Barnes Museum Announces Apple Harvest Festival Programs

The Barnes Museum will celebrate Southington’s annual Apple Harvest Festival with a full lineup of historic programs on Saturday, October 3 and Saturday, October 10, 2026. Visitors can explore local history through cemetery walking tours, Victorian funeral traditions, and special free preview tours of the museum.

The festivities begin on Saturday, October 3 at 10:00 AM with the museum’s popular Oak Hill Cemetery Walking Tour at 33 Queen Street in Southington. Guests will explore the historic cemetery while hearing fascinating stories about notable residents, local history, and the people who helped shape the Southington community. No registration is required, and a $10 donation to the Barnes Museum is suggested. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

On Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 AM, the museum will offer a guided tour of the historic South End Burying Ground, located at 200 South End Road in Plantsville. One of Southington’s oldest cemeteries, the burying ground offers a glimpse into the town’s early history through its gravestones and the stories of those laid to rest there, including Revolutionary War-era residents such as Captain Daniel Sloper. No registration is required, and a $10 donation is suggested.

During both Saturdays of the Apple Harvest Festival, October 3 and 10, visitors are also invited to stop by the Barnes Museum between 1:00 and 5:00 PM for free, self-guided preview tours of the first floor. Guests can take a break from the festival and step inside the historic homestead, filled with original furnishings, decorative arts, and artifacts belonging to generations of the Bradley/Barnes family. Admission for the preview tours is free, with a suggested $10 donation. No reservations are required.

Throughout the Apple Harvest Festival, the museum will also offer The Final Farewell: Victorian Funeral Traditions at various scheduled times. This immersive 45-minute tour explores the elaborate mourning customs of the 19th century and includes a rare look at a recreated Victorian viewing room, along with the rituals and artifacts associated with death and mourning during the era. Admission is $10 per person, and advance registration is required.

For tour times, registration, and additional information about the Barnes Museum’s Apple Harvest Festival programming, visit the museum’s website. Registration for all events is available at thebarnesmuseum.org. For additional information, call the Barnes Museum at 860-628-5426.