CALENDAR

Saturday, Oct. 31

I-PARK MASQUERADE: Halloween Blood Moon Masquerade, Oct. 31 at I-Park, East Haddam. This roving celebration will feature Halloween-inspired “stations” (both indoor and out), illuminations, in the format of a crawl, with small groups exploring a variety of haunted spaces, forested trails and moon-lit landscapes. Costumes encouraged. Drinks and snacks served. Tickets $65 per person. Staggered arrival times will keep group size limits at 16 persons. Details at i-park.org

SCOUTING FOR FOOD: Scouts for Scouting for Food, the local area's Boy Scout Troop and Cub Packs food collection drive to help Colchester's needy families through the Colchester Food Bank, will will distribute yellow plastic bags to collect non perishable food donations Oct. 24 Each bag will have a list of items. Donationw sill be donated from 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 31. Donation bags should be placed next to your mailbox before 9 a.m. Generosity is appreciated.

HALLOWEEN FREAK SHOW: Epoch Arts will hold a safe theatrical Halloween trail called: Freak Show, with online registration that began Oct. 16. The event is almost entirely outdoors, with a brief pass through the building at 27 Skinner St., East Hampton. Non-registered walkins are welcome, space permitting. Masks are required. Dates are Oct. 23-24, 30-31, 7-10 p.m. Admission is $10 per person and the events are rain or shine. To register, go to www.epocharts.org

WELLNESS TO GO: Time for self-care with Henry Carter Hull Library’s “Wellness-To-Go” series, presented in collaboration with Gratitude With Jenna, a massage and wellness spa in Clinton. October’s kids include ingredients and instructions for aromatherapy spray. Register in advance to reserve a kit while supplies last, email sarah@hchlibrary.org to sign up. Pickup 10 a.m.-5 p.m .Oct. 30 and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 31.

AUTHOR TALK: Mary Hogan Wilcox and Lynn Munsinger, “We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt”, 10:30 a.m., Oct. 31, free on Zoom. Registration required; attendees will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting. RJ Julia Booksellers, details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959.

DRAG QUEEN SHOWS: Priam Vineyards of Colchester is staging a Halloween extravaganza of two live outdoor drag queen shows of the classic Halloween flick “Hocus Pocus” on Saturday, Oct. 31. A kid-friendly show starts at 6 p.m., and an adult version at 8 p.m. Each show is one hour. Admission is $35 for adults, $15 for kids 13-18, and free for children under 12. A complimentary glass of wine is included for adults of legal drinking age. Rustic Streets Food Truck will be onsite serving up New American street food, highlighting local and seasonal products with madefrom-scratch cuisine ranging from soups and salads to skewers and sliders. To purchase tickets online, visit priamvineyards.com/events-1/hocus-pocuslive

Sunday, Nov. 1

IN-PERSON SERVICES: First Congregational Church, 355 Main Street Cromwell is holding in-person services starting at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. All are welcome. Masks must be worn and social distancing will be practiced. Temperatures are taken prior to entering the sanctuary. Or, watch our services via Facebook or on our website at fcccromwell.org.

XAVIER EXAM: Eighth graders can begin their application to Xavier today. Start by completing the application for admission form and selecting a test registration date which can be done through Xavier’s website, in “Applying to Xavier” under Admissions. The Entrance Exam will be offered on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 in person at Xavier. Families opting for an online test or a 1:1 test session can contact Director of Admissions Nicholas Grasso through e-mail (nmgrasso@xavierhighschool.org) for more information about those options. All application materials, which include essay, letters of recommendation, and report cards are due by Nov. 23.

VIRTUAL WORSHIP: Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown, Sunday worship, 9 a.m. For more information including the Virtual Link to join worship, please visit: www.faithelcamiddletown.org. All are welcome.

HOLY COMMUNION: Faith Lutheran Church, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 1, Drive-Thru Holy Communion. It will be offered the first Sunday of every month. All are welcome.

SERVICE CHANGE: CenterPoint Community Church, Cromwell, was originally scheduled to begin Sunday services at First Congregational Church in Cromwell on Nov. 1. The services will begin at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

Monday, Nov. 2

OPEN MIC: Anything Goes Open Mic with Moments of Gratitude, Mondays, 7 p.m., free, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

VOTER SESSION: All Registrars of

Voters' offices in Connecticut will hold a statewide voter registration session for those who have turned 18, become a US citizen, or moved to Connecticut since October 27th of this year. This registration session is also open to members of the Armed Forces, and former Armed Forces members who have been discharged within the calendar year. This session will be held, 9 a.m.-5 p.m .Nov. 2. Call your town’s registrar for details.

LAUNCH PARTY: Grace Byers, “I Believe I Can”, 12 p.m., Nov. 2, ticketed event on Zoom. Ticket for admission and a copy of I Believe I Can costs $18.99. You may also purchase our “Buy One Give One” ticket for $37.98; the second copy will be donated to Read to Grow and distributed to a New Haven or Bridgeport student who is attending the virtual event. Ticket holders will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting on the day of the event. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959.

AUTHOR TALK: Grace Byers, “I Believe I Can”, 12 p.m., Nov. 2, ticketed event on Zoom with RJ Julia Booksellers. Ticket for admission and a copy of I Believe I Can costs $18.99. Or, purchase a “Buy One Give One” ticket for $37.98; the second copy will be donated to Read to Grow and distributed to a New Haven or Bridgeport student who is attending the virtual event. Ticket holders will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting on the day of the event. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959

EQUIPMENT COLLECTION: Wheels for the World, a ministry of Joni and Friends, IDC in CA, collects mobility equipment, sends them for refurbishing and then distributes them to people who need them and can't afford them all around the world. Anyone wishing to donate equipment can call 203-235-4686 or 203-7470542 and ask for Cindy or Marshall Dunbar.

Tuesday, Nov. 3

LAUGHTER YOGA: Tuesdays: Laughter Yoga - 7 p.m., free. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission. STORY TIME: Short and Sweet Story Time, ages 2-5, on Zoom, 10:30 a.m. with the Deep River Library, Tuesdays until further notices. is available on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am until further notice. For more information, including the Zoom meeting link, go to deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com and click on monthly calendar, or call the library at 860-5266039.