As the calendar turns to late September and we look toward the start of astronomical autumn, there soon follows a slate of “Fall” and/or “Harvest Festivals”. These celebrations of the turning of the season can take many forms. There are food-oriented (goodness, I am oversaturated with “pumpkin spice” everything), music-oriented, craft-oriented, nature-oriented, and so many more types of festivals to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Sometimes there are even combinations of various types. We each have our favorites. But what the festivals all have in common is the marking of time passing.
It seems that there are often many more festivals than there are days to host them. Most are held on weekends due to traditional work schedules and there are often multiple events on the same day. The typical starting date for these gatherings is usually the weekend after Labor Day (the unofficial end of summer) and they often continue until about Halloween. By then the weather can get a little unstable for outdoor events, although I have seen some later festivals held indoors but those are more craft oriented. In any case, the opportunity to spend more time outside is often a big draw for any festival and it helps if the weather is warm and sunny. It doesn’t always happen that way but folks are hopefully optimistic.
Having many different areas of emphasis for festival themes gives choices to potential attendees. With almost every festival there are usually special events or features for children and a number of potential attractions geared toward adults. Sometimes the festival is aimed only at adults, like several bands playing a specific style of music for the day, but most have something for children. Usually there are wide variations of food vendors, from snack foods to full meals, and often purveyors of beverages that are mostly geared toward adults. Keeping as many people happy as possible is the goal of any festival and promoter.
It seems to me that the least common theme for a fall festival is the nature-oriented type. Often these are held at a park, zoo, nature center, or some other type of venue specializing in the outdoor experience. Keeping people coming to these areas year-round is important but neither can they overlook the occasional visitor for a special event. By offering something a little different than their typical programming, natural areas can demonstrate their uniqueness and highlight their mission to someone who may not visit the location at other times. And a festival atmosphere is a good way to entice additional first-time visitors and expose them to what is offered regularly. A smaller crowd may be exactly what someone wants.
Fall, autumn, or harvest festivals can be fun, no matter what specific name is used. The opportunity to be outside, enjoying the fall color changes, spending time with loved ones, and maybe trying something new are all great reasons to attend a festival. Certainly there are folks who go to more than one festival in the autumn, and some who even go to several on the same weekend. There are more than enough for someone to find exactly the type they prefer and have the experience they desire.