Haunted happenings

Witch's Woods at Nashoba Valley, Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 2 through Nov. 1, Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Powers Road, Westford. $25 for adults and $23 for children under 12. $15 for groups of 15 or more on Thursday, $20 on Friday through Sunday. Destination for fright fans of all ages. Features include 3D Keepers Crypt, Nightmare Mansion, Horrorwood Chamber of Chills and a Haunted Hayride. www.witchswoods.com.

Pumpkins in the Park, every Friday and Saturday, between October 3-25, Slater Memorial Park, located off Armistice Boulevard, Pawtucket, R.I. Seasonal display of the popular orange gourds, along with a tunnel maze and other fun activities. For more information call 401-728-0500 x 251, or www.pawtucketri.com

Orpheum Theatre's Haunted House, Fridays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24; Saturdays, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Sundays, Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, 1 School St., Foxboro Common. Friday and Saturday tours from 7-10:30 p.m., Sunday tours 7-10 p.m. General admission $10. Not recommended for children younger than 10. 508-543-2787 ext. 4.

Cumberland Annual Halloween Scare Haunted Hill, Oct. 3-4, 10-12, 17-18, 24-26 and 30, Park opens at 7 p.m. and parking ends at 10 p.m., Diamond Hill Park, Cumberland, R.I. A long spooky trail that features sixteen different acts that include killer clowns, Jason, Freddy, Mike Myers and more. Not recommended for children under the age of 11. $12. 401-334-9996. Special events

Chili Cook-Off and Concert to benefit Markman Children's Programs at the Attleboro Elks, South Main Street, Sept. 27, noon to 5 p.m.

Cirque du Soleil's Kooza, through Oct. 12, Tues.-Wed. at 8 p.m., Thurs. and Sat. at 4 and 8 p.m., Sun. at 1 and 5 p.m., Bayside Expo Center, 200 Mount Vernon St., Boston. 800-678-5440 or www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Working Waterfront Festival, Sept. 27 and 28, New Bedford. Annual celebration of commercial fishing culture will feature cooking demonstrations by Smith Island crab picker Janice Marshall, expert baker of the renowned Smith Island Cake. Free. www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org.

Factory of Terror, Sept. 26-27 from 8 to 11 p.m., Oct. 3-5, 10-13, 16-19, 22-26, 28-31 from 6:30 to 10 p.m., The Factory of Terror, corner of Pearl and Spring Streets, Fall River. factoryofterror.com.

College Night at the MFA, Sept. 25, 6 p.m.-midnight, Museum of Fine Arts, 100 Huntington Ave., Boston. Featuring two music acts and a DJ dance party, a coffee house, a screening of the film "Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation" and a scavenger hunt. Free for college students. 617-267-9300 or mfa.org.

Old Colony Model Railroad Club Show and Sale, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Taunton Holiday Inn, Myles Standish Blvd., Myles Standish Industrial Park, Taunton. 508-285-3963 or dingalls@comcast.net.

Astronomy Day, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., UMass Dartmouth Observatory, in field to right of main entrance to UMass Dartmouth off Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth. Free, donations appreciated. Children welcome if accompanied by an adult. Eevent will take place only if weather permits (clear skies). Check on status at www.assne.org or call 508-999-8715.

Halloween happenings

Capron Park Zoo's "Zoo Boo Spooktacular," Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, 6-9 p.m. Games and prizes, moonwalks, jack-o-lanterns, face painting and Halloween storytelling. Tickets $5 adults, $3 kids. Available in advance, 774-203-1840. Children's/family

Borders Storytime, every Fri., 10 a.m., Borders Books and Music, 1212 South Washington St., North Attleboro. Children have a story read to them and some days there are crafts. 508-699-7766 or www.borderstores.com.

Saturday Kids' Craft Workshops, every Sat., 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., The Fuller Craft Museum, 455 Oak St., Brockton. Parents may explore the museum while their children make art. $8/each child, $15/2 children. 508-588-6000 or www.fullercraft.org.

The Children's Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Avenue, North Easton. 508-230-3789 or www.childrensmuseumineaston.org. Museum is located in the Old Fire Station in North Easton Village. Admission is $6 per person; members and children under 1 are free. TRUCKS ON TUESDAY, 10:30 to 11 a.m., weather permitting.

