Brattleboro
• Artsy-Craft Fair: Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Bric-a-Brattleboro Artsy-Craft Fair is an artsy-craft event held all day in River Garden at 153 Main St. There are over 20 local artists and crafters with their beautiful wears and there is live music throughout the day. Adults: $3, Kids: Free.
• Wolf Kahn lecture: Saturday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents a lecture from esteemed painter Wolf Kahn at the museum on 10 Vernon St. “Can Artists be Taught?” is the theme and Kahn will share his thoughts on the importance of innate ability and the extent to which artists can be taught. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 seniors, students, and BMAC members. Information: 802-257-0124, ext. 101.
• Foliage bike tour: Saturday, Oct 9, all day. The Brattleboro section of the Green Mountain Club and the Windham County Bike Tour are sponsoring a foliage bike tour in Windham County. Easy trip from Townshend to Grafton and back, with lunch. Free. Information, Joe Cook, 802-257-0609.
• Dave Liebman Quartet: Saturday, Oct 9, 8 p.m. The Vermont Jazz Center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill, presents the Dave Liebman Quartet. Liebman is an honored recipient of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award. Critic Leonard Feather writes that Liebman is “among the most important saxophonists in contemporary music.” Liebman was a member of Miles Davis' electric ensemble and toured and recorded with Coltrane's drummer, Elvin Jones, for 11 years. He will be performing with guitarist Vic Juris, bassist Tony Marino and drummer Marko Marcinko. Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for students. Reservations: 802-254-9088.
Dummerston
• Apple Pie Festival: Sunday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. until sold out. The Dummerston Apple Pie Festival is held on the common in Dummerston Center. This harvest festival kicks off with a Fireman's Pancake Breakfast from 7-11:30 a.m. A craft fair is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The pies go on sale at 10 a.m., but don't wait too long, they are usually all gone by early afternoon. The event is held rain or shine, indoors or under a tent. Information: 802-254-9158
Grafton
• Fall foliage festival: Saturday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 10. The annual Grafton Firefighters Fall Foliage Festival will be Columbus Day weekend at the firehouse on Route 121 just east of Grafton Village. Featured will be a huge tag sale that will offer toys, linens, books, housewares, small appliances, furniture, jewelry, hardware and most everything else. Food will be available in great variety as well. Hot coffee, pastry, fresh cider, hand-cut fries, hot apple fritters, hot dogs, hamburgers, and baked goods will all be served by the Grafton School PTG. The sale begins at 9 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. on Oct. 9 and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 10, when everything at the tag sale will be half-price.
• Bike and hike tours: Friday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 10. Bike tours at Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center. The two-hour tours are tailored based on the group's ability. Bike tours can be road or trail rides. and start at 10 a.m. Hiking tours start at 2 pm. All tours meet at Grafton Ponds' lodge. Admission, $10 per person. Reservations appreciated. Information: 802-843-2400.
Guilford
• Apple Brunch: Sunday, Oct. 10, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Broad Brook Grange's all-you-can-eat Apple Brunch at the Grange Hall in Guilford Center. Featuring eggs made to order, pancakes, sausage, French toast, bacon, home fries, maple syrup and, of course, apple muffins, apple coffee cake, apple pie and fruit salad loaded with apples.
• Corn maze: Weekends, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Gaines Farm Corn Maze on 6343 Coolidge Highway (Route 5). The 5½-acre corn maze on a 200-year-old working farm, with hayride wagons, pumpkin bowling, a corn cannon, hay jump, baby animal barn, a cow train and more. Refreshments available. Information: 802-257-0409 or www.gainesfarm.com.
Jacksonville
• Annual grape stomp: Saturday, Oct. 9, noon–4 p.m.: Come on down and jump in a barrel full of grapes and give them your best stomp! Dancing, food, wine and hot apple cider. Many other activities include pumpkin decorating station, and a haypile jump. Rain or shine; free. Honora Winery and Vineyard, 201 Vt. Route 112. Information: 802-368-2226; www.honorawinery.com.
Marlboro
• Music for a Sunday Afternoon: Sunday, Oct. 10, 3 p.m. Music for a Sunday Afternoon honors Luis Batlle at Cynthia Ragle Hall, Serkin Center at Marlboro College. Retiring music professor Luis Batlle has hand-picked some of his favorite musicians to perform during the 2010-11 Music for Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, beginning with a recital of Bach, Schubert and Chopin by pianist Cynthia Raim, who was unanimously chosen as the First Prize winner of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition and has been acclaimed for her concerto and recital appearances throughout the United States and abroad. Marlboro College president Ellen McCulloch-Lovell will offer remarks on behalf of the college and a reception will follow the performance. Reservations are recommended. Information: www.marlboro.edu.
Newfane
• 40th Heritage Festival: Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Newfane Heritage Festival draws thousands of visitors from throughout the Northeast. The festival includes more than 85 juried arts, crafts and specialty exhibitors, the Newfane Congregational Church's famous homemade apple pies and apple crisp, church deli, outdoor food tent, super raffle, flea tent, community groups, children's activities, live music and the peak of Vermont's fall foliage on the surrounding hills.
