End of the year is Here with New ways to Trade or Sell Unwanted Christmas Gifts locally and also Plan for a unique and local New England New Years celebration

One of the best new things I found this year was local yard sale sites on Facebook. I have used several of them both to buy and to sell with no issues. I sold my old Nintendo Wii with several games for a really good price. No packing or shipping costs to bother with as the buyer came to pick it up. I purchased clothes, accessories and furniture. In some cases I made arrangements to meet the seller in a public area. In others I went to their home. Expectation is cash on delivery or pickup. Some sellers also deliver for free if the buyer is close enough, the item is big enough and they have incentive enough to get rid of the item. There are no fees as with online auction sites and no maintenance as with a retail website.  Try it out for yourself but as with all internet commerce be careful and be safe. Meeting in a public place is usually the best way to go. In the event that you have to go to a residence consider not going alone.

Here are a few of the New England based sites:
General New England:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NHsales/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NEOYS/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/364418907021356/

Rhode Island:
Fall River RI https://www.facebook.com/groups/414949921965372/
Kent County RI https://www.facebook.com/groups/kentcountyyardsale/
Providence RI https://www.facebook.com/groups/providenceriindooryardsale/

Massachusetts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/525077990884078/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/488079204632543/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/684728868217442/

New Hampshire
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NHOnlineYardSale/

Vermont:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/386446478086932/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VTyardsale/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VTOnlineyardsale/

Maine:
https://www.facebook.com/AugustaOnlineYardsale
https://www.facebook.com/groups/maineyardsale/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/304529732968073/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/476282399076134/

Connecticut:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/194088927343890/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/206000129422209/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175305839301627/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/348489075226022/

Most of these are closed groups that require request/approval to join. The criteria is usually that you live in the locality. The links above are the more state generic. As you browse these sites you will get a feel for which ones suit you best. If you search for specific cities and towns, many have their own even more local pages/groups.

After you have gotten rid of all your unwanted/unneeded gifts you may want to spend your new found cash or some of your gift cards on a New Years celebration in New England. Here are some unique options:

New Years Eve at the New England Aquarium offers dancing with the Penquins at a Black Tie Affair.
You must be over 21. For men a Jacket is required and for the ladies cocktail attire is expected.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-2014-at-the-new-england-aquarium-tickets-6345713199?aff=zvents

Another option that is more family friendly and less expensive but no less unique is to ring in the New year at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brookline Ma


Consider the 4th annual, wildly popular, New Years Eve in RI at the convention center in Providence which features a masquerade ball from 9 pm to 3 a.m. With food, drinks, music, dancing, prizes and optional extras. Get your tickets to the event and much more http://newyearseveri.com/
 

If you have more of a snowy venue in mind you might consider partying at Stratton in Vermont.
http://www.stratton.com/events-and-activities/events/2013/12/new-years-eve-celebration.aspx

This is of course a very family friendly set of events with kids crafts early in the day and a Torchlight Parade and Fireworks with a couple of special 21+ parties planned to start at 9pm for a fee.


Portland Maine is celebrating again this year.
https://www.facebook.com/NewYearsPortlandMaine
 Several venues are offering parties. Check out the venues and the ticket prices.
http://www.newyearsportlandmaine.com/venues.html


Not to be outdone, Hartford CT's First night has over 40 events to explore. These city sponsored events offer the most for a varied age and interest group. The Bushnell Carousel will be open as well as the ice rink in the park to name a few. You want to check out the options and come prepared.
http://www.firstnighthartford.org/

Last but not least, it needs no introduction, is of course the 38th annual Boston's First night. So much to do and see and so little time. Here is a guide to help you decide when and where to start.
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/blog/2013/12/26/guide-first-night-events-2013-2014/
Who has not heard or seen on TV the great ice sculptures that can be found all across the city. Theater, dance, puppets, performers of every genre will be on display.  Check out the FB page as well.
https://www.facebook.com/FirstNightBoston

Have fun, be responsible and safe into the New Year!

Shop Local this holiday season, find High Fashion - Pick #3

Do you dream of walking into a store that has everything you have dreamed of without the outrageous price. Not an outlet. A real store with variety in brand names and size. A store that offers something of extremely high quality for everyone in the family. Well, I think I found it. It is Evans On the Common in Townsend MA. They have been in business at this location for over 30 years.