Providence Children's Museum, 100 South Street, Providence, 401-273-KIDS or www.childrenmuseum.org; Tues.-Sun. and Mon. school holidays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., selected Fridays until 8 p.m. Metlife Family Friday, free every Fri., 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Brooks Pharmacy Free Sundays, First Sun. of every month is free.

The Zoomzone, The Providence Children's Museum, 100 South St., Providence, 401-273-KIDS or www.childrenmuseum.org; Kids build different things to demonstrate a principal of science, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., $6.50/general, Free/members.

5w!ts, opens 10 a.m. everyday, 186 Brookline Ave., Boston. An interactive Egyptian adventure with 45-minute tours. Weekday prices: $16/adults, $14/children 12 and under; Weekend prices: $20/adults. $16/children 12 and under. 617-375-WITS or www.5-wits.com.

Buttonwood Park Zoo, 425 Hawthorn St., New Bedford. $6/adults, $4.50/seniors and teens, $3/children 3-12. 508-991-6178 or www.bpzoo.org. Toe Jam Puppet Band every Mon. 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., $5 above zoo admission;

Capron Park Zoo, 201 County St., Attleboro, 508-222-6202, www.capronparkzoo.com. April to October, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (final ticket, 4 p.m.), Attleboro residents $2.75/adult, $2.75/child (age 3-12), $2.75/senior; ron-residents, $5.50/adult, $3.75/child (age 3-12), $3.75/senior; under 3 free.

Davis Animal Farm, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. $14.95, children under 2 are free. 978-422-MOOO or www.davisfarmland.com. HARVEST FEST, Sept. 27-28; TIME CHANGE Oct. 1-Oct. 12, Thurs.-Sun. only, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; WORLD ANIMAL DAY, Oct. 4; WORLD TEACHER'S DAY, Oct. 5; KINDERMUSIK, Oct. 11-12; CHRISTMAS AT FARMLAND, Oct. 18-19; TIME CHANGE, Oct. 18-Oct. 26, Sat.-Sun. only, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Tues. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun., 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. $10/adults, $8/kids 3 to 18, students, seniors, Free/children under 3. 508-929-2700 or www.ecotarium.org.

Franklin Park Zoo, weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. Special zoo locations are the Tropical Forest, Kalahari Kingdom and the Tiger Tales exhibit. All seen daily. 617-541-LION or www.zoonewengland.com. $11/adults, $9.50/seniors, $6/children 2-12; Children under 2, free.

Roger Williams Park Zoo, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. Featuring zoo animals, special exhibits, and presentations. $12/adults, $8/seniors, $6/children 3-12, Free/children under 3, members. 401-785-3510 or www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org. Toddler Time every Fri. through Feb., 10 a.m. to noon.

Winslow Farms Animal Sanctuary, 37 Eddy St., Norton. 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed Tuesdays. Petting farm for abused and abandoned animals. 508-285-6451 or www.winslowfarm.com.

Enrichment classes, through Oct. 9, Second Stage Studio, 1 Angell Rd., Cumberland, R.I. EARTH SOUNDS, Nov. 4 through Jan. 28, 2009; Tues. from 4-6 p.m., $35/week; THE SECRET WORLD OF FAIRIES, Feb. 3 through April 14; Tues. from 4-6 p.m., $35/week. 401-334-4800 or www.secondstagestudio.com.

Pumpkin Palooza, through Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Frerichs Farm, 43 Kinnicutt Ave., Warren, R.I. Magical pumpkin coach, Western town where kids can pan for gold, a tee-pee, corn maze and a pick your own pumpkin patch. 401-245-8245 or frerichsfarm.com.

Keith Munslow, Sept. 27, 1 p.m., Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad St., Cumberland, R.I. Ideal for families with children 6 to 13. The show includes 45-minutes of original songs, stories, poems and quick cartoons. $5 for children $7 for adults. 401-725-9272 or riverfolk.org.

Curious George, Sept. 27-28, 10 a.m.-5p.m., Edaville USA, 5 Pine Street, Carver. $18 for anyone ages 2 and over. Children under the age of 2 are free. The admission ticket includes unlimited access to all rides and attractions. Parking is free. Group rates are available for groups of 15 or more people. www.edaville.com or 877-edaville.