Putney
• Medieval Faire: Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at The Grammar School, 69 Hickory Ridge Rd. Enjoy the village as King Arthur and his royal court preside over games, feasts and peasant frivolity. Join players gaming on the glen, merchants minding the village market, cooks tending a feast fit for a King, and musicians leading the festivities. Traditional highlights include Merlin the Wizard, climbing walls, archery, a candy throwing catapult, haunted dungeon, dunking booth, pony rides, slay-the-dragon piñata, scavenger hunts and knightings by King Arthur himself. Admission is free, with all-day or individual game and ride passes are available with proceeds benefiting The Grammar School Student Scholarship Fund. Information: 802-387-5364.
• Harvest Festival: Sunday, October 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 418 Houghton Brook Rd.: The Putney School's annual Harvest Festival is a fun-filled day of music, entertainment, art shows, an International Café and booths from local artisans and non-profits. A school tradition for 75 years, this free event is a celebration of community and school spirit. All-day arts and crafts fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a farm parade at 12:45 p.m. and a contra dance at 1 p.m. A 5K cross-country running race starts at 9 a.m (registration opens at 8:30 at the Field House) and a kids' mountain bike race at 9:45 a.m. (9:15 registration). Community Sing with the Putney Community Orchestra at 2 p.m. in the Michael S. Currier Center's Calder Hall. No admission or parking fee. Information: 802-387-6273.
• Empty Bowls Dinner: Saturday, Oct. 9, seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Empty Bowls Dinner at Landmark College's dining hall is a benefit for the Brattleboro Area Drop-in Center. For a $20 donation, guests will be served a simple, nutritious meal of soup, bread, cheese, apples, beverage and dessert, and will enjoy live music. Afterwards, guests are invited to keep the bowl from which they eat. Tickets can be purchased at the Shoe Tree, Everyone's Books and the Book Cellar in Brattleboro. For reservations, call 802-257-2005, ext. 108, or 800-852-4286, ext. 108.
Townshend
• Pumpkin Festival: Saturday, Oct 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The 26th annual Townshend Pumpkin Festival will be held on the Townshend Common on Route 30, rain or shine. The festival includes a craft sale and art works sale, pumpkin pies on sale, scarecrow decorating contest starts, free pony ride, pumpkin decorating contest, Halloween preview costume parade and raffle drawing. There is free admission, free parking, pumpkin pies, food vendors, and locally grown apples and cider. Information: 802-365-4246.
West Dover
• Best Seat in the House: Saturday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Auction of “Best Seat in the House” chairs, with proceeds to benefit local charities (Deerfield Valley Community Cares, Deerfield Valley Food Pantry, Deerfield Valley Health Care Volunteers, and Make-A-Wish of Vermont) and art education programs at local schools: Readsboro, Halifax, Whitingham Elementary, Twin Valley Middle School, Twin Valley High School, Deerfield Valley Elementary School, Dover Elementary School, Leland & Gray High School, Marlboro Elementary School, Wardsboro Elementary School as well as future Chamber events and marketing. Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce. Event at Grand Summit Resort & Conference Center, Grand Summit Way. $65; $125 per couple; $500 per table of eight. Information and tickets: 802-464-8092; www.vermontseat.com
• Oktoberfest: Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Celebrate fall and all things German at the 13th Annual Mount Snow Oktoberfest on Columbus Day Weekend. German food, beer, and music with the Oberleander Hofbrau Band take over the Mount Snow base area under the beautiful backdrop of the Southern Green Mountains during peak foliage. Kids activities and adult games all day long. All paid adult admissions receive a complimentary souvenir stein and the first beer free. At the same time as the Oktoberfest, the “37th Annual Harvest Arts & Craft Show” will be taking place inside the base lodge. This has been a staple at Mount Snow for 35 years and it's a great way to get a head start on your holiday shopping. Crafters and Artisans from across New England are set up in our base lodge featuring everything from honey products to fine art to unique gifts to fudge. There is no charge to attend the Harvest Arts & Craft show inside the base lodge. Information: 800-245-7669 or www.mountsnow.com.
• Gondola rides at Mount Snow: For views of four states from the 3,600-foot summit at Mount Snow Resort, summit chairlift rides are available Oct. 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. To purchase your lift ticket, visit Mount Snow Sports in the Grand Summit Hotel. Cost is $10 round trip, $5 for seniors and free for children under 12. Directions to Mount Snow and other information: 802-464-4040 or www.mountsnow.com.
Weston
• Craft show: Friday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 27th Weston Craft Show, located at Weston Playhouse on the Green, Route 100, Weston, has been called one of Vermont's top 10 fall events by Vermont Chamber of Commerce. There are 48 juried artisans from Vermont and New England. Admission $7. Free parking and food available. Information: 802-824-3576 or www.westoncraftshow.com.