25 Fun Things To Do This Fall Near Groton

If you’re new around here, nothing beats fall in New England. As the humidity fades and the leaves start to change, start to map out your September and October.

Here’s a list to get you started:

Visit B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill in Mystic. Drink all the cider, eat all the donuts and don’t skimp on the fun treats at the store. If you’re going without kids, do some hard cider and wine tasting!
Track fall colors near you with this fall foliage map. Use that website to determine estimated dates of peak foliage and plan your fall adventures.
Raise a glass at the Harvest Food & Wine Festival at Stonington Vineyards (Sept. 17-18). Come to Stonington Vineyards to enjoy live bands, delicious food trucks, local artisans and more!
Booze it up at an Oktoberfest (Sept. 17). Locally, we found events at Tox Brewing Company (New London), Jealous Monk (Mystic) and Outer Light Brewing (Groton). We’ll update this list if we find others!
Welcome the change of season with Autumn Equinox Forest Bathing in Lyme (Sept. 22). On this first day of fall, enjoy a mindfully guided walk through Banningwood Preserve and awaken the senses and the body – connecting with the cycles of nature and all of life. The walk concludes with wild-foraged tea.
Celebrate Connecticut beer at the Small State Great Beer Festival in Hartford (Sept. 24). Every year, Small State Great Beer transforms a craft beer showcase into an immersive live-event experience with unlimited tastings from the largest line-up of CT breweries, cideries, and distilleries alongside live music and local food trucks.
Indulge in all the fall fun at Buttonwood Farm in Griswold (Sept. 25-Oct. 31, weekends only). Get lost in a seven-acre corn maze, take a hayride, visit farm animals, pick a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch, climb the straw bale mountain and dive into a corn pit! And of course, don’t skip their infamous ice cream on your way out.
Soar through the fall colors at the HighFlyer Zipline at Foxwoods Casino (now thru Oct. 31). Journey to the rooftop of Fox Tower, at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 feet in the air. With 360 degrees of awe-inspiring views, feel the cool, crisp air under you as you soar over the treetops.
Visit The Cloak & Wand ‘s Hocus Pocus pop-up in Mystic (now thru Oct. 31). From amazing licensed and unique merchandise and custom wands to potions and treats – this spooky season we’ll be very magical.
Paint and sip at Stonington Vineyards (Sept. 25). Painted By The Shore is hosting a special sip and paint event on Sunday, Sept. 25. Paint a pumpkin lantern, as a beautiful way to light up any room. Each ticket includes materials/instruction and a glass of wine.
Explore the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence (Sept. 29-Oct. 31). Drive up to Providence for the beloved Halloween attraction! This year’s theme celebrates 75 years of television, with fun nostalgia artistically carved on thousands of pumpkins. From Mr. Ed to The Walking Dead, this year’s Spectacular has something for everyone. Visitors will have a “yabba-dabba-do time” while “taking a break from all their troubles,” as the shows’ musical theme songs accompany the experience.
Follow the Pumpkin Passage at That Dionsaur Place in Montville (Sept. 30-Oct. 29). The Dinosaur Place once again opens their gates for all things magical and mystical! Enjoy a toddler-friendly trail of lights and fun family activities including fire spinning shows, bounce houses, inflatable corn maze, marshmallow roasting, photo opportunities, food trucks, and the Trick-ROAR-Treat night on Oct. 29!
Check out Riverfest at Mystic Seaport Museum (Oct 8-10). The festival includes a beer garden, live music, whaleboat demonstrations, boat rides, tours and more!
Get lost in the corn maze at Scott’s Yankee Farm in Old Lyme (now thru Oct. 30). This farm offers all the fall fun, from a corn maze and a pumpkin patch to an apple picking orchard with wagon rides. Be sure to check out their roadside farm store, as well!
Go on a ghost tour with Seaside Shadows in Mystic. While offered throughout the year, ghost tours just hit differently in October. Seaside Shadows offers a variety of experiences, from walking tours to paranormal pub crawls.
Try a cider slushie from Holmberg Orchards in Gales Ferry. From picking your-own apples and pears to tastings at the cider and wine barn, there’s something for everyone here! Other highlights include tractor rides, freshly-baked donuts and cider slushies. Pumpkins will arrive around September 18! No word yet if the wine maze will be back this year.
Go on a fall foliage hike! You might be surprised the state of Connecticut has some great hikes. We loved Giuffrida Park just outside Merdian (more on that hike, here) and Lantern Hill in North Stonington. For more suggestions, click here.
Celebrate fall food at the Mystic Apple Festival at Olde Mistick Village (Oct. 22-23). Celebrate the first annual, ultimate fall food festival celebrating everything fall… from apples and maple syrup to pumpkins and more!
Get crafty at Witches Night Out at Board & Brush in Mystic (Oct. 28). Join in for their most-popular DIY workshop and create your own unique wood sign! Pre-registration is required, please wear a witch hat and receive a free bonus board!
Stroll along the Jack-o-Lantern Walk at Mystic Seaport Museum (Oct. 25-29). Enjoy the spectacle of several hundred lit jack-o-lanterns on display! Play lawn games, enjoy live music, warm up by a roaring fire, create some fall crafts and take a spooky guided tour thru a 19th centuryt seaport town!
Attend a Trunk-or-Treat event (Oct. 26)! Seeking a thrill this fall season? Join Beacon Point Homes for their annual trunk-or-treat! Vote for your favorite vehicle, listen to the live DJ and grab a tasty treat. Open to residents only!
Get spooked at The Warren’s Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon at Mohegan Sun (Oct. 29). A paracon with Ed & Lorraine Warren’s namesake would not be complete without the world famous Warren’s Occult Museum.The museum will be open to the public to view, in person, the Shadow Doll, Satanic Idol, the Haunted Dinosaur Toy, and of course the real Annabelle! The event will feature new and exciting guest speakers from all aspects of the paranormal and supernatural. Vendors from far and wide will satisfy your curiosity in demonology, ghosts, UFO’s, monsters, urban legends, cryptozoology and so much more!
Jump start your holiday shopping at the New England Christmas Festival at Mohegan Sun (Nov. 4-6)! The 36th annual award-winning show is the largest arts and crafts festival in New England, with more than 350 art, craft and speciality food pop-up shops. Find handmade, unique gift and speciality foods for everyone on your list.