popcorn will be available to purchase. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes and bring a trick-or-treat bag. Ticket proceeds will help support future free programming at Boston Community Gardens.
Hunt for Halloween Mushrooms Guided Hike at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough – Come learn about Witches’ butter, Jack o’ Lantern mushrooms, Dead man’s fingers, and varieties of bleeding fungi. As day turns to dusk, you’ll also get to experience how certain mushrooms are bioluminescent and glow in the dark. Trustees guide Amanda Dye, an amateur mycologist, will lead this family-friendly hike on Oct. 21.
Spirits of the Old Manse in Concord – Explore the Old Manse by candlelight at this after-hours event on Oct. 27 and 28. You can also join in a special spooky guided tour of the attic. Visitors can enjoy s’mores by the firepit as well.
Full Moon Meditation at Leland Co-operative Garden in Jamaica Plain – Join Faith Johnson, a contemplative arts facilitator and herbalist, at the Leland Community Garden, 2-6 Leland St. in Jamaica Plain on Oct. 28 to celebrate the full Hunter’s Moon. Johnson will lead a guided meditation, followed by journaling, a group reflection, and the sharing of the medicinal and energetic properties of the plant butterfly pea.
Trick or Treat Trail at Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover – On Oct. 28 and 29, bring the children in costume to collect some special treats along a Trick or Treat Trail with multiple stops around the property. Make sure to check out the StoryWalk, too.
Theater in the Open: Appleton is Haunted! at Appleton Farms in Hamilton and Ipswich – Join Theater in the Open as they transform Appleton Farms into a spooky venue at this family-friendly event on Oct. 29. Walk along the farms’ trails to see Halloween-themed songs, stories, skits and more. Make a day of it by enjoying a Farmhouse wood-fired pizza available 12-5 p.m., along with local craft beers for sale.
Halloween in the Morning Mists at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln – At this Oct. 29 morning event for toddlers and pre-K children and their grownups, children will be encouraged to explore their artistic side by creating a creepy-crawly creature and exploring some gently-ghoulish activities. Costume wearing is encouraged and all ages are welcome.
Happy Goat-a-Ween at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough – Bring children up to 8 years old for this special child-friendly program featuring the goats, sheep and rabbits of Chestnut Hill Farm. Children will make a Halloween craft, be able to take a selfie with the pumpkin scarecrow, enjoy free apple cider, partake in a scavenger hunt, and receive some Halloween treats. Costume wearing is encouraged.
Full Moon Tour at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln – Join us for a tour of the Sculpture Park under the full moonlight on Oct. 29. Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy walking shoes for this guided walk.
Interested individuals should check The Trustees’ website at thetrustees.org/halloween to confirm event details and status.