Brattleboro Clayworks hosts 'Fungi Fest'
BRATTLEBORO - The abundance of fungi this year has inspired the artisans at Brattleboro Clayworks at 532 Putney Rd. They say that, with rain and humidity, “mushrooms keep popping up, and new ideas for pottery are bouncing around in our heads and into our hands.”
So inspired, they are holding a “Fungi Fest,” which begins Friday, Oct. 8 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 30.
The Clayworks folks say they have something to please everyone, from mushroom-adorned plates, mugs, and bowls to little mushroom houses for the garden and all sorts of artistic versions of favorite fungi in between.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and by chance or appointment.
Family Fall Festival planned in BF
BELLOWS FALLS - Families are invited to get outside and enjoy the fall season on Saturday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Family Fall Festival presented by Windham Northeast Supervisory Union's Early Education Center and several community organizations.
The festival will be held, rain or shine, at the Waypoint Center, at 17 Depot St. near the train station. Both admission and parking are free for everyone. The event will be taking place outdoors; masks are requested.
Crafts, games, giveaways, and lots of hands-on activities for children and their families will be featured throughout the festival. Snacks, hot dogs, and s'mores will be available.
Families can enter the Fall Festival Raffle to win prizes and gift certificates from local businesses and organizations. Entries are free, and the drawing will be held at 1 p.m.; you must be present to win.
Kids can Touch-A-Truck with the Bellows Falls Fire Department and Golden Cross Ambulance, and they can also get a close-up and hands-on look at a fire truck and ambulance during the festival.
And, at 11 a.m., master storyteller, author, and musician Michael Caduto will take the stage. Using a wide range of voices and expressions, Caduto creates a host of humorous and dramatic animals and human characters during his interactive performance. He will be sharing stories for all ages from traditional cultures found throughout the world.
For more information, call 802-289-0091 or email Jennifer.heidbrink@wnesu.com.
Pie Fest again is drive-by sale
DUMMERSTON - In light of the ongoing Covid crisis, the Dummerston Congregational Church will once again be holding its Apple Pie Drive-By Sale instead of its traditional Apple Pie Festival.
This year, the church has expanded its sale of homemade apple pies to two days, Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the church at 1535 Middle Rd.
The pies are priced at $20 per pie.
If these hours are inconvenient, call the church office at 802-257-0544 to make other arrangements.
Blues Traveler to headline Stratton HarvestFest Weekend
STRATTON - Enjoy live music, scenic lift rides, peak foliage, and food, along with the season finale of mountain biking and scenic lift rides, at Stratton Mountain Resort's annual HarvestFest.
HarvestFest Weekend begins Saturday, Oct. 9, with the annual Brewfest from noon to 6 p.m., with samples from more than 15 brewers. For those 21 and older, $50 covers admission, 10 beer sampling tickets, and a tasting glass. General admission begins at $25 for children 6 and older.
Saturday admission also includes live music. Music starts at noon with Eastbound Jesus on stage, followed by Saint & Liars from 2 to 4 p.m., and Ghost of Paul Revere playing from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Kids (ages 4 to 12) can participate in one of two sessions, morning or afternoon. Ride the gondola up to the summit, and let the kids hike to the historic fire tower for scenic fall views. Kids can also participate in activities, including a rock climbing wall, trampoline bungee jump, face painting, and pumpkin painting.
Headlining on Sunday evening, and capping off 2021's Stratton Mountain Music series, will be Blues Traveler, a New Jersey–based band that has been performing blues-rock on stage since 1987.
Stratton Mountain is the only New England stop of the band's tour following the release of its 14th album, Traveler's Blues, in July. General admission for the show is $40 when bought in advance online. Doors for the event open at 5 p.m., with the opening act set to hit the stage at 5:30 p.m.
HarvestFest weekend concludes on Monday, with a bonus day of lift operations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain biking will operate for the last day of the 2021 season.
To purchase tickets and for more information, visit stratton.com.
Brattleboro Lit Fest goes virtual again this year
BRATTLEBORO - Due to COVID-19 concerns, the 20th annual Brattleboro Literary Festival will be held online from Thursday, Oct. 14 to Sunday, Oct. 17.
The festival features readings, panels, and special events.
Participants include poets Joshua Brandon Bennett, Dan Chiasson, Chard deNiord, Peter Filkins, Alexandria Hall, Edward Hirsch, Jane Hirshfield, Tim Mayo, Jennifer Militello, Deborah Paredez, Elizabeth A. I. Powell, Vijay Seshadri, and Mark Wunderlich.
Fiction writers participating include Mateo Askaripour, Russell Banks, Kia Corthron, Jakob Guanzon, Lily King, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Imbolo Mbue, Eric Nguyen, Anna North, Lauren Oyler, Francine Prose, Kirsten Valdez Quade, Sanjena Sathian, Jim Shepard, and Scott Spencer.
Also on the bill: nonfiction writers Jonathan Alter, Judy Batalion, Jo Ann Beard, Megan Mayhew Bergman, Bryan Burrough, Heather Clark, Carol Diehl, Maggie Doherty, Thomas Dyja, W. Ralph Eubanks, Jude Joffe-Block, Arthur Magida, Joseph Mazur, Bernice L. McFadden, Louis Menand, Robert Watson, Dorothy Wickenden, Jia Lynn Yang, and Carl Zimmer.
All events are free. Visit brattleborolitfest.org for a schedule, more information, and to register for the online sessions.