Grafton
Haunted Hayride – Friday, Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Enter “The Forest of Fear” and encounter your worst nightmares. Sponsored by the Grafton Lions Club. Information and tickets: https://www.graftonlionsclub.org/2024-haunted-woods-hayride.html
Fall Festival – Sunday, Oct. 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grafton Common. Come decorate a pumpkin and build a scarecrow, while supplies last. There will also be music, food, games and more. Presented by Grafton Children’s Daycare and Preschool. Information: www.graftonrec.com.
Friendly Trick or Treat – Wednesday, Oct. 30, 3 to 4 p.m., Grafton Municipal Center, Providence Road. Designed for children age 5 years and younger. All are welcome; costumes encouraged. Sponsored by the town of Grafton. Visit Town Hall offices; there will also be a table with the Grafton Public Library. Information: www.graftonrec.com.
Hudson
Cemetery Tours – The Recreation Department will present “Cemetery Tours by the Hudson Historical Society” on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Main Street Cemetery, 410 Main St.
Listen to historical anecdotes while taking a walk around the cemetery, guided by members of the Historical Society.
Tickets are $10 per person, and registration may be done online at www.hudsonrecreation.org, or by visiting the Recreation office.
Preregistration is required.
Children will be allowed only if accompanied by an adult.
Downtown Trick or Treat – Thursday, Oct. 24, 4 to 6 p.m. Rain or shine. Sponsored by the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce. Information: www.assabetvalleychamber.org.
Marlborough
Horribles Parade – Thursday, Oct. 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Residents are invited to bring their little ones for some trick-or-treating and Halloween parade. Come in costume and share in the Halloween spirit.
Trick-or-treating will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and the parade, featuring the Marlborough High School and Middle School marching bands, will start at 5:30 p.m.
If you are a non-Main Street business, organization, or vendor who would like to participate in the event, please fill out the participation form here at https://www.marlborough-ma.gov/…/horribles-parade-2024
Halloween Street Fair – Saturday, Oct. 26, noon to 3 p.m., Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company, 19 Weed St. Specialty street vendors, music, food, free face painting and so much more. Costumes encouraged.
Trunk or Treat – Sunday, Oct. 27, noon to 3 p.m., The Campus at Marlborough, 100 Campus Drive. A free family event where children may safely trick or treat from community-sponsored cars. Sponsored by the GFWC Marlborough Junior Woman’s Club. Information: https://www.facebook.com/marlborojuniors/
Nightmare Marlborough Presents “Holidays in Hell” – Oct. 26 and 27, 6 to 9 p.m.; Oct. 31, 6 to 9 p.m. (kid-friendly hour from 5 to 6 p.m.), 111 Brimsmead St. Nightmare Marlborough is an all-volunteer, family-run Haunted House. You’ll love this fun maze through the garage and front yard with plentiful props, scenes and actors of every age to treat you to a fun Halloween walk-through. Admission is a nonperishable food donation for the Marlborough Community Cupboard. Information: https://www.halloweennewengland.com/events/nightmare-marlborough-haunted-house
Northborough
Scarecrow Day – Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to noon, Assabet Park. Sponsored by Northborough Recreation. Free. Bases available at the Recreation office at Town Hall. Assemble your scarecrow and drop them off at the park on Oct. 19. The DPW will hang all the scarecrows on posts. All families are welcome. Information: https://www.facebook.com/share/oVFsipP8Q8HLuNSu/
Trunk or Treat – Tuesday, Oct. 22, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Northborough Senior Center. Town departments and civic organizations will be at the center’s parking lot for safe Halloween fun.
Jack O’Lantern Stroll – Friday, Oct. 25, 3:30 to 6 p.m., Town Common. The Community Affairs Committee is bringing the Jack O’Lantern Stroll and Contest back this year. Bring your carved and/or decorated pumpkins for display to the Town Common on Oct. 25 between 3:30 to 6 p.m. The event will feature music, candy, facepainting, tattoos and donuts given to those who come in costume.
Entry into the contest is for Northborough residents only. The pumpkins will be lit that night and on display through Sunday with voting taking place over the weekend. It is free to enter, though a donation to the Northborough Food Pantry is encouraged. Sign up at: https://forms.gle/B8PA9SCPqbLuoCBk7.
Shrewsbury
Haunted Hillando – Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26,6 to 10 p.m., Ski Ward, 1000 Main St., Shrewsbury. It’s a new location for the haunted house, but it’s the same folks running it, and the same fundraiser for Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services Inc. For updates, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/hauntedhillando/; to get tickets, go to https://buyonline.skiward.com/events
Scary Movie Night – Friday, Oct. 18, 8 to 10 p.m., Hebert Candy Mansion. 574 Turnpike Road. Come watch “The Amityville Horror.” Tickets are $5. Sponsored by Shrewsbury Recreation. To get tickets, visit https://shrewsburyma.myrec.com/…/program_details.aspx…
Truck or Treat – Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to noon, Shrewsbury Town Hall. Sensory-friendly hour from 9 to 10 a.m. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Shrewsbury Recreation.
Southborough
Trunk or Treat and More – Saturday, Oct. 26. Starts with parade at Public Safety Building at 3 p.m., followed by the Trunk-or-Treat at Woodward Elementary School lower lot, 28 Cordaville Road. Dinner options will be available for purchase starting at 5 p.m. Bring your camping chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy a drive-in-style movie at dusk. Co-sponsored by Southborough Recreation and the Southborough Fire Association.
Hunt for Halloween Mushrooms Guided Hike – Saturday, Oct. 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Chestnut Hill Farm, Chestnut Hill Road. Our special foray will be to find fungi, and we will focus on some “scary” and Halloween-themed mushrooms. You’ll learn about Witches’ butter, Jack o’ Lantern mushrooms, Dead man’s fingers, and varieties of bleeding fungi. As day turns to dusk, you’ll also get to experience how certain mushrooms are bioluminescent and glow in the dark. This is a family-friendly program best suited for families with children age 6 and up. Cost – member adult: $20; member child: $12; nonmember adult: $25; nonmember child: $15. Information: https://thetrustees.org/event/419547/
Westborough
Trunk or Treat – Saturday, Oct. 26, 2 to 5 p.m., United Methodist Church, West Main Street. Candy, crafts and much more.
Main Street Trick or Treat – Tuesday, Oct. 29, 4 to 7 p.m., downtown Westborough. Families are invited to visit Town Hall, Forbes Building, the police and fire stations, and local businesses. Sponsored by Westborough Recreation.