NOTE: Community bulletin board-type items are welcome for inclusion in the Happenings! section of the Xpress newspapers. Please allow enough lead time for publication. Email your calendar or event notice to [email protected]. 

Free Shred Days

bankHometown invites customers and members of the community to free Shred Days at local offices. Events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (or until the truck is full) on the following dates and at the following locations. No appointment is necessary.

Saturday, October 5: Lancaster, MA office, 131 Main St.; Saturday, November 2: Millbury Public Library, 128 Elm St.

Local residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements or bills, cancelled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information and shredding them safely and securely for free. A professional document destruction company will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person.

Through Oct 31

• The Pumpkin Patch at the First Congregational Church, 128 Central Street, Auburn will be open daily 10 a.m. ‘til dusk September 21st through October 31st or until sold out.  There will be gourds and pumpkins of all sizes and prices – one for every need; be it for your fall decor, carving, baking – you name it!  The pumpkins are raised and harvested by the Navajos on their reservation in New Mexico.  The money they receive helps their schools and other programs and a percentage of the sales helps our church as well.  Thank you in advance for your support.  If you have any questions, feel free to call the church office at 508-832-2845.

Saturday, September 28

• Upton’s Annual Heritage Day Festival will take place beginning at 9 a.m. Activities will take place in and around Upton center. The Society is grateful for Unibank’s  continued sponsorship of our annual event. Mark your calendar. This event is always a great time and the variety of events offer something for everyone. If circumstances require that it be cancelled a decision will be announced on or before September 25

Sunday, September 29

• The 45th annual Harvest Fair and Apple Pie Social, hosted by the Congregational

Church of Grafton, will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 11 am – 3 pm on

the church grounds, at 30 Grafton Common. Admission is free to this family-friendly

event, and it is rain or shine. There will be:

Homemade fresh apple pies & apple crisps

Tasty hot dogs, hamburgers, meatball subs, corn chowder, chili, and beverages

Huge yard sale – household items, toys, jewelry, clothing & more. Books for all ages

Raffle baskets galore. Silent auction items, including a handmade doll house

Kids’ games, including a bounce house

Live musical performances throughout the day, including: Kelly Clark’s Jazz Band, Alison Balfour, The Driveway Chicks with Jan Barlow, and Gabe Cain, guitarist

Come one, come all! For more information, visit www.uccgrafton.org, email [email protected], or call 508-839-4513. See our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/uccgrafton.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1

• The Simon Fairfield Library in Douglas is hosting a Gardening Workshop with Shea Maloney of Riddle Brook Farm: “Cool Flowers: Growing Cold Hardy Annuals in a Northern Climate” at 6 p.m. in the library. Learn to cultivate hardy spring flowers. Space is limited, call for a spot 508-476-2695.  Priority given to Douglas residents.

• The Sutton Senior Class will hold the Sutton Strong golf tournament

on benefit the Forever Friends Club to support students

with intellectual and developmental disabilities and fund activities for the

Class of 2025. The event will be held at the at Blackstone National Golf Club, 227 Putnam Hill Road, Sutton. The event kicks off with registration at 2:30 p.m. with a start time of 4 p.m. Four golfers per group, two groups per hole, 18 tournament holes. Cost is $400 per foursome.

Register at https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/sutton-strong-84/register

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 

• Dudley Fire Department is hosting a Citizens’ Fire Academy for people aged 18 or older who live or work in the town of Dudley. Eight weeks of three-hour classes for approximately 20 hours of instruction. Classes meet at 6 p.m. the Dudley Fire Department, 128 West Main Street. Class size is limited to 12 students. For more information and an enrollment form, visit www.dudleyma.gov/ fire-department.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

• The Dudley PTO will hold its Fall Festival from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Shepherd Hill Regional High School. Visit this family-friendly event with food trucks, craft and specialty vendors, petting zoo, carnival games, live music, free trunk or treat and more. Rain date is October 20. New this year is a petting zoo, axe throwing, touch-a-truck. It’s a new location with plenty of parking. No dogs allowed on site.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8

• Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at 4 p.m. at Convenient MD Urgent Care, 15 Pleasant Valley Road, Sutton. RSVP to Blackstonevalley.org/events.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

• Edward Jones Financial Advisor Dennis Antonopoulos and Medicare Specialist Lynne Mussulli will present a seminar on “Health Care and Your Retirement” at 6 p.m. (registration begins at 5:45 p.m.) at Brookdale Eddy Pond West, 669 Washington Street, Auburn. The seminar will address Medicare coverage and traditional medical expenses; long-term medical care expenses and strategies for addressing uncovered expenses. (A reminder that Medicare enrollment is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, 2024.)

To register for this popular free seminar, please call Karen Rieser @ 508-832-5385 or email [email protected] by October 8.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

• St. Patrick's Church Autumn Recycling Event. 8am - 1pm. 7 East St, Whitinsville. We will be accepting gently used books (no encyclopedias) & media;  gently used textiles/clothing & accessories; electronics for a fee (no propane, batteries, lightbulbs);  rinsed bottles/cans returnable in MA (no glass).  Please keep items for each station separate.  For more information & pricing, email [email protected] or call 508-234-5656.

• St. Peter’s Parish in Northbridge is having a Ham Dinner on Saturday, October 13th starting at 5:30 pm in the parish hall. Bring you family and friends for a wonderful meal and meet some new friends. Tickets are $17 per dinner and include salad and dessert. To go meals will be available for pick up at 5:00pm and all orders must be purchased in advance. Please call the parish office at 508-234-2156 or email [email protected] to purchase tickets or if you have any questions.

