The Railway Village Museum will partner with several non- profit organizations this fall season, offering a collection of festive events with Covid safety protocols as top priority.

“Fall is the best time of year on the coast of Maine, and we wanted to continue long standing traditions and celebrate with our community, while taking the necessary precautions for safety. The museum offers ample outdoor space to spread out, and masks will be required inside buildings,” Marketing & Events Director Lori Reynolds reported.

The fall and holiday event line up offers fun for all ages and interests, with plenty of opportunity to support your favorite local organizations:

Books In Boothbay, Sept. 11: The 17th annual Books in Boothbay will be held in the museum’s Town Hall building. More than 30 Maine authors will attend to sign their books, discuss their writing, and meet their fans.  The event will feature two sessions: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Jolie Rogers Traveling Raw Bar will also be onsite selling the delectable Scully’s oysters. Admission into the event is free (regular admission applies for museum exhibits and train rides). The annual event benefits Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and Boothbay Railway Village Museum. For more information, visit https://booksinboothbay.blogspot.com/ or contact Joanna Breen at booksinboothbay@gmail.com

Boothbay Charities Classic, Sept. 18: The 30th annual Boothbay Charities Classic will host their first ever Cornhole Tournament to benefit Special Olympics Maine on the museum’s 4-acre village green. The tournament will offer prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and there will also be an auction, raffles and food and beverage for sale. To sign up email Brenda Blackman at brenda.blackman@thefirst.com, or show up the day of the tournament. $25 per person or $50 per team. 

Family Harvest Day, Oct. 2: This fall celebration is a long-standing family favorite featuring classic New England festivities such as hayrides, pumpkin decorating, games on the village green and of course, train rides. The community inspired event will offer reduced museum admission for the entire day.  For more information visit RailwayVillage.org

Fall Foliage Festival, Oct. 9 and 10: The 53rd annual Fall Foliage Festival will return after an unwanted year off, promising a family fun atmosphere, fabulous vendors, fall foods, Jolie Rogers Traveling Raw Bar, and great music. The event is a fundraiser for the museum and the Boothbay Region Information Center. This mid coast tradition is a crowd favorite, with many getting a jump on early Christmas shopping. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and fun is in the air.  Interested vendors or sponsors can contact Lori at Lori.Reynolds@RailwayVillage.org

Community Halloween Party, Oct. 31: The museum has always taken Halloween seriously, “tricking or treating” thousands of families over the years. This year will be no exception, just altered to accommodate for a Covid-friendly environment. Trick or Treaters (in costume) can visit exhibits for candy, play games on the green, and enter to win best costume of the year for a free 2022 membership. Admission is free all day (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) and train rides are $5 per ride (members ride free).

North Pole Express, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19: Mark your calendars because the beloved North Pole Express is back!  The event will also have a few changes to accommodate for our new environment, but in this case, change is good, and Santa promises a good time will be had by all. More details coming soon.

The Boothbay Railway Village Museum invites community members to join the fun as we continue to plan and facilitate these events.  If you enjoy being part of a team focused on celebrating the holidays, please contact Lori at Lori.Reynolds@RailwayVillage.org; Volunteers make these events possible.