2. York, Maine, hosts its 22nd annual Harvestfest Friday through Sunday, and activities include a brewfest on Friday night, the annual Pumpkin Stroll on Saturday and a Native American Pow-wow on Sunday. That's just for starters. There's also a classic car show, an ox roast, and something called a chicken shoot. I sure hope that involves rubber chickens.
3. In Massachusetts, this is a perfect weekend to head to Garden in the Woods in Framingham for the Fall Family Festival. The free event, scheduled for Sunday from noon until 4 p.m., features a scavenger hunt and other activities for kids, along with a final opportunity to see Rock On!, a special exhibit of stone garden sculptures.
4 and 5. And finally, if you're a seafood fan, I've got two great events to tell you about. The 16th annual Seafood Festival at Bowen's Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The entertainment is free, and you'll have wonderful opportunities to celebrate the "Harvest of the Sea" as you sample foods prepared by local restaurants. The sixth annual Wellfleet Oyster Festival is also this Saturday and Sunday, so head to Cape Cod if you want to watch some of New England's best shuckers in action and swallow your fill of fresh shellfish.
There's one more bit of news I want to share with you before I head out to do some leaf-peeping myself. This month, Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium has cut the price for its Beluga Whale Encounters from $165 to just $99. About two years ago, I climbed into the tank with a beluga whale, and I have to tell you, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My four-year-old daughter still tells people, "My Mommy touched a whale's tongue."
Thank you for joining me for The Weekly Peepcast. I'm Kim Knox Beckius, and I'll be back next Thursday with another fall update. Until then, don't forget that you can always find new ideas for travel in New England by visiting me online at GoNewEngland.About.com.
And be sure to stop by The Boston Globe's explorenewengland.com for more ways to make the most of this beautiful season. There's no better time than autumn to explore New England.
