The front doors at Hamilton House on Vaughan's Lane are closed until next June. The lawn, the gardens and the view down to the river are still open every day. Historic New England's regular tours of the house ran Thursday through Sunday from June to "Early October." Its property page says the grounds stay open daily even when the house is not running tours.
That split between closed doors and open grounds sets up the rest of the month in town. The regional institution has wrapped its season. Most of what's left comes from the Town of South Berwick, the Old Berwick Historical Society and the South Berwick Library. Between Saturday, October 24 and Friday, October 30, that calendar sits mostly on or near Main Street.
Two houses closed, two sets of grounds still open
The Sarah Orne Jewett House at 5 Portland Street runs on the same schedule as Hamilton House: tours Thursday through Sunday from June to "Early October." Its grounds and garden stay open daily from dawn to dusk. Neither house page gives an exact final tour date for 2026. With the posted season over, though, a visit this week means walking the grounds, not touring the rooms.
The grounds are the better half of each property this time of year anyway. Hamilton House sits at 40 Vaughan's Lane. The Jewett House garden is on Portland Street, right in the center of town. Historic New England lists both sets of grounds as open every day, tour season or not.
Vaughan Woods on the honor system
The town's largest stretch of woods works much the same way. Maine's Bureau of Parks and Lands lists Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park as open 9 a.m. to sunset daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Off-season visitors are asked to park outside the gate without blocking it and walk in during the same hours. You pay at a self-service collection canister, by cash or check only, and the facilities are closed.
What you're walking into is 165 acres of forest along the Salmon Falls River, with old-growth stands of pine and hemlock. The trails join into one large loop of more than three miles, with shorter loops for a quicker walk. The state lists the trails as:
- Bridle Path
- Bridle Path Loop
- Scenic River Run
- Warren Way
The state's posted day-use rates are $3 for a Maine-resident adult and $4 for a nonresident adult. Nonresident seniors pay $1, and Maine residents 65 and older get in free. Children 5 to 11 pay $1, and children under 5 are free. The canister takes cash or check only, so bring small bills from home.
The state lists Hamilton House as a nearby attraction, so the woods and the Vaughan's Lane grounds fit easily into one morning outing.
The week the town takes over
The walks are self-guided. Downtown, the late-October events have organizers. These four anchor the seven days:
| Day | Event | Where | Organizer | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 24, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | Block Party | Paul Street | Town of South Berwick | Free; school activity area $10 per child |
| Sun., Oct. 25, 1–4 p.m. | Counting House Museum open hours | Counting House Museum, 2 Liberty Street | Old Berwick Historical Society | Free; donations accepted |
| Wed., Oct. 28, 7 p.m. | Lecture: "For God and the Slave" | First Parish Federated Church, 150 Main Street | Old Berwick Historical Society | Not listed |
| Fri., Oct. 30, 5:30 p.m. | Halloween Parade, then trick-or-treating 6–8 p.m. | Community Center, 71 Norton St., to Central Elementary, 197 Main St. | Town of South Berwick | Free to join |
The Counting House row needs one explanation. The Old Berwick Historical Society lists the museum as open Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., June through October, and by appointment, with free admission. It doesn't name a last Sunday. If the season runs through the end of the month, October 25 is the last Sunday on the calendar. That makes the Counting House the one local museum with regular hours still listed after the Historic New England houses close.
Saturday on Paul Street
The Town of South Berwick's Block Party runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, on Paul Street. It's free and will have vendors, food and family activities. Vendor sign-ups closed after the September 24 deadline, so the lineup is set.
Seacoast Christian School is running a separate activity area. It includes bounce houses, obstacle courses, archery, STEM displays, games, Touch-a-Truck and a petting zoo, at $10 per child. Everything else at the event is free.
The town's announcement also encourages visitors to explore downtown shops and nearby restaurants while they're out. It fits the week: the town's big October Saturday is planned to bring people into the center of town.
Wednesday at 150 Main Street
On Wednesday, October 28 at 7 p.m., the Old Berwick Historical Society brings a South Berwick story to First Parish Federated Church at 150 Main Street. In the lecture "For God and the Slave," CJ Martin covers the life and career of Reverend John W. Lewis. The society's listing describes Lewis as a Black Freewill Baptist minister from South Berwick and "a one-man tour de force" who helped spread the abolitionist movement to areas of the country that were overwhelmingly white.
The lecture is the week's history event. With the Jewett House and Hamilton House closed for tours, it's held downtown in a church on Main Street.
The South Berwick Library also has a weeknight event on its October calendar. The Queer Collective Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. during the week of October 25 to 31.
Friday from Norton Street to Main
The town's Halloween announcement puts the parade on Friday, October 30, starting at 5:30 p.m. It leaves the South Berwick Community Center at 71 Norton Street and ends at Central Elementary School at 197 Main Street. Trick-or-treating around town runs from 6 to 8 p.m. afterward.
The town's invitation is broad:
"Kids, families, and costume enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join in! Pull out the capes, masks, face paint, favorite characters, homemade creations, and anything else that makes you feel Halloween-ready. The more costumes, the merrier!"
Because the parade is on Friday, the town's Halloween falls on the 30th, the night before the calendar date. Plan around that if you're handing out candy or meeting friends.
Dinner at 279 Main Street, one year in
A downtown week needs somewhere to eat, and Catbird at 279 Main Street just marked its first year. Portland Food Map reported on October 16, 2025, that Molly Pritchett and chef Josh Grindstaff were opening Catbird that day. The outlet described the food as contemporary American and named dishes including braised cabbage, cavatelli with oxtail ragù and duck breast.
That opening report listed service Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. A year later, those hours may have changed. Catbird's website currently advertises happy hour Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Check the restaurant directly before planning around a specific evening.
Set Catbird's schedule against the week. The Wednesday lecture starts at 7 p.m. on the same street, so happy hour fits beforehand. If Catbird still keeps a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule, it would also be open Saturday after the Block Party and Friday after the parade.
If you live in South Berwick, keeping track of weeks like this one is part of how Brick & Barn Real Estate follows the town year-round. If you'd like to talk about what a downtown address here looks like through all the seasons, Contact Us.