By: Brooklynne Costa | Staff Writer
Whether you are a newcomer or a returning student, October in Newport might be incredibly different from October in your hometown. Whether it be the lack of Halloween decor throughout the town or the focus on Halloween being more of an aesthetic, there is a lot to get used to. Even so, there are still several fall activities to do throughout Newport, as well as in the surrounding areas. If you are looking for fun fall activities, scary Halloween events, or just ways to get off campus during the month of October, here is a carefully curated list of fun things to put you in a fall mood, ranging from places within a walking distance to places that need transportation!
Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch
The first place on our list of options is the Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch which is roughly thirty minutes away from campus when walking. The pumpkin patch is a perfect place to spend a calm fall afternoon. Operating from October 7th-31st, the pumpkin patch offers a variety of options for those visiting. On the weekends, visitors are able to enjoy live music while also bearing witness to the special events taking place within the square. If you choose to visit during the week, fun activities do still take place, such as pumpkin picking or getting fall-themed drinks and treats! The pumpkin patch also serves as a wonderful place for photographs to be taken, whether for your social media or for your own gallery!
Jane Pickens Theatre
Located at 49 Touro Street, the Jane Pickens Theatre is roughly thirty minutes away from Salve Regina when walking. This movie theater exists in a Greek Revival-styled building, originally constructed in 1834. While not created for the purpose of fall activities, the Jane Pickens Theatre offers several fall and Halloween themed filmings for audiences of all ages. The theater not only has limited showings for each film, but specifically shows classic films, such as The Craft and Hocus Pocus, helping you to feel a sense of nostalgia. The ticket prices tend to be $15, making the event affordable and fun. The schedule of films for this month has been announced, consisting of various films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Craft, Halloween, The Thing, Ghostbusters, and Hocus Pocus, upon several other films! If classic horror or Halloween movies are not your thing, the theatre does offer several other showings of non-Halloween related films! Additionally, some movie screenings have special events occur prior to the screening, such as live bands playing or musical performances, making the movie experience one of a kind.
Fort Adams State Park
Further away is Fort Adams State Park, which is a nine minute drive and hosts many fall and Halloween activities. The Fort Adams State Park is a historical area, preserving Fort Adams, which was utilized from 1841 up until the first half of the 20th century. During the month of October, Fort Adams touches upon its historical elements, hosting guided paranormal investigations at the old fortification. Additionally, ghost tours are also hosted. These events are more Halloween-oriented and do dabble in the supernatural, so if this is not your thing, then Fort Adams might not be the best choice for you.
Escobar’s Highland Farm
Escobar’s Highland Farm is a family-friendly, fall activity that elicits joyful emotions! This farm is located at 255 Middle Road in Portsmouth, which is a short distance from campus. Admission into the farm is free, but to participate in some of the activities, cash is necessary since that is all they accept. Some of the fall-themed activities available include the 2026 corn maze, which is a specially set-up corn maze for the 2026 fall season, along with pumpkin picking in the pumpkin patch and weekend hayrides. All of the events at Escobar’s are relatively affordable, with the corn maze totaling $10 and the hayrides costing $6. Exploring the pumpkin patch itself is free, but to the pumpkins range from $3 to $20. All-in-all, a visit to Escobar’s Highland Farm not only provides several activities to do, but also does not put a serious strain on one’s wallet!
Activities Further Outside of Newport
Lizzie Borden House
With the release of the Netflix original Lizzie Borden show, it feels only right to discuss this specific attraction. Located in Fall River, Massachusetts, this attraction is great for those interested in true crime or historical sights. The house serves as a bed and breakfast, allowing for people to spend the night in the house where Borden axed her family. If that does not sound all
too desirable, the house does offer other events, such as various tours throughout and around the estate, murder mystery events, and classical Victorian funeral reenactments. While not directly tied with the fall season or Halloween, this house does elicit a creepy feeling, perfect for the spooky season.
Factory of Terror
While in Fall River, another wonderful place to explore would be the Factory of Terror which is at 120 Pearl Street. The Factory of Terror is a haunted house built entirely in an old Fall River factory, open only in the fall months. Prices vary drastically depending on the day, but tickets are normally between thirteen and thirty dollars. The Factory of Terror welcomes visitors into a haunting factory with various scare elements, including live scare actors. Not only does the Factory of Terror host a haunted house, but there are also special movie nights within the haunted house for horror-fans alike! Once you complete the haunted house, there is also a gift store where you can purchase creepy or cute memorabilia from the event, as well as a picture with the scare actors!
Six Flags Fright Fest
The final fall option on this list is a bit away, seeing as how it is in Agawam, Massachusetts. Even so, this would make for a perfect all day excursion! During the month of October, Six Flags hosts their Fright Fest. Each year, the Fright Fest differs in various ways, with new scare zones or shows being performed. This year, tickets for admission to the amusement park are $49, but the Fright Fest bundle, which consists of admission to the park and all the haunted mazes, starts at $74. This year, the main attraction is the slasher circus, but if clowns are not your cup of tea then there are the three macabre mazes: Midnight Mansion, Nightmares, and Terror Tales. This year, the scare zones present are the Carnival of Chaos, Wasteland, and Necropolis, while the live entertainment available is the Love at First Fright, Midnight Uprising, and The Awakening. If being scared is not for you, Six Flags does offer a “no boo” necklace for an additional charge, allowing you to enjoy the Halloween vibes without the risk of being scared.
For many, October in Newport feels widely different from October back home, but no matter what, the fall season is still rolling around and Halloween approaches. Get out and find activities to do that allow you to have fun, whether it be pumpkin picking or exploring haunted forts, because now’s the time to soak it all in!
Photos provided by Discover Newport and WikiCommons