Photo credit Evans webpage
As you enter the store you are usually greeted with sales of one type or another. Whether it is in the parking lot under a tent, as it is in summer, or in the foyer when the weather cools down there is something for the bargain hunter in all of us. Accessories are also on the front lines.
Photo credit Evans webpage

From socks , mittens, scarves, throws and hats to purses and toys the name brands cover Deerfield Leather, Vera Bradley purses and clutches and wallets and Ty stuffed critters.

The women's clothing section is stocked well with Tribal, Snow Angel, Woolrich, Isis, Smartwool and more. With coats and sweaters, pants and tops, dresses and robes.

photo credit Yelp's Arelia B.

The men's clothing section is featuring KUHL , Bergans, Woolrich, Rab and Dale Norway. etc.

The footwear section is like a store within a store. The whole back room is reserved for shoes from casual comfort to athletic to boots. The name brands include Birkenstock, Earth, UGG, ecco, Muck, Jambu, Solomon, Sorel and so much more.

Photo credit Evans webpage

Bring your Christmas list! Support your local small business at Evans in Townsend MA.

Shop Local this Holiday - Pick # 2

Kringle Candle Company in Bernardston MA was started by the former owners of Yankee Candle. Yankee Candle was sold in 1998. Kringle Candle was started in 2009 by the father and son, both named Mike Kittredge. From the humble beginnings of one building in 2009 which supported production, packing and shipping as well as showroom and retail space, it has grown to a multi-building complex beyond the production facility, featuring the main retail building, a separate Christmas holiday and specials (food and toys) retail store,a chocolate shop, a bakery, a restaurant.
If you are shopping for candles, you can not find more variety in color and fragrance as well as style.
Their seasonal fragrances and styles rival any other candle maker you might be accustomed to and everything is brought to you by a wholly American owned and operated business. Another important point to make is that Kringle Candle is green. Kringle produces paraffin not soy candles which is both natural and domestically produced. 

The Farm Table, a subsidiary of Kringle Candle and part of the complex is a full service restaurant that is also one of the most green restaurants in America. In addition to the indoor dining, there is an outdoor dining area featuring a fireplace which is quite unique and allows for fall days on the veranda.

 It is in the specialty store you are greeted on the main floor with comfortable surroundings.

Featured inside  you will find that Kringle Candle is a good neighbor and supports many local and regional businesses that compliment their offerings. For example, you will find BBQ sauces from  Wild Thymes in the Hudson Valley of NY , sauce and pickles from M&M Green Valley Produce in So. Deerfield Massachusetts, Chocolates from Lake Champlain Chocolates in Burlington Vermont, maple candy from Sugarwoods Farm in Glover Vermont and so much more. Upstairs is a great Toy Store with unique toys  of the current day and

many reminiscent of days gone by in New England. Downstairs you will be transformed at any time of year and filled with the Christmas spirit. There is a train traveling around the ceiling and trees of every theme to entertain your brain as well as handmaid mittens and hats and giant stuffed bears. Whether you want to browse or buy you will not be disappointed.

Outside this triple floor extravaganza is an outdoor bakery connected to the chocolate shop.
The  bakery features coffee and pateries, including Apple Cider donuts from Atkins Farm which is also one of Kringle's signature candle fragrances. The Chocolate Cottage has candy of all varieties from chocolate bars to hard candy and fudge. Samples are available for daily promotions, like pumpkin pie fudge which is remarkable. All this is in a setting in Western Mass. that rivals any picture postcard.

If you are pressed for time, needing some time to relax and unwind but worried that you have shopping to do and must get started, feed your self appreciation by taking a ride out to Kringle Candle  and accomplishing so much while treating yourself to a mini vacation of the mind and support local American owned small business to boot. 

Shop Local This Holiday Season - Pick #1

On the western border of Worcester County Massachusetts, in the sleepy little town of Athol, just off route 2, there is a unique and rare find. A dying breed, the small town local bookstore, is alive and well. Bruce's Browser  has so much to offer, you just might be amazed and wonder why you did not stop here sooner (as I did). If you are, as are many people, looking for a way to support small businesses and intend to spend your money locally this holiday season, check this out. It includes soda fountain, card department, gift department, a generous magazine stand and much more. 
As a bookstore offerings cover a wide variety of hardcovers, paperbacks, magazines for adults and children covering both fiction and non fiction subjects. The store highlights local authors and subjects  prominently in a large easy to find section. In the local section you will find interesting titles which speak to the attempt to support the commitment to be a vital part of the North Quabbin community. 

