Suffolk News-Herald

The Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, 326 N. Main St., kicks off autumn with its Fall Fest & Market Day today, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be all sorts of activities, produce and foods that will celebrate the &uot;good old days&uot; in Suffolk.

Betsy Brothers, a member of the train station’s special events committee, said people will be able to take horse-drawn carriage rides from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or buy an assortment of homemade foods: Brunswick stew, ham rolls, hot dogs, boiled peanuts, homemade pickles, jams and baked goods, Brothers said. People can also buy all sorts items for their fall dcor, including pumpkins, autumn produce, giant chrysanthemums, pansies, and Indian corn.

There will also be a demonstration at the station of how our goobers were once stacked, or in the terminology of days gone by; shocked. A blacksmith will demonstrate his craft, and beautifully handmade baskets will also be featured.

Children can get involved in the festivities by participating in the &uot;cowboy and cowgirl contest,&uot; an event set for 2 p.m. Fall portraits will be made from 2 to 4 p.m. and there will be plenty of crafts and games.

Another activity will be a silent auction, which will help raise money for the museum, Brothers said. Items being auctioned off include an all-day rock fishing trip for five with Jim and Sally Caton on the &uot;C-Team&uot; and a dinner for four in the station tower. Other items include a load of mulch from Reginald E. Brothers Co. Inc. , a lamp from Brandon House, a gift basket from Johnson’s Flowers, and an overnight stay with dinner for two at Smithfield Station. There are many other items included in the auction.

On Oct. 31, the museum will offer kids a safe alternative to trick-or-treating with &uot;Spooky Halloween at the Train Station,&uot; an event open to the public and children of all ages.

&uot;We are featuring Whiskers, the train station mouse and his friend, Miss Karen, as he tells about his spooky Halloween adventures,&uot; said Jennifer Ward. &uot;Our Halloween celebration includes goblin treats and crazy crafts. We’ll also have a costume contest at 5:30. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and space is limited. Tickets are required for this event and they are $3.50 per child, and it runs from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

For more information on these events or visiting the train station and museum, call Ward at 923-4750