Open Doors listings for Oct. 10

Antiques

Lighthouse Promotions holds its Columbus Day Antiques Show and Sale at the Venus de Milo Restaurant, Route 6, Swansea, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an early buyers' preview at 10 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 12. Regular admission is $6; for the preview, admission is $10. 529-5408; (508) 336-5205.  

Craft programs 

A flameworked glass jewelry workshop will take place Sunday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m., at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St., Bristol. Gather Glass of Providence will teach participants about the process and equipment used. No experience is necessary and all materials are provided. The cost is $60, ASRI members $50. Registration is required. 949-5454; asri.org.

The Junior League of Rhode Island is holding a Knit-A-Thon at Central Congregational Church, 296 Angell St., Providence, Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Knitters can work on one of the items that they will donate, or can bring another project. The event is to raise awareness of, and money for, children aging out of Rhode Island foster care. One knitted item will be placed in an online auction on Bidding For Good and one will be donated to a Rhode Island child in foster care. All knitters are asked to raise or donate at least $25 and bring at least two knitted items to donate. Register at the event starting at 7:30 a.m. or online at jlri.org. 

Lectures/workshops

Alan Koch, of Gold Country Orchids in Lincoln, California, is the guest speaker at the The Ocean State Orchid Society meeting Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m. at LaQuinta Inn and Suites, 4 Universal Blvd., Coventry. His topic is "Understanding the Genus Paphiopedilum (Lady Slipper Orchids). Orchids will be available for purchase at the end of the meeting, which is free and open to the public. oceanstateorchidsociety.org. 

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, Mass., hosts a "Saving the Heirloom Apple" workshop Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 17, find out how to nourish your soil at the workshop "It's All About the Soil," with Ben Barkon, founder and owner of HomeHarvest, an organic edible gardening company. The program, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is aimed at urban and suburban growers interested in gardening sustainably and organically. The cost is $35. Registration is required. (508) 869-6111; towerhillbg.org.

Richard Bouchard is guest speaker at the Lincoln Garden Club meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Chapel Street Congregational Church, 185 Chapel St., Lincoln. His topic is "Mushrooms in the Wild." For information, contact Adele Cooney at 333-2199.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, 101 Ferry Rd., Bristol, offers a New England Stone Wall Workshop Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Neil Best, co-owner of Magma Design Group and a stone mason and landscape architect, will conduct the program. Topics include the history of stone in the region, tools that shape and cut stone and the techniques of proper wall building. Participants will have the opportunity to split and shape granite themselves and work with Best to rebuild a portion of a stone wall on Blithewold's grounds. Refreshments will be served. The fee is $100 and reservations are required. 253-2707; blithewold.org.

Fairs/festivals/shows

A fair featuring crafts, vendors and raffles will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Smithfield Elks Lodge, 326 Farnum Pike, Smithfield, to raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness for the group's suicide prevention, mental health and family and individual programs. Maria Travis is presenting the event in memory of her brother, Kurt Travis. (860) 376-0586.

An Artisans Craft Fair takes place Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Art and Soul and The Veiled Crow, adjacent to the Pawtuxet Village Farmers' Market at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. The event, in celebration of American Craft Week, will showcase work in glass, as well as jewelry, paintings, metalwork, knitted goods and more. 263-7876; susan@artandsoulgifts.com.

The 49th annual Scituate Art Festival takes place Saturday through Monday, Oct. 10 through 12, on the Scituate Village Green, Route 116, North Scituate, and will feature works by more than 200 artists and craftspeople, displays by 19 antiques dealers, ethnic and regional food and musical entertainment on the Village Green each day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival hours are Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. No pets are allowed unless they are service-related. scituateartfestival.org.

