is mild both in the day and evenings. I like this time because this is the optimum time for adults to visit Hot Springs. Most of the children have left to either return to school or start school.  

The third week of September is exciting because a new venue is planned out on the lake. It will be a barbeque and hot air balloon rally. I know little of the details as yet but it is in the planning stages now. It plans to be quite the event.  

The first days of October begin to transform the forest from the exuberant deep color of green into the riot of rich diverse colors like that of a beautiful patchwork quilt. There is only a hint of the air turning from a thick, slow mixture to a thinner lighter quality that make us step a little quicker knowing that the daylight will grow shorter and fall is under way.  

The first days of October offer the Oktoberfest where traditional German foods are served to you by local gentlemen wearing lederhosen and beautiful ladies in their skillfully made dresses. There are a wide variety of foods, music and dancing.  An excellent time is had by all.

In the middle of October is when the Documentary Film Festival will feature up to 90 domestic and international documentary films. Many of these films are nominated or have won Academy Awards. Several of the filmmakers are available for lectures with question and answer sessions following the screenings.  

By the end of October you should prepare yourself for a wonderful treat at Halloween at the Everglade Park. The park opens at sunset with a hayride thru the woods. As you bump up the dirt road that disappears into the dark, you pause as you view what appears to be a graveyard just out of site up the hill on the left. As you approach the crest, zombies approach from your left and your right. Off in the distance several moans and screams can be heard but your vision is impaired for the night has closed in.  

At the top of the hill you are given the option of continuing on with the hayride or opt to walk thru the forest with a vampire, zombie or ghoul. Being in the spirit of adventure, we opted for the walk thru the woods. This was a real trick and a treat. We encountered ghosts that floated from the treetops, chainsaw carrying monsters, brides minus their heads and ghouls rising form the earth. It was probably the best Halloween I’d had in 25 years. I highly recommend the experience in the sprit of Halloween and childhood dreams past.  

By November the ground has transformed into piles a various shapes and colors of leaves.  As your feet shuffle through the mounds of nature’s debris, nostalgia flood through you like a train careening down the tracks. Childhood memories of a time when your feet were much smaller and your cares were few.  

Garvan Woodland Gardens is a flurry of activity setting up the holiday lights. Bundle up warmly because you wouldn’t want to miss this evening’s attraction.  

Towards the end of November, each year the City of Hot Springs sets up an outdoor ice skating rink at the Hill Wheatley Plaza located on Central Avenue in Historical downtown. I hadn’t gone ice-skating since I left Idaho more years ago than I’m willing to admit.  It’s charming and oh so fun.  The downtown historical Hot Springs decorate all of Central Avenue in garland, lights, Santa and even his Reindeer.