Scarecrows, Apple Fest and Halloween decorations oh my! Inaugural FALLing for Glastonbury, house decorating debut
By Peter Marteka
Editor
With the change of season from summer to autumn, the town is getting into the fall spirit and spirits of Halloween next month. Here’s a look at some of the events going on around town in October.
FALLing for Glastonbury
Downtown Glastonbury will have a new look this autumn. The first annual “FALLing for Glastonbury,” an initiative created by local Glastonbury businesses, will start this autumn to bring extra spirit to Glastonbury this coming season.
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, downtown Glastonbury businesses will create festive fall displays outside their businesses - from pumpkins to hay bales to scarecrows and skeletons. All businesses are welcome to participate.
There will be prizes for winning displays on a range of categories, from most creative to the most realistic. Glastonbury elementary school children will judge the displays and any business is welcome to participate throughout the month. Visitors are encouraged to take a stroll to enjoy the displays. There are no fees and participation is strictly voluntary.
Event organizers Nick Paindiris of Brown Paindiris & Scott, Margaret Wilcox of William Raveis Real Estate, Sue Dattilio of Ken’s Corner as well as other members of the downtown business community hope that visitors can enjoy the autumnal spirit while frequenting their favorite Glastonbury businesses — and hopefully discover new ones.
“I was inspired by the well-known fall events around the state, like those in Old Wethersfield and Manchester,” Paindiris said. “It’s about time that Glastonbury had their own kind of event. We’ve got a great community here, so it's about time to showcase it.”
Downtown Glastonbury Business Association, Inc. is an organization focused on supporting and promoting local businesses. Check out downtownglastonbury.com for more information.
Apple Harvest & Music Festival
The 51st annual Glastonbury Apple Harvest & Music Festival, sponsored by the Connecticut River Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Oct. 16, 17, and 18. Voted “Best of Hartford” for 2026, organizers note “this beloved festival draws over 23,000 attendees for a weekend packed with excitement, entertainment, and community connection.”
More than 50 artists will perform on five stages – welcome stage, pub patio stage, Showmobile stage, expressions stage and gazebo stage. For a complete list of performers, visit www.crvappleharvestandmusicfestival.com/music.
The festival also includes a midway filled with amusement rides and the KidsZONE, packed with fun activities for all ages. There will also be booths with local community and civic organizations, unique artisan crafts, and dishes from a variety of food trucks.
Organizers noted that the festival “has made it even easier for everyone to join the fun with reduced admission prices, along with special discounts for military and seniors as our way of saying thank you for your service and support.”
The hours and general admission tickets: Oct. 16: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. $3; Oct. 17: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. $8; Oct. 18: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6. Military: active duty, reserve, retired, and veterans with a valid military ID receive $1 off each admission ticket. Senior citizens: guests 65 years of age and older receive $1 off their admission ticket.
Parking is free with a shuttle bus taking festival-goers from Glastonbury High School – 330 Hubbard St. – to Riverfront Park. Shuttle runs a half-hour before the festival opens and a half hour after the festival closes.
The festival includes an expanded Harvest Pub, featuring a selection of craft beers, ciders, wine, and more. A can’t-miss hit is the apple pie booth featuring Grannie's Pies, a festival favorite. A 5K road race will be held Sunday morning.
Halloween House Decorating Contest
The parks and recreation department is hosting its first Halloween house decorating contest similar to the one done every Christmas holiday season. Participants are urged to “show off your spooky decorations, spider webs, and jack-o-lanterns and compete to win the honor of being one of Glastonbury’s spookiest Halloween houses!”
A map will be made of all participating locations so residents can take their own spooky tour before voting for a “fan favorite” on Facebook. Maps will be available on Oct. 9. The registration period ends Oct. 8 with the judging period running from Oct. 8-Oct. 31. Fan favorite voting will run Oct. 15 through Oct. 31. Winners – a $50 Amazon gift card - will be announced Nov. 2.
The contest is for exterior decorations only, including decorations in windows that are visible from the exterior. Judging will be based on “curb appeal” as viewed from the street only. Judges will not enter the property to view back or side yards. Participants can also give their home a name.
Participants agree to have their address posted on the official “Glastonbury spooktacular map” that will be available on the town website – glastonburyct.gov - for those that want to drive around town to view the decorated houses. There is an option to opt out of this during registration.
Categories will be assigned by the judges of the contest. These categories will be: spookiest, too cute to spook, and most festive fall. Voting for a fan favorite winner will take place on the parks and recreation’s Facebook account. Register at https://glastonburyct.myrec.com/. GL