Everything Halloween

Everything Halloween

By Charity Webster, Contributing Writer.

Halloween is just around the corner with so many fun things to do this holiday season. What peaks your interest? Is it to dress up, go to a party, or just eat a bunch of candy? Maybe you want to have a marathon of scary films or hang out with your friends at a haunted house or hayride? Maybe all of the above!

The holiday brings a whole world of mystery and fun. Did you know that you originally had to dance for your “treat”? Or that Halloween used to be a great day to find your soulmate? Studies have shown that the holiday actually makes kids act more evil, and that a full moon on Halloween is extremely rare. What’s next? Farmington is full of spookiness too. Some people believe the ghost of Lillian Nordica haunts the halls of Merrill. Whatever your fancy, there is so much to do this season in Farmington and right on campus! Check out below:

 

All year around:

Nightmare Club

The point of this club is for its members to come together under the enjoyment of the horror genre in all of its forms, including but not limited to: film and television, literature, role playing, and video games. In addition to an appreciation and discussion of all of the above, the club intends to work on its own agendas for events to involve both the UMF student community as well as the community of Farmington and the surrounding towns. Meetings are Wednesdays at 8pm. Contact Paul Gies, the faculty advisor, at paulgies@maine.edu

 

October 7th from 7-9pm

“Mission Imagination” Electric Violin Concert and Discussion. Led by Electro-acoustic violist and David Bowie Collaborator Martha Mooke, this event is a concert and discussion of Bowie’s work and creative process. Free at the Emery Community Arts Center

 

October 9th 

Oktoberfest at Saddleback Maine. Visit their website for more details: https://www.saddlebackmaine.com/event/oktoberfest/

 

October 20th from 7pm-9pm 

Full Moon Hike put on by University of Maine Farmington

 

October 27th

“Get out and Horror Soundtracks” by Aaron Wyanski, composer, pianist, and Assistant Professor of Music Composition UMF. According to the New Commons Project page: “critical exploration of soundtrack of horror fills over the last century”

 

October 29th from 4pm-6pm

Trunk or Treat Put on by the Rotaract club 4pm-6pm. A safe place to bring your kiddos trick or treating! Located in the parking lot behind the Fusion Center.

 

October 22 & 23, and 29 & 30th

Haunted House at the Farmington Fairgrounds. Fright Nights  7pm-10pm, $20 admission fee. If Halloween is your scare come check us out! According to Mainehauntedhouses.com:  “Join us for this mind blowing, never before seen Halloween event! Three separate terrifying haunted houses in one location, one ticket to rule them all!… FREE Parking! Beer and Cider for those over 21. Vendors! Food! Axe throwing!”

This event is also looking for Volunteers, and benefits The United Way of the Tri Valley Area as well as Titcomb Mountain.

 

 

 

Visit the Apple Orchards in the area all through the month of October!

Pick your own pumpkins and apples, enjoy some goodies, hayrides, and  corn mazes

 

 

Morrison Hill Orchard from 12pm-4pm Daily

Pick your own apples or pumpkins or pick up some fresh pressed cider.

 

Boothby’s Orchard and Farm from 10am-5pm Daily

A unique experience to the area that includes wine tasting made from their apples and their grapes. Also come pick your own apples and pumpkins.

 

Ricker Hill Orchards from 9am-6pm Daily

Pick your own apples and pumpkins, play a round of disc golf, and pick up some of their famous apple cider donuts.

Morrison Hill Apple Orchard Steadily Growing Their Business

Morrison Hill Apple Orchard Steadily Growing Their Business

Melissa Wood, Contributing Writer

    Morrison Hill Orchard in Farmington, ME has been owned and run by Jeanne Simpson for some time now, but five years ago was passed down to her two daughters Jodi and Jan. In the near future they aim to add more to the farm.

Currently operating under 60 acres and 12 varieties of apples, additional food and drink options are some ideas for future expansion

    Since taking over, oldest daughter and UMF alumni Jodi Hollingsworth and her sister Jan Rackliff have been adding and evolutionizing their family-owned farm. With 350 trees to tend to and many other events hosted at the orchard, “It is definitely a lifestyle,” says Hollingsworth, in a phone interview. “It is not a full time job. It can be difficult at times.” 

    With there only being 60 acres and 12 different varieties of apples she says, “It is a very intense two month long season.”  

   Once starting her journey, Hollingsworth says she has more “expansions for the future.” More importantly, she says she wants to add in more food and drink options, as well as lawn games and more animals. 

    The big outcome is for “people to come, enjoy it, and experience it,” says Hollingsworth. Even though there has been a big reduction in small orchards, the 12 different types of apples really help. 

    Their season doesn’t start until the apples are ripe and ready to be picked. Every year they have their regulars who come with their families to pick their apples, but they “want to reach out further,” said Simpson. 

    This year they started their pick-your-own apples season on Sept. 20. In preparation for that, they have to work 12-16 hour days. Though Simpson says they enjoy it together as a family.

    Hollingsworth owns County Seat Realty in Farmington, as well. As a result, she must find a way to balance her two careers and the need to be at both places at once. “It can be very challenging at times. It’s a matter of looking ahead and focusing,” says Hollingsworth. 

     Everyday she starts her mornings at the orchard and then works her day around her realty company. “I always have my schedule set for the season. It is quite a bit of business,” says Hollingsworth.

     This 60-acre, family-run orchard in the past has been run by Jerry and Jeanne Simpson. “It is constantly changing,” said Jeanne Simpson. They decided to go with a pick-your-own style of apple picking 10 years ago. They then moved into people buying bushels of their apples.

    Simpson decided to retire from teaching in 2002 to help her husband tend to the orchard. Once her two daughters were old enough, they decided to hand the business over to them.

    Sisters Jody Hollingsworth, and Jan Rackliff have been running the business for five years and have big plans for the coming years. From apple slingshots to hard cider tasting and many more. They are hoping to bring in a wider base of customers and continue to grow their family business.