October

10/1 How To Pseudonymously Self-Publish a Novel 7 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, Society Road, Niantic; J. Jeffrey, also known as Andrew Pessin, Professor of Philosophy at Connecticut College, will speak about his newest work of fiction, "The Second Daughter"; free; (860) 739-6926.

10/1 Art in the Ames Room Mystic & Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic; local photography work is displayed through Oct. 30; (860) 536-7721.

10/3 Mystic Gallery Stroll 6-8 p.m., Downtown Mystic; shops and galleries stay open late and hold open houses; mysticart.org.

10/3 Science for Everyone 7 p.m., Essex Town Hall, Essex; Pradeep Mutalik, associate research scientist at Yale University School of Medicine presents "How Puzzles Make Us Human"; sponsored by Essex Library; registration required; (860) 767-1560.

10/3 Haunted Halloween 6-9 p.m., Ukleja Farms, 81 Old Colchester Road, Oakdale; this walking tour of the tree farm will take you over the troll bridge, past the newly unearthed cemetery filled with skeletons, flying witches and of ghosts and goblins; Fri. and Sat. through Oct. 27; $8 adults, $5 ages 5-12, free ages 4 and under; (860) 443-8717.

10/4 USA Ballroom Dance 8-11 p.m., East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Road, Niantic; Foxtrot lesson 7 p.m.; DJ Piers; $10, $5 USA Dance members.

10/4 Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Mystic Arts Center, 9 Water St., Mystic; a local chef will create a dish with ingredients available at the market; downtownmysticmerchants@gmail.com.

10/4 First Friday Live Sounds 8 p.m., Norwich Arts Center, 60 Broadway, Norwich; Wooden Horse performing hits of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and America; all welcome; $20; norwicharts.org.

10/4 Wee Faerie Village in the Land of Oz Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme St., Old Lyme; through Nov. 3; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.; open Columbus Day 10-5; $15 adults, $14 seniors, $13 students, free for ages 12 and under; flogris.org.

10/4 "Dracula" Bradley Playhouse, 30 Front St., Route 44, Putnam; through Oct. 20; 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun.; $17 $14 seniors, students, children; (860) 928-7887.

10/5 Manhattan Short Film Festival 7:30 p.m., Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; view ten nominated films selected from some of the best filmmakers and then vote; $10; (860) 444-7373

10/5 40th Birthday Party Weekend 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mystic Aquarium, Coogan Blvd., Mystic; two days of special activities and entertainment; view historical photos and see special 40th anniversary promotions; mysticaquarium.org.

10/5 Hammonassett Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Hammonassett Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Road, Madison; celebration of nature and honoring Native American traditions through Native music, dance, hands-on-demonstrations, environmental and museum exhibits and vendors; $5, free for ages 10 and under free; also Oct. 6; (203) 640-9684.

10/5 Laurel Double Reed Ensemble 2 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, Society Road, Niantic; chamber group that performs in various combinations of Oboe, Oboe d'amore, English Horn and Bassoon; members include Anne Megan, Kathryn Giampietro, Marilyn Krentzman and Rebecca Noreen; free; (860) 739-6926.

10/5 Great Pumpkin Fair 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Quaker Hill Baptist Church, 144 Old Norwich Road, Quaker Hill; tag sale, crafts, lunch and baked goods; www.qhbc.org, (860) 442-8856.

10/5 Simon Powis 5-6 p.m., La Grua Center, 32 Water St., Stonington; presents Simon Powis; part of the Music Matters Series; free; (860) 535-2300.

10/6 Mystic Pirate Invasion noon-8 p.m., Downtown Mystic; pirates arrive via the Argia and fire muskets and cannons and invade the town; treasure map will be created to lead visitors to participating shops where pirates will be leaving pirate booty for guests; arts and crafts in Mystic River Park; pirate music and singing; lcapshaw@ctmedia.com.

10/6 Vettes at the Village 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Olde Mistick Village, Coogan Blvd., Mystic; more than 250 corvettes are on display; $10 per car donation to exhibit parking area; proceeds benefit local charities; rain date Oct 14; oldemistickvillage.com.

10/6 Walking Tour of Ye Antientist Burial Ground 2 p.m. Meet at the burying ground, corner of Hempstead snd Granite streets, New London; tour one of the earliest cemeteries in New England with New London Historian Sally Ryan and conservator Lance Mayer; $5; free to Connecticut Landmarks members.

