By Sherri Blevins
Temperatures are dropping, leaves are falling, and nature is creating its seasonal picture show with pieces of yellow, orange, red, green, and brown dotting the trees on Sand Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and many places in between. October is a great month to explore what nature has to offer.
Colorfest 2022 offers an excuse to take a scenic drive to beautiful Mentone, Alabama. Colorfest will be on Saturday, October 15, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm and Sunday, October 16, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
According to the event organizers, Colorfest has outgrown its traditional Brow Park location and will now be at the 111-year-old Moon Lake School site that has been renamed Moon Lake Village. Arts and crafts vendors will sell unique handmade goods. Food trucks and refreshment tents will be on sight, and children’s activities will be offered under a covered pavilion near the playground. Festival parking will be in the field on Alabama Highway 117 adjacent to Moon Lake Village or in the overflow lot near Mentone Community Church. There will be no parking on AL-Highway 117 or East River Road. A donation of $5.00 per vehicle is suggested for parking. Those needing assistance may be dropped off in front of the school or will be offered a ride from the main parking area.
The Little River Canyon Center also offers great programs and beautiful places to explore in the fall. Located at 4322 Little River Canyon Rim Pkwy, Fort Payne, AL, the center is an extension of Jacksonville State University and offers walking trails, outdoor educational programs, and monthly special programs. On October 20, Returning to the Moon: An Evening with NASA’s Lisa Watson-Morgan will take place. Lisa Watson-Morgan is the Program Manager for NASA’s Human Landing System, and she has been tasked with the rapid development of the lander that will safely carry the first woman and the next man to the Moon’s surface in 2024. There will be a reception in her honor from 5:30 until 6:00 pm and a special presentation from Morgan from 6:00 -7:00 pm. Take advantage of a stargazing and hot chocolate opportunity from 7:00 until 8:00 pm. Free telescopes will be available, but you may bring your own.
If you are interested in learning about photographing the great outdoors, join the photography workshop at the Canyon Center on October 22. Professional photographer and photojournalist Rich Rybka of Natural Light Photography will present a workshop at the Little River Canyon Center. This presentation is designed for students with minimal to basic photography skills. DSLR or mirrorless camera with a removable