🦫 Pumpkins, laughter & local sounds — your Halloween-week roundup

Hey there, Townshippers

Halloween week is here — and the Townships are showing off in full color. Fields are glowing orange, porches are stacked with pumpkins, and the air has that perfect crisp edge that makes you want to linger just a little longer outside. Whether you’re trick-or-treating, catching a concert, or heading out for one last fall road trip, this week’s issue is packed with good things (and zero jump scares).

Grab a warm drink, settle in, and let’s see what’s brewing around here. 👇

Just in time for Halloween weekend, the Val-Joli fields are a rolling glow of pumpkins and wheelbarrows. Visitors fan out between rows to hunt for carving giants or sugar-pie sweethearts, while kids run toward the maze and the little haunted house. The patch features nearly 400,000 pumpkins and over 40 varieties, with the autumn schedule running through Friday, October 31, so now is the moment.

On arrival, the experience is straightforward: park, grab a barrow, and head for the fields. Admission covers family extras that make it easy to linger; corn-maze, picnic areas, a petting farm and educational room, and a ramble through the crops, so groups can spread out at their own pace. Check the hours & admission before you go. 

The farm isn’t just pumpkins. Summer opens with u-pick strawberries and raspberries, then the fall sprint to Halloween, and finally a switch to Christmas with choose-and-cut firs. For a quick skim of everything on offer; pumpkin fields, miniature-animal petting farm, creamery, kiosk, and school tours, the activities page is the best starting point. 

Treat stops are part of the draw. The on-site creamery serves fruit ice cream and frozen yogurt (strawberry, raspberry, mixed berries) with optional Belgian-chocolate dip, ideal rewards for haulers of extra-large gourds. A produce kiosk rounds things out with farm goods and seasonal snacks for the ride home. Browse the creamery menu for flavours and prices. 

If carving is the mission this week, don’t wait, grab gloves for chilly handles, and let the kids steer the barrow, they’ll remember it. If you’re pumpkin decor is already figured out, circle back in late November when the tree fields open and the farm’s holiday kiosk switches on. Happy Halloween, and happy picking.

🎶 Bingo Musical – Halloween Special — Thu, Oct 30, 7:00 PM — Centre Culturel St‑John, Bromont: Dress up and join the Halloween‑themed musical bingo night where the game cards are filled with song titles instead of numbers. Expect a lively host, spooky lighting, fun prizes for best costume and best bingo‑call, and an overall party vibe for all ages. Doors open at 6:30 PM; bring a photo ID for prize eligibility and a small donation at the door helps support local artists. A great way to kick off your week with a community‑focused, low‑cost outing. Details → via the regional events calendar. Details 👉 lestjohn.com

💿 Le Country De Nos Idoles — Thu, Oct 30, 8:00 PM — Sherbrooke: Saddle up for an evening of country roots and Québec twist: this show features classic hits from Francophone and Anglophone “idols” of the country genre, performed live with crowd‑participation, line‑dancing and sing‑alongs. Perfect for fans of country music wanting a night out, whether in a pair or group of friends. The venue is centrally located, so arrive early to grab your spot and perhaps stay after for a drink or dessert downtown. Details 👉 centrecultureludes.ca

🎃 Halloween dans les rues! — Fri, Oct 31, 5:00 PM–8:00 PM — Your doorstep / Local neighborhoods: It’s Halloween — time to light the jack-o’-lanterns, bundle up, and join the community spirit across the Townships! Whether you’re trick-or-treating with kids, handing out candy, or strolling to admire costumes and décor, this is your invitation to reconnect with neighbors and embrace the spooky fun. Many towns see little ones out by 5:00 PM — so get your treats ready, decorate the porch, and let the magic begin. Dress warmly, be safe, and don’t forget to compliment a few costumes!

