Published: September 25, 2009 07:49 am      

Autumn is festival of opportunity

Fall arrived this year in the disguise of summer.

Temperatures hovered near 80 in the Heartland of New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, and plenty of folks were walking around in shorts and sleeveless tops.

But don't let the warmer weather fool you, fall is here.

All you have to do is look around.

The hillsides are changing into their autumn colors of gold, red and orange. Harvest festivals abound. The bounty of the fall harvest is evident across the area.

Yes, fall is here.

And we encourage everyone to go out and enjoy the season.

Communities all over the four-county area are hosting festivals to celebrate fall. An apple festival at Fly Creek Cider Mill drew scores of people last weekend, as did the Susquehanna Valley Garlic Festival. Another apple fest is set for this weekend in Gilbertsville. And there are numerous harvest festivals and dinners scheduled in the next few weeks.

One of events planned is the PumpkinFest in Cooperstown this weekend. And it is huge _ literally. Giant pumpkins are the main feature of the annual festival hosted by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce.

The event will kick off with a weigh-off of pumpkins and other fall harvest items, competing for more than $7,000 in prizes. Another favorite event, the Giant Pumpkin Regatta, will be on Sunday. Paddlers will race hollowed-out giant pumpkins in Otsego Lake around noon. Other highlights are music, pumpkin painting, crafts and food.

If festivals and dinners aren't your thing, there are many other ways to enjoy the season.

Take in the flavor of autumn. Locally grown apples, pumpkins, zucchini, broccoli and more can be found across the area at farmers' markets and roadside stands.

We know, many of us don't want to think about the colder air, icy roads and sidewalks and higher heating bills around the corner, but now may not be a bad time to do a little prep work for winter.

Start gathering items for an emergency kit for your car. A change of clothes, a blanket, a few stable food items, a flashlight and a bag of cat litter would be a good start.

Also take some time to make sure your home is prepared. Plan for a tune-up of your heating system before it is on full blast. Also check for and fix any air leaks in your home.

But don't let preparation for the coming season take up too much of your time.

Go outside and take a deep breath of the crisp fall air. Take a walk around your neighborhood or a drive in the country. Most of all enjoy the beauty of the fall season.