Issue No. 28: Our Special Halloween Issue: Gory Daze, Trunk-or-Treats & More.
Upper Valley Connections
Issue No. 28 · October 23, 2026
Your weekly guide to life along the Connecticut River
Welcome to our special Halloween issue. Between trunk-or-treats, a haunted story walk in Etna, a Haitian Halloween dance party in Randolph, and the Gory Daze parade in White River Junction, the next ten days are about as spooky as the Valley gets. We've also launched a Halloween page so you can find it all in one place, and we're taking a closer look at Gory Daze.
-- The Upper Valley Connections Team
Upper Valley Connections is a free, independent community calendar, business directory, and weekly newsletter. If you run a local business, add your listing -- it's free to start. Have an event coming up? Submit it to the calendar. Paid tiers help keep this going.
New: our Halloween page. Trunk-or-treats, haunted walks, costume parties, and parades, all in one place at uppervalleyconnections.com/halloween. Running something spooky that we missed? Submit it or email us at [email protected] and we'll add it to the page.
Featured This Week
Featured Event · Arts & Culture · Education · Food & Drink · $120
Bottles & Botanicals: Autumn Wreaths
Sat Oct 24 · 3:00-5:00 PM · SILO Distillery, Windsor, VT
Another afternoon in SILO Distillery's Bottles & Botanicals series, this one devoted to making autumn wreaths. $120.
This Weekend
Community · Kids & Family · $12 members / $16 non-members
Spooky Science 2026
Fri Oct 23 · 5:30-7:30 PM · Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, VT
A Halloween evening at the Montshire for families with kids through age 12, with decorated exhibits, Halloween-themed science activities, a jack-o'-lantern trail, and a costume contest. Come in costume. Registration is required.
Arts & Culture · Music · Ticketed
Kronos Quartet
Fri Oct 23 · 7:00-9:00 PM · Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center, Hanover, NH
The Kronos Quartet plays Spaulding Auditorium at the Hopkins Center.
Community · Sports · Free
Chili & Chowder Fest with Ski Swap
Sat Oct 24 · 9:00 AM-4:00 PM · Whaleback Mountain, Enfield, NH
Whaleback Mountain pairs a chili and chowder fest with its ski swap, a good excuse to get a head start on winter.
Kids & Family · Literary · Free
Michael J. Caduto -- The Day The Pond Flew South
Sat Oct 24 · 2:00-3:00 PM · Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT
A free reading at Norwich Bookstore from Michael J. Caduto, author of the picture book "The Day the Pond Flew South."
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Free
Trunk-or-Treat at West Lebanon Congregational Church
Sat Oct 24 · 1:00-2:30 PM · West Lebanon Congregational Church, West Lebanon, NH
Decorated cars hand out candy, with Halloween games. At 3pm, organist Aaron Richter plays a Halloween pipe organ concert in the same church, with spooky selections including Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Donations welcome.
Arts & Culture · Community · Kids & Family · Free
rePlay After Dark: Halloween Costume-Making
Sat Oct 24 · 3:00 PM-12:00 AM · rePlay Arts, White River Junction, VT
Work on a costume in progress or make one from materials on site, all ages and abilities welcome. Free, with materials pay-what-you-can.
Community · Kids & Family · Holiday · Free
Haunted Story Walk
Sat Oct 24 · 6:30-8:30 PM · Etna Library, Etna, NH
A spooky story walk with glowing lights, decorations, costumed characters, an interactive story, candy, and games.
Community · Holiday · Music · Free
Halloween Potluck & Live Music at the Bridgewater Grange
Sat Oct 24 · 6:00-8:00 PM · Bridgewater Grange #284, Bridgewater, VT
Bring a dish to share. Live music from Bbang, plus candy, pumpkins, and apples.
Holiday · Music · Free
Halloween DJ Dance Party
Sat Oct 24 · 7:00-10:00 PM · Little Theatre, Woodstock, VT
A free Halloween dance party at the Little Theatre in Woodstock.
Music · Ticketed
Tab Benoit
Sat Oct 24 · 7:30-9:30 PM · Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH
Blues guitarist Tab Benoit plays Lebanon Opera House.
