The weatherman says temperatures are expected to cool going into this week.

That’s welcomed news as we approach October with temperatures still in the mid-90s.

Fall is my favorite time of year, and Chilton County has many ways to ring in the season.

Fall just wouldn’t be fall without the fair. This year’s edition starts Monday and runs nightly through Oct. 2 at the fairgrounds on Airport Road in Clanton.

The fair benefits many great causes supported by the local Kiwanis Club. Gates open at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday.

There are several other fall festivals and events planned in coming weeks:

•Verbena’s Music in the Park will return Oct. 2 as part of Alabama’s Year of Small Towns and Downtowns.

•Thorsby’s annual Swedish Festival will be held Oct. 16. Festivities will include authentic Swedish cuisine and a Swedish choir. The Miss Swedish Festival pageants will take place at Thorsby High School the Monday and Tuesday prior to Saturday’s event .

•The annual Chilton County Arthritis Walk will be Oct. 30 in front of Chilton Medical Center.

•Alabama’s Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch, Sunshine Farms Mulberry Creek Homestead and Burnette Farms haunted warehouse are also getting ready to open for the season.

Look for more information about these events in coming issues of The Clanton Advertiser.

– Averette is the managing editor of The Clanton Advertiser.