It’s full on fall now. The nights are cooling down, the bite in the air and my favorite season in New England has (un)officially arrived! I hope you all find some fun things to do this weekend with your family or with friends! (shameless plug - if you’re with said friends, tell them about us!)

The What the Fluff? Festival returns to Union Square, Roslindale Porchfest is happening across the neighborhood at the same time, and Appleton Farms is doing two full days of Farm Days. Also: our fall guides are all up now — apple picking, pumpkin patches, Halloween & pumpkin festivals, and foliage hikes — there’s a section for them below.

Union Square Plaza, Somerville  ·  Saturday, September 19, afternoon — check flufffestival.com for hours  ·  Free  ·  Drop-in  ·  All ages

The Fluff Festival [I had to ask about the name too - its a festival honoring marshmallow fluff which was invented in Somerville in 1917] is back in Union Square: cooking contests, costume judging, Fluff-themed food, live music, and a lot of marshmallow-related chaos on the plaza.

Roslindale  ·  Saturday, September 19 from 1:00 PM  ·  Free  ·  Drop-in  ·  All ages

Bands, DJs, and student groups play from porches, driveways, and yards across the neighborhood all afternoon. One of the later porchfests of the season, throw on a sweatshirt and enjoy the music! The performer map is on roslindaleporchfest.org.

Appleton Farms, Ipswich  ·  Saturday–Sunday, September 19–20, from 12:00 PM  ·  Free  ·  Drop-in  ·  All ages

Two full days of fall farm activities across the property. A bit of a drive up north, but beautiful and an early-ish start to apple season! Check thetrustees.org for what’s on each day.

West Acton Citizens’ Library  ·  Thursday, September 17  ·  Free  ·  Drop-in  ·  All ages

Kids make a straw rocket that actually flies, and a pinwheel. all materials provided.

Auditorium, Central Library, Somerville  ·  Saturday, September 19  ·  Free  ·  Registration required  ·  Ages 6–12

Kids learn a few pop-up paper engineering techniques. Registration required; under-8s need an adult helper.

Bonsignore Hall, Medford Public Library  ·  Wednesday, September 23  ·  Free  ·  Registration required  ·  Ages 8–12

Kids examine images in teams and vote on whether a human or an AI made them. Registration required.

Condon Shell, Medford  ·  Saturday, September 19 at 7:30 AM  ·  Free  ·  Registration required  ·  All ages

A family bird walk along the Mystic River with a Brookline Bird Club leader — ADA-accessible, stroller-friendly path. Registration required.

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Lincoln  ·  Saturday, September 19  ·  $15  ·  Drop-in  ·  All ages

Kids help with real farm chores. Good for kids who like the sensory experience, and like to get hands on

Powisset Farm, Dover  ·  Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 AM  ·  Free  ·  Drop-in  ·  All ages

Every Saturday morning, kids meet the farm’s livestock with the staff on hand. Roll up your sleeves.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, Natick  ·  Sunday, September 20  ·  $15  ·  Drop-in  ·  Ages 5–12

Kids investigate what lives beneath the surface of a wetland with nets and collection tools.

Morrissey Hall, Belmont Public Library  ·  Saturday, September 19  ·  Free  ·  Registration required  ·  Age 3-12

Crafts, stories, and mooncake-related activities celebrating the Moon Festival. Registration required.

Children’s Program Room, Watertown Free Public Library  ·  Tuesday, September 22  ·  Free  ·  Registration required  ·  Ages 5–11

Kids use cyanotype paper to make sun prints. Only 4 spots available as of the time I wrote this

Auditorium, Central Library, Somerville  ·  Wednesday, September 23  ·  Free  ·  Drop-in  ·  Ages 0–5

A 40-minute live interactive concert for the under-5 crowd.

I’ve been writing these for a few weeks and they’re all live now — dates checked against the farms and organizers, and I’ll keep updating them as the season moves.

Apple picking near Boston — six orchards worth the drive, real prices, and how to beat the October weekend crush.

Pumpkin patches near Boston — where to go with kids, and when each one opens.

Halloween & pumpkin festivals near Boston — the October dates that are actually on the calendar, from a free night at the Frog Pond to thousands of jack-o’-lanterns.

Fall foliage hikes near Boston — ten walks with real color and short enough legs, from a 635-foot summit to a flat stroller loop.

Tin Container Candles (for teens) — Bonsignore Hall, Medford Public Library · Free · Teens

Japanese Storytime – 日本語おはなし会 (10:30 AM) — Coolidge Corner, Brookline · Free · Ages 0–5

Felted Soap (ages 5+) — Youth Services Programming Room, Medford Public Library · Free · Ages 5+

Youth Entrepreneurs Mini MBA (NECINA workshop) (9:45 AM) — Putterham Branch, Brookline · Free · Teens

Boston Walk for Apraxia (10:00 AM) — Houghton’s Pond, Milton · Free

Seaport Smalls (10:00 AM) — The Rocks at Harbor Way, Boston · Boston dynamics robot dog drop in and curious creature theme

Edible Bird Feeders with Hands on Nature (10:30 AM) — Coolidge Corner, Brookline · Free · Ages 4+

Make Way for Storytime (11:00 AM) — Children’s Program Room, Newton · Free · Ages 0–5

Girls Who Code (Grades 3–5) (6:30 PM) — Tween Room, Brookline Village · Free · Grades 3–5

See all 343 events this week → the full calendar

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