Events & Programs

Borderland State Park has events nearly every week: DCR staff run free programs (guided hikes, kids' story and craft mornings, wildlife talks, full-moon walks and mansion tours), and the Friends of Borderland add seasonal events such as a spring Fishing Fest, a fall car show, a haunted hayride and a December hand bell concert in the mansion. DCR posts each month's schedule as a PDF on its Borderland page. DCR programs are free and most meet at the visitor center; the parking fee still applies.

DCR's Regular Programs

These are the kinds of programs on DCR's October 2026 sheet. The line-up changes month to month, but the pattern is steady:

• Kidleidoscope (Sundays, 10 to 11 am): a storybook, a craft and, weather permitting, a short hike. Best for ages 4 and up.
• Off the Beaten Path hikes (some Thursdays, 1 to 3 pm): a different trail each time, 2 to 4 miles at a moderate pace, for adults and older kids.
• eARTh & Crafts (Wednesdays, 4 to 5 pm): an outdoor craft about the park's plants and animals, in the picnic area.
• Wildlife Wonders and Explore Nature: spotting scopes, animal pelts, feathers and skull replicas, sometimes at the Stone Lodge or Lily Bay.
• The Long Hike: a guided 5-mile hike to the Morse Loop and Dead Swamp Pond in the far north of the park.
• Full Moon Hike: guided groups at different paces along the Pond Walk.
• Mansion tours: free 30-minute first-floor tours on several themes, booked online (details).

Self-guided options run every day the park is open: the Ames Family Photo Exhibit and free architecture brochures at the visitor center, and a StoryWalk, a picture book posted along the Pond Walk toward the Stone Lodge.

Friends of Borderland Events

The Friends of Borderland calendar for 2026 shows the year's rhythm:

• March: a Mindful Outdoor Experience on the first day of spring.
• May: Park Serve Day (volunteer work), a Spring Tea at the mansion, and the annual Fishing Fest at the Lodge.
• April to September: three-floor mansion tours on two Sundays a month ($10 at the door).
• October: a 1920s murder mystery night at the mansion (adults 21+, tickets in advance), the annual car show on the mansion front lawn with Mass Cruisers (free to visitors), and the haunted hayride, run with MSG Trent Memorial, 6 to 10 pm on two nights.
• December: a holiday hand bell concert and a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol in the mansion.

Disc Golf Leagues and Tournaments

The Borderland Disc Golf Club runs a weekly Sunday doubles league and hosts tournaments; DCR's management plan names the Spring Fling and the Fall Classic as the two big annual events. See disc golf.

Walking Club

DCR's Borderland page links to the DCR Southeastern Massachusetts Walking Club, a free club for walkers 16 and older that meets most weekends for social walks at DCR parks across the region. Its schedule moves around, so check DCR's walking club page for when it visits Borderland.

Tips for Event Days

• Parking applies to free events too: $5 for Massachusetts plates, $20 for others, no cash.
• Big events (the car show, hayride) bring crowds; arrive early or follow the event's parking signs.
• Weather may cancel programs, though some run rain or shine. Check with the park at (508) 238-6566.
• Children must be with an adult at every DCR program.
• For accessibility requests, DCR lists an ADA contact at (617) 645-0358.