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Written By Janet Kelly

Something there is about autumn, to paraphrase Robert Frost, that produces corn mazes, Halloween and the prelude to Christmas. The harvest is in, or almost, and the growing season gives way to rejoicing. The uncertainty of life lies just beneath the surface, expressed in the wearing of colorful costumes to ward off ghosts before the coming holidays.

Carroll County has all of that and more.

We have put together a list of seasonal events for your choice and enjoyment. Here it is, divided roughly into festivals, Halloween events and holiday opportunities:

Fall Festivals

Oct. 1-2

Fall Harvest Days 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Scarecrow-making, wagon rides, apple butter-making, demonstrations, country food, crafts, entertainment and children’s games. Carroll County Farm Museum, Westminster. Information: Dottie Freeman, 410-386-3880 or www.carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org.

Harvest Daze Noon-5 p.m. Time for real winemaking with the Ôreds’. $ Galloping Goose Vineyards, 4326 Maple Grove Road, Hampstead. Information; Brittany, 410-374-6596.

Oct. 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30

Corn Maze 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2-6 p.m. Sunday. Group rates and times available. Carroll County Agricultural Center, 706 Agricultural Center Drive, Westminster. Information: Nichole, 410-848-6704 or www.carrollcountyagcenter.com.

Oct. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30

Octoberfest 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Straw maze, hayrides, scarecrow workshops, Pick-your-own pumpkins; haunted house, farm zoo. $ Spring Meadow Farms, 15513 Hanover Pike, Upperco. Information: 410-239-8505.

Larriland Farm 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Straw maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch. $ Larriland Farms, 2415 Woodbine Road, Woodbine. Information: 410-442-2605 or 301-854-6110.

Fall Fun at Baugher’s 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pony and hayrides, pumpkins, scarecrow making. Food, fresh apples, cider and ice cream. Baugher’s Orchard & Farm, 1236 Baugher Road, Westminster. Information: 410-848-5541.

Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Oct. 1-2 honor the military. Corn maze is open Friday-Sunday. Pumpkins, corn maze, Pirate Cove, hayrides, pony rides, face painting and petting zoo. $ Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch, 6521 Holter Road, Middletown. Information: 301-371-6874 or www.jumbos.org/farmactivities/cornmaze.php.

Cornfusion at Quality Evergreens 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Corn maze, hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkins, kid’s play area, barnyard zoo, fall decorations and picnic area. 7-10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays – Flashlight mazes Fridays and Saturdays. $ Quality Evergreens, 2020 Garrett Road, Manchester. Information: 410-374-1499 or info@qualityevergreens.com.

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Maizefest noon-6 p.m. Six-acre corn maze, pony and hayrides, pumpkins, games, food and more. $ River Valley Ranch, 4443 Grave Run Road, Manchester. Information: LaDessa, 443-712-1010.

Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Fire Circles Call for times. Farm retreat to reconnect people with the earth. Free. White Rose Farm, 5009 Teeter Road, Taneytown. Information: 410-756-9303.

Saturday, Oct. 8

3rd Annual MSW Fall Harvest Festival and Open Air Farmers Market 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Market opens; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Festival. Crafts, moonbounce, petting zoo, pony rides, entertainment, food and more. $ Montessori School of Westminster, 1055 Montessori Drive, Westminster. Information: Laura Gulley 443-604-8878.

Fall Fest and Car Show 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Indoor entertainment, crafts, quilt raffle, silent auction, plants, baked goods and food. Family hayride, car show antique, classic and custom/street rod (fee to register vehicle). Pleasant Valley Fire Hall, 2030 S. Pleasant Valley Road, Westminster. Information: Betty Cree, 410-346-7663 or www.saintmatthewsucc.org.

38th Annual Sykesville Fall Festival 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fall crafts, food, vendors, live entertainment, music and kid’s activities. Main Street closed to traffic. Free shuttle service from Freedom Park off Route 32. Main Street, Sykesville. Rain date Oct. 15. Information: 410-795-8959 or www.sykesville.net/main.

