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].

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

• “Unexpected Presidents: How Tragedies Brought Four Men into the White House in the 19th Century.” Four vice presidents – John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson and Chester Arthur – would be touched by unforeseen circumstances and find themselves thrust into the presidency. None of them ever expected to sit in the White House, yet a combination of events moved them from obscurity into prominence. Paul Lambert Sr., Instructor of History and Political Science at Nichols College, will talk about this fascinating time in American history at 11 a.m. at the Samuel Slater Experience, 31 Ray Street, Webster. The presentation is free. Please register at samuelslaterexperience.org, email [email protected] or call 508-461-2955.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

• The Grafton Land Trust is hosting a “Good Dog Run” at the Lions Club property on Brigham Hill Road, Grafton. It will be a fun run for dogs and owners. Keep an eye on social media (Facebook and Instagram) for more information. If you would like to receive an email about the event, contact admin@graftonlandtrust. org   

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

• The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce invites you to experience a one-of-a-kind networking evening at Cows, Charcuterie & Cheese for a celebration of community, culinary craftsmanship, and nearly 80 years of Whittier Farms family farming. This event will be held at the rural and relaxed setting of Whittier Farms 90 Douglas Road, Sutton from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

 • “Road Trip 1927 – 180,000 in a Model T Ford” is the story of Carey and Maud Melville’s eight month adventure with their three children. Presented for the Willard House & Clock Museum by photographer Bob Arnold in collaboration with the Grafton Public Library, it’s an epic travelogue of the Melville’s journey from Worcester to out-of-the-way places across the country with little in the way of motels, gas stations or Howard Johnson’s to sustain them. The Melvilles kept a copious photographic journal of the trip that their grandson Bob will share with the audience. From 6-8 p.m. in the Grafton Public Library Community Room, 35 Grafton Common, Grafton. Register at willardhouse.org/events/calendar/2025/9/18/bob-arnold-model-t

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 

• As the warm weather flies by, don’t forget to plan a trip to the Oxford Farmers Market. This is the second to last market day for the season. The final Farmers Market is Friday, Oct. 17. The market takes place at Joslin Park from 2-6 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

• New England Sap Bucket Painting Workshop. Join local artist Jean Walker for a creative experience that combines acrylic painting and decoupage to transform authentic sap buckets into one-of-a-kind decorative pieces. For experienced artists or beginners. From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Samuel Slater Experience, 31 Ray Street, Webster. Cost is $45. To register, call 508-461-2955 or email [email protected].     

• Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary Fall Festival 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy a day filled with local artisan, resellers, music, and delicious food at our annual festival celebrating local talent and community spirit. Family activities, bouncy house, pumpkin painting and visits from the Sanctuary’s animals. 56 Capen Road, Charlton. Rain date: September 21. 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

• 19th Annual Uxbridge Senior Center Golf Outing at the Whitinsville Golf Club. Nine holes, 12 p.m. shotgun start. Teams of four. $100 fee per golfer includes cart and buffet dinner. Dinner only $30. Tee Sponsor $100. Send checks to Uxbridge Elderly Connection, Inc., c/o Russ Rosborough, P.O. Box 215, Uxbridge, MA 01569.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27  

• Friends of WSL Book Sale from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Friends of the Whitinsville Social Library are holding their annual fall book sale with a ton of great quality used books and media for great prices! Support your local library and snag your next read. The sale is on the library’s front lawn, weather permitting.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

• Douglas Oktoberfest 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Main Street, Douglas. The event is a high point of the season, drawing thousands each year. Main Street is lined with vendors offering food, crafts, games, displays and even weiner dog races. There are also performances by singers, bands, choral groups, dancers and variety shows. 

Enjoy the family friendly rides and games including the popular Huge Slide, train and obstacle course. The cash cube with prizes remains a highlight. Craft vendors, food, kids’ attractions and more.

• Dudley Grange # 163 Annual Apple Festival from 10 a.m .- 3 p.m. 

The Festival takes place on the lawn in front of the historic Dudlay Grange Hall, 139 Center Road, Dudley. The Festival is held in conjunction with the Black Tavern Historical Society’s Annual Craft Fair, located across from the Grange. The Apple Festival features live music, hot apple crisp and other delicious food options. This is a rain or shine event.

  
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16

• The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce (BVCC)  announces its upcoming Business After Hours networking event, hosted by Fidelity Bank in Millbury. The event will take place on from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Fidelity Bank’s Armory Village branch, located at 16 South Main Street, Millbury. It’s free to attend!

• The Friends of the Auburn Public Library host Robert Stacy, historian at the Museum of Worcester who will give a presentation on “The Lives of Worcester Workers 1830-Present from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Pakachoag Center, 203 Pakachoag Street, Auburn. The doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $15. Payment by cash, check or PayPal. The event is a fundraiser for the Friends. Kindly pre-register at [email protected]

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 and SUNDAY OCTOBER 19

• 45th Annual Waters Farm Days – see article coming in September 26 issue of Blackstone Valley Xpress, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. , 53 Waters Farm Road, West Sutton. Circa 1757 framhouse tours, blacksmith, shingle making demonstrations, 4H Club, kids’ activities  and more.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

• Fall Festival in Nelson Park, North Grafton, 6 Prentice Street from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be music, inflatables, food trucks, and local businesses  joining in on the fun! FREE!! Music, food, games and more ! Decorate a pumpkin and build a scarecrow while supplies last. Presented by Coral Care & Country Bank. 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

• Friendly Trick or Treat from 3 – 4 p.m.at Grafton Municipal Center, 30 Providence Road,Grafton.  Hosted by Grafton Rec and sponsored by the Town.  The event is designed for ages 5 and under, though all are welcome. Come visit Town Hall and trick or treat at town offices and tables set up by local businesses. Dress up in your costume and collect goodies in a safely lighted and non-scary environment. Start at the Senior Center Gym tent to collect your bag and a map. Face painting available!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 

• The Sutton Garden Club will host Gretel Anspach, Trustee of Mass Horticulture and a Lifetime Master Gardener of the MA Master Gardener Association,who  will talk about cold frames and hoop houses to extend the growing season by as much as 2-4 weeks.  These tools let you transition seedlings and from windowsills or greenhouses to the outdoors.  Presented at 7 p.m. at the A.L. Dudley-Gendron Post 414, 156 Boston Post Road, Sutton. The Garden Club welcomes new members: $20 individual or $30 for a family.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER  25   

• St. Patrick’s Church Autumn Recycling Event, 7 East Street, Whitinsville. 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Accepting gently used books (no encyclopedias), media & magazines,  gently used textiles/clothing  and accessories, electronics for a fee (no propane, batteries, lightbulbs),  rinsed bottles/cans returnable in MA (no glass). Please keep items for each station separate.  Call 508-234-5656 or contact  [email protected] for price list or questions. Proceeds benefit Youth in Action service projects.

• The Historic Sutton Center Walking Tour  begins at 5 p.m. on Sutton Town Common, 4 Uxbridge Road. Re-enactors will guide visitors to multiple stops around the Common sharing the town’s history and some stories befitting the Halloween season.                                                              

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

• Then Grafton Land Trust will hold its annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. at the Highfields Golf Club in Grafton. This year’s speaker will be Dr. Stephen Mrozowski, the founding director of the Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archeological Research at University of Massachusetts Boston.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

• Charlotte Wilson will share fascinating facts about Sutton’s citizenry during Revolutionary days at 7 p.m. in the first Congregational Church, 307 Boston Road, Sutton. Courtesy of the Sutton Historical Society.