Arts and Recreation
Appleseed Country Fair Set for September 5-7 at Red Apple Farm
Labor Day Weekend is one of the best times to experience the start of fall at Red Apple Farm, and there's no better place to celebrate than the Appleseed Country Fair! Held September 5-7, the three-day festival features live music, local vendors, sheepdog demonstrations, family activities, farm-fresh treats, and plenty of fun for all ages. Admission is $15 per carload, with tickets available online in advance or at the door. All admission proceeds benefit the Athol/Phillipston Fire Association. Purchase tickets online at https://shop.beyonk.com/cif48kzw/experiences/f0ipuha9.
Guests can enjoy live music throughout the day across two stages on the property. The Brew Barn Stage, located by the Brew Barn, will feature performances all weekend long, while the Cidery Stage, located behind the Cidery, offers a more relaxed setting where visitors can sit back and enjoy live music.
Families can watch the incredible dogs of Blue Rock Dog Training in action during sheepdog demonstrations held at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM each day. Guests can also explore the Touch-A-Truck event, try the Apple Cannon, and pick up an Appleseed Adventure Passport to discover all that the fair has to offer. Coloring pages and other family-friendly activities will also be available throughout the weekend.
The Appleseed Country Fair is more than just a weekend of fall fun! This year's event is also held as a fundraiser for the Athol/Phillipston Fire Association, helping support the local first responders who serve our community. Admission is $15 per carload, so families can enjoy a full day on the farm while supporting an important local cause.
Whether you're visiting for the live music, the local vendors, the sheepdog demonstrations, or simply a fun Labor Day Weekend outing with family and friends, there's something happening around every corner during the Appleseed Country Fair.
Festival Schedule:
Saturday, September 5
10:00 AM - Festival Begins
11:00 AM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
12:00 PM - Thomas Hinds (Brew Barn Stage)
1:00 PM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
2:00 PM - Patty Keough (Cidery Stage)
3:00 PM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
4:00 PM - Dan Cormier (Brew Barn Stage)
5:00 PM - Molly McKeon (Cidery Stage)
6:00 PM - Festival Ends
6:00 PM - Dan-O Music Bingo (Brew Barn)
Sunday, September 6
10:00 AM - Festival Begins
11:00 AM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
12:00 PM - Dew on the Vine (Brew Barn Stage)
1:00 PM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
2:00 PM - Jake McLaughlin (Cidery Stage)
3:00 PM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
4:00 PM - Sunday Night Sound Bites (Brew Barn Stage)
5:00 PM - Eli Elkus (Cidery Stage)
6:00 PM - Festival Ends
Monday, September 7
10:00 AM - Festival Begins
11:00 AM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
11:00 AM - Very-Kate & Ashley (Brew Barn Stage)
1:00 PM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
2:00 PM - The Bad Tickers (Brew Barn Stage)
2:00 PM - Kathy Hicks (Cidery Stage)
3:00 PM - Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstration
4:00 PM - Sunday Night Sound Bites (Brew Barn Stage)
5:00 PM - Crimson Calamity (Brew Barn Stage)
6:00 PM - Festival Ends
Festival Highlights Include:
Blue Rock Dog Training Sheepdog Demonstrations at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM Daily
Live Music All Day on the Brew Barn & Cidery Stages
Touch-A-Truck
Apple Cannon
Appleseed Adventure Passport
Coloring Pages
Local Vendors
Dan-O Music Bingo at the Brew Barn on Saturday
Farm-fresh food, hard cider, homemade treats, and more
$15 Admission Per Carload with all proceeds going to the Athol/Phillipston Fire Association. Tickets are available online in advance or at the door. Purchase tickets online at https://shop.beyonk.com/cif48kzw/experiences/f0ipuha9.
"Hot Rod Heat" Car Show Roars into Jaffrey September 5
Red's of Jaffrey and The Park Theatre Team Up for an Afternoon of Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Muscle Cars, Food & Music--Leading Into Reverend Horton Heat Live in Concert
Reverend Horton Heat
Photo courtesy of the Park Theatre
JAFFREY, New Hampshire (August 31, 2026) River Street in downtown Jaffrey will heat up this Saturday, September 5, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., when Red's of Jaffrey and The Park Theatre present The Hot Rod Heat Show, an afternoon celebration of hot rods, custom cars and classic American muscle.
The Hot Rod Heat Show will take place in the large parking lot at Red's of Jaffrey, 12 River Street, just steps from The Park Theatre. A collection of hot rods, customs and muscle cars will be on display throughout the afternoon, creating the perfect warm-up for an evening of high-octane rockabilly and surf rock.
The event is being held in honor of Reverend Horton Heat, the legendary rockabilly band appearing at The Park Theatre that evening, along with special guests Messer Chups, the internationally known surf-rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase next door in The Park Theatre parking lot at 6 River Street throughout The Hot Rod Heat Show.
Car owners interested in displaying a hot rod, custom or muscle car at the event should contact Red's of Jaffrey at 603-532-6642 for information.
Following the car show, the action moves to The Park Theatre, 19 Main Street, Jaffrey, where Reverend Horton Heat with special guests Messer Chups will take the stage for a night of legendary rockabilly, rock 'n' roll and surf-rock. Curtain is 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the concert are $29, $39 and $49 and are available at ParkNH.org or by calling The Park Theatre Box Office at 603-532-8888. Tickets also available at the door.
The Park Theatre is New England's unique showplace for live entertainment and film. The venue is fully accessible and it is roughly 90 minutes from Boston and 60 minutes from Worcester. The Lounge at The Park is open for beer, wine and cocktails before the show (ID required), and during intermissions.
