CALENDAR

Celebrate Autumn at annual festival The 4th Annual Fitchburg Autumn Festival & Forge-in Blacksmith Competition will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Riverfront Park, Fitchburg. The festival will feature the Forge-In, an Antiques and Art Show, and The Great Pumpkin Carve. Live music from 60s Invasion will fill the air and plenty of seasonal foods will be available, along with activities for children and chance auction of local and/or related items. The Iron House will offer iron goods for sale to benefit Riverfront Park. For information, visit www.discoverfitchburg.com Rain date is Oct. 14.

FRIDAY

The Montachusett Interfaith Hospitality Network (MIHN) presents its third annual fundraiser "A Home for the Holidays" at 6 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The Montachusett Chorale will present 'Swing with the Hot Fugue Sundae'. Proceeds benefit local families in need. Cost is $35. Call (978) 342-3363.

Crossroads Community Church, 839 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg, presents "Friday Night Live!" at 7 p.m. A special Water Baptism Service will be held.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 7:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

Theatre at the Mount presents "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at 8 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. For tickets, call (978) 632- 2403.

A Fitchburg Ghost Tour will be held at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning at 880 Main St., (in front of the Boulder Café) Fitchburg. For details, or to make reservations, call (978) 790-0862.

SATURDAY

A yard sale, to benefit the ministry of First Church Unitarian Universalist, will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Church Unitarian Universalist, 15 West St., Leominster. Call (978) 537-0310.

The No. 6 Community Center (the Little Red Schoolhouse) will host an Old Fashioned Fall Fair from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on its grounds at the corner of Pleasant and Wachusett streets, Leominster. Shop for new and used items, antiques, flea market items, crafts and farmstand products..

Emanuel Lutheran Church will hold a Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 1200 John Fitch Highway, Fitchburg. Women's, men's and children's clothing, shoes, sheets, tablecloths, and other items will be sold. Refreshments available. Call (978) 345-1200.

The Sixth Annual Scarecrow Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday, Oct. 14, at Sholan Farms, 1125 Pleasant St., Leominster. View and vote for your favorite scarecrows. Enjoy entertainment, food, children's events, and more. Call (978) 840-3276. Rain date is Oct. 20.

The 24th Annual Applefest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday, Oct. 14, at Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Road,

Princeton. The celebration will feature over 60 craft exhibitors, a farmer's market, family fun shows, a pie-eating contest and children's entertainment.

An Applefest Supper will be served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Townsend United Methodist Church, 265 Main St., Townsend. This dinner will feature Pennsylvania-Dutch cooking. Pianist Lucille Sampson will entertain. Call (978) 597-2486.

First Church of Templeton, located on Templeton Common, will host a Pot Roast Supper with from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $8; $4 per child, with children under 5 free. Call (978) 939-2784.

A Founders Harvest Polish Dinner will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church Hall, 358 Pleasant St., Gardner. Cost is $10; $5 for children 6 or under. Call (978) 632-9425.

The 4th Annual Haunted Happening will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 4-H Camp Middlesex, 1031 Erickson Road, Ashby. This family-oriented event features a ghostly walk, scary stories, scarecrows, pumpkins, games, crafts, treats, and a costume parade at 7:30 p.m. Rain or shine. Tickets, sold at the entrance, are $8 (children under 3 free). Call (978) 386-7704.

A Special Charitable Bingo Night, to benefit the Pat Brody Shelter for Cats, will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at United Parish Hall, Lunenburg. The event will feature bingo with prizes, a cat crafts sale, baked goods and drinks. Proceeds benefit this non-profit, no-kill shelter.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 7:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

The Boulder Coffeehouse will feature the Bongo Poets at 7:30 p.m. at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 923 Main St., Fitchburg. Proceeds from the $5 suggested donations will be split between the host church and a non-profit organization. Call (978) 345-2661.

Theatre at the Mount presents "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at 8 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. For tickets, call (978) 632- 2403.

Team Tickle Me Pink is sponsoring a Comedy Show at 8 p.m. at the Acadien Social Club, 193 Parker St., Gardner. Proceeds to benefit The Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost is $15. Call Kath-e Westwood at (978) 632-8703.

SUNDAY

A pancake breakfast fund-raiser will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. at Applebee's Restaurant, 251 North Main St., Leominster. Sponsored by the St. Bernard's Elementary School PTO and Applebees. Tickets, available at the door, are $5. Proceeds to benefit the school. Call Steve Smith at (978) 345-1920.

A Midstate Trail Hike will be held. Hikers should meet at noon in Westminster at Stone Hill Road/Narrows Road. This hike will pass through the land that is being proposed for protection at the November 2007 Special Town Meeting. Call (508) 852-6882 or (508) 829-0901.

St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School will host an Open House today from 1 to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the school located at 45 Harvard St., Fitchburg. Students in grades six through eight and their families are welcomed. Call (978) 342-3212.

An Oktoberfest Block Party will be celebrated at The Boulder, 880 Main St., Fitchburg. Enjoy the music of two of Fitchburg's finest Jam bands - New Pond Fondle and Andromeda Taxi - from 2 to 8 p.m. along with traditional German food and custom jewelry. Gates open at noon. Tickets are $12. Call (978) 345-0008.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 2 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

Theatre at the Mount presents "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at 2 p.m. at Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. Call (978) 632-2403.

