BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick Fall Festival celebrates the new season this weekend, and Bath will follow the next weekend with Autumnfest.

The Fall Festival will take place on the Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Participants are sought for an arts and craft show, and the entry fee is $35.

The festival includes activities for children, a geocaching treasure hunt, dog activities, and seasonal food specialties from downtown restaurants.

Dog activities include a grooming demonstration and tips at 10:30 a.m., a nail clip clinic and tricks demonstration at 11 a.m., a dog tricks contest at 11:30 a.m., an agility demonstration at noon and a scent-tracking demonstration at 1 p.m. A dog parade, with costumes optional and a $5 entry fee, will take place on Maine Street from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

There will also be a large sidewalk sale, arts and crafts show, an apple pie contest and children’s activities like face painting, “Candy Playtime” with Wilbur’s Chocolates, balloon sculptures, and the Life Is Good “Playmakers,” who work with children who have survived natural disasters or trauma.

Contact the Brunswick Downtown Association for additional information and an application at 729-4439 or director@brunswickdowntown.org.

Autumnfest

Main Street Bath presents Autumnfest on Saturday, Oct. 8. There will be seasonal food and activities, antiques, crafts, music, sales and fall fashions downtown on the Kennebec River.

Among family activities are the 15th Great Scarecrow Event, featuring scarecrow making on the Custom House lawn. There is also a window-painting contest, trolley rides, and a downtown scavenger hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Bath Farmers Market will offer cheese, produce, baked goods and more from 8 a.m. to noon.

A “Rib-Raising” harvest feast with local produce will run from 3-5 p.m. in the Freight Shed on Commercial Street to benefit Maine’s First Ship, a group reconstructing the pinnace Virginia.

Bath’s 13th annual Citizen Involvement Day will take place at City Park by the Patten Free Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring displays by more than 40 nonprofits, a pie-baking contest, activities for children like crafts and tree climbing and live music in the gazebo.

The Citizen of the Year, Youth of the Year, Community Spirit and Community Project awards will also be presented.

Shoppers can enjoy an expanded offering of antiques, crafts and fall fashions, along with discounts at downtown shops.

Contact Main Street Bath at 442-7291 or www.visitbath.com for more information.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.