Paradise City Arts Festival, a fair of fine and functional art, will be held Saturday through Monday, Oct. 10 through 12, at 3 County Fairgrounds, 54 Old Ferry Rd., (Route 9) Northampton, Mass. One-of-a-kind furniture, home furnishings, fashion, jewelry, paintings and sculpture by 260 artists will be on display and for sale. Hours are Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $13, seniors $12, students $8, children 12 and younger free, three-day pass $16. (800) 511-9725; paradisecitarts.com.

The 6th annual St. Eugene's Craft and Car Show takes place Sunday, Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1180 Moneyhill Rd. (Route 100), Chepachet, and features more than 50 exhibiting artists, live entertainment, food trucks, sales of apples and mums from local farms and an antique and classic car show with more than 200 automobiles from all over New England. 647-2731; autosoftheworld@gmail.com. 

The Ninigret Quilters of Westerly Members' Exhibit is at the Westerly Armory, 8 Dixon St., Westerly, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16 through 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested for admission. ninigretquilters.blogspot.com; tinacraig12@cox.net. 

The Rhode Island Mini-Makers Faire (East Bay Edition) takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, noon to 7 p.m., at the Florence Gray Center, One York St. (adjacent to The MET School), Newport. The event features hands-on making, building and hacking, crafting, garage technology, arts and crafts and robots. makerfaireri.com.

The Westport Lions Club's 11th annual Arts and Crafts Show will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Westport High School, 19 Main Rd., Westport. There will be a Chinese auction, door prizes and food available. Proceeds from the juried show will support the club's charities. (508) 678-2255. 

Historic New England's Roseland Cottage holds its 32nd annual Fine Arts and Crafts Festival Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The juried show showcases more than 175 artisans and their wares including handcrafted jewelry, glass, pottery, metalwork, photography, paintings and more. Daily activities also include tours of the 1846 Gothic Revival house, live music and food. The house is at 556 Route 169, Woodstock, Conn. Admission to the rain-or-shine festival is $5, children 11 and younger free. Parking is free. (860) 928-4074; historicnewengland.org.

Tours/walks

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 101 Ferry Rd., in Bristol, will hold a "Saturday Stroll" from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Docents will tell the story of the Van Wickle/McKee family, the original owners of this seaside garden estate. Visitors can see the mansion decorated with original furnishings, just as it was when the family lived there. The tour continues through the grounds. The walks are $5, children $3, in addition to regular Blithewold admission. 253-2707; blithewold.org.

Southern Rhode Island Master Gardeners host a free native gardens tour Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. at Wilcox Park, 44 Broad St., Westerly. The 90-minute tour begins with information about the park, native plants and Rhody Natives, followed by a walk around the park with stops at four gardens and various native trees and shrubs. Attendees should meet at the park fountain. Also at the park on Saturday, Master Gardeners will offer garden help and free soil testing from 9 a.m. to noon., at the esplanade or, if it's raining, inside the library. To obtain the soil sample, use a clean trowel and combine small samples from several areas with similar maintenance and/or plants. 596-6919.

The Stonington Historical Society hosts "Behind Stonington's Doors: A Walking Tour of Village Homes" Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seaside village will showcase seven architecturally diverse homes. Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Georgian and Victorian "Italianate" styles will be represented. Two homes are new construction, combining traditional style and materials with modern convenience. A backyard barn converted into an art studio will also be open to visitors. Tours are self-guided. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 the day of, and include free admission that day to the Captain Nathaniel Palmer House and Old Lighthouse Museum. The historical society also offers privately guided tours of private art collections at three additional locations on Friday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Attendance is limited. The cost is $50 by reservation only. A preview party is planned for Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m., with a cost of $75. For tickets to any of the events, call (860) 535-8445 or visit the website, stoningtonhistory.org. 

Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, 815 Gilbert Stuart Rd., North Kingstown, (Saunderstown), closes for the season Tuesday, Oct. 13. Visitors are welcome to tour the site, which is surrounded by gardens and woodland hiking trails with a focus on history, art and nature. Docents offer informative tours of the gristmill and birthplace on the hour. The welcome center, grounds and trails are open Saturday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last tour at 3 p.m.). Admission is $10, children 6-12 $6. 294-3001; gilbertstuartmuseum.org. 

