Leaves descend in showers of crimson and gold. The harvest is in full swing. Time to bundle the family into the car to enjoy the best autumn offerings in the Rochester region. From the time-honored tradition of selecting the perfect pumpkin, to sipping hot, spiced cider at a farmer's market, special autumn activities abound.
Take a fall foliage chair lift ride high above Bristol Mountain on weekends September 29 - through October 28. (585) 374-6000 www.bristolmountain.com.
Fall is a wonderful time to visit High Falls Historic District and learn about Rochester's past as the "Flour City." Check out the wonderful art gallery located there. The museum offers information on Rochester's history as a mill town as well as exhibits explaining the technical operations of water-powered grain mills. (585) 325-2030. www.centerathighfalls.org.
Pumpkins and mazes are everywhere at Long Acre Farms, Macedon, (weekends only-except Columbus Day) during October. Make it a bonding experience--try navigating the Amazing Maize Maze around "Farmscape," great fun as you and your teammates work your way through. There are tons of pumpkins, apples, gourds and fall decorations, too. Take a hayride or visit Pumpkin Land. (585) 234-3378. www.longacrefarms.com.
Childhood memories are made at Brown's Berry Patch during the Fall Harvest Celebration – mid September through late October (weekends only). Enjoy autumn on a real working farm, with barnyard adventures for the children, hayrides, pick-your-own apples, "perfect" pumpkins and raspberries, fall displays and food. Brown's Berry Patch Waterport, Orleans County (877) 682- 5569. www.brownsberrypatch.com.
Gather the family for Bunk with the Beast, an overnight at Monroe County's Seneca Park Zoo. This extraordinary experience features an evening full of games, activities and an animal presentation. It also includes dinner, a night- time tour of the Zoo, a late-night snack and a light breakfast in the morning. (Ages 5 and older, at least one adult accompanying children). Two nights only: November 3 and February 16. Pre-registration is required. Please note: A minimum of 25 people is required for this event to be held. Call (585) 336- 7200. www.senecaparkzoo.org
Hop on a train at the New York Museum of Transportation (weekends through October 28) and take a one-hour train ride to visit a restored country train station at the neighboring Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. The National Railway Historical Society (585) 533-1113. www.nymtmuseum.org.
Join in the celebration of new toy inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame at Strong National Museum of Play November 9, 10 and 11. Which toys will join the 36 former inductees like the Alphabet Blocks, Candyland, Slinky and the Rocking Horse? Celebrate toys that are widely recognized and have enjoyed the test of time—sure to bring back a memory or two. (585) 271-263- 2700. www.museumofplay.org.
Our Body: The Universe Within is an eye-opening, educational exhibition that exposes the inner workings of human anatomy with 12 actual human specimens and 75 additional anatomical displays through January 1, 2008 at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. (585) 217-4320. www.rmsc.org.
George Eastman House presents Lucha Libre y M�s a series of three exhibitions dealing with extreme depictions of gender in photography and film. September 15 through January 27, 2008 Male & Female: Gender Performed in Photographs from the George Eastman House Collection explores particular ways gender has been presented to the camera with a special emphasis on the performative aspects that photography encourages. LUCHA LIBRE! Masked Mexican Wrestlers, also September 15 through January 27, 2008, features photographs from Mexican photographers depicting the rituals in society of masked Mexican free-form wrestlers and wrestling matches, from 1940 to 2007. The images are from the photographic collection of the Fundaci�n Televisa Mexico City. October 13 through January 6, 2008, The Tease: Burlesque Performers from the 1950s & '60s, is an exhibition featuring hundreds of 8-by-10-inch glossy publicity photos of Burlesque performers in the 1950s and 1960s. The exhibition features nearly 600 images and memorabilia from Buffalo's Palace Theatre, on loan from the collection of Robert and Nina Freudenheim. One of the last burlesque houses, the Palace reigned from 1920 to 1977, hosting dancers with names like Shimmy Queen, Stacy "Eyeful" Tower, and Ineda Mann. George Eastman House. (585) 271- 3361. www.eastmanhouse.org.