First Annual Corn Toss Tournament 11 a.m.-7 p.m. All ages and abilities. Fabulous prizes. Food, live music, beer tent. $ Railyard, 3 N. Main Street, Mt. Airy. Information: 301-829-8300 or www.mountairymainstreet.org.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Taneytown Harvest Fest 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Crafters, vendors, fall flowers and vegetables, children’s activities, music and food. Taneytown Memorial Park, 56 Memorial Park Drive, Taneytown. Information: Nancy McCormick, 410-751-1100 or www.taneytown.org.

Sunday, Oct. 30

Apple Butter Market 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Live music, bake sale, kid’s activities, AW Boy fries, food, pottery, crafts, jewelry and apple butter. South Branch Park, Main Street and West Friendship Road, Sykesville. Information: Ivy Wells, 410-795-8959 or www.sykesville.net/dapple.

Saturday, Nov. 12

Harvest Fun Run 9 a.m. – Two hundred yard dash for children ages 6 and under; 9:15 a.m. – One mile fun run for ages 7 and up; 9:30 a.m. – Timed 5K. $ Registration fee. Proceeds benefit the Carroll County Youth Services Bureau and the Westminster Family Fitness Center Group Fitness Program. Wakefield Valley Community Trail, Tahoma Farm Road. Information: 410-751-5501.

Through Nov. 16

Fall Fun Festival 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Pick-your-own pumpkins, corn and bale mazes, tunnels, giant slides, hayrides, farm animals, and food concessions. $ Gaver Tree Farm & Pumpkin Patch, 5501 Detrick Road, Mt. Airy. Information: 301-865-3515.

Halloween Events

Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-23, 28-29

Bedlam in the Boro 7-10:30 p.m. Scary haunted house and four-mile-long haunted hayride. $ Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department, 4224 Main Street, Lineboro. Information: 410-239-4670 or www.lineborovfd.com.

Oct. 13-14, 18-19, 21, 26-27, 31

Ghost Walk 6:30 p.m. Ghost presentation and evening stroll through Westminster to visit local ghosts and hear the legends. Walk is approximately 1/5 mile. Ages 10-Adult; children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required on week before walk. Group walk for 10 or more available. Jillian, 410-386-4490, ext. 7723. Westminster CCPL. Information: 410-386-4488.

Oct. 16, 23

Bedlam in the Boro (Non-Scary) 2-4 p.m. Non-scary hayride for kids of all ages. See Sept. 29 for additional information. $ Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department. Information: 410-239-4670 or www.lineborovfd.com.

Saturday, Oct 22

Halloween Boo Bash 10 a.m. Children’s literature, fun arts and craft activities held to celebrate Halloween. Hosted by Stevenson University’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi. Ages 2-10, children 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Registration begins Oct. 8. Finksburg CCPL. Information: 410-386-4488.

Tuesday, Oct. 25

Westminster Halloween Parade 7 p.m. Annual parade, starting at Dutterer’s Park on Monroe Street, going down Pennsylvania Avenue to Main Street and ending on Longwell Avenue. Coordinated by the American Legion Post #31. Information: 410-857-7953.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Spooky Storytime 2 p.m. Spooky stories and trick or treat. Wear your costume. Light refreshments will be served. Ages 2-6, children 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Registration begins Oct. 12. Westminster Library. Information/registration: 410-386-4488.

Thursday, Oct. 27

KidWorks Presents Happy Halloween 6:30 p.m. Stories, songs and activities about Halloween. Wear your costume. All ages; children 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Eldersburg Library. Information: 410-386-4488.

Friday, Oct. 28

Halloween Carnival 10:30 a.m.-noon. Costumes, games and special. Lunch reservations due by Oct. 24. North Carroll Senior and Community Center. Information: 410-386-3900.