Kids Fishing Derby, Sept. 28, 8-11 a.m., Lower Leach Pond, Borderland State Park, Massapoag Ave., Sharon/North Easton. Sponsored by Friends of Borderland and MassWildlife. Prizes will be awarded for biggest fish, smallest fish, first fish. Refreshments and goodie bags for all. 508-238-6566.

Dan Zane, Oct. 11, 2 p.m., Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. The celebrated children's musician is playing in Providence again. $15, $23, $30. 401-421-arts or ppacri.org.

Craft fairs/festivals

St. Theresa's Women's Guild Craft Fair, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Theresa's Church Hall, 18 Baltic St., Attleboro. Bake table, penny social and refreshments along with the crafters and vendors selling their wares. 508-761-7441 or bettyenright@comcast.net or 508-761-5646 or acaouette@comcast.net.

Working Waterfront Festival, Sept. 27, 28, New Bedford. Live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen's contests, seafood, vessel tours, readings, cooking demonstrations, kids activities and more. workingwaterfrontfestival.org.

FirstWorks Providence Festival, Oct. 2 through Nov. 9, Providence. A number of events will be hosted through the city: dance ensembles, vocal pyrotechnics, object theatre, family activities, digital arts, hip hop theatre and special projects from Rhode Island artists. 401-421-4278 or first-works.org.

18th Annual Dighton Council Oak Traditional Native American Pow-Wow, Oct. 4 and 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Behind Dighton, Town Hall, 979 Somerset Ave., Dighton. Free. No alcohol, drugs or politics around the pow-wow grounds. 508-880-6887.

Fall Gardeing Festival, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tranquil Lake Nursery, 45 River St., Rehoboth. Free. 508-252-4002 or tranquil-lake.com.

Lakeville Arts and Music Festival, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Rte. 18 and 105, Lakeville. Artisans and craftsmen will have work available for sale. lakevillefestival@hotmail.com.

Autum Arts Festival, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Veteran's Park, downtown North Attleboro. Rain or shine. naarts@comcast.net.

Lectures

Lincoln's Love of Shakespeare, Oct. 4, 4 p.m., The Huntington, Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston. Free and open to the public. Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Nelson and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will discuss President Abraham Lincoln's love of the works of William Shakespeare. 617-266-0800 or huntingtontheatre.org.

Edward Lodi, author of Ghosts from King Philip's War, will talk about haunted sites and the stories behind them. Oct. 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Swansea Public Library, 69 Main St. 508-674-9609.

Outdoor/gardens

Borderland State Park, 259 Massapoag Ave., Easton/Sharon line. 508-238-6566 or www.mass.gov/dcr/events.htm.

Ghosts and Gravestones Tour, through October, 6, 7, 8, 9 p.m., Old Town Trolley Ticket Center, Atlantic Ave., Boston. $23/children, $36/adults. 617-269-3626.

Poetry

Tess Taylor, author of The Misremembered World, a collection of poems, will do reading at 5 p.m. Sept. 30, May Room, Mary Lyon Hall, Wheaton College, Norton. www.wheatoncollege.edu/arts.

Arts & crafts

Rag and Bone Bindery Studio Open House, 1088 Main St., Pawtucket. 401-728-0762 or ragandbone.com.

Celtic Relief Stonecarving, Oct. 4-5, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad St., Cumberland, R.I. Class is for ages 16 and up. $25 and a seperate $25 charge for materials. 401-725-9272 or riverfolk.org.

Rhode Island Watercolor Society classes, J.C. Potter Casino, Slater Park, Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket. BEGINNING WATERCOLOR, begins Sept. 30, Tuesdays from 1:30-4 p.m.; INTERMEDIATE WATERCOLOR, begins Sept. 30, Tuesdays 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; BEGINNING WATERCOLOR, begins Oct. 16, Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m. 401-726-1876 or riws.org.

Community Quilting, every Thurs., 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck St., Lowell. 978-452-4207 x19.

Fiber Art Basketry, Tues. and Thurs. 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. $100/4 to 5 week session or 2 baskets. 508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.

Teen and Adult Drawing Classes, Tues. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. $50/includes some materials. 508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.

Children's Drawing Classes, Sat. 10-noon, Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. For ages 7- 12.508-678-0039 or www.ncfta.org.