One aspect of the shop that is a bit unexpected and quirky is the cybercafe. You can bring your own laptop or tablet and take advantage of the WIFI and comfortable seating for free or hook up to one of the several computers provided for a small fee.

Another unique aspect is the retro soda fountain. Whether coffee and a pastry for breakfast or soda and ice cream anytime there is a comfy place to sit and enjoy. 

In the cafe/soda fountain Bruce's promotes a fellow local business by serving Dean's Beans coffee in several varieties both decaf and regular. Dean's Beans is located in the neighboring town of Orange. You can also purchase a bag or two of Dean's Beans to enjoy at home or as a gift. Speaking of gifts there is approximately a third of the store dedicated to cards and gifts. From  Whistle Creek Walking Sticks, to toys for all ages and genders including favorites as Lincoln Logs and K'Nex to a large selection of Yankee candles and local crafts, you will surely find several items that you can not do without this holiday season.

Remarkably there is still more for the shopper to browse. You will find an interesting eclectic music selection and a section by the checkout specifically highlighting local artists. The owner Diane Lincoln is an award winning artist in her own right having won awards and honors such as being named "Musical Artist of 2009" in the 2009 Pride In The Arts Music Awards. You can find her music on sale there and her profile via the link above. Her family has owned this business, a pharmacy that she eventually converted to this bookstore/gift shop, since 1948. 

Now maybe not on your shopping list but also something to think about for the holidays, there is a "back room" at Bruce's that is booked for small functions, meetings and events. There are often book signings or poetry readings scheduled there and you can occasionally find the local WJDF radio host doing interviews with historians, authors and artists in the cafe or back room. 

Regardless if you are holiday shopping for gifts or for yourself or just want to get away to a little oasis where you can browse and enjoy a simpler time, Bruce's Browser will fill your bill. 

New Englands Pick-Your-Own Experience

Pick Your Own (PYO) is a New England tradition. Starting in the Fall through the rest of the year PYO consist mainly of Apples, Pumpkins and Christmas Trees.  The following list is a good example of unique experiences for some or all of the above in each of the New England States.

RI

A stone's throw from Newport in Middleton RI, Sweet Berry Farm/Market offers all three PYO experiences. Apples and pumpkins available in September and October.  Christmas tree tagging begins November 1^st. 

Their signature Ice Cream and Sorbet was described as "best ice cream in New England" by Yankee magazine 2011 . A must have, any time of year,  for ice cream aficionados   


Several award winning original art mosaics by co-owner Michelle Eckhart are on display, along with arts and crafts by other local artists, at the Sweet Berry Farm Market.  

The Farm Café offers breakfast or lunch with both “to-go” and “eat-in” menus.  

In the summer, SweetBerry also offers a  concert series on the lawn or in the barn in case of rain. Food from the café is on hand.

NH 

Getting ready, in Hampton Falls NH,  for new farm stand, bakery and farm-to-table restaurant, the existing 200 year old barn will continue to be a centerpiece of Applecrest Farm . The farm stand/grocery offering apples, pumpkins, cider, creamery , apple cider donuts, etc. is only a small part of the overall experience. The fall festivals and events start first week in September and continue through to the end of October. Fall is a great time for PYO Apples, Pumpkins and Rasberries at Applecrest.

Not to be missed are the Story Book Hayrides taking place October 19^th, 20^th, 26^th and 27^th which also feature live entertainment concerts and other events such as Antique Tractor Shows. AppleCrests's Gift packs can be ordered via email or phone

ME 

Boothby’s, in Livermore ME.,   offers PYO Apples, pumpkins in a patch as well as apple crisp, hand pressed unpasteurized cider, honey and much more at the farm stand.  For the short term fall foliage getaway they also offer a farm (guest) house furnished in vintage style for $300 for 3 nights or $125 a night.

Boothby's Orchard   is uniquely Handicapped Accessible, featuring dwarf apple trees grown on a wire trellis system. This orchard offers a pick-your-own experience like no other. 

The grounds are even and mowed to perfection and the apples grow low to the ground allowing the youngest of children and those with physical disabilities to enjoy picking their own apples. No ladders needed. Private tours and school tours available midweek by appointment.

