This weekend in Groton, CT

Participants can ride a hunter pace of approximately six to seven miles across varied terrain on wooded trails and open fields, or take a three mile valley route with gentle hills through fields and trails. Both courses include numerous jumps, with options to bypass them. Divisions available are Walk/Trot, Hill Topper, and Open Jumper. Additional details will be announced.

Safely clear out household hazardous waste at a free collection paired with on-site paper shredding. Households from participating communities may attend any one of the nine annual events at no cost. Towns served include Bozrah, Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Preston, Salem, Sterling, Stonington, Sprague, Voluntown, and Waterford. For details on acceptable items, please check the SCRRRA website.

FallFest is an annual meeting offering a broad mix of learning opportunities for all ages. Adults can attend educational sessions, teens ages 13 to 18 have dedicated programming, youth ages 6 to 12 have activities of their own, and childcare is available for children ages 0 to 5. The gathering takes place at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton, Connecticut.

An event at Markham Meadow Campground in East Hampton encourages early planning for holiday shopping. It provides an opportunity to get a head start on gift lists and prepare for the season.

If you did not receive a door hanger, you can still donate non-perishable food by dropping it off at the St. Pius parking lot. Westerly Boy Scout Troop 16 will collect donations, which will benefit the Johnnycake Center of Westerly. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Set in downtown Mystic, CT, the Tarzan Brown Mystic River Run celebrates local running history with a scenic out-and-back five-mile road race along the Mystic River. The event honors Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, a descendant of the Narragansett Tribe and a two-time Boston Marathon winner, and is presented by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Kelley's Pace. A free half-mile kids run for ages 10 and under requires pre-registration, and the main five-mile event welcomes both runners and walkers. Expect river views, a festive post-race gathering, and an awards ceremony at the Mystic Museum of Art. Participants are treated to complimentary clam chowder and bread from Friar Tucks Tavern. Entry fees are tiered, with a discounted $29 rate for entrants under 18, and race-day registration is online only with no paper forms. Packet pickup is available on race day.

Explore a collectibles expo featuring local vendors, artists, and fandom enthusiasts. Browse opportunities to buy, sell, and trade, and enjoy cosplay contests, games, and more. Entry is free.

Children can paint wooden fish for the Buoys by the Bay holiday display in Scheer Park. The display features 50 painted fish, and each child may paint one with adult supervision. Afterwards, the fish can be donated to the display or returned to the child who created it. The activity is free with Museum admission, and pre-registration is required. The event is brought to you by Niantic Main Street, East Lyme Public Trust Foundation, and The Miracle League of Southeastern CT.

This Saturday morning book club welcomes readers with eclectic tastes. Monthly selections can be picked up at Gales Ferry Library or Bill Ledyard Library. Check back regularly to discover the next book.

The Tribridge Challenge brings paddlers to the Mystic River for the season’s finale, featuring a 3 mile short course for recreational racers and a 5 mile long course for more competitive athletes. A wide range of craft are welcome, including SUP, prone, surfski, C1, C2, K1, and K2. Registration is $49 and must be completed in advance, since same day sign ups are not available. Entries received by the race T-shirt cutoff include an event shirt. Check in and a safety briefing take place before staggered starts, with the long course heading out first and the short course following. A post race barbecue with a DJ caps the day. Awards include $50 for first place, with gift cards and swag from local businesses for second and third. The location is near the Long Island Ferry and is less than two hours from Boston.

Discover relief printing by carving a single color linocut and printing your design on flour sack tea towels that you can use at home or give as gifts. This beginner friendly class covers the traditional relief process from selecting carving blocks, inks, and papers to transferring a design, then carving, inking, and handprinting. Autumn themed templates will be available, and participants may bring their own artwork. Simple, bold patterns without fine details are encouraged so there is plenty of time to focus on the fundamentals and finish your towels. All materials are provided. A relief printing handout is available to review before class. For ages 15 and up. The fee for this class is nonrefundable. Support from The Dime Bank Foundation and Charter Oak Federal Credit Union makes this program possible.

The Griswold Volunteer Fire Department brings back its decades-old chicken barbecue, a takeout-only tradition that has been perfected since the early 1950s. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children. For tickets, contact Pauline Marzec at 860-917-4387, and keep an eye out for department members who may be selling tickets around town.

Experience a twist on MTG Commander where players build complete decks from mystery cards, then put them to the test in competitive pods. Entry is $10. At the start, each participant receives three legendary creatures and chooses one to lead the deck, and these commander options cannot be traded. A playable promo is also provided and may be traded with others. Decks are constructed from the bulk boxes, and any cards selected for building are yours to keep, along with your promos and commanders. Deckbuilding time is limited to 90 minutes, and collaboration is encouraged, including helping others finish on time, with awards recognizing teamwork. After construction, pods are assigned at random. Each round runs 90 minutes, so keep a steady pace. Prize support scales with participation. Basic lands are supplied for play and must be returned afterward, and special lands are only allowed if they come from the bulk selection or are issued as promos.

This event offers a raffle featuring meat prizes, with 20 dollars covering chances in 20 games.

Tommy Dunn and Art Smith perform yesterday’s music with guitar, keyboard, and vocals, blending their sound from the heart.

Explore exclusively handmade creations from numerous creators from the area, with a wide variety of items crafted with care. Choose something for yourself or a thoughtful gift for someone you care about while browsing this indoor event in the Port and Starboard Ballroom at Ocean Beach. Parking and admission are free.

The 7th Annual Racers for RICAN Fill A Race Car Toy Drive brings together Ayla Martin and her crew chief, Derek Gluchacki, who are teaming up for the first time at this charitable collection. Derek will have his Modified on site, and Ayla will arrive with the #91 Late Model, with the shared goal of filling both race cars with donations that support children and families in need during the holiday season. Suggested contributions include new, unused and unwrapped toys, new and unused clothing, and non-perishable food items. Guests can see the race cars up close and meet the drivers while dropping off items. For anyone who prefers to give remotely, an online gift registry is available, and purchased items will be placed in one of the race cars.

Explore the venue and connect with local wedding professionals to help plan your special day. The expo features a range of exhibitors, along with raffles, prizes, special discounts, and free admission and parking. The first 50 attendees can receive a free swag bag.

The gathering features historical conflict simulations spanning many eras and styles, with opportunities to explore, play, and discuss. Tactical challenges, plenty of dice rolling, and lively conversation will unfold in The Cellar.

Take part in a weekly Yu-Gi-Oh event with a $5 entry fee. Prizes are based on attendance and paid in packs, with two OTS/UTP packs per entry. The last Sunday of the month features a separate win-a-box event.

Guests can bring a favorite family dish to share. Food and craft activities will be provided, and the playground offers a fun place to play.

Stonington Pride partners with Bank Square Books for a welcoming Dungeons & Dragons campaign that encourages creativity and community. The game takes place at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT and is guided by a Dungeon Master. Space is limited to seven players, so advance registration is required. Players of all experience levels are welcome, and participants should be at least 12 years old. The bookstore is wheelchair accessible.

Total Mass Retain brings an immersive celebration of YES to The Kate - Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, presenting two landmark albums in full, The Yes Album and Close to the Edge. The set continues with additional epics and classics, including one side from Tales from Topographic Oceans. Recognized by YES Official and the YesFans community as the top YES tribute band, the group is known for faithful, high-energy performances that capture the spirit of the original music. The program is suitable for devoted YES listeners and progressive rock enthusiasts.