Pumpkins and Halloween fun

SHARON — It’s not Halloween yet but the Halloween season has definitely arrived, and the town is filled with ghoulishly good seasonal events — and plenty of pumpkins.

At Ellsworth Hill Farm, co-owner Mike Bozzi said the pumpkins grew very well this year.

“It was a nice, dry season,†he said. “And when it’s nice and dry, you don’t have to worry about mildew or other things that can happen when it rains heavily.â€

There are also plenty of pumpkins for sale at the recently opened Sharon Farm Market. Owner Chris Choe said a majority of the pumpkins he has for sale are from Daisi Hill Farm in Millerton. Many are decorative, some are edible — but what  stands out in the store’s display is a 300-pounder that was given to the market by Robert Nickson, owner of St. John’s Farm in Sharon.

Pumpkins are also available at farm stands around town. Sharon residents can carve them up and take them over to the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, where decorative jack-o’-lanterns will be collected on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. The carved cucurbits will remain on display throughout the evening, to entertain trick-or-treaters on the town Green.

The Sharon Historical Society will offer three separate events to celebrate Halloween and history. On Sunday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hillside Cemetery, the society will hold its annual Cemetery Stroll.

Volunteers in period costume will lead tours of the historic burying grounds. This year’s walk will focus on seven World War II veterans buried at the cemetery.  The tour will begin at Sharon’s Civil War Monument at the intersection of Cemetery Hill Road and Main Street.

The event is free and visitors are advised to dress warmly and wear appropriate shoes.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, from 8  to 11 p.m., the Historical Society will hold its annual Halloween party for adults.

The party will be at the society’s building on Main Street and will include live music from Swamp Yankee. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 28, by calling the Historical Society at 860-364-5688 or by e-mail at sharonhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.

On Halloween night, Sunday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Historical Society building will be open for trick-or-treating for ghouls of all ages.

For more information about the Historical Society events, go online to sharonhist.org.

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