Fun fall events in our neighborhood

THURSDAY, OCT. 3

BATTLE OF THE HOOK: The 243rd anniversary of Gloucester’s Battle of the Hook will be commemorated today at Abingdon Park.

SMART MONEY SKILLS: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold its Smart Money Skills program for students in sixth through twelfth grades today, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Learn how to take control of your finances and achieve your goals with Reggie Rossignol of Chesapeake Bank. Registration is now open.

DUCKS UNLIMITED BANQUET: The Piankatank River Chapter of Virginia Ducks Unlimited will hold its 4th annual Wetlands Conservation Banquet at the Piankatank Ruritan Club, Hudgins, beginning at 6 o’clock tonight. Proceeds are used to support wetlands conservation in Mathews, and across the United States. Tickets can be purchased at piankatankriverdu.org. Single tickets start at $85.

STATE FAIR: The State Fair of Virginia is ongoing from now through Sunday at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell.

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

JURIED SHOW: Arts on Main, Gloucester, will have its annual Juried Show opening reception and awards ceremony on Oct. 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The exhibition will run from Oct. 4-26.

CRAB CARNIVAL: The 42nd annual West Point Crab Carnival will be held on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5. Beginning at 5 p.m. on Oct. 4 is the Tour de Crab Kids bike race, followed by live music, food and fireworks. Oct. 5, activities begin at 10 a.m. with vendors, kids activities (bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, yard and carnival games), followed by the parade at 1 p.m. and live music throughout the day.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

OKTOBERFEST: Sanders, a retirement community in Gloucester Court House, will hold its Oktoberfest Festival on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Heron Cove Way. There will be fun, food, music, vendors and beer. Entry is free.

TOUCH A TRUCK: Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism will be holding its Touch a Truck event on Oct. 5 at Woodville Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

KICKBALL TOURNAMENT: Mathews Outdoor Club will hold its Coastal Virginia (COVA) Kickball Tournament on Oct. 5 at the Mathews Little League fields.

BUTTON ART: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold a Framed Candy Corn Button Art program on Oct. 5, beginning at 11 a.m., for students in grades sixth through twelfth. Registration is now open.

CONCERT: Flat Iron Crossroads, Ware Neck, will be holding its 2024 Blues Fest on Oct. 5. Doors and food truck open at 3:30 p.m. BluzHammer, Kurt Crandall & True Story and The Nighthawks with Bob Margolin will perform. The show is intended to be outdoors, weather permitting. There will be fire pits and fall activities to enjoy. Bring a lawn chair and a light jacket. Tickets are $30 apiece.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9

LET’S DRAW HALLOWEEN: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold its Let’s Draw Hal-loween program on Oct. 9, beginning at 6 p.m. for children K-5. Draw a spider, haunted house, jack-o-lantern and more. Registration is now open.

THURSDAY, OCT. 10

UNDERSIDE OF HISTORY: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold a program on the Underside of History on Oct. 10, beginning at 6 p.m. The Ladies Victorian will present on the underpinnings of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. For ages 18 and older. Registration is now open.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

NIGHTMARE WEEKEND: GalaxyCon’s Nightmare Weekend will be held at the Richmond Convention Center Oct. 11-13. Enjoy all things spooky.

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

SMITHFIELD MARKET: Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a Best Years Trip (for ages 55 and older) to Smithfield Pickers Market on Oct. 12 from 7:30 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. After shopping through tables of antiques, take a walk down Main Street to check out the shops and enjoy lunch on your own. Dress for the weather and wear comfy shoes. The cost is $30. Deadline to register is Oct. 5.

CLEAN GLOUCESTER DAY: Clean Gloucester Day will be held on Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. until noon. Gather a group, pick a spot and pick up litter. Sign up for supplies supplies through Gloucester Clean Community. Register by calling 804-693-5370.

RABIES CLINIC: Gloucester County Animal Control is partnering with Three Rivers Health District and Gloucester Veterinary Hospital to hold a rabies clinic on Oct. 12 from 1-3 p.m. at the Gloucester High School parking lot. Dogs and cats are both welcome. All dogs must be leashed and aggressive dogs must be muzzled. All cats must be in a crate/carrier. Three-year rabies vaccines will be available with proof of a prior rabies vaccine. The cost is $10. Cash only. Proceeds will benefit Friends of Animal Control.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

FALL CRAFT: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold a fall craft program on Oct. 16, beginning at 2 p.m. Make a decoupage pumpkin for your fall decor. For ages 18 and older. Registration is now open.

FAFSA: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold a FAFSA seminar on Oct. 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to complete the FAFSA form to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study funds and loans. This program is for all ages. No registration is required.

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

COLLEGE & CAREER FAIR: The Gloucester NAACP, Gloucester High School and the W.E.B. Dubois Honor Society are hosting a College and Career Fair on Oct. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at GHS. This event is free and open to sophomores, juniors and seniors from the Hampton Roads, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck areas. Light refreshments will be provided.

ESTATE PLANNING: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold an estate planning program on Oct. 17, beginning at 6 p.m. Carlos Britos, financial advisor at Edward Jones, will address the issues of wills, trusts, advanced medical directives and more.

