6 family-friendly attractions to check out in New England this fall

Corn mazes can be a great fall activity for families. (Getty Images)

The sparkling fall weather is the best excuse to get out and explore. From pumpkin patches to corn mazes, county fairs to foliage tours and haunted houses, here’s a family-favorite event or attraction, one from each state in New England, to check out this fall. 

Maine: Sunday River celebrates the season with its Fall Festival, taking place Oct. 8 -9. Included in the daily festivities are an arts and crafts fair featuring many local artisans, scenic chairlift rides to view the foliage from above, Sunday River Sports’ annual sale, and live music slopeside. The annual wife-carrying championship also begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Yes, this is a real competition, one where one partner carries the other through a 278-yard obstacle course which conforms to real, international specifications. The course features log hurdles, sand traps, and water hazards. Besides bragging rights, the winning couple takes home beer, cash, and a chance to compete in the world championship in Finland. Sunday’s showpiece activity is the Eighth Annual New England Cornhole Championship with more cash prizes. — 15 South Ridge Road, Newry, Maine, sundayriver.com 

Vermont: The Kingdom Corn Maze, located in Sutton, serves up a variety of activities throughout the fall. Here, you’ll find four corn mazes covering more than 20 acres. There are three walking mazes – a kid-friendly, smaller maze taking about 30 minutes, and a family-friendly maze with two sections. You can navigate the first section in about 45 minutes and then have the option to continue to the second section for an additional 30 minutes of walking. The mountain bike maze is actually on fairly flat ground and suitable for all ages. Bring your own bike or rent one nearby. Helmets are required. There are special event weekends including a spooky flashlight night tour in the corn maze and a Fall Foliage Festival with the Ag Olympics – sack hops, trike races, hay bale throwing contest, egg races, tug of war, and a three-legged race. — 1350 Burke Hill Road, Sutton, Vt., kingdomcornmaze.com 

 New Hampshire: Newport’s Balsam Woods Tree Farm puts a different spin on the corn maze. Every weekend through Halloween the tree farm will have a spooky haunted maze through the Christmas trees on Friday and Saturday nights. In the earlier hours of the weekend days, there will be a not-so-spooky haunted maze for families with young kids. These not-so-spooky hours will also have a bouncy house and other kid-centered activities. Starting Nov. 26, you can come return for your cut-and-carry Christmas tree. — 240 Maple St., Newport, N.H., 603-838-2281

Massachusetts: Carver plays host to the King Richard’s Faire – the New England Renaissance festival – on weekends through Oct. 23. Spend a day back in the days of King Richard, experiencing the Renaissance life as it was then. The festival includes specially-themed weekends such as Vow Renewal Ceremony, Game of Thrones Trivia, and Witches and Wizards to name a few. If you really want to get into the Renaissance spirit, you can rent a costume right inside the kingdom. Whether you want to be a wench or a lady, a rogue or a knight, a pirate or a peasant, a prince or a princess, there will be an outfit available for you to dress the part for the day. — 235 Main St., Carver, kingrichardsfaire.net 

 Rhode Island: Roadways throughout the state provide incredible views of the spectacular foliage. If you take a shoreline route you’ll have the added benefit of seeing the state’s stunning coastline. Stop in historic Newport and take a stroll on the Cliff Walk, a seven-mile, mostly flat and paved path. The entire walk takes about three hours, but portions may be done in less time. (cliffwalk.com) In Coventry, the Carr’s Pond and Tarbox Pond trails form a four-mile loop that can be done in less than two hours.

The Roger Williams Park Zoo hosts the Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular for the entire month of October. This year’s theme is 75 years of television. Thousands of pumpkins will be set up all over the zoo, each one artistically-carved to feature a favorite TV show with the shows’ theme songs playing as you stroll along. You can also ride the zoo’s zipline to get a bird’s eye view from above. — 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence, R.I., rwpzoo.com

Connecticut: The Nutmeg State has, among many other fall activities, some interesting festivals that the whole family can enjoy. Sept. 24 brings Cider Saturday and Harvest Celebration at the New Canaan Harvest Festival. The fall fair at the New Canaan Nature Center (Sept. 30-Oct.1) will have a spooky stroll, apple slingshot, pumpkin decorating, a zip line, and carnival rides. (newcanaannature.org) 

Many more towns throughout Connecticut have festivals all through October and into November. There’s the Newtown Arts Festival (newtownartsfestival.com), the Kent Fall Festival (ctamachinery.com), the Garlic and Harvest Festival in Bethlehem (garlicfestct.com) and the Seymour Pumpkin Festival (seymourpumpkinfestival.com). All of these have games, rides, and food to keep every member of the family entertained.