Spectacular Fall Events and Activities
Stunning fall foliage and crisp, cool weather make fall a wonderful time to visit Connecticut’s northwest corner. With thousands of acres of preserved land and 3 state parks, Norfolk offers many fun activities for celebrating autumn’s incredible beauty. Below are some of the exciting upcoming fall activities in Norfolk and the surrounding area that will make your autumn visit a memorable one.
Plus, there’s always our Craft Brewery Guide or Hiking & Picnic packages to round out your weekend!
Spectacular Fall Foliage Drives
Head to the northwestern corner of Connecticut for a memorable fall foliage drive featuring historic New England architecture, covered bridges and scenic farmland. We recommend Loop 2!
Only Mother Nature knows for sure, but leaves in the northwestern corner typically start changing in late September and get more and more vibrant through the end of October.
Grab a picnic and enjoy five acres of glorious foliage around the picnic tables throughout the property. Nearby is Norbrook Farm Brewery with disc golf and a mountain bike trail surrounded by forests.
There’s no better place to view fall foliage than from the top of Norfolk’s Haystack Mountain, one of Connecticut’s highest peaks. The historic stone tower provides 360 degree views of peaks in 3 states: New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. Hikers can either take a longer trail with a gradual incline from the park entrance (~1.5 miles) or drive up to a small parking area and hike just ½ mile up to the tower. You’ll be rewarded with a stunning view no matter which hike you choose.
Tour-de-Forest
The Tour-de-Forest is a 13-mile autumn ride with an even mix of gravel and paved roads. All roads are very rural, scenic, and, for the most part, very lightly traveled. Half of the Tour-de-Forest is on a private gravel road with no cars allowed. Bikes with extremely thin tires are not encouraged. A hybrid or mountain bike is best. All proceeds support the Norfolk Rails to Trails and Great Mountain Forest. For those wanting a longer challenge, the Icebox Gravel is a 29-mile ride of mostly gravel roads.
Free refreshments (both before and after) and a cash bar will be available at the curling club after the ride. Registration starts at 8 am. The Icebox Gravel starts at 9:30 am. The Tour-de-Forest starts at 10 am. The event is on Saturday 10/19. Registration is $50 for adults, $25 for teens, and 12 & under is free. All proceeds go to supporting the Norfolk Rails to Trails and Great Mountain Forest.
The Norfolk Curling Club hosts the event. The club will be having a pig roast after the bike tour; reservations and an additional fee apply.
Haystack Mountain Challenge
Looking for a fun fall challenge? On Sunday, October 6, 2024 the Norfolk Land Trust will hold its Annual Haystack Mountain Challenge. Choose either the 5k route, a challenging and scenic race through picturesque Barbour Woods, or the 10k route which continues up Haystack Mountain. Or, for the extremely adventurous, run the half marathon!
Haystack Book Talks
Tucked away in the beautiful hills of northwestern Connecticut, Norfolk provides an intimate setting for this literary festival. Haystack Book Talks will facilitate engaging conversations with writers and thinkers from October 4 – 6, 2024. This year’s festival requires advance registration for in-person attendees (limited number of seats). The event kicks off with Ada Calhoun, author of Also a Poet; Frank O’Hara, My Father and Me and Priscilla Gilman, author of The Critics Daughter: A Memoir. In conversation with novelist and memoirist, Courtney Maum.
Black Bear Americana Music Fest
This exciting music outdoor festival, held at the Goshen Fairgrounds from October 11-14, 2024 includes 3 days of music by more than 35 performers on 4 stages. Hear favorite Folk, Indie, Soul, American Roots and Blues artists including favorites such as Uprooted Band featuring Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Alison Brown, Susan Werner, Adam Ezra Group, and Joe Crookston.
Berkshire Botanical Garden
A showcase of horticulture and garden design and a “museum of living things,” Berkshire Botanical Garden, in nearby Stockbridge, MA, features more than 20 acres of display areas that are educational, functional, and ornamental, with collections emphasizing plants that are native to the Northeast. Among the oldest in the region, their spectacular gardens have evolved and expanded over the years in breadth and variety, with its newest, “Lucy’s Garden” featuring topiary animals and other ‘live’ sculptures.
After your day of exploring, come back to the inn and relax by the massive fireplace in our Great Room or book one of our fireplace suites.
Fall reservations go quickly so book your Manor House Inn visit today!