History Highlights
Spooky Square House
In this annual favorite Halloween tradition, the Square House is transformed into the Spooky House with ghosts, goblins, bumps, and squeaks awaiting in darkened rooms. Visitors may encounter other-worldly travelers awakening from their 200-year slumber at Old Haviland’s Inn. The Den of Spooky Pirates is back by popular demand, and new this year is the magic and mystery of colonia alchemy.
Families can visit the Spooky Square House on Oct. 25 from 4-7 p.m. and Oct. 26 from 12-7:30 p.m. This is a family-friendly activity appropriate for young children, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: $20/family
‘Making the Presidency’ — Talk and Book Signing
Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky is a presidential historian and the author of the new book, “Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents that Forged the Republic.” Joanne B.Freeman, Hamilton scholar and professor of History and American Studies at Yale, will speak with Dr. Chervinsky at the Jay Heritage Center on Nov. 3 at 3 p.m.
Cost: Free (Registration required)
Outdoor Education
In Search of Clay
On Nov. 2, 1-2:30 p.m., participants will harvest natural clay from habitats within the Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary. Each person will be allowed to create items of your choice (pots, animals, etc.), and take them home.
This program meets at the Visitor Center.
Cost: Free
Leaf ID Hike and Craft
Participants can learn the difference between a maple leaf and an oak leaf, or a sassafras and hickory. On Oct. 26 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., a Friends of Rye Nature Center naturalist will lead this hike and leaf peep at the Rye Nature Center.
Families welcome and Forest School alumni are encouraged to attend.
Cost: $15/family
Project Feederwatch
Community members are invited to help observe, record, and count the feathered friends that visit Rye Nature Center’s bird feeders on Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. From the comfort of the wildlife observation deck, an FRNC naturalist will explain how and why Rye Nature Center participates in Project Feederwatch.
All ages and bird ID levels are welcome.
Cost: Free
Celebrate the Arts
Heart of Darkness with Mark Schenker
On Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m., this year’s Sundays with Mark Schenker at the Rye Free Reading Room kicks off with a talk on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. When this novella was first published as a serial in 1899, in the popular monthly Blackwood’s Magazine, few of that magazine’s subscribers could have foreseen the fame that Conrad’s story would eventually garner, or the fierce debates it would later provoke.
There is a lot to discuss with respect to culture and history in addition to the undeniable literary merit of Conrad’s writing.
This will be a stimulating way to start this season’s discussions with former Yale dean and professor of literature, Mark Schenker.
Cost: Free
Halloween Mask-Making and Pre-School Craft
The Rye Arts Center is helping kids get ready for Halloween with three workshops on Oct. 26. For pre-schoolers (ages 3-5), they will lead a craft-making workshop using cardstock, ribbons, beads, gems, feathers, and imagination from noon-1 p.m.
Elementary and middle schoolers will use the same variety of materials to make cute, scary, or funny Halloween masks in two sessions, ages 5-8 from 2-3 p.m. and ages 9-12 from 3-4 p.m.
Cost: $30
Harvest Hues: An Autumn Landscape Painting (BYOB)
This session at the Rye Arts Center on Nov. 7, 6:30-9 p.m., guides painters as they create a vibrant autumn landscape inspired by one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s beautiful masterpieces.
No experience is necessary.
Cost: $65; Ages 21+
Community Offerings
Fall Family Festival
This weekend, Oct. 25 and 26, 12-6 p.m., is the last for the Fall Family Festival in Rye Town Park. It is a great day out for the family and offers the experience of an orchard right here in town.
With free parking, over 2,000 pumpkins to choose from, cider donuts, live music, face painting, hayrides, axe throwing, food, shopping vendors, and more, it is the perfect seasonal activity.
Cost: $35/child, Free for adults
Photo Christian Falcone
Kiddyland Fall Fun Weekends
This is the final weekend that Playland will welcome guests to enjoy Kiddyland, providing extra access to rides and select food vendors. This is the first time these rides have been open and available during fall weekends.
This weekend’s times are Oct. 26 and 27, 12-6 p.m.
Cost: $15/person; free for 2024 season pass holders
Social Media Power Circle
The Rye Arts Center is hosting a weekly workshop (maximum of six members), focused on small business growth with a special emphasis on social media strategies. Liz Woods from Ryemarkable Moms leads the sessions, providing each member with 10 minutes dedicated to: sharing weekly business struggles and triumphs, asking for support, and receiving personalized guidance and encouragement from fellow members.
The sessions are Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12, and 19 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Cost: $240 (for all four sessions)
Rainbow Run
On Nov. 5 at 9:15 a.m., the pre-festivities begin for this year’s Rye Youth Council Rainbow Run. The Rainbow Run takes place in Rye Town Park every year, and is a fun and colorful way to support the Rye Youth Council, an organization that supports youth in the community in a variety of ways.
Participants dress in colorful outfits and run or walk for a mile. There are two start times this year, with K-3 at 9:30 a.m. and grades 4-6 at 10 a.m.
Register online to reserve a spot.
Cost: $50/child