When the air turns crisp, leaves blow across the road and the shirts are made of snuggly flannel, it’s officially fall in New England, which means spending as much time outdoors as possible before winter sets in.
Fall is a time for festivals and apple picking , scary hayrides and hard cider tasting . If you’re planning your calendar, here’s the ultimate Fall Bucket List for 2024, with a fun activity each weekend that’s sure to generate laughter, maybe a few goosebumps and some memorable selfies.
Before the weather gets too chilly and the lines too long, head to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo. From 6 to 10:30 p.m. through Nov. 2, you can walk the pumpkin trail and check out the spooky, comical and artistic carved pumpkins displayed from the ground up into the tree branches. This year, you’ll also embark on a trivia journey, testing your knowledge of sports, history and pop culture along the way. For more information and tickets – which range from $16 to $22, depending on the night and must be purchased online – go to rwpzoo.org .
Grab some fall décor – or jump-start your holiday shopping – at the Scituate Art Festival , which runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. More than 200 juried artists and crafters, plus antiques dealers, set up on the village green in North Scituate. While seasonal tunes play, browse the booths and grab lunch at the expansive food court. On your way to or from the festival, be sure to drive some of the area’s prettiest country roads for leaf peeping. Find more details on the event – which is free – at scituateartfestival.org or on the Scituate Art Festival Facebook page .
And since it's a long weekend due to the Columbus Day holiday, here's a bonus activity: Don’t miss the Vampire Circus , a zany blend of cirque, theater and cabaret with harrowing acrobatics and raucous comedy, on Friday and Saturday. The show transports audiences to an abandoned 19th-century cemetery where vampires, ghosts and corpses rise for a final show in the moonlight. The all-ages show is at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket ( stadiumtheatre.com ), with tickets ranging from $35-50.
Take a Saturday afternoon cruise down the Blackstone River and explore the haunts of pirates and smugglers with Pirate Falls by Blackstone River Expeditions . The hour-long ride, which sets off from Central Falls – is good for all ages. Don your best pirate attire to listen as captains spin epic pirate tales, lead sea shanties and orchestrate fun activities, including a dance party, as they search for treasure. Go to rivertourblackstone.com/site/pirates for details and reservations, through Oct. 26. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for children ages 2 through 12.
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It’s close to Halloween, so maybe you’re in the mood for spirits. Try the Downtown Westerly Ghost Tour by Seaside Shadows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The guided walking tour, which runs from 7 to 8:45 p.m., winds through the streets and parks of this seaside community. You’ll shiver when hearing of the Devil’s visit to town, the tale of two souls trapped in one body, and a spectral light caused by a terrible shipwreck. (The tour is recommended for ages 11 and up.) Tickets are $30 to $35. For more information, go to seasideshadows.com .
Halloween might be over, but there’s still time to break out your Batman or Hulk costume for Rhode Island Comic Con at the Rhode Island Convention Center and Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A wide range of celebs, from Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and other cast members of "Back to the Future," to Michael Mando of "Orphan Black" and “Better Call Saul,” to professional wrestler Britt Baker will be on hand for photos and autographs at the show, which also features an array of vendors and meet-up opportunities. For tickets and more information, go to ricomiccon.com .
Take it slow this weekend with a trip to Sowams Cider Works at 98 Child St. in Warren. Bring your own snacks and create a flight with enticing flavors like Goldrush and Rhode Island Greening or enjoy a full pour. The owners grow their own apples, including many unique varieties, and press ciders that contain no added sulfites or sugars. They’re open 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Go to sowamsciderworks.com for more information.
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Bundle up and grab a flashlight for Owls and Ales , sponsored by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island at its Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter on Nov. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This adults-only event will feature a presentation on these birds of prey with a live owl, then a guided walk through the refuge to look and listen for other owls and animal life. This is all while you enjoy locally made brews. The cost is $30 for Audubon members, $35 for non-members. Go to tinyurl.com/3bhzbufw for more information.
Be among the first to experience “A Christmas Carol,” the Trinity Repertory Company holiday tradition, which is being staged at the Providence Performing Arts Center this year. The relocation, necessitated by an expansion project at Trinity's Washington Street theater, will give a whole new feel to the Dickens classic about a grouchy miser whose outlook is forever changed after three spirits visit him on Christmas Eve. The show opens this weekend and is good for all ages. For tickets, go to trinityrep.com .
Usher in the holiday season by catching the Newport Illuminated Boat Parade on Friday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. Dozens of brightly lit and decorated vessels of all sizes will move through Newport Harbor, and you can enjoy the scenery from many points along the waterfront. Pull up chairs and blankets to watch in comfort from the park on Wellington Avenue, or head out to the wharfs after dinner downtown. For more information, go to discovernewport.com .
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Looking for fall fun in RI? Here's your 2024 bucket list: Pumpkins, pirates, ghosts and more
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