Pumpkins in East Windsor; Kelly Birtch in Windsor; Folk in Manchester

Ct Trolley Museum Hosts Pumpkin Patch Weekends

Searching for the great pumpkin? Bundle the kiddies aboard one of the antique trolleys at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, and enjoy a ride through the Connecticut countryside that takes you to a pumpkin patch. Pick the pumpkin of your choice, then return aboard the trolley to the museum's Visitor Center where pumpkin decorating activities, contests, games and other activities are designed for pint-size participants.

Tours run most weekends in October, including on Columbus Day. For a complete schedule of dates and times, visit www.ct-trolley.org. Each child's admission includes one free pumpkin. On Sunday, October 31, children wearing Halloween costumes receive a 50 percent discount on admission. The Connecticut Trolley Museum is at 58 North Road (CT Route 140) in East Windsor.  For more information, call 860-627-6540 or visit www.ct-trolley.org.

Rails to the Dark Side at CT Trolley Museum

Those stout of heart and fond of screaming in the dark shouldn't miss Rails to the Dark Side, the Connecticut Trolley Museum's annual Halloween scare fest. Spectral figures, ghostly apparitions and more await the valiant as antique trolleys navigate their way through Connecticut woodlands.

The nighttime rail rides run Fridays and Saturdays from October 7 through October 31 between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.  The Connecticut Trolley Museum is at 58 North Road (CT Route 140) in East Windsor.  For more information, call 860-627-6540 or visit www.ct-trolley.org.

Guitarist Kelly Birtch Plays Windsor Art Center

New York guitarist Kelly Birtch will make the trip to the Windsor Art Center at the Freight House Thurs., Oct. 6. Her spanish-style inpired playing will take listeners through a spectrum of guitar-based music. The Fine Arts Forum called Birtch "one of the best guitar players you are ever likely to hear. Period. An evening with Kelly takes you through the spectrum of guitar-based music from Spanish pieces to many other genres."

The show will begin at 6:30 p.m. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door. For more information, call the Windsor Art Center at 860-688-2528 or visit www.windsorartcenter.org.

Open Cockpit Day and FM-2 Wildcat at Air Museum

The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks hosts an Open Cockpit Day on October 9. Visitors are invited to climb into the cockpits of 12 vintage aircraft, two static flight simulators, and one fully operational flight simulator. As a special attraction, the World War II-era Grumman FM-2 Wildcat will be open for visitor entry for the first time in more than twenty years. The Wildcat served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Mission Bay and was used principally for air cover and submarine surveillance. Hands-on activities for children, a food vendor, and free child identification kits are also part of the day's events.

Admission costs $11 ages 12 and up; $10 seniors; $6 ages 4 to 11. Sneakers or rubber-soled footwear is recommended. The New England Air Museum is at 36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks. For more information, visit www.neam.org or call 860-623-3305. 

Cheney Hall Hosts Folk Music Fundraiser

Manchester's Cheney Hall brings together the best of its Folk on Fridays performers for an October 7 fundraiser to benefit the Little Theatre of Manchester. Folk on Fridays: A Family of Friends begins at 7 p.m. Featured performers are Nina and the Quarry Cats, The Knott Brothers, Dave Fry, Eric Paradine, Bill Benson, Jerry O'Connor, the Guinea Pigs and Ron Anthony. 

Starting time is 7 p.m. Admission costs $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For tickets, show times, and more information, visit www.cheneyhall.org or call 860-647-9824. Cheney Hall is at 177 Hartford Road, Manchester.

Playhouse on Park Presents An Enemy of the People

When one man sees a truth that goes against the majority, should he speak up and risk standing alone? Henrik Ibsen's classic drama An Enemy of the People asks the question. The Norwegian playwright wrote the drama in 1882 after his play Ghosts had been deemed scandalous for its references to syphilis. American playwright Arthur Miller adapted Ibsen's work years later in response to the political climate fostered by McCarthyism. West Hartford's Playhouse on Park presents Miller's adaptation of Ibsen's play.

Performances run October 12 though 30.Playhouse on Park is at 244 Park Road, West Hartford. For more information, visit www.playhouseonpark.org or call 860-523-5900 x10.

Poetry Read-In at Noah Webster

Award-winning poets Dennis Baron and Jim Finnegan lead an evening of poetry at West Hartford's Noah Webster House. The October 13 event also includes a poetry open-mic. Poet laureate emeritus Maria Sassi hosts.

Sign up is at 6:30 p.m. The readings begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. The Noah Webster House is at 227 South Main St., West Hartford. For more information, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call 860-521-5362.

Fundraising Gala for Hartt School

Fans of West Hartford's Hartt School of Music and of great entertainment might wish to consider supporting the school by attending its annual fundraising gala, Hartt Celebrates Its Future. The 10th annual event, to be held October 15 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, draws upon members of the Hartt community for a full evening's entertainment.

Tickets cost $250 per person; $350 for patron tickets. For more information about the event or to buy tickets, contact Monique Aduddell at 860-768-4806 or email HarttGala@Hartford.edu.

Stanley-Whitman Hosts Tour of Burying Ground

As the Halloween season approaches, Farmington's Stanley-Whitman House presents a Walking Tour of Memento Mori. The museum's executive director Lisa Johnson leads this October 9 event. Participants will explore one of the most beautiful burying grounds in Connecticut, a historical treasure that reveals a great deal about the history, customs and art of Farmington's early residents.

The tour starts at 1 p.m. Cost is $7; $5 members. The Stanley-Whitman House is at 37 High St., Farmington. For more information, visit www.stanleywhitman.org or call 860-677-9222.

Open Mic at Roaring Brook

Singer-songwriter Cornelius "Con" Dowd is the featured performer at an October 9 open mic event at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton. Dowd is a multi-instrumentalist who will perform original tunes including "When My Wheel Gets Round," "Bitter Well," and "Crumbs in Bed" from his CD and more.

Sign up is at 5:30 p.m. Performing starts at 6 p.m. Admission is $5. Roaring Brook Nature Center is at 70 Gracey Road, Canton. Visit www.roaringbrookconcerts.org.