Harvesting memories: BRVM Harvest Day 2026

Sun, 10/04/2026 - 6:10am

CANDI JONETH, News Contributor

Harvesting Memories: BRVM Harvest Day 2026

Boothbay Railway Village Museum hosts Family Harvest Day 2026. CANDI JONETH/Boothbay Register

CANDI JONETH/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Railway Village Museum hosts Family Harvest Day 2026. CANDI JONETH/Boothbay Register

CANDI JONETH/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Railway Village Museum (BRVM) ushered in the fall season with Family Harvest Day Oct. 3, a community-inspired event offering a classic New England backdrop designed to bring families together, connect generations and build memories. Children donning pumpkin dresses and superhero t-shirts ran around through the scavenger hunt while adults enjoyed a leisurely afternoon beneath a canopy of autumn color.

At the heart of the celebration were time-tested activities, including train rides, hayrides to the pumpkin patch—where children matched their carving ambitions with the best-shaped pumpkin, barrel rides, face painting, perusing vendor tables and enjoying wood-fired pizza, pretzels and fried dough from Rollin’ In The Dough food truck.

Visitors wandered through informational tables, enjoying art projects and goodies at each: Boothbay Sea and Science Center, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, New Leash on Life Recovery and Rescue, Community Resource Council and Pollination Station.

Willow, the one-eyed, deaf eastern screech owl who has become a beloved Boothbay favorite was sporting her new winter coat of downy white feathers. “It is her loss of hearing, not her loss of vision, that makes her unreleasable,” said caretaker Dan Weekes. “Last night, she ate two small rats. We keep her diet what it would be if she were in the wild,” he said.

Willow was not the only animal capturing interest. New Leash on Life Recovery and Rescue presented two rescue dogs up for adoption and BRVM’s resident goats exchanged pets for food through the fence of their pen.

The festival offered space for residents to slow down, grab a sweater, invite a neighbor, and enjoy the rustic charm of seasonal traditions.