Things to do: Take a spooky hike, learn about community resources, eat meat pies

There's a lot happening in Dartmouth on any given week. For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit DartmouthWeekToday.com.

Thursday, October 17

Learn about a South Coast cold case.

Author Maureen Boyle will host a discussion on her book "Shallow Graves:The Hunt for the New Bedford Highway Serial Killer" at UMass Law, 333 Faunce Corner Rd., from 6 to 8 p.m. The book chronicles the search for the New Bedford Highway Killer, who is suspected of murdering 11 women over the spring and summer of 1988. The killer was never caught. The cost of admission is $10, or $20 for admission and a signed copy of the book. UMass Law students can attend for free. The event is hosted by the Bristol County Bar Association. 

Friday, October 18

Take a hike through the haunted woods. 

Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust will lead a night hike through Smith Farm starting at 6 p.m. The trails will be decorated for Halloween for a spooky time. After the hike, stand-up chameleon Jackson Gillman will perform around a fire with spooky stories and participatory songs. The cost is $10 per family/carload. Pre-registration is required. Visit dnrt.org to preregister. Smith Farm is located on Smith Neck Road. 

Get lost in a terrifying maze.

The Burgo Basketball Association will open its Haunted Halloween Maze to the public on Friday and Saturday night. The maze, which features costumed actors, plenty of props, and a challenging series of twists and turns, will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. both evenings. The cost is $10 per person. For a not-so-scary experience, the maze will be open during a children’s party on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. In addition to experiencing the maze in the daytime, games, a DJ, trick-or-treating, and other activities will be available. The cost to attend the party is $10 per child. The Burgo Basketball Association is located at 101 Slocum Rd. 

Saturday, October 19

Tour a farm. 

Round the Bend Farm will open its farm to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Farm tours and special activities will be available, and fresh meat and produce will be up for sale. At 11:30 a.m., Keri Cusson will lead a kids yoga program. At 2 p.m., Sophia Avramides, founder of Avraveda, will discuss foods, herbs, and lifestyle practices that can keep people strong and uplifted this fall and winter. Visit roundthebendfarm.org for more information. The farm is located at 92 Allen Neck Rd. 

Discover the forests. 

The Lloyd Center will lead a crisp fall walk through its property on a special “Fall Tree Walk” starting at 10:30 a.m. A Lloyd Center education and outreach specialist will lead the walk, and discuss what makes the center’s forests unique. The program is appropriate for families with children aged five and older. The price is $5 for members, and $7 for non-members, or $15 for a family of four members and $21 for a family of four non-members. Pre-registration is required. Visit lloydcenter.org to register. 

Enjoy meat pies.

The Smith Neck Friends Meeting will host its annual Meat Pie Dinner at 6 p.m. at its 594 Smith Neck Road Meeting House. Dinner includes carrots, mashed potatoes, gravy, and homemade desserts. Proceeds benefit the Meeting. Pies can be ordered separately for $15. Tickets to the dinner are $12. To order pies or tickets, call Anne Lopoulos at (508) 994-5816.

Sunday, October 20

Do your part to clean the beach.

Be the Solution to Pollution, a New Bedford-based non-profit, is organizing a cleanup of Jones Beach which will begin at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Those attending should bring a reusable water bottle and wear closed toe shoes. Gloves, bags, tools, and refreshments will be provided. 

Learn about community resources. 

The Dartmouth Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) will host its annual South Coast Craft and Resource Vendor Fair Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dartmouth High School. The event will include a large fair staffed by many vendors, crafters, and community resource organizations. At 1 p.m. there will be a free screening of the film “Intelligent Lives” in the auditorium. Kids activities include face painting, special activities and demos scheduled throughout the day, and craft-making. Visit Facebook.com/DartmouthSEPAC for a complete schedule. 

Tour a fire station. 

Take a tour of Dartmouth Fire District No. 3's headquarters at an Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Open House will include fire station tours, meet-and-greets with firefighters and Sparky the fire dog, a bouncy house, tours of fire trucks, and more. A demonstration on cooking fires is at 11 a.m. An extraction demonstration is at 11:30 a.m. Food will be served at 12:15 p.m. 

Have an event we should include next week? Email details to Douglas McCulloch at douglas@dartmouthweek.net.