The Fitchburg Public Library Sunday Performing Arts Series presents Pamela Wyn Shannon at 2:30 p.m. at the library, 610 Main St. Pamela Wyn Shannon will present "Courting Autumn," a program of music for the season. Accompanied by fiddler Lisa Gutkin, Pamela will perform traditional jigs, reels, and ballads of the British Isles. Free. Call (978) 345-9635.

The Historical Piano Concerts from The Frederick Collection presents Sarah Grunstein, pianist, at 4 p.m. at the Ashburnham Community Church, Main Street (Route 12). Admission is $10 (children and students free). Call (978) 827-6232.

Dance2Swing Studios presents The Compaq Big Band at 7 p.m. at the Leominster Lodge of Elks, 134 North Main St. A beginner friendly group swing dance lesson will be held at 6 p.m. Admission is $12. Visit www. dance2swing.com

MONDAY

Jeanne d'Arc Circle #44 Daughters of Isabella will meet at the Joseph P. Keating Knights of Columbus Hall, 165 Electric Ave., Fitchburg. All incoming and outgoing officers will meet at 1 p.m. for an installation ceremony rehearsal. All other members should arrive by 2 p.m. for the installation of new officers, followed by a business meeting. Members must make returns for the Annual Charity Raffle at this meeting. Call Anita Winters at (978) 345-5279.

TUESDAY

The Fitchburg Senior Center will host a "one-stroke" painting class from 1 to 3 p.m. at the center, 14 Wallace Ave. For information, or to register, call (978) 345-9598.

The Italian film, "The Seduction of Mimi," will be shown at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Ellis White Lecture Hall of the Hammond Campus Center. The film is a comedy involving the Mafia, a secret life, and revenge. A talk by Dr. Grace Russo Bullaro, author of "Man in Disorder: The Cinema of Lina Wertmüller in the 1970s," will precede the 7 p.m. screening. Tickets sold at the door. Call (978) 665- 3709.

Workers' Credit Union Investment and Insurance Center is hosting a no obligation financial workshop entitled "Planning for a Successful Retirement: It's About More Than Money!" at 6 p.m. at Workers' Credit Union, 815 Main St., Fitchburg. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, call (978) 345-1021.

Instructor Guy Biechele presents "Creating Microsoft Powerpoint Presentations" from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. at the Fitchburg Art Museum, Merriam Parkway. Cost is $45, call (978) 345-4207, Ext. 303 to register. The first meeting of the Westminster Historical Society's new season will feature a program on "Gas Stations, Garages and Autobody Shops" in Westminster at 7 p.m. at 110 Main St. If anyone has information but is unable to attend this meeting, please call Betsy Hannula at (978) 874-0430. Open to the public; refreshments served after a short business meeting.

Twin City Toastmasters will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the Ronald M. Ansin Foundation Community Conference Room, 1 Main St., 3rd floor (above the Bank of America), Leominster. Call (978) 343-7259.

WEDNESDAY

The Mom's Club of the Montachusett Region invites stay-at-home moms and mothers working part-time to their annual open house from 9 a.m. to noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 66 Elm St., Gardner. Call (978) 874-3015.

The Westminster Seniors Friendship Club will meet at noon in St. Edward's Church hall, Church Street, Westminster for an Anniversary Pot Luck Dinner. Bring your favorite dish to serve and a place setting. Meetings are open to seniors 55 years of age and older in Westminster and surrounding towns. Call (978) 874-2445.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 7:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

THURSDAY

In collaboration with Governor Deval Patrick's state-wide Massachusetts Career Day, the North Central Career Centers will sponsor a job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chocksett Inn, 59 Laurelwood Road, Sterling. For information, call (978) 534-1481.

"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" will be shown from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Forbush Memorial Library, 118 Main St., Westminster. Call (978) 874-7416

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 6:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

FRIDAY

The Townsend Recreation Department will host a Haunted House from 6 to 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Townsend Congregational Church, 5 Brookline (at common), Admission is $4; $3 with a canned food item for Townsend Euceminical Outreach.

Fitchburg Lodge of Elks #847 will hold a Meat Raffle at 7 p.m. at 860 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg. Door prizes and raffles to be awarded.

Crossroads Community Church, 839 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg, presents "Friday Night Live!" at 7 p.m.

Fitchburg State College theater program presents the play "Purple Breasts" at 7:30 p.m. at McKay Campus School, Fitchburg. Tickets available at the door.

A Fitchburg Ghost Tour will be held at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Oct. 20, beginning at 880 Main St., (in front of the Boulder Café) Fitchburg. For details, or to make reservations, call (978) 790-0862.

SATURDAY

Warmer Winters will host a Knit-A-Thon from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the North Central Chamber of Commerce, 860 South St., Fitchburg. For knitters and crocheters, the yarn will be free; just bring your needles and talents. For those who do not knit, free lessons will be taught throughout the day. The event will also feature raffles, music, a magician and refreshments. All ages and skill levels welcome. Finished garments will be donated to local people in need. Call (978) 537-3464.