Saturday, Oct. 29

7th Annual Halloween Bench Press 11 a.m. Sponsored by the Westminster Family Fitness Center. $ Registration deadline is Oct. 15; forms can be returned to The Family Center or GNC in Cranberry Square Shopping Center. Information: 410-751-5501.

Haunted CafŽ 1-3 p.m. Saturday before Halloween and the Mt. Airy CCPL has a treat. Light afternoon refreshments served to club members. Play games, try reading some manga! Also celebrating Culture Day in Japan (which happens on Nov. 3). Wear your costume. All ages; children 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Mt. Airy CCPL. Information: 410-386-4488.

Bedlam in the Boro Halloween Parade 4 p.m. Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department. Information: 410-239-4670 or www.lineborovfd.com.

Monday, Oct. 31

Spooktacular Halloween Celebration 10 a.m. Costume contest, Halloween parade, apple dunking and more. RSVP by Oct. 24. Westminster Senior and Community Center. Information: 410-386-3850.

Halloween Monster Mash 10 a.m. Scary monster stories and costume parade. All ages; children 3 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. North Carroll CCPL. Information: 410-386-4488.

Halloween Party noon. Come in costume. “Trunk-r-Treat” is part of the activities. Mt. Airy Senior and Community Center. Information: 301-829-2407 or 410-795-1017.

Observing The Holidays

Nov. 4-5

27th Christmas in the Country Bazaar 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. – Nov. 4; 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 5. Crafts, gift baskets, tree decorations, bake table, silent auction, White Elephant table, flea market, and food. Oakland United Methodist Church Hall, 501 Mineral Hill Road, Eldersburg. Information: Myrna Tracey, 410-795-2029.

Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17

Carroll County Farmers’ Market 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Agriculture Center, Westminster. Information: Anita Bullock, 410-848-7748. Schedule:

  • Nov. 5 Holiday Market Opening Day. Health fair with blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. Baked goods, eggs, jams and jellies, gourmet foods, plants, handmade crafts and fine art.
  • Nov. 12 Art Guild Show and Authors Day: Local Art Guild show and sale; local published authors. Handmade crafts, baked goods, gourmet foods and more.
  • Nov. 19 Open House: Door prizes, handmade crafts, fine art, baked goods, eggs, nuts, jams and jellies, plants, and seasonal decorations.
  • Nov. 26 Santa is Coming: Santa Claus visits the market. Handmade crafts, fine art, baked goods, eggs, gourmet foods, nuts, and more.
  • Dec. 3, 10, 17 Christmas Markets.

Nov. 8

Make Your Own Holiday Greeting Cards 6:30 p.m. Add a personal touch to your holiday greetings this year. Learn card making techniques to create cards you can send. Supplies; provided. Registration begins Oct. 25. Adults. North Carroll CCPL. Information: 410-386-4488.

Nov. 10-12

38th Annual Mistletoe Mart 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Nov. 10-11; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 12; Juried arts and crafts featuring pottery, stained glass, jewelry, baskets and unique gifts. CafŽ serving lunch and dinner. Hourly door prizes. Quilt raffle. $ Church of the Ascension, 23 N. Court Street, Westminster. Information: 410-848-3251 or www.mistletoemart.org.

Nov. 11-12

The Shoppes at Sandy Mount 6-9 p.m. Nov. 11; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 12. Crafts, attic treasures, books, baked goods, photos with Santa, face painting, vendors, silent auction, Nativity display. Dinner Nov. 11, breakfast/lunch Nov. 12. Sandy Mount United Methodist Church, 2101 Old Westminster Pike, Finksburg. Information: Sandy Poe, 410-876-2749.

Nov. 19-20

Santa’s Christmas Craft Show 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 19; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 20. Santa arrives by helicopter on Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. (weather permitting). Photos with the kids. Food available. Agriculture Center, Westminster. Information: Candace Ferguson, 717-642-5646.