Regional News
Cruise for Critters Returns to Monson September 19 to Support Second Chance Animal Services
14th Annual Car Show at Westview Farms Creamery Combines Cars, Fall Fun, and a Cause
Unique cars and trucks on display at the 2025 Cruise for Critters
Photo courtesy of Second Chance Animal Services
MONSON, MA (September 1, 2026) - Car enthusiasts, families, and animal lovers will come together in Monson on Saturday, September 19, when the 14th annual Cruise for Crittersreturns to Westview Farms Creamery. The open car show welcomes vehicles of all makes, models, and years, with proceeds supporting Second Chance Animal Services and its work to provide lifesaving care and support to pets and the people who love them.
Organized by longtime Second Chance supporter Al Widlan, owner of Service Connection, Cruise for Critters began as a way to combine his love of cars with his commitment to helping animals. More than a decade later, the event has become an annual tradition, bringing car enthusiasts and families together while raising critical funds for pets in need.
This year's event is being held in loving memory of Zane, Widlan's rescue dog of 12 years.
Cruise for Critters offers something for the whole family. Guests can check out an impressive lineup of cars and specialty vehicles, browse local vendors, and enjoy food from Bay State Chews, BT's Smokehouse, Hot Rod Dogs and Cookies by Ray. Westview Farms Creamery will also be serving its homemade ice cream, with pumpkin picking, wagon rides, and other seasonal activities adding to the fall atmosphere.
Live music by Eric Gardell and his band will accompany the festivities, with raffles and additional activities throughout the day.
"Cruise for Critters makes a real difference for pets who need a second chance," said Lindsay Doray, Chief Development Officer at Second Chance Animal Services. "We are incredibly grateful to Al for turning his passion for cars into an opportunity to help pets in our community, and to everyone who continues to make this event such a success. Every registration, donation, and purchase helps provide care for pets who need it most."
Cruise for Critters runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission for spectators is free. Car owners are invited to participate for a $20 entry fee per vehicle, with proceeds benefiting Second Chance Animal Services.
The event is sponsored in part by Ted & Barbara Hebert of Teddy Bear Pools & Spas, Embie Industries, Herlihy Insurance, and TRM Knives.
Businesses and vendors interested in supporting or participating in Cruise for Critters can find more information at secondchanceanimals.org/events/cruise.
A rain date is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026.
For car lovers, families, and animal supporters alike, Cruise for Critters is a chance to enjoy a fall day at the farm while helping Second Chance Animal Services give more pets the care and second chances they deserve.
Gardening
Prepare the Landscape for a Change of Seasons
Beneficial shredded leaf mulch added to a fall perennial garden.
Photo courtesy of www.MelindaMyers.com
As summer comes to an end, it's time to prepare landscapes for fall and winter. Proper fall care helps increase plants' winter survival, supports pollinators, and promotes the overall health, longevity, and beauty of a landscape.
Continue watering as needed. This is especially important for new plantings, evergreens and moisture-loving plants; but don't overlook established trees. Drought stress makes plants, even established ones, more susceptible to life threatening insects and disease.
Remove weeds in gardens and mixed borders. Cooler temperatures and a shorter to-do list make it easier to squeeze in more time for this task. Eliminating weeds now means fewer weeds to pull next year.
Don't pack away the mower just yet. Keep cutting the lawn as long as it keeps growing. Mow over fall leaves and leave them and grass clippings on the lawn. The short clippings and quarter-size leaf pieces add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Just make a second pass with the mower, if needed, to cut the leaves down in size.
Put some of the fall leaves to work in gardens as a mulch. They insulate plant roots from temperature extremes, help suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and improve the soil as they decompose. Leaves also provide insulation and winter protection for a variety of beneficial insects, toads and frogs.
Start a compost pile by mixing fall leaves with other landscape trimmings. Don't add invasive plants, aggressive weeds or those gone to seed. Leave insect and disease infested or chemically treated plant debris out of the pile. Don't add fat, meat and other animal products that can attract rodents. Moisten and occasionally turn the pile to speed up the process. Soon it will be a wonderful soil conditioner to put back into the landscape.
Leave healthy perennials stand for winter. Many provide motion, form and texture to the winter garden. This subtle winter beauty may not be as colorful as your summer garden, but it adds interest to what may be an otherwise drab winter landscape.
The standing perennials also support songbirds and beneficial insects. Seed heads of many perennials attract seed-eating songbirds, adding color and motion throughout the winter. They also provide winter homes and shelter for beneficial insects that pollinate plants, help manage insect pests and more.
Remove diseased plant debris and those infested with plant-damaging insects. Removing these from the garden reduces the source of future infestations which means healthier plants with less pest management required. Local municipalities can provide guidance on disposing of pest infested plant debris.
Wait for several hard frosts when cutting perennials back in the fall. This allows the plant to maximize energy produced and store it in the roots for healthy growth next spring. Make the cut two to three inches above the ground to avoid damaging the crown of the plant.
Protect plants and gardens susceptible to animal damage. A cylinder of hardware cloth at least four feet high sunk several inches into the ground can reduce the risk of rabbit, deer and vole damage. A five-feet-tall fence around small gardens, 8 feet by 13 feet or smaller, with a secure gate can reduce the risk of most critter damage.
If fencing isn't a practical option, consider using repellent. Applying repellent before animals begin feeding provides the greatest success. Look for rain- and snow-resistant repellent, allowing gardeners to reapply less often.
Once fall landscape chores are complete, take time to clean, repair, sharpen and store tools for the winter and winterize the lawn mower. Move granular landscape care products to a dry place and liquids to a frost-free location. Store them in a secure location away from pets and children.
Take advantage of the often-cooler fall days to prepare gardens for winter. Time spent now can help reduce winter damage and save time as the next garden season begins.
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" instant video series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.