Many would say that Fall defines the Catskills experience. The weather is perfect, the light is coppery and warming. Vegetable stands overflow with fresh, ripe, sweet produce. Or climb into the orchard and pick your own. Stop at a cider mill for fresh-squeezed cider.

There are street festivals and Halloween festivities throughout the region. Kids will delight in pumpkin carving, hayrides, haunted houses and cornfield mazes. There's Bluegrass and pottery for weekenders, the Biennial Sculpture Show in Kingston for the arts devotee, and the Harvest Moon Festival and Ball in Andes, where you can strike a pose in your party finery.

Nature lovers soak up the remaining days before winter settles,watching as change comes to the mountains. And the spectacle of the Catskills in brilliant color never fails to awe. Take out the camera at Lookout Point and snap the five-state view, a marvel of natural beauty. Travel Route 28 from Kingston to Cooperstown for some stunning panoramas, particularly at Andes, where you’ll overlook the Catskill Forest Preserve.

Sampling of Fall Events

All About Autumn

• Autumn-A-Fair, Windham, 518 734 3852
• Fall Festival and Craft Fair, Belleayre Mountain, 845 254 5600, www.belleayre.com

Arts & Culture

• Biennial Sculpture Show, Kingston, 800 331 1518, www.ci.kingston.ny.us
• Catskill Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Accord, 845 687 9781
• Pottery Festival, Jeffersonville, 845 482 4976
• Shandelee Arts & Crafts Fair, Livingston Manor, 845 439 5070
• Woodstock/New Paltz Arts & Crafts Fair, New Paltz, 845 679 8087, www.quailhollow.com
• Woodstock Film Festival, 845 679 4265, www.woodstockfilmfestival.com

Ethnic Heritage

• Greek Festival, Kingston, 845 331 3522
• Irish Festival, Leeds, 518 943 3736, www.irishside.com/festivals
• Octoberfest, Hunter, 888 486 8376, www.huntermtn.com
• Ocktoberfest, Deposit, 607 467 2556

Halloween

• Giant Pumpkin Party & Children’s Parade, Grahamsville, 845 985 7233
• Harvest Moon Festival & Ball, Andes, www.andesny.com
• Headless Horseman Hayrides, Ulster Park, 845 339 BOOO, www.headlesshorseman.com
• Massacre Mansion, East Durham, www.massacremansion.com

History

• Biennial Re-enactment of the Burning of Kingston, 800 331 1518, www.ci.kingston.ny.us
• Chilly Willy Winter Eve’s Tour, Coxsackie, 518 731 6490
• Turn of the Century Day, Roxbury, www.roxbury.com

Holiday Shopping

• Heritage Craft Fair, Coxsackie, 518 731 6490. www.gchistory.com
• Holiday Extravaganza, New Paltz, 845 255 0243, www.newpaltzchamber.org

Sports & Recreation

• Catskill Mountain Jeep Jamboree USA, Monticelo, 845 791 4328
• Catskill Ramble, Sullivan County, 800 882 2287
• Hudson Valley River Ramble, 800 453 6665, www.hudsonriverramble.com
• Master of the Mountains Bike Race Series, Roundtop, 800 355 2287, www.greenetourism.com

Wildlife

• September Wildlife Festival, North Blenheim, 800 724 0309