The always popular barrel train is the perfect size for young visitors.
The public is invited to celebrate the bounty of autumn during Family Harvest Days at Boothbay Railway Village with hayrides and train rides, pumpkin picking and decorating, make-and-take crafts, butter churning, cider pressing, cooking demonstrations and tasty treats to enjoy, animal exhibitors, sheepdog demonstrations, blacksmithing, weaving, and more. Family Harvest Days will take place on Saturday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
A miniature horse from Lyric Meadow Farm, whose animal friends will be at Boothbay Railway Village.
This year, Two Coves Farm, of Harpswell, will give sheepdog demonstrations on Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. On both Saturday and Sunday, blacksmith Jim Kearney will be at the forge, and weaver Susan Perrine will be working on the 200-year-old barn-frame loom. Coal and Tender, Boothbay Railway Village’s resident goats, will welcome animal friends and their handlers for visitors to meet and greet throughout the weekend.
On both days, hayrides and barrel train rides will operate every half-hour along with the museum’s regularly scheduled train rides on the hour. One can take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, where for a small additional fee one can take home a pumpkin. Stop by the decorating station to dress up the pumpkin before leaving. One can try one’s hand at crafting historic toys and make a potato print at one of the make-and-take stations.
Watch butter being churned and taste the fresh butter on New England brown bread baked according to a 100-year-old recipe. See both an antique cider press and open-hearth cooking in action. If one’s taste buds start salivating, there will be cider and homemade cookies for all.
Family Harvest Days is just one stop along Maine’s Pumpkin Trail, a partnership celebrating history, art, and giant fruit along 50 miles of what many think is Maine’s most beautiful coastline. Follow Maine’s Pumpkin Trail on Facebook to discover great ways to celebrate fall with friends and family of all ages.
Family Harvest Days events are free for Boothbay Railway Village museum members and included with museum admission for nonmembers: $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $7 children 3-18, and free for children under 3. Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road/Route 27 in Boothbay. For more information, call 633-4727 or go to railwayvillage.org/events.