10/9 The Music of Kenny Cunningham 7 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, Society Road, Niantic; Cunningham. from Liverpool, England and will play a wide range of acoustic hits from the 60's and 70's; free; (860) 739-6926.

10/10 "The Sound of Music" 8 p.m., Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly; 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun.; through Nov. 17; $20, $17 seniors, $12 children; (401) 596-2341.

10/10 "Harvey" Groton Senior Center, Route 117, Groton; Groton Regional Theatre stages Mary Chase's story of a man's close friendship with a large rabbit that's invisible to all but him; 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun.; Oct. 12-13 and Oct. 26-27; (860) 446-1363.

10/12 Groton Festival 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Poquonnock Plains Park, Fort Hill Road, Groton; community-wide event organized by the Groton Business Association with a variety of entertainment including children's entertainer Steve Elci and Friends, guitarist Lou Manzi, April's Balloons and Simply Enchanted; vendors and more; free; grotonbiz.org.

10/12 Chowder Days at Mystic Seaport 9 a.m,.-5 p.m., Mystic Seaport, Greenmanville Ave., Route 27, Mystic; annual Columbus weekend event with numerous selections of chowders and apple fritters and mulled cider; museum admission is required to attend and does not include food or beverages; mysticseaport.org.

10/12 Native American Jewelry Show & Sale 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Southern Exposure, Olde Mistick Village, Coogan Blvd., Mystic; Golden Fleece Trading Company, father and son operation from Albuquerque; also Sun.; (860) 572-1007.

10/12 All Things Pumpkin 2-4 p.m., Mystic & Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic; activities and games for children including a magic show; free; (860) 536-7721.

10/13 26th Annual Highland Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Edward Waldo Homestead, Waldo Road, Scotland; parade of the bands and welcoming ceremony at noon; bagpiping, drumming, dancing and athletic competitions, vendor, sheep herding and animals of Scottish heritage; music, harp circle, Celtic bands, story tellers and more; $14, $10 seniors, students, $5 children; www.scotlandgames.org.

10/14 Boat-Making Workshop 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m., Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, 409 Main St., Niantic; learn about sink and float before creating, and decorating your own boat; $2 fee; registration required; (860) 691-1111.

10/15 Art After Dark 6-8:30 p.m., Mystic Arts Center, 9 Water St., Mystic; live art and live music by Green Tea; inside if rain; $15, $12 members, $3 children 4 and up; (860) 536-7601.

10/15 Author James T. deKay 7 p.m., Bill Library, 718 Col. Ledyard Highway, Ledyard; deKay discusses and signs his book, "Roosevelt's Navy"; (860) 464-9912.

10/16 Film and Discussion 5:30 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, Society Road, Niantic; screening of "The Birds" is followed by discussion; free; (860) 739-6926.

10/17 Rockets' Red Glare 6 p.m., La Grua Center, 32 Water St., Stonington; artifacts from the War of 1812 and the Battle of Stonington, led by Fred Calabretta, Curator of Collections at Mystic Seaport; free; (860) 535-2300, stoningtonhistory.org.

10/17 Open Mic 6:30 p.m., Norwich Arts Center, 60 Broadway, Norwich; all asked to bring a can of food for a local food pantry; free; norwicharts.org.

10/17 Discover Local Authors 6:30 p.m., Groton Senior Center, Route 117, Groton; Betty J. Cotter of Wakefield, RI; Cotter will discuss her recent novel, "The Winters," about a troubled family living on the coast of Rhode Island during the 1970's; free; (860) 441-6750.

10/18 Haunted Garden and Monster Shindig 6:30-8:30 p.m., Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, 409 Main St., Niantic; festivities are held both indoors and outdoors, weather permitting; costumes are welcome; also Oct. 19; $7, $4 member, $25-$30 family maximums; (860) 691-1111.

10/18 Sensory-Friendly Haunted Garden 5:30-6:30 p.m., Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, 409 Main St., Niantic; annual funny and frightful (but not too scary) Halloween celebration intended for families with members on the autism spectrum or requiring sensory-friendly events; outdoors, weather permitting; $7, $4 member, $25-$30 family maximums; (860) 691-1111.

10/18 USA Ballroom Dance 7-10 p.m., East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Road, Niantic; $5.

