Southbury Parks and Recreation is thrilled to announce the return of their week-long Fall Festival from Saturday, October 10 to Friday, October 16, 2026.
Activities and events throughout the week will take place at various times at the Town Hall Green, 501 Main Street South and in the Parks and Rec building at 561 Main Street South.
All activities and events are free to attend for Southbury residents, though most activities require registration. Residents of other towns are welcome to join for a small fee. Register for all programs at the Parks and Rec office or online at southburyct.myrec.com. There is no admission fee or registration required for the Fall Fest Kick Off, Trick-or-Treat Parade, or Outdoor Movie Night - all are welcome! Non-perishable donations will be collected at each event to benefit the Southbury Food Bank.
Fall Fest kicks off on Saturday, October 10 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Town Hall Green AND the Parks and Rec building. Enjoy free cider served by the Knights of Columbus, apple cider donuts donated by ShopRite, and apples donated by Hidden Gem Orchard. Stop by the Parks and Rec tent to drop off your guess of how many candies are in the jar. Meet and interact with some furry farm friends including pigs, goats, and baby cows! Enjoy a fall scavenger hunt, lawn games, craft vendors, seasonal activities, and more! Come down to the Parks and Rec building to build your own scarecrow to submit to the Scarecrow Contest and to display during the Movie Night – registration is required. Materials will be provided. Clothes and accessories have been donated for this use by the Southbury Training School Thrift Shops. Should the weather not cooperate, activities will move into the Parks and Rec building. Announcement will be posted to southburyct.myrec.com Friday afternoon.
Pumpkin carving will take place on Tuesday, October 13 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Parks and Rec building – registration is required. Participants are strongly encouraged to submit their finished pumpkin to the Fall Fest Pumpkin Contest. Submitted pumpkins will be illuminated and displayed during the Movie Night and will be available for pickup any time after the movie. Pumpkins are being donated by Shoprite and Sustainable Southbury will be taking all pumpkin scraps to be repurposed to feed local farm animals.
Pumpkin and Scarecrow contest winners will be announced on Thursday, October 15 at the Outdoor Movie Night. Submissions created outside the sponsored program times can be brought to the Parks and Rec office during regular business hours until Wednesday, October 14, 4:00pm. Prizes will be awarded to the Best Pumpkin by a Child, Teen, Adult and Family, and two prizes will be awarded for Best Overall Scarecrow and Runner up. Members from the Southbury Arts and Culture Alliance (SACA) will be judging the two contests and providing prizes to the winners. The fall guessing game winner will also be announced and they will be able to pick up their prize in time to enjoy that candy during the movie!
On Wednesday, October 14, the American Red Cross will host a blood drive at the Parks and Rec building from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Sponsored by the Southbury Senior Center, signup is encouraged but not required.
At 4:00pm on same day, a wildlife presentation, Into the Wild, will focus on the research of local Little Brown Bats at Phillips Farm Preserve and features an interactive animal skeleton exhibit. This program will be hosted in the Parks and Rec building and run by the Southbury Land Trust - registration is required.
Thursday, October 15 will feature a children’s costume parade, dance party, and outdoor movie on the green outside the Parks and Rec building. Come dressed to Trick-or-Treat! Local businesses will give out treats to parade participants. The parade starts at 5:00pm SHARP, and as soon as it concludes, families will bust a move with Zumba instructor Karen Miller!
Throughout the night, enjoy FREE popcorn and water served by Parks and Rec. Families are encouraged to bring picnic dinners. The outdoor movie showing will begin at sunset, around 6:30pm. The brand new release, with a PG rating and a run time of 102 minutes, is co-sponsored by the Southbury Public Library. (Because of licensing and copyright agreements, the Library cannot list the title of the film.) Layered clothing and blankets are encouraged to ensure everyone’s comfort and warmth during the show.
Should the weather not cooperate, Outdoor Movie Night and its activities will move to Saturday, October 17 with the same time schedule. Announcement will be posted to southburyct.myrec.com Wednesday afternoon.
For a less stimulating Movie option, there will be a second showing of the new release as a sensory friendly Indoor Movie Matinee on Friday, October 16 at 1:00pm. (Region 15’s schools are closed for a professional development day.) Bean bags and gentle lighting will set the cozy quiet atmosphere. Popcorn and water will be provided by Parks and Rec, families are welcome to bring snacks. Space is limited, registration required. Program is free to all residencies.
Full information and registration is available online at southburyct.myrec.com.