VT

Scott Farm in Dummerston Vt..  offers both PYO apples and pumpkins and so much more. There are workshops on site such as; October’s  Heirloom Apple Pie Day, and the On the Farm Heirloom Apple Harvest Dinner  taking place on Saturday, October 26, 6 p.m.. There are several options for a wedding on at Scott Farm and the lodging is especially unique. With properties accommodating from 2 to 8 guests and prices from a little under $200 a night to almost $500, the historic lodgings include the likes of The Carriage House, part of the Rudyard Kipling estate, offering views of the Connecticut river valley. 

A much different experience could be had in the Rustic Sugar House that sleeps 2 with a wood stove and an open concept of knotty pine post and open beam ceilings.

There are several other competing lodging options as well. And by the way Dogs are welcomed.

     

MA

Outlook Farm in Westhampton Ma., is full-time farm complete with orchards and gardens, a butcher shop, a country store and restaurant . Pick your own apples is offered between Sept 7 and mid October, and on Sunday afternoons the additional treats of Horse Drawn Hayrides and BBQ Smorgasbords can be had for an additional cost.  The country store offers a little bit of everything with fresh fruits and vegetables, sweet apple cider, farm fresh pork and homemade baked good. Outlooks breakfast and deli menus include smoked ham and bacon or sausage with melted cheese on homemade toast, pulled pork and kielbasa sandwiches, homemade soups and salads, blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookies and apple pie made from scratch. Unlike most other orchard farms, since pork and fruits are naturally compatible and have been served together for centuries,  Outlook farm has been providing premium pork products from extra lean, all natural hogs since 1962 in their Smoke and Chop house.

CT

Holmberg Orchards, in Gales Ferry near Mystic Ct.  offers something that the adults will enjoy for sure. The Wine Barn offers tastings from Memorial Day through October. The wines are produced onsite. The Connecticut coast offers a climate well suited for the Alsatian whites; this also includes varietals such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and the Pinots. 

Although PYO at Holmberg Orchards includes such things as raspberries  blueberries, peaches, nectarines, pears and cut flowers, in the fall the pickings are apples and pumpkins.

Baked fresh daily are pies, cookies, muffins, turnovers, breads, quiche, pot pies, whoopie pies, and of course, our famous Holmberg Apple Crisp. You can also get prepackaged prepared fresh salads and artisan sandwiches for your meals on the go. Pies and fruit baskets can be ordered online as well.  Come early fall the greenhouse is stocked with hay bales, pumpkins, gourds and colorful mums. As the holidays approach, it is converted into a holiday gift shop.

Holiday Cheer in Townsend Massachusetts

According to the United States Census Bureau, Townsend Masschusetts has a total area of 33.1 square miles (85.8 km²), of which 32.9 square miles (85.1 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.6 km²) (0.72%) is water. Townsend has the largest land area of any town in Middlesex County but is by far not the most populated.

Townsend is a beautiful old town with many historical buildings a beautiful river feeding into a pond which feeds into a water fall in what is called Townsend Harbor. The river and pond support the annual Townsend Lions Club Canoe Race.  The Reed Homestead shown above is only one of the houses the Historical Society oversees , there are several such properties in town. Townsend Harbor is a village in Townsend, Massachusetts, containing Harbor Pond dammed from the Squannacook River.

The painting above of the harbor in fall was commissioned of a well-known local artist, Samuel Thorpe, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 71.

At this location Jonas Spaulding and his brother Waldo started a mill in 1873 that made leatherboard (composed of leather scraps and wood pulp). They did business as Spaulding Brothers. Operation of the leatherboard mill at Townsend Harbor ceased in 1957, after the last two surviving siblings, Huntley Spaulding and his married sister Marion S. Potter, died.

The town is also home to Willard Brook State Park including Damon Pond and Townsend State Forest which includes Pearl Hill. Pearl Hill's campsites in Massachusetts are spacious and private. There are 51 campsites with a modern bathhouse. A day use area includes a 5 acres (2.0 ha) pond with a beach. A recently completed and somewhat challenging trail connects to Willard Brook State Forest. The Willard Brook property has 19 campsites and one Yurt at Damon Pond. Campground office hours are 9 am – 10 pm. The regular camping season is from late May to early September. The fairly challenging "Friends Trail" that connects the campground to the one at Pearl Hill State Park takes up to 3 hours to complete and hikers should be in good physical condition.