10/18 Dia de los Muertos Southern Exposure in Olde Mistick Village celebrates the cultural holiday "Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead) with an exhibition related to these traditions through Nov. 8; an ofrenda (altar) will be set up with traditional offerings and customary objects such as sugar skulls, copal incense, and marigolds; visitors are invited to add mementos of loved ones which will be returned after the exhibition is over; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; (860) 572-1007.

10/18 East Lyme Historical Society Fall Pot Luck 6 p.m., Niantic Bay Yacht Club, Crescent Beach, Niantic; BYOB, set ups will be available; bring a main dish, salad or dessert along with serving utensils; speaker follows dinner; eastlymehistoricalsociety.org.

10/18 Sights & Frights 5-9 p.m., Mystic Seaport, Greenmanville Ave., Mystic; visitors will walk the decorated grounds of the Museum's 19th-century village to encounter spooky locations and activities; special area for young children; also Oct. 19 and 25-26; advanced tickets availalble; mysticseaport.org, (860) 672-5322.

10/19 International Film Series and Discussion 2-5 p.m., Mystic & Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic; call for title; (860) 536-7721.

10/19 Penguin Walk 9 a.m., Mystic Aquarium, Coogan Blvd., Mystic; every step you take during the 5k run or two-mile walk helps benefit the endangered African penguin; all registrants receive free aquarium admission on race day; mysticaquarium.org.

10/19 Do It Yourself 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Public Library of New London, 63 Huntington St., New London; from raising chicken to making craft beer, you can learn how to do almost anything; free; (860) 447-1411.

10/19 Book Sale 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Otis Library, 261 Main St., Norwich; early bird preview today 9-10 a.m. for $10 fee; also 10-3 Sat. and noon-3 Sun.; (860) 889-2365.

10/19 NORWICH Author Zachary Lamothe 1 p.m., Otis Library, 261 Main St., Norwich; "Connecticut Lore: Strange, Off-Kilter & Full of Surprises"; free; (860) 889-2365.

10/20 Geology Cruise on the RiverQuest, join retired State Geologist Ralph Lewis for a sunset cruise on this 54-foot excursion boat; 3:30 p.m. departure from Eagle Landing Park, Route 82, Haddam; wine and specially prepared hors d'oeuvres will be provided; $45. $40 for members of the Lyme Public Hall Association; advance payment required by emailing llewis81051@gmail.com or calling (860) 526-8886, www.lymepublichall.org.

10/20 Ride to End Violence Hosted by Blue Slope Farm in Franklin to benefit Safe Futures, New London County's domestic violence and sexual assault service agency; for information call (860) 447-0366 ext. 203 or (860) 912-9536, www.SafeFuturesCT.org

10/22 Chanticleer 7:30 p.m., George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High St., Westerly; Grammy award-winning vocal ensemble; Chorus of Westerly's Masters Series; $25-$70; (401) 596-8663.

10/24 Friends of Fort Trumbull 7-8:30 p.m., Fort Trumbull Conference Center, 90 Walbach St., New London; April Grant and Faye Ringel- The Midnight Belles- bring the War of 1812 to life in song. music from the War of 1812 with The Midnight Belles; all welcome.

10/24 "Snapshots" Norma Terris Theater, 33 North Main St., Chester; a couple's 30 year marriage is failing until they discover a box of photographs which leads them to relive the memories of their past selves; through Nov. 17; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wed., 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. and 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sun.; $48.50; (860) 873-8668.

10/25 Hempstead Halloween 6-9 p.m., Hempstead Houses, 11 Hempstead St., New London; explore New London's oldest house by candlelight while hearing about colonial myths and superstitions; refreshments; recommended for ages 12 and up; $5/per person or $10/family; free for CT Landmarks members.

10/25 Halloween Party 1-4 p.m., Hempstead Houses, 11 Hempstead St., New London; make a spook-tacular mask and enjoy cider and cookies; all ages; $5/person ($10/family); free for kids who wear their costumes and for Connecticut Landmarks members.

10/25 Black Tie & Blue Jeans Blast 6:30-11 p.m., Port n Starboard, Ocean Beach Park, New London; dance and silent auction to benefit the Natalie Anderson Children's Fund at Safe Futures; $25; (860) 447-0366 ext. 203. www.SafeFuturesCT.org.

10/26 Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra 8 p.m., Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; opening show of the season with Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada; post concert reception; $29 to $62; $12 students and active military; (860) 443-2876.

10/26 Spooky Nature Trail 5:30-7:30 p.m., Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, 109 Pequotsepos Road, Mystic; families are invited to