HISTORY PROGRAM: Mathews County VA250 will present, “Life, Death and Victory in Revolutionary Virginia: George Washington, Henry Knox and the Yorktown Campaign,” on Oct. 17 at the Cobbs Creek Art Center, beginning at 7 p.m. Phillip Hamilton, professor of history at Christopher Newport University, will be the speaker. This talk is free and open to the public.

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

MEMORIAL DEDICATION: The American Society of Le Souvenir Français Inc. will hold a memorial dedication ceremony to honor the French soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1781 Battle of the Hook at Abingdon Elementary School from 1:30-2 p.m. on Oct. 18.

PARK AFTER DARK: Park After Dark will be at Beaverdam Park on Oct. 18 from 6-10 p.m. Take a self-guided hike or hit the lake for boating, kayaking or canoeing. All activities require head lamps. The cost is $5. For ages 16 and older. Registration required. Repeats Nov. 15.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

MATHEWS MARATHON: The Mathews Marathon will be held on Oct. 19, beginning at 7 a.m. Marathon, Half Marathon and virtual options. Costs vary. Registration will close Oct. 10.

HARMFUL WASTE COLLECTION: Gloucester Clean Community will hold a Household Harmful Waste Collection day on Oct. 19 at Hayes Convenience Center from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

FULL HIKE: Complete the Full Hike at Beaverdam Park on Oct. 19. Hike from Beaverdam Park’s Main Entrance to the Fary’s Mill Road Entrance. Participants will be shuttled from the Fary’s Mill Road Entrance back to the Main Entrance after completing the approximately nine-mile hike. Arrive at the Main Entrance by 8:45 a.m. The cost is $5. The Full Hike will be available again on Nov. 16. Registration required.

BASKET WEAVING: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold a basket weaving program on Oct. 19, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Weave a market basket with Master Weaver Tamme Durant. Space is limited. For adults 18 and older. Registration begins Oct. 5.

FALL FOLIAGE PADDLE: Paddle around Beaverdam Lake with park rangers to learn about native foliage and experience the autumn color changes seen from the reservoir on Oct. 19 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Bring your camera and binoculars. Bring water, snacks and a towel. The cost is $15. Another Fall Foliage Paddle will take place on Nov. 10. Registration required.

SECOND SURRENDER: The 243rd anniversary of the Second Surrender in Gloucester will be held at Tyndall’s Point Park on Oct. 19.

FALL FESTIVAL: Locust Grove Church, Dutton, will hold its annual Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off on Oct. 19, beginning at 4 p.m. Fall foods; activities include chili cook-off, horse rides, hay ride, trunk or treating, bonfire and s’mores, face decorating, photo booth, costume contest, outdoor movie, bounce house, ring toss, sack race, corn hole, more.

THURSDAY, OCT. 24

CHILI COOKOFF: Salty Bottom Blue Oysters will hold a Waterfront Chili Cook-Off on Oct. 24 from 5-8 p.m. at 616 Old Ferry Road on Gwynn’s Island. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for children; benefits the Mathews Maritime Foundation.

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

FALL FESTIVAL: The West Mathews Community League will hold its fall festival on Oct. 26 at the league building on East River Road. There will be a yard sale, bake sale, plant sale, clam chowder, barbecue and live music.

STARS OF TOMORROW: Virginia’s Li’l Ole Opry will hold its Stars of Tomorrow show on Oct. 26 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Mathews High School’s Harry M. Ward Auditorium. Tickets cost $15.

TUESDAY, OCT. 29

WIZARD OF OZ: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold a Wizard of Oz theme night on Oct. 29, beginning at 6 p.m. Follow the yellow brick road to a Halloween event celebrating the 85th anniversary of the 1939 movie. For ages 18 and older. Registration begins Oct. 15.

THURSDAY, OCT. 31

SPOOKTACULAR: The Gloucester County Public Library, Main Street Center, will hold its Spooktacular on Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m. Trick-or-treat in the library. All ages welcome.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

HALLOWEEN PARTY: Bay School Community Arts Center, Mathews, will hold its Backyard Halloween Party on Nov. 1 from 5:30-9 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOV. 7

GRAND CAVERNS: Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a Best Years Trip (for ages 55 and older) to Grand Caverns in Grottoes on Nov. 7 from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tour the caverns and make sure to dress in layers. Lunch will be on your own. The cost is $80. Deadline to register is Oct. 24.

THURSDAY, NOV. 14

HUG A TREE: Beaverdam Park will hold its Hug a Tree and Survive program on Nov. 14 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Stewart Building. This program teaches children ages seven to 11 how to make themselves more findable if they become lost in the woods. This is a free program. Registration required.

HISTORY PROGRAM: The Mathews County Historical Society will hold a talk on “Lighthouse Keepers of Mathews County,” Nov. 14 at the Mathews Memorial Library, beginning at 7 p.m. This presentation is free and open to the public.

SATURDAY, NOV. 16

OWL WALK: Beaverdam Park will hold its Owl Walk program on Nov. 16 from 5-7 p.m. Bring a flashlight. The cost is $5.

SATURDAY, NOV. 23

HOLIDAY MARKET: Deltaville Maritime Museum will hold its Holiday Gift Market on Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. There will be vendors, food, produce, children’s activities, mimosas and more. Entry to the museum is free.