Furniture maker Mitch Ryerson, a Massachusetts College of Art and Design professor, gives a tour of his Allston, Mass., studio Friday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. The tour will meet in the Society of Arts and Crafts Gallery for a curator's talk with Luiza deCamargo then travel by van to Ryerson's studio, where he will share his experiences and studio practices. The fee is $40, students $20. The SAC Gallery is at 175 Newbury St., Boston. (617) 266-1810 societyofcrafts.org.

Hearthside House, 677 Great Rd., Lincoln, hosts its "Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning and Funeral Customs" tours starting Saturday, Oct. 17. Docents dressed in mourning attire will explain the customs that families practiced when someone died. Exhibits and traditional funeral music will fill the house and visitors will be offered special Victorian "funeral cookies." Objects on view include mourning clothing, jewelry made from the hair of the deceased and post-mortem photographs in which family members pose with the dead loved ones propped up in life-like positions. Antique tools and a portable embalming table will also be on display. Candlelight tours are Saturday, Oct. 17 and 24, 4 to 7 p.m., and daytime tours are Sunday, Oct. 18 and 25, 1 to 4 p.m. Reservations are accepted for the Saturday candlelight tours held on the hour ($10). Daytime Sunday tours are $8, seniors $6, youth 10-17 $4, children 9 and younger free. 726-05997; hearthsidehouse.org. 

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, Mass., offers a free "Woody Plants of Fall Interest" tour Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. Free docent-led garden tours are conducted every Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. (508) 869-6111; towerhillbg.org.

Exhibits

Ikebana International, Boston Chapter, hosts an "Ikebana Flower Exhibition" Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16 through 18, at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, Mass., that features more than 30 displays, daily demonstrations and the sale of pottery suitable for Ikebana. Hours are Friday, Oct. 16, noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (508) 869-6111; towerhillbg.org.

Sales

St. Francis de Sales Church, 381 School St., North Kingstown, is having a yard sale Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sale items include toys and games, jewelry, collectibles, electronics, housewares, furniture, CDs and DVDs, and baked goods. There will be a 50/50 raffle. 885-3639.

The Pet Refuge, 500 Stony Lane, North Kingstown, is holding its 9th annual silent auction Saturday, Oct. 17, 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Cold Spring Community Center, 30 Beach St., Wickford. Items offered for bidding include collectibles, artwork, jewelry, gift baskets and handmade items. Admission is free. There will be a food buffet with beverages and desserts available for $15 per person, youth $5, children 4 and younger free. For more information or to donate to the auction, call 294-1115.

A flea market will be held at St. William Church, 200 Pettaconsett Ave., Warwick, Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parish center. Baked goods and fair-trade items will also be for sale. 781-7226: stwilliamwarwick.org.

The East Greenwich Animal Protection League holds a Halloween bake sale at the Warwick Mall on Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to baked goods, homemade items for dogs and cats will be for sale (bandannas, stuffed toys, catnip toys). There will be photos of cats and dogs in need of homes and information about the league. All proceeds will be used for the animals in the league's care. 885-0247. 

Etc.

Frerichs Farm, 43 Kinnicutt Ave., Warren, hosts the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers’ Pumpkin Weigh-Off Saturday, Oct. 10. Pumpkin drop-off is 11:30 a.m. and the weigh-off starts at noon. In addition to weigh-off festivities, the farm's Pumpkin Palooza will continue every weekend through Oct. 31 and features rides on theMagic Pumpkin Coach and Snap the Dragon, a Western town, make-your-own-scarecrow, needle in a haystack hunt, pumpkin painting, Charlie Brown’s Pumpkin Patch and other seasonal activities. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food and beverages will be available. Admission is free and parking is $5. 245-8245; frerichsfarm.com.