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Free
Trunk-or-Treat at Our Savior Lutheran Church
Sun Oct 25 · 1:30-3:00 PM · Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hanover, NH
Open to all. Bring non-perishable food to donate to Upper Valley residents.
Community · Kids & Family · Free
SBOOKY Library: Not-Too-Scary Halloween Fun
Sun Oct 25 · 3:00-5:00 PM · Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, VT
Games, treats, a haunted hall, and other activities. Costumes encouraged. Donations appreciated.
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Free
South Woodstock Trick-or-Treat
Sun Oct 25 · 3:00-5:00 PM · Kedron Valley Inn & South Woodstock, South Woodstock, VT
Trick-or-treating in South Woodstock.
Halloween Week
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Volunteering · Free
Halloween Card Making for Meals on Wheels
Mon Oct 26 · 1:00-2:00 PM · Bugbee Senior Center, White River Junction, VT
Make Halloween cards to go out with Meals on Wheels deliveries.
Music · Ticketed
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Tue Oct 27 · 7:30-9:30 PM · Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH
The band Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Lebanon Opera House.
Arts & Culture · Comedy · $10
Sawtooth Comedy Night: Double Dippin'
Wed Oct 28 · 8:00-10:00 PM · Sawtooth Kitchen, Hanover, NH
Halloween-themed stand-up sets, followed by Valley Improv. May not suit all audiences. $10, with tickets at valleyimprov.com.
Community · Kids & Family · Free
Simply Storytime Goes Trick-or-Treating
Thu Oct 29 · 10:30-11:15 AM · Howe Library, Hanover, NH
Halloween storytime followed by trick-or-treating on the library's main floor. Costumes encouraged. Recommended for ages 5 and under. No registration.
Food & Drink · Holiday · Free
Spirits Social at SILO
Thu Oct 29 · 6:00-9:00 PM · SILO Distillery, Windsor, VT
A free evening at SILO Distillery in Windsor.
Community · History · Education · $45 members / $50 non-members
Taboo Tour
Fri Oct 30 · 6:00-8:00 PM · Enfield Shaker Museum, Enfield, NH
An evening tour that goes beyond the standard history tour into the darker, more mysterious side of Shaker life -- scandal, murder, spiritualism, the afterlife, and whether the Shakers were a cult. Includes a hands-on activity, one complimentary cocktail, beer, or glass of wine, and light refreshments. Limited to 20 people, and the museum's page showed only a couple of tickets left per category at last check.
Holiday · Music · Pay what you can ($20-$40)
Lakou Mizik: Haitian Halloween Dance Party
Fri Oct 30 · 7:00-9:00 PM · Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, VT
Haitian roots music from Lakou Mizik, a collective of Haitian musicians, in a Halloween dance party. Costumes encouraged. Pay what you can, $20-$40; students $10; ages 12 and under free.
Community · Film · Theater · Ticketed
Time Warp
Fri Oct 30 · 7:00-9:00 PM · Loew Auditorium, Hanover, NH
Time Warp comes to Loew Auditorium the night before Halloween. Tickets required.
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Free
Trick or Treat on Allen Street
Fri Oct 30 · 5:00-6:30 PM · Allen Street, Downtown Hanover, NH
Downtown Hanover trick-or-treating on the Friday before Halloween.
Halloween Saturday, Oct 31
Holiday · Free (parade) / $10 (Gutter Ball)
Gory Daze Halloween Parade and Gutter Ball
Sat Oct 31 · 6:00-11:00 PM · Main Street Museum, White River Junction, VT
White River Junction's annual Halloween parade. A pre-parade party with live music at the Main Street Museum starts at 6:30, the parade through downtown, led by Brass Balagan, steps off at 8, and the Gutter Ball dance party follows at Briggs Opera House at 9 with DJs and a cash bar. The parade is free; the Gutter Ball is $10 at the door.
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Free
Halloween FunFest at Colburn Park
Sat Oct 31 · 4:00-6:00 PM · Colburn Park, Lebanon, NH
Trunk-or-treat, a kids' costume contest, carriage rides, a photo booth, and spooky games.
