3rd annual Harvest Festival

The third annual Harvest Festival at the Pineland Farms Education Barn promises a day filled with harvest-related activities for families with children of all ages. It’s to be held rain or shine from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22. Activities include apple cider demonstrations, “Click, Clack, Boo” woods walk, face painting, farmers obstacle course, corn maize and a complimentary showing of “It’s a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.”

The festival admission is $6 per person. Costumes are highly encouraged. Buy tickets at The Market and Welcome Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester. For more information, call 650-3031 or email education@pinelandfarms.org.

Scare your pants off

Join in on a spooky corn maize and haunted woods walk starting at the Pineland Farms Education Barn, taking place both Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22. Walks will leave every 20 minutes between 6-9 p.m., beginning with an optional trip through the corn maize and finishing with a “scare your pants off” journey through the “haunted” dark forest. Walks are to be held rain or shine, and flashlights are required.

Due to the event’s popularity, the number of tickets available each night is limited to 600. Tickets cost $6 per person and are available online at https://shop.pinelandfarms.org, Classes & Events. For more information, call 650-3031 or email education@pinelandfarms.org.

Eyewitness report

“The 2016 Republican National Convention: Eyewitnesses” will be presented by Sen. Eric Brakey and state Rep. Ellie Espling, delegates, at the next meeting of the New Gloucester Historical Society. The talk occurs on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m., at the New Gloucester Meetinghouse, 389 Intervale Road. It’s free and open to the public, and refreshments are available.

Friends of the Shakers Fall Work Day

The Friends of the Shakers, a nonprofit support organization, invites members and the public to join their Fall Work Day, Saturday, Oct. 22, to help the Sabbathday Lake Shakers and Shaker Museum ready the village for winter. Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is located at 707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester.

You’ll spend the day working at various assignments suitable for all ages and abilities. Work days bring chores, but fellowship as well. Everyone shares the noon meal, conversation and laughter. Please bring a potluck side dish or dessert to share, dropping off your food donation at the check-in table, located on the lawn at the back of the Brick Dwelling House. There, you can choose a task from the list of chores. All tools will be supplied but if you have a favorite pair of work gloves, feel free to wear them.

Chores start at 9 a.m. and last until 3 p.m. and consist of raking, storing apples and pumpkins, stacking wood, working on herbs in the Shaker herb department, and much more. You are welcome to arrive at any time and stay for as long as you are able.

Limited space is available for the public and pre-registration is required. Call 926-4597, email info@friendsoftheshakers.org, or sign up online at www.friendsoftheshakers.org.

Election and absentee voting

Voting will take place, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 6 a.m.-8 p.m., at the New Gloucester Fire Station, 611 Lewiston Road. The state referendum election ballot will consist of five citizen initiatives and one bond issue question. The general election ballot will contain candidates for county, state and national offices. View the ballots online at www.newgloucester.com or see print versions posted around town.

Absentee ballots are available at Town Hall during regular office hours: Monday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. An absentee ballot application can be printed from the town website and be mailed or hand-delivered to the town office, or you can go to the state election website www.state.me.us/sos/cec/elec. Another option is to vote in person at Town Hall prior to the election during regular office hours. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Thursday, Nov. 3, without special circumstances. A reminder: The New Gloucester Town Hall service window will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to allow staff to be at the polls on Election Day.

Pineland Farms is gearing up for its annual Fall Festival, which includes a number of spooky activities.