The Seekonk Artist Network holds its 3rd annual Open Studios Event Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, from noon to 5 p.m. at various locations in Seekonk. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet local artists, and view and discuss their work and their creative process. facebook.com/SeekonkArtistNetwork.

Stop at Casey Farm in Saunderstown for an apple tasting at "Taste of the Market" at the farmers' market Saturday, Oct. 10, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In addition to the  tasting, there will also be music, coffee, bakery items and other  treats. The farm is at 2325 Boston Neck Rd. (Route 1). 295-1030; historicnewengland.org.

Take an autumn hayride Saturday, Oct. 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Rides leave from the Pawtuxet Village Farmers' Market, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet parking lot, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston.

The Burrillville Historical & Preservation Society is holding its 14th annual open house at the Bridgeton School, 16 Laurel Hill Ave., Pascoag, Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be yard, book and bake sales during the rain-or-shine event. Old photos and artifacts will be on display and the public will have access to research materials and information on the society's Gravestone Conservation Program. 568-8449, 500-0433. 

Enjoy an Artisan Evening at Central Nurseries Garden Center, 1155 Atwood Ave., Johnston, Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Selected local artists will display and sell their works in the surroundings of the nurseries' gardens with live music and food trucks available. Admission is free. In addition, a "Create Your Own Fall-Themed Fairy Garden"workshop will also be offered during the event. There will be a fee charged for the workshop and registration is required. The evening's proceeds benefit Save The Bay. 942-7511; centralnurseries.com or facebook.com/centralnurseries. 

There'll be a Steampunk Mansion Mashup Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Lippitt House Museum, 199 Hope St., Providence, that will include live music, a fashion show, roving performers, a belly dancer, a tarot card reader and a cash bar. The event runs from 8 to 11 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Attendees are invited to dress in Steampunk or festive attire. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. 453-0688; lippitthouse.org.

The 10th annual free HopARTS Studio Trail will take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HopARTS artists will open their studios to visitors to demonstrate their process and display their work. The event will showcase 30 artists in approximately 15 studios and venues with work in a variety of mediums including oil painting, watercolors, wood and metal sculpture, photography, jewelry, glass, ceramic, stone, textile and fabric art. Studios are located in and around Hope Valley. Brochures and maps are available at studiotrail.hoparts.org. 

The Herreshoff Marine Museum, One Burnside St., Bristol, hosts a Fall Family Open House Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., that features free museum admission, formal tours, family activities, outdoor games, hot cider and snacks, holiday gift sale, "play and learn" and prizes and raffles. 253-5000; herreshoff.org.

A Yankee Steam-Up is at the New England Wireless and Steam Museum, 1300 Frenchtown Rd., East Greenwich, Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features steam and compressed air models, licensed boilers, New England's largest steam-up boiler, giant working steam engines and more. Admission is $15, students $7, children 6 and younger/exhibitors free. Parking is free and food will be for sale. 885-0545; newssm@newsm.org; newsm.org. 

Old Sturbridge Village hosts a "From Field to Table Weekend," a harvest season celebration, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18. Visitors can learn how food makes it way from the farm to the dining room table, meet and and see multiple teams demonstrate plowing and preparing the fields, learn about heritage breed animals and talk with the breeders, help with the harvest, taste heirloom apples, learn about methods of food preservation, watch interpreters cook with tomatoes and quince and help pick and taste different heirloom varieties. The Cider Mill will be operating with apples ground by ox power on Saturday and the pulp pressed for its juice on Sunday. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. osv.org.

Environment

The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation hosts Eco-Depot at RIRRC, 65 Shun Pike, 8 a.m. to noon, and at the Richmond Transfer Station, 51 Buttonwoods Rd., Richmond, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17. The collection is free to Rhode Island residents. Make an appointment to help reduce time spent in line. 942-1430, ext. 241; rirrc.org.

— Jan Flanagan