Here's What's Happening This Weekend

Here are some things to do in and around Bristol and Warren this Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 11-14.

Frerichs Farm, 43 Kinnicut Ave. in Warren, hosts the annual Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Grower’ Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. There will be food, beverages and music by The Whippets from 9 am to noon. A pumpkin drop-off from a crane -- splat! -- takes place at 11:30 am, and the weigh-off starts at noon.

The Bristol Merchants Association offers its annual fall sidewalk sale this weekend. Expect to see plenty of bargains on Hope, Thames, Bradford, State and other adjacent streets starting Friday, Oct. 11, and running through Monday, Oct. 14. Merchants will have sidewalk displays set up from approximately 10 am to 6 pm each day. 

Linden Place Museum hosts a “Tales of the Slave Trade” walking tour of the mansion and downtown Bristol on Saturday from 10 am to noon. It begins at Linden Place, the Federal-style mansion built by architect Russell Warren for George DeWolf on Hope Street.  The tour will then continue through the center of Bristol and down to the waterfront on Thames Street, pointing out significant sites tied to Bristol’s lengthy and profitable involvement in the slave trade. The tour ends at the historic DeWolf Tavern. The tour is $20 -- $15 for Linden Place members.  Reservations are required and the tour is limited to 15 people. Call the Linden Place office at 253-0390 to make reservations.

The annual flea market to benefit the Bristol Animal Shelter will take place on Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm at the VFW Hall, 850 Hope Street.  There will be lots of items for sale, including dishware, lamps, linens, holiday decor, garden items, pet supplies, children's toys, rugs, and small furniture. Help homeless animals in need during this event. The $1 admission goes straight to the animals.

Coggeshall Farm Museum, on Coggeshall Farm Road off of Poppasquash Road, hosts a Fall Free-For-All on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. You can choose a pumpkin for Jack-O’-Lantern carving, pick up some apples, watch an apple press turn apples into cider mulch, and sample treats from a bake sale. As the name says, admission is free.

The annual Columbus Day Festival on Federal Hill in Providence runs on Saturday from 10 am -11 pm, Sunday from 11 am – 11 pm and Monday from 11 am – 8 pm. Opening ceremonies are Saturday at noon. A highlight of the festival, of course, is always the annual parade on Federal Hill. It runs on Sunday at 11 am.

Then, of course, there is the 47th annual Scituate Art Festival, which takes place every year during the Columbus Day weekend on the Village Green in North Scituate. You can see more than 200 arts and craft exhibitors and antiques dealers, eat regional and ethnic foods, and enjoy musical entertainment. Admission is free. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm and Monday from 10 am until 4 pm.