🎸 Plume Latraverse – Rémissionnaire — Sat, Nov 1, 8:00 PM — Sherbrooke: Quebec legend Plume Latraverse returns with his poetic grit and rebellious flair in RÉMISSIONNAIRE, a tour steeped in raw energy and wit. Joined by Jean-Claude Marsan and Grégoire Morency, Plume revisits classics that defined Quebec’s countercultural sound. Expect satirical edge, gravelly vocals, and unapologetic truth. A rare chance to see a living monument in full form. Details 👉 centrecultureludes.ca

🎭 Douze Hommes en Colère (French‑language performance of “Twelve Angry Men”) — Tue, Nov 4, 7:30 PM — Sherbrooke: This staging of the classic courtroom drama in French brings intensity, moral tension and social commentary—ideal if you’re in the mood for a thoughtful night out rather than pure entertainment. Being in Sherbrooke makes it accessible; theatre‑goers should plan ahead for parking and perhaps pre‑ or post‑show dinner nearby. A recommended outing for couples or culture‑minded friends.  Details 👉 centrecultureludes.ca

☕ Candle-Café Opens in Downtown Sherbrooke: Café Moonday has debuted its new boutique-studio at 143, rue Frontenac, pairing specialty coffee with make-your-own candle workshops. The concept comes from young founder Iseult Savard Lévesque, who grew Moonday from a home venture to a playful café-atelier brand. Workshops run about 90 minutes and feature soy-wax scents with a rainbow of designs. The spot is steps from Wellington and the museum district, making it an easy add-on to a downtown stroll. Source 👉 Le Collectif

🎃 Rock Forest’s iconic water tower lights up for Halloween: The beloved “Boule” in Sherbrooke’s Rock Forest sector is back with nighttime projections, running Oct 28–Nov 2, 6–11 p.m. The show, called L’inconnu dans le noir, cycles through playful spooky themes you can spot from boulevard Bourque. It’s free, family-friendly, and designed so you can enjoy it from sidewalks and nearby green spaces—bring a thermos and layers. Source 👉 Sherbrooke Info

🌲 Mont-Orford expansion gets the green light (more trails coming): Québec has officially confirmed the park’s footprint will nearly double—from ~59.5 to ~108 km²—with 34 km of new hiking trails and 12 km of bike paths added in phases. The plan includes two climbing sectors and year-round activity upgrades, backed by $20M over three years. Some new trail segments are slated to open as early as summer 2026. Source 👉 Gouvernement du Québec

🚐 High-end rec-tourism “Viverdi Club village VR” planned in Saint-Élie: Groupe Laroche unveiled a project to transform the former Granulats Billing quarry (chemin de Saint-Élie, Sherbrooke) into a private resort for RV stays. The concept includes roughly 450 premium sites, a 14,500-sq-ft main pavilion, heated pools, tennis and pickleball courts. The promoters say the site targets medium to long-stay visitors and could open in 2028, pending municipal steps. Source 👉 La Tribune

🅿️ Sherbrooke’s downtown pay-parking is changing: The City says prep work to replace the old pay terminals is nearly done. Through Oct. 31, keep using the existing machines or the mobile app during tariffed hours. Starting in November, new pay stations begin rolling out, so expect minor work zones and updated signage downtown. Source 👉 Ville de Sherbrooke

Looking for a home with space, peace, and potential? This 2-storey detached house in Coaticook offers everything a family could need: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and room to grow. Set on a spacious lot, it blends countryside quiet with the convenience of nearby town amenities.

Step inside and you’ll find warm living spaces that invite cozy evenings and family gatherings. Outside, the property gives you room for a garden, play space, or weekend workshop. 

👉 View the full listing here

Guess That Local Sound

The Townships have a soundtrack all their own — rustling leaves, church bells echoing down main streets, the whoosh of tires on a country road. We’re curious:

If you had to pick one sound that instantly says “home” to you, what would it be?

Maybe it’s the Sunday hum of your neighbour’s lawnmower, the creak of your dock, or the train cutting through Lennoxville at dusk.

👉 Hit reply and tell us your pick, we’ll feature some of our favourites in next week’s edition!

That’s a wrap for October — but before the pumpkins fade, take a moment to enjoy this in-between stretch: cozy nights, cool air, and a Townships glow that’s hard to beat. Thanks for reading and riding along with us each week — we love being part of your Thursday ritual.

See you in November with fresh stories, fall flavours, and maybe a few early hints of winter. Until then — keep the lights on and the candy bowl full. 👻

- The Eastern Townships Now team 🦫