Enjoy Art, Apples, and Rum This Columbus Day

Monday is Columbus Day and that means you probably have the day off. Wondering what to do? Whether you want to hit up a parade, take an art tour along the coast, or pick apples with the family, we’ve got plenty of ideas for you.

Go to the Columbus Day Parade

Celebrate Columbus Day at Boston’s annual Columbus Day Parade. The parade will take place in East Boston at 1 p.m., winding from Suffolk Downs to Maverick Square, and featuring marching bands, military units, Italan-American organizations, Duck Boat floats, vintage cars, a drum and bugle corps, and more. After the parade, enjoy a block party, complete with live music and lots of food.

Relax at Christopher Columbus Park

What could be more fitting than a relaxing trip to Christopher Columbus Park? With broad lawns, a performance area, a jungle gym and, of course, a statue of Christopher Columbus, the park is a great place to enjoy a view of the harbor. On Monday, the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park will host activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a short parade, lawn games, and children’s activities such as a juggler and a magician.

Christopher Columbus Park, located between the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway and the Boston Harbor, Boston. Monday, Oct. 13. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.www.foccp.org.

Take An Art Tour Along the Coast

Drive along the Rockport and Gloucester coast, stopping to explore art along the way by hopping on the Cape Ann Artisans Open Studio Tour between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour features 21 artists who have lovingly displayed their paintings, sculptures, mosaics, photography, pottery, jewelry, and more for your viewing pleasure. Get a tour map and information for this free event at www.capeannartisans.com.

Get Scared at a Haunted House

It’s October in New England, which means there’s no shortage of places designed to scare the pants off you. Take the family to a haunted house today. Not sure where to go? Pick one to suit your personality (need a lights-on tour? bringing a date?) or check out our master map of haunted houses across the region, full of pricing, hours, and all the info you need to get your spook on.

Hang Out With Scarecrows in Newburyport

There will be live music, food, and children’s activities at the 13th Annual Newburyport Fall Harvest Festival. But the day’s highlight just might be the scarecrow contest. This beloved tradition is free and open to the public. The scarecrows will be used to decorate Market Square. Activities for kids include crafts, a puppet show by Lindsay & Her Puppet Pals on Sunday and music by WhirlyGigs on Monday. Explore Newburyport’s downtown shops as well as craft vendor booths from New England artisans. Listen to the band 97 North perform classic songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s Sunday and the Back in Time band play songs from the doo wop era Monday.

Fall Harvest Festival, downtown Newburyport. Oct. 12 & 13. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.www.newburyportchamber.org.

Visit a Maritime Museum

In the spirit of sailing, take a trip to the USS Constitution Museum at the Charlestown Navy Yard or Battleship Cove in Fall River (pictured). Celebrate the 217th birthday of the USS Constitution, the oldest ship in the United States Navy, by attending hands-on programs between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. At Battleship Cove, check out the historic naval ships and the “Women Protecting Us’’ exhibit featuring the role of women in our nation’s defense from the American Revolution until now.

USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Suggested donation of $5 to $10 for adults and $3 to $5 for kids.www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Battleship Cove, 5 Water St., Fall River. $17 adults, $10.50 kids age 6 to 12. www.battleshipcove.org.

Explore the MFA — For Free

Enjoy a free day of play at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The museum is offering an Open House full of musical performances, film screenings, art-making activities, tours, and more. Watch contemporary short films and enjoy music by Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents. Wander through more than 150 galleries. Special activities for kids will include monster mask projects and other Halloween art. English and Spanish-speaking tours available throughout the day.

The Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Monday, Oct. 13. 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Free. www.mfa.org.

Go Apple Picking

Is there any better combination than farm-fresh apples and cider? And don’t forget about the cider doughnuts (like you could). If you are looking to pick apples but are overwhelmed by the number of apple orchards across New England, we break them down for you in this map of more than 70 orchards. Happy picking!

Indulge in Italian Food

Columbus was believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy, under the name Cristoforo Colombo and so Columbus Day is a day when Italian Americans celebrate their heritage. In the early 1900s, Angelo Noce, a Denver man and first-generation Italian American, lobbied to create a holiday for Columbus. In 1907, Colorado become the first state to make Columbus Day a legal holiday. Looking for a good place to sample Italian cuisine? You’ll have no trouble finding some in Boston’s North End. The neighborhood is known for its abundance of Italian restaurants and bakeries. Mangia bene!

Take a Hike

Get exercise on your day off while taking in the colors of the season at one of these 10 gorgeous fall hikes in Massachusetts. Not sure which one to choose? We’ve sorted them by personality type. Which one fits yours?

Explore a Free Museum

Does wandering through museums make you happy? How about wandering through free museums? We thought so. Head to the Museum of Bad Art in Dedham and Somerville or the Davis Museum and Cultural Center in Wellesley. Is your name Isabella? Then you’re in luck. You can get into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston for free too (a $15 savings). Discover more free museums around Boston.

Enjoy a Rum Drink

Columbus introduced rum to the new world, so it’s the perfect excuse to have a rum cocktail. The InterContinental Boston Hotel offers a collection of nearly 100 distilled rums. Or head to the Cape and sample Twenty Boat rum at Truro Vineyards’ new rum shack called The Hollow. Enjoy a free rum tasting and order a rum-based cocktail. While you’re at it, take a vineyard tour (Oct. 13 is the last tour day of the season). And, of course, you should tastet the wine too.

InterContinental Boston, 510 Atlantic Ave., Boston. www.intercontinentalboston.com.

Truro Vineyards, 11 Shore Road Route 6A, North Truro. www.trurovineyardsofcapecod.com.