The Memorial Art Gallery presents TRANSactions: Contemporary Latin America and Latino Art October 7 through December 30. Approximately 50 paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, textiles and electronic media from the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego are accompanied by a fully-illustrated, bilingual exhibition catalogue. (585) 473- 7720. www.mag.rochester.edu.
Geva Theatre Center presents Doubt—A Parable October 9 through November 4. Winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play, this drama takes place in 1964, at St. Nicholas Catholic School. Sister Aloysius suspects Father Flynn of an unspeakable breach of student trust. (585) 232-4382. www.gevatheatre.org.
CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy visits Rochester November 13 – 18 with an international cast of graceful aerialists, spine bending contortionists and more in this exhilarating journey the entire family can experience together. Presented by Rochester Broadway Theatre League. (585) 232-1900. www.rbtl.org
Pittsford Family Halloween Festival October 28 at St. John Fisher College. wwww.townofpittsford.com
Rochester's Public Market is fun all year (Tuesday, Thursday ,and Saturday). It's always filled with fresh seasonal produce direct from area farmers, crafts, dry goods, meat, fish and poultry products, fresh dairy products, and ethnic baked goods. Special events held on Sundays include "Holidays at the Market" December 2, 9 & 16. (585) 428-6697 www.cityofrochester.gov.
Fairport Farmers Market Saturdays through Nov. 17. 7:00 A.M. to noon. www.fairportpartnership.org.
If you liked Fear at Frontier, you are in for a treat as this hauntedly good time moves to Southtown Plaza. Check out www.hauntedrochester.com to find the dates and times for Fear at Southtown Plaza.
Ready for some true history gory stories? The Landmark Society of Western New York presents its annual Ghost Walk October 19-20, 26-27. Join the brave audiences as lantern-bearing guides lead you down an historic avenue to hear Rochester's spine-chilling history told by costumed actors (suitable for children over 8). If you can't make it or want to know more, the Landmark Society has published a book titled "Ghost Walk--Chilling Tales From Rochester's Past." The books contains "13" short stories from previous Ghost Walks. (585) 546-7029. www.landmarksociety.org.
Celebrate Halloween at ZooBoo! Dress in your favorite "merry-not-scary" costume and be a part of the fun at the Seneca Park Zoo's ZooBoo October 20 -21, 27-28. Enjoy a Trick-or-Treat scavenger hunt, games, and crafts, as well as live entertainment. (585) 336-7200. www.senecaparkzoo.org.
Take your Halloween costumes for a trial run and listen to scary music inspired by spooky stories, eerie events and terrifying tales as The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra presents Things That Go Bump in the Orchestra on Sunday, October 28 at 2 PM at Hochstein Performance Hall.
Speaking of Halloween, little ghosts and goblins get an opportunity to trick-or- treat on the seldom seen third floor of the George Eastman House mansion on October 28. (Children must be accompanied by an adult). (585) 271-3361. www.eastmanhouse.org.
Strong National Museum of Play presents a Family Halloween Party October 27 & 28. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume and trick-or-treat with costumed characters including Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Peter Pan, and assorted wizards, fairies, and detectives. There'll be music, games, and a place to craft your own works of art. A safe indoor trick-or-treating for preschoolers— the Tots Halloween Party—will take place on October 31. (585) 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org
Rochester Museum & Science Center hosts spooky science-Halloween activities. October 27 & 28. Go trick–or–treating at the RMSC! Learn about werewolves and the phases of the moon, see a spooky science show, and make a ghoulish craft to take home. (585) 217-4320. www.rmsc.org.
For more autumn day activities be sure to check www.visitrochester.com or call the events hotline at (585) 546-6810 for the latest information on events and things to do.
• Note: admission may apply to some events.
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