Autumn season arrives with color, creativity and community traditions

Fall in Franklin County brings colorful foliage, seasonal decorations and fun community events.

From pumpkins on porches to mums downtown, it’s a season that brings people together.

It’s a time when familiar places take on a fresh glow and neighbors share in the spirit of the season.

The Cultura Garden Club recently began decorating downtown Russellville for the season.

Funds raised through the club’s fall mum fundraiser help create colorful displays each year, part of the group’s broader work decorating downtown for every season.

Scarecrows, mums in every shade and hay bales covered with leaves brighten the corners of downtown.

In 2020, a simple trunk-or-treat organized by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce was the start of downtown Russellville’s fall festivities, which have grown each year since.

Blaze Bishop, the chamber’s media relations and executive assistant, said fall is her favorite season.

“It’s always fun to see the creativity of our local businesses during Pumpkin Palooza,” she said.

The chamber sponsors the Pumpkin Palooza Scarecrow Trail, which this year features 24 displays.

From Russellville First Baptist Church to Russellville Florist & Gifts, both sides of Jackson Avenue are lined with scarecrows — some silly, some spooky, all brimming with creativity.

The Scarecrow Trail will be up through Oct. 25, giving the community plenty of time to stroll downtown and enjoy the decorations.

Scarecrow sponsors also kicked things off on opening day by handing out candy, adding to the family friendly atmosphere downtown.

Cassie Medley, executive director of the chamber, said Pumpkin Palooza holds a special place in her heart.

“It brings back memories of when my kids were little — dressed up in their Halloween costumes, heading to parties and fall field trips,” she said.

These days, her favorite part is watching the community come together downtown.

“Now I enjoy seeing civic clubs, businesses and industries bring Jackson Avenue to life with their scarecrow creations.”

Downtown isn’t the only place to enjoy fall. Franklin County’s natural spots show off the season too.

Bear Creek and Dismals Canyon offer some of the best local views of autumn leaves.

Cooler nights and shorter days bring out the hidden reds, golds and oranges in the trees, turning familiar roadsides into glowing autumn scenes.

Peak color in north Alabama usually falls between mid-October and early November, making it a perfect time for a drive or hike close to home.

Other Franklin County fall highlights include Spruce Pine Day on Oct.

18, an annual fundraiser with food, crafts, music, a car show and family activities.

Proceeds help with the upkeep of the Spruce Pine Community Center, Spruce Pine Museum and the community storm shelter.

The Spirit of Hodges Festival on Oct. 11 features inflatables, fire truck rides, door prizes and live gospel music throughout the day.

Spruce Pine is also home to a weekly Trade Day on Saturdays through the end of the year, where vendors offer everything from produce and plants to crafts, baked goods and more.

Some also take nearby day trips to places like Bankhead National Forest, Muscle Shoals and Burritt on the Mountain in Huntsville, which is especially beautiful this time of year.

Daylight saving time ends Nov. 2, which means earlier sunsets are just around the corner. That’s one more reason to soak up every golden afternoon of autumn while you can.

Like the fleeting colors in the trees, the beauty of fall is short-lived, so enjoy it while it lasts — whether it’s a stroll among scarecrows downtown or a walk through Franklin County’s trails and canyons.

Susie Hovater Malone is a retired educator from Russellville City Schools. She is a member of the Russellville Cultura Garden Club.