Autumn events planned in the Valley

Happy October!

Here are just some of the fun events coming up this month:

In Ansonia, the ninth annual Harvest Festival will be held downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with a rain date of Oct. 13. Admission is free.

Emmett O'Brien Technical High School, 141 Prindle Ave., Ansonia will hold its third annual Car Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2. 

Autumnfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road. Admission is free.

The next day an educational Fall Foliage Hike with Ranger Martin Wigglesworth will be held at the nature center. The free event starts at 1 p.m. Oct. 21.

Also at the nature center, a Harvest Moon Hike is slated for 7 p.m.  Oct. 27.  The program is free.
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In Derby,  the fourth annual Griffin Hospital 5K Walk/Run will step off at 9 a.m. Saturday. The event benefits the hospital's Center for Cancer Care. This year's fund-raising goal is $100,000.

Also in Derby, the Valley Arts Council will host an opening reception for its next show, "'Magic & Mysticism: The Art of Believing," from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Gallery@37, at 37 Elizabeth St. The show will run through Nov. 3. The public is invited.

The Derby Cultural Commission will hold second its annual Haunted Lantern Tour at various sites downtown starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. The event starts at the gazebo on the Derby Green. Admission is $5.
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In Seymour, the grassroots' initiative Seymour Pink, Inc. will host several activities to raise awareness of breast cancer as well as funds for several nonprofit organizations that fight the disease.

At 9 a.m. Saturday the group's first-ever 5K road race, Pounding the Pavement for Pink, will step off from the Community Center, 20 Pine St., Seymour.

After the race the second annual Smoke in the Valley craft beer and chili fest will be held at the Community Center and along Bridge Street.

Also on Saturday the fourth annual "Touch-A-Truck” event will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Great Hill United Methodist Church, 225 Great Hill Road (junction of Routes 334 and 188).

The event will feature a series of kids' fall festival activities including tractor rides, a bounce house, face painting, kids' events and give-aways, pumpkin decorating, and an indoor book sale, along with Great Hill’s famous Home Bake Sale.   

And the 7th annual Haunted Trails Festival will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 13 at Chatfield Park and Legion Pool; rain date is Oct. 14. Admission is $6. Activities for those with special needs will take place from 3 to 5 p.m., with “less scary” tours of the trail, and Halloween-themed games. For information and to register groups, call Carmie Potash, 203-888-5396.
 
At 12:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Community Center, Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller will host the third annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event to kick off Seymour Pink Week. 

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Shelton Day, sponsored by the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday along Howe Avenue. Admission is free.


Halloween events abound; check back later.