Durham & Middlefield Weekend Guide: Carla Hall At Lyman Orchards, A Hard Cider Maze And A Haunted House

MIDDLEFIELD, CT — Lyman Orchards carries the weekend, from celebrity chef Carla Hall's book tour stop Thursday to a twilight hard cider maze Friday, pumpkin picking for a cause and three nights of its interactive haunted house, from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18.

This Weekend's Arts & Entertainment

• Carla Hall, "Carla Bakes" — Thursday, Oct. 15, book signing 5 to 6:30 p.m., recipe demonstration at 6:30 p.m. The celebrity chef's new cookbook, released Sept. 8, has more than 80 sweet and savory baking recipes rooted in her Southern traditions; RJ Julia Booksellers will sell a limited number of copies on site. Lyman Orchards Apple Barrel Farm Market, 32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield
• The Orchard Trials: Haunted House — Friday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 18, 7 to 10 p.m. The interactive attraction, formerly Evidence of Evil, uses live actors in groups of up to six; it is rated PG-13, children under 16 need an adult, tickets are $28 plus fees online only, and parking is $10 cash. Lyman Orchards, 105 South Street, Middlefield
• Pick for Pink — Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18. For its 285th anniversary, the orchard donates 2.85 cents for every pound of pick-your-own pumpkins to the Middlesex Health Comprehensive Breast Center; pumpkins run $8 to $17 by size. On Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the farm market also has a petting farm, horse-drawn wagon rides and a trackless train. Lyman Orchards, 105 South Street, Middlefield

This Weekend's Restaurants & Bars

• Twilight Hard Cider Maze — Friday, Oct. 16, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 for six 4-ounce samples from three local cideries, including Lyman's own 1741 Hard Cider, plus corn maze entry and lawn games; it is 21 and older, standing only. Lyman Orchards Corn Maze, 32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield
• Mixtape Match — Sunday, Oct. 18, 6 to 8 p.m. A free music-bingo night hosted by Digital Tracks DJ: when the DJ plays a song on your card, you mark it off. 1741 Pub & Grill, 72 Lyman Road, Middlefield

Meet Carla Hall on Thursday, sip your way through the corn maze Friday, pick a pumpkin for a cause this weekend and, if you dare, try The Orchard Trials after dark.

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