October Events at The BEAR

Workshop

Mask making for the season

Saturdays, October 3 & 10 · 1 PM

Make a mask for the season at The BEAR. Kids decorate simple ready-made masks, free of charge. Teens and adults build papier-mâché masks on October 3, leave them to dry for a week, then come back on October 10 to paint and finish them. No art experience needed.

Workshop

Poetry slam workshop

Sunday, October 4 · 2 PM

Noelle Corley leads an afternoon on writing and performing slam poetry. You’ll work on a piece of your own, read it out loud and get a feel for the stage in time for our poetry slam on October 30. Never written a poem before? That’s a fine place to start. Bring a notebook.

Reception

A Second Look: artist reception

Saturday, October 10 · 3 – 4 PM

Come celebrate the artists of 2026 A Second Look. We’ll have light refreshments and time to talk with the artists about their work. If you have a piece in the show, this is your hour to pick it up. Make a day of it: the BEAR Country Store runs from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Workshop

Beginner knitting: holiday scarves

Saturdays, October 24 – November 14 · 11 AM

Knit a scarf in time for the holidays. Over four Saturday mornings, Irina Nemirovsky walks you through the basic skills, one step at a time, until you have a scarf of your own. Needles are provided; bring the yarn of your choice. Open to ages 12 and up, and anyone under 16 comes with a guardian.

Workshop

Kinusaiga: no-sew quilting

Saturday, October 24 · 1 – 3 PM

Kinusaiga is a Japanese textile art invented in 1980 by artist Satsu Mayano. You press and tuck fabric scraps into grooves cut in a foam board until a textured picture takes shape. No needle, no thread. Cheryl Thompson shows you how over two hours, and all materials are included.

Reading group

Lord of the Rings reading group: The Two Towers

Tuesday, October 27 · 7 – 8 PM

Read The Lord of the Rings with us, one book a month. William Barden and Sage Tanguay host an in-person discussion over light refreshments, and a weekly email newsletter keeps you on track between meetings, with optional readings from Tolkien’s wider Legendarium. First-time readers and longtime fans are both welcome. October’s book is The Two Towers.

Performance

Poetry slam night

Friday, October 30 · Time TBD

Come to read, or come to listen. Poets from around the valley take the mic for a night of spoken word. The bar and the coffee bar are open, and there are snacks. If you came to Noelle Corley’s workshop on October 4, here’s your stage.

Workshop

Sip & paint: watercolor pumpkins

Saturday, October 31 · 2 PM

Spend a relaxed afternoon painting pumpkins in watercolor. Abigail Dufour teaches a few basic techniques with a seasonal theme, and you paint along. All materials are included, plus one alcoholic drink for guests 21 and up. Bringing kids? They can paint pumpkins in their own class at the same time.

Family & kids

Kids paint pumpkins

Saturday, October 31 · 2 PM

While grown-ups sip and paint, kids get a pumpkin class of their own. Sage Tanguay teaches drawing and painting: ages 3 and up fill in a pumpkin design, and ages 6 and up learn to design their own from start to finish. Every child comes with an adult, who’s welcome to join the sip & paint.

Every week at The BEAR

Every second Saturday · October 10

No registration needed

Now on view

2026 A Second Look

On view through October 10

Select pieces from the 2026 Bath County Art Show are back on the walls at The BEAR. If you missed the show, or want another look, now’s your chance. A dedication section honors Perlista Henry and her contributions to our arts community. Meet the artists at the reception and art pick-up on Saturday, October 10, from 3 to 4 PM.

Free to visit · Open Thursday–Sunday, 11 AM – 4 PM