Nov. 22-Dec. 3

SERRV Overstock Sale 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Nov. 27; closed Thanksgiving Day. New handmade overstock items from 35 countries. Blue Ridge Building, Brethren Service Center, 500 Main Street, New Windsor. Information: Carmen Rubio-Cooke, 410-635-8711 or www.serrv.org.

Nov. 25-26, Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24

Santa House 6-8 p.m. Keepsake photo with Santa. Cookies and hot chocolate. Santa’s Village, Hampstead. Donations benefit NESAP, The North East Social Action Program. Sponsored by the Hampstead Business Association.

Nov. 30-Dec. 4

14th Annual Festival of Wreaths 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 3; noon-4 p.m. Dec. 4. Hundreds of uniquely-decorated theme wreaths on display. Silent Auction. Vote for favorites. Carroll Arts Center. Information: Sandy Oxx, 410-848-7272 or www.carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

Nov. 25-Dec. 10

5th Annual Festival of Trees 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Silent auction closes Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. Features will be over 50 lighted and decorated Christmas trees. Proceeds to benefit The Shepherd’s Staff outreach programs. Train village, sponsored by the Westminster Rotary Club, will be raffled off. The Belk Court, Town Mall of Westminster. Information: 410-857-5944.

Saturday, Nov. 12

Holly Mart 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Handmade candy, crafts, vendors, silent auction, White Elephant room, baked goods and lunch. $ Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 4901 Woodbine Road, Sykesville. Information: Julie Partridge, 410-795-6136 or www.ebenezerumchurch.org.

Christmas in the Valley 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Train garden, craft vendors, baked goods, lunch. $ Pleasant Valley Fire Hall, 2030 S. Pleasant Valley Road, Westminster. Information: Kim Thomas, 443-293-7117.

Christmas Bazaar 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Handmade crafts, baked goods, silent auction, gently used Christmas Shop, train gardens, hayrides, food and wood shop demonstrations. $ Taylorsville United Methodist Church, 4356 Ridge Road, Mt. Airy. Information: 410-875-4101 or www.taylorsvilleumc.org.

Saturday, Nov. 19

Elf Hunt 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Find the Elves for Santa. They have escaped from the North Pole to Downtown Taneytown Main Street shops (East and West Baltimore Streets). Santa needs them back. Cards stamped from store to store to be eligible for prizes. All downtown Main Street shops participate. Drawing for free gifts from all the shops at 5 p.m. Information: Nancy McCormick, 410-751-9090.

Christmas in Shipley Christmas Bazaar 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Holiday gifts, treats, jams, pickles, baked goods, rafts, light refreshments and Santa Shop for children. Zion United Methodist Church, 2716 Old Washington Road, Westminster. Information: Mary Lee Diffendal, 410-833-6295.

Annual Christmas in the Country Bazaar 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Handmade crafts, homemade baked goods, candy, cheese balls. White elephant table. Santa will be present for pictures with the children. Children’s special gift purchasing room. Lunch, including hand-patted oysters. Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church, 961 Johnsville Road, Eldersburg. Information: Christine Engles, 410-552-5821.

Sunday, Nov. 20

Great Westminster Train Show 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Displays of toy trains and related items for sale. Food. $ Agriculture Center, Westminster. Information: Richard Liebno, 410-848-4929.

Saturday, Nov. 26

Westminster Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Holiday Parade and Santa’s Treat 5 p.m. Electric Holiday Parade downtown; 6 p.m. tree lighting ceremony on Locust Lane. Winter Carnival with crafts, games and rides for children 5-12 at the Old Armory Building, 11 Longwell Avenue. Westminster Municipal Band plays seasonal music. Carol singing, awarding of the Mayor’s Cup. Purchase a treat from the holiday bake sale and receive a free cup of hot chocolate. Santa’s treat presented after the parade at the Armory. Information: Ron Schroers 410-848-6962 or www.westminstermd.gov.