Steeped in so much history it is no wonder that Townsend also has a large antique shop community.  Starting on the Eastern edge in the Harbor with small individual shops like Harbor-side Antiques and Estate Service or  B and G Antique Clock Repair Shop the antique trail finishes on the Western edge with large group shops like  Hobart Village Antique Mall and Antique Associates  as well as individual vendors like   J Delaney Antique Clocks a family business that has been featured on the Antiques Roadshow.

Great food is also a part of the Townsend Experience.  Lunch or Dinner or Sunday Brunch at Bailey’s Bar and Grille is a treat. They offer senior discounts along with vegetarian and gluten free options and a special burger where a portion of the proceeds supports various local fundraising and charitable organizations.  Live entertainment at the full  bar or on the deck (seasonal ) is a real draw. 

Several other local establishments are hometown and visitor favorites, like Cliffs Café for breakfast , indoors or out on the porch (weather permitting).   The Townsend House , as another example, is host to several local and surrounding town organizational dinner meetings proving that the food has to be good. 

Holidays in Townsend  provide many shopping and entertainment delights.  Beginning with the  events such as the library's Winter Holiday Art Showcase opening November 5^th , an indoor church fair November 23^rd at the Congregational Church on the common, followed quickly by the Townsend Lions Annual Christmas Tree Sale which begins the weekend following Thanksgiving with the delivery from a local NH tree farm to the back of the Townsend Common. 

The library will open their Festival of Trees on December 7^th which will display many artificial trees decorated by local businesses and families. 

 One of the most magical of events is deemed “Christmas in Townsend”.

This is a choreographed light and holiday music display put on annually by a Townsend teenager, Chris Puglia. It will rival any professionally developed display you might encounter.  2012 was their third and a record year for the display. Chris attributes that partly to a video segment appearing on the Groton Channel News, click here and see. The songs are advertised on the website ahead of time and each year the results are documented .  Bonus!  There is a mobile site that works for Windows, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry, check it out here. It is very well done. 

So much to see and do.  Too little space and time to write.  I will cover Townsend again in the spring.

Milford NH, Cultural Mecca in midst of Country Town

Only 30 min from the Manchester Airport there are plenty of places to stay in surrounding towns of Merrimack, Nashua and Amherst, in the event of a fall weekend getaway. The small quaint town of Milford, however busy and bustling with activity, does not afford much in the way of lodging unlike everything else.

As you enter the town center you are greeted with the Milford Oval. Not a town square or circle. This is the first indication that Milford is a bit different. This is valuable real estate. Though not a huge plot of land Milford uses every inch of it to the maximum benefit. Above you will find a photo of a celebration on the oval going back to the first half of the 1900s just prior to the 50s.

Milford Improvement  Team
FB page photo

Milford Improvement  Team
FB page photo

 One of the biggest events on the Oval is coming up very soon. It is the annual event, the Great Pumpkin Festival.
This year it is planned for the weekend of October 11 through the 13th. There will be pumpkins of course (with a pumpkin lighting), scarecrow making, fireworks, crafts, music, face painting, Beer and Wine Tasting, Chili Round Up and the annual talent show sponsored by and held at the Amato Center which is a part of the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley.  This club is one of only 6 with fully functioning theater facilities. Along with striving to provide promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence, as is their stated purpose, the club provides a major entertainment element in the Hillsborough county area, which includes Nashua and Manchester. 

This brings me to the cultural center of this bustling town, the .Amato Center for the Performing Arts.

According to Robin LaCroix the Director of Theater Arts at the center, it is also the home theater of the Boys and Girl's Club's Riverbend Youth Company (who will be presenting The Sound of Music from Nov, 8th-17th) and Riverbend School of Theater Arts programs as well as the Milford Area Players who present two annual productions at the theater, one spring and one fall. It is also rented out for private productions. One such production will open October 3rd for a local author who has adapted her children's book Princess K.I.M. to a musical,  
RIVERBEND YOUTH COMPANY AND SCHOOL OF THEATER ARTS  provides training, guidance, and enrichment to youth, producing theater at a professional level for community audiences, supporting the Boys and Girls club goals. The student theater has been recognized  in several ways including awards for acting, set and costume design and choreography as well as requests for performances, producing and directing at National and State regional  theater conferences. The Amato Center is named for the benefactors, Nancy and Paul Amato, who purchased the orignal American Stage Festival land and buildings, which had been closed for approximately 5 years. They donated the land and structure to the Boys and Girls club (which had been operating out of a strip mall plaza on the outskirts of town) with the expressed intent that the club build their facilities around the theater.  Since 2005 the theater and surrounding facility has weathered a major flood and needed to be restored. With the help of a very appreciative community the effort took only 6 weeks to restore in 2007 and when threatened with another such situation in 2009 the emergency plan put in place as a result was a huge success. This is a testament to the appreciation the community holds for the the organization in light of their community service programs inclusive of diversion programs working with the court system and providing after school programs and scholarships. Links above provide details for upcoming shows and events.