Community · Holiday · Kids & Family · Outdoors & Nature · Free
NorWitchy Woods Walk
Sat Oct 31 · 2:00-4:00 PM · Milton Frye Nature Area, Norwich, VT
A Halloween walk in the Milton Frye Nature Area.
Community · Film · Free
Halloween-o-thon 2026: Leaf Creepers
Sat Oct 31 · 6:00-7:30 PM · River Roost Brewery, White River Junction, VT
A free Halloween movie night at River Roost Brewery.
Arts & Culture · Film · Holiday · Music · (SOLD OUT)
Beetle Ball at Miss Shannon's School from Beetlejuice (SOLD OUT)
Sat Oct 31 · 7:00-8:00 PM · East Corinth Fairgrounds, Corinth, VT
This event is sold out.
Trick-or-treat around the Valley, Halloween afternoon and evening
- Barnard Trunk-or-Treat -- 1:30-3:30 PM, Barnard General Store -- Details ->
- Story Time With Beth -- Halloween -- 1:00-2:00 PM, Norwich Bookstore, Norwich VT. Costumes encouraged -- Details ->
- Howl o'ween at Watson Dog Park -- 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Hartford VT. Dogs in costume, a costume contest, and a raffle -- Details ->
- Hallowesta: Trick-or-Treat on Pleasant Street -- 3:30-5:00 PM, downtown Claremont NH -- Details ->
- Woodstock Village Trick-or-Treat -- 5:00-8:00 PM, Woodstock VT -- Details ->
- Hartland Halloween Party at the Rec Center -- 5:00-8:00 PM, Hartland VT. See Hartland Recreation for details -- Details ->
- Grantham Trick-or-Treat -- 5:00-7:00 PM, town-wide, Grantham NH -- Details ->
- Reading Trick-or-Treat & Trunk-or-Treat -- from 5:00 PM, Reading Town Hall, Reading VT -- Details ->
- Trick-or-Treat at the Thetford Hill Fire Station -- 6:00-8:00 PM, Thetford VT. Firefighters hand out candy under a tent, with non-food treats available for kids with allergy concerns -- Details ->
All of these are also on our Halloween page.
This Week in the Upper Valley
Why Gory Daze Is Bigger Than a Parade
White River Junction's Halloween parade began in 2002, when a few friends started it as a casual night out, and it has grown into what organizers call the biggest night of the year in town. It still starts at the Main Street Museum, 58 Bridge Street, a self-described repository of artifacts and public performance space that evokes an old-fashioned cabinet of curiosities. The museum was founded in December 1992 by artist David Fairbanks Ford.
Organizers say 1,000 or more people dance through the streets, and the Valley News reports up to 1,500 in a procession that runs about 40 to 45 minutes. Costumes are encouraged, homemade and hand-pushed floats are welcome, and cars are not. A 2008 Seven Days video of that year's parade shows a bagpiper, draft horses, a flame organ, and hundreds of costumed marchers filling the normally quiet streets of downtown.
This year the evening starts at 6:30 with a pre-parade party at the museum, with Lil Nicky Charyk's Barnyard Band, a bonfire, dancing, and candy (weather permitting). The parade, free to watch, steps off at 8, led by Brass Balagan. Afterward, the Gutter Ball dance party at Briggs Opera House starts at 9, with DJs Hot Juice, DEV2.0, and Chippendale Cooper, a cash bar with ID, and $10 admission at the door. Its decorations, including gourd bowling pins and UV backdrops, came out of a community crafting night at rePlay Arts.
The museum is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit, and donations cover the musicians, insurance, venue rental, and the candy and donuts on strings. Full details are in the Gory Daze listing, and the rest of Halloween Saturday is in the section above.
Farmers' Markets
- Norwich Farmers Market -- Saturdays 9am-1pm -- Route 5 South, Norwich VT -- outdoors through the end of October (including Halloween Saturday), then continuing as an indoor market for the winter.
- Monday Mini Market at Honey Field Farm -- Mondays 4-7pm -- 55 Butternut Road, Norwich VT -- this Monday, Oct 26, is the final market of the season.
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Upper Valley Connections · Serving NH & VT · uppervalleyconnections.com Details are gathered from event organizers and may change. Please confirm times, prices, and availability directly with the venue before heading out. Sponsorship inquiries: [email protected]