• Meet Smokey Bear at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation from 1 - 2 p.m. 

For 80 years Smokey has helped parkgoers understand the importance of using fire responsibly. Meet Smokey Bear and our DCR firefighters and help celebrate Smokey’s 80th Birthday.  Join us at the Pavilion near the chasm's entrance. The event will happen rain or shine, hazardous weather will cancel. For more information, contact Pat at 508-234-9610 or [email protected]

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

• Coin Show at the VFW Post 1385, 13 Cross Road, Uxbridge. 3-7 p.m. Free admission, free appraisals.

Thursday, October 17

• Auburn Historical Society & Museum’s October meeting: Getting A “Grip” on History- Devon Kurtz of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor will be telling

about the birth of the American Industrial Revolution in the Blackstone River Valley of which Auburn is a part. Auburn Sportsman’s Club at 50 Elm Street at 6:30 p.m. For more information contact the Auburn Historical Society and Museum at [email protected]. All meetings are free and open to the public.

• The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its Apple Pie Social networking event from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Willard House Clock Museum, 11 Willard Street, N. Grafton. Admission $20 for members and $30 for future members. RSVP by October 10 to blackstonevalley.org.

• Disney Movie Trivia Night fun for the whole family. Simon Fairfield library Douglas at 6 p.m.

• Sutton Garden Club 7 p.m. Seating begins at 6:45 p.m. Learn about lawn care and its alternatives with master gardener Gretal Anspach. At A.L. Dudey-Gendron Post 4114, 156 Boston Post Road, Sutton.

SAturday, October 19

• Open Sky Community Services is excited to announce the 10th Annual Valley Bag Toss, an inclusive cornhole tournament being held October 19th at the Alternatives’ Whitin Mill in Whitinsville. The Valley Bag Toss presents the perfect opportunity to show off the cornhole skills you developed over a summer at barbecues and picnics with friends and family. Beyond simply being fun, the funds raised at the tournament support Open Sky’s health and wellness programs for the nearly 8,000 individuals served by the agency throughout Central Mass. People of all abilities, age 14+, are invited to participate in this friendly competition scheduled to be held at 50 Douglas Rd. Whitinsville, Mass. on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12pm-5pm.

• The Millbury First Congregational Church, 148  West Main Street, is sponsoring a Flea Market and Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to reserve table space, please call Jeri Stead 508-865-5371. The $25 inside area consists of a large supper table plus a card table. An outside reservation is $15, and those chancing the weather need to provide their own table. The kitchen will be selling coffee and muffins, and hot dogs will be served during lunch hours. There will also be a Bakery Table, and a Church Fall Flea Market Table.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

• Grafton Fall Festival from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Grafton Common.

Decorate a pumpkin and build a scarecrow while supplies last. Enjoy music, food and games.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25

• Be a part of Webster’s annual Main Street Trunk or Treat event from 4-6 p.m. For businesses along Main Street and South Main Street, flyers will be available in the coming weeks. Please display the flyers if you wish to participate. The flyer is the same as a porch light welcoming trick or treaters. Anyone interested in decorating a car trunk, pickup truck or trailer, please reach out to [email protected] to be part of a spooky good time.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

• Scarecrows on the Common, Joslin Park, Town Common, 352 Main Street, Oxford, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. You’re invited to fill the town common with handcrafted scarecrows for the whole town to enjoy. Open to individuals, businesses and families. Visit www.oxfordma.myrec.com to register. Schedule of events: scarecrow drop-off 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; music with “DW and the Shakemakers” at 12 – 2:30 p.m.; Sutton Dancing Witches perform at 1 p.m. Scarecrow judging begins at 3 p.m. Children’s Costume Parade 3 p.m. Kids’ games, crafts, snacks, vendors and more. Awards for most creative, funniest and best town spirit scarecrows.

Saturday, November 2

• The Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley will be having its 3rd annual Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 2nd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 55 Oxford Ave, Dudley.

• St. Peter’s Parish in Northbridge will be holding its Annual Holiday Fair on Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00am-3:00pm in the parish hall, 39 Church Avenue, Northbridge. Come out with your family and friends to enjoy the day! We will have all of your favorites: White Elephant Table, Baked Goods Table, Holiday Table, Craft Table with beautiful handmade quilts. There will also be tables filled with raffles (you never know what will be there!), a silent auction, scratch ticket raffle, quilt raffle and a gift basket raffle. Stay and enjoy a bite to eat with all of our favorite foods being served. For more information, please contact the parish office at 508-234-2156 or email: [email protected].

Thursday, November 21

• Auburn Historical Society & Museum’s November meeting: C.E.R.T. in Your Community –This is the local coordinating structure that train volunteers to help emergency responders during disasters. Members of the Auburn Community Emergency Response Team will explain what the team has done and how you might become a member of the team. Auburn Sportsman’s Club at 50 Elm Street at 6:30 p.m. For more information contact the Auburn Historical Society and Museum at [email protected]. All meetings are free and open to the public.

Saturday, December 7

The 2024 Sutton Chain of Lights will Take Place this year from 10 am to 4 pm

Spend a day with your family and friends at the Town of Sutton’s Annual  Holiday Chain of Lights Event. Free trolleys and buses will transport visitors over rolling countryside to participating locations throughout historic Sutton.  Farms, unique specialty stores, church fairs, and area businesses welcome the holidays with musical entertainment, children’s activities, food,

fun and Holiday characters.  Route  information, maps, location descriptions and brochures are available at www.suttonlights.com

Third Wednesday of each Month

• Coin Show at the VFW Post 1385. 13 Cross Road, Uxbridge. 3-7 p.m. Free Admission, Free Appraisals