There are several unique shopping experiences, antique shops and restaurants in town not to mention the surrounding area. I can only focus on a few and so I have limited myself to what is considered the best and most interesting and located in Milford itself. The NH Antique Coop which defines itself as the finest group shop in NH, could be defined as an alternative to a museum. There are so many museum quality offerings (left picture) it reminds me of the Flagler Museum in St. Augustine which is built around collections, not exhibits. For those of us whose wallets might not support museum quality purchases, the shop also has a Discovery Barn (pictured to right) and a Loft offering diamonds in the ruff with less impact on your wallet. Currently they are celebrating their 30th anniversary with many sales and festivities going on throughout the store through the fall.

Hayward Trading Post and Country Store offers leathers, sweaters, moccasins, jewelry and candy. Fun place to browse. The River Card Room provides table game casino excitement with some food and drink. Tasty Tobacco Shop, next door, provides smokes and accessories and is not the only game in town as the Yessah Smoke shop can be found down the road. In the summer there is the outdoor  Milford Drive-In providing digitally converted movies on dual screens. For days when you have to resort to indoor fun there is also Milford's Lefty's Lanes serving food and drink as well as karaoke and live music. See site for details. 

Restaurants around the oval itself include Riverhouse Cafe for breakfast and lunch, the Pasta Loft for lunch and dinner, Red Arrow Diner and Foodees for pizza. Outside of town there are two very fine restaurants, Giorgio's Mediterranean and Italian  serving lunch and dinner and Mile Away serving dinner limited days of the week.  If you can't  find enough to do in Milford to keep you busy for a great fall weekend, without ever leaving the small town, you are just not trying.

GrotonFest Has It All, Make a Weekend of It

If you are interested in fun, food and collectibles, you will find it all at GrotonFest 2013. Refer to the link for a list of businesses and vendors as well as schedule of events. 


Groton celebrated it's 350th anniversary in 2005. It is one of the oldest towns in Massachusetts and so in the country. It has withstood many hardships, not the least of which was being nearly irreparably destroyed by fire during King Phillips war, if not for the resolve of the townspeople to return and rebuild. Still today it appears the quiet New England oasis in a very busy and unsettled world. Just spending the day there can begin to melt the cares away. It is a town with a slower pace where health food stores and eastern medicine coexist profitably with a modern hospital and large grocery chain stores. Expect to find these business represented at the festival along with craft and food vendors. 

To start the first fall weekend, there will be an auction Friday evening Sept. 20, 2013 sponsored by the Groton Historical Society at the Groton Country Club with Hor d'Oeuvres and a Cash Bar.
The festival itself will take place Saturday Sept 21, 2013 (rain date Sunday Sept. 22) in Groton MA. See map below: 

More than 150 business, non-profit and artisan booths, llama's, all kinds of amazing food and much more. FREE, handicap accessible. Craft vendors will include the likes of SQUG where they create these squeezable, huggable, funky, one-of-a-kind toys that children of all ages enjoy
 
and Doll Designs by Jane where they design the most adorable outfits for 18 in dolls.


There are too many other craft vendors represented  to mention but just a few that I can link to, include Harry's Bird Houses,  Balanced Khaos , 8th Wonder Clothing for your Soul , Massapoag Pond Photography , Laura's Loops and so many more. 
As usual representation by many different types of businesses including Food vendors such as Balckbird Cafe, Devens Grille, Gibbet Hill Grille, Whacky Candy Shack and Fudge Everything will be onsite. 

While there are several options for a meal, a uniquely quaint rustic and very inviting New England drive in for breakfast, lunch, dinner or ice cream while in town is the not to be missed Johnson Drive In Restaurant and Dairy Bar. 

Overnight lodging is a bit more difficult to find but in surrounding towns like Ayer and Leominster you will find several options like Hilton Garden Inn, Sheraton, Super 8 etc. 

Take a lazy ride out to Groton Center on a wonderful Fall weekend and enjoy the festivities.