Quick Picks

Haunted Happenings

Ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the night … Late October brings out all manner of creepy creatures throughout the region. Haunted houses, spooky cemeteries, trunk ‘n treats—no matter how you want to celebrate this scary season, there’s an event just waiting for you here.

Take a tour of hair-raising home Halloween decorations in Leominster or Hubbardston. Visit a haunted park in Winchendon, a haunted gazebo in Templeton, an entire haunted neighborhood in Leominster. Take a haunted hayride in Athol, enjoy a day-long “boo-fest” at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, or stroll through Templeton’s centuries-old graveyard to hear stories of the town’s early settlers.

Got kids? Business districts in Fitchburg, Gardner and Leominster welcome little ghosties. Family spots like Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg, Davis Farmland in Sterling and In the Meadow Farm in Lunenburg are ready to entertain costumed youngsters.

How can you find all these super scary events? Check out our events calendar.

Check Your Holiday List

You don’t have to shop till you drop when you head out on the Country Roads Holiday Tour—because this special seasonal event, now in its 19th year, has morphed from a weekend to an entire month of nostalgic pleasure! Antiques. Cheese. Herbs. Furniture. Maple syrup. And so much more! Your holiday shopping becomes so easy when you take this leisurely tour through Templeton, Hubbardston, Petersham, Barre, Phillipston, Gardner and Winchendon.And it’s not just about shopping. These are local stores, local farms, local bakeries, run by local folks who love to share their stories, offer tasty samples, and help you find that perfect gift. The 2024 Country Roads Tour runs from November 9 right through December 8, so you’ll have plenty of time to wrap up your entire holiday list! Visit countryroadschristmas.com for a list of all 18 shops on the trail.

Ice Out!

Sometimes, it’s fun to just sit and wait for things to happen—especially in winter, when you’re a bit worn out from enjoying the pleasures of the season. Skiing, hiking along snowy trails, skating on a local pond are all great ways to embrace the great outdoors of North Central Massachusetts.

But local residents know it’s also fun to count down the chilly days of winter by (are you ready?) watching the ice melt.

Yes, but not just any old ice. We’re talking about the ice beneath the lifeguard seat on Rockwell Pond in Leominster, below the two-dimensional Cracker Bowl on Round in Westminster, or under the old-timey Frozen Assets outhouse on Country Hen pond on Williamsville Road in Hubbardston.

“Ice Out” contests, in which participants try to guess the exact day, hour, minute that Rocky, the lifeguard, the Westminster soup bowl or the chilly restroom will plunge through the melting ice have sparked interest among local folks who are just, well, anxiously waiting for spring to arrive! There are prizes to be won for the best guesses, along with bragging rights and the fun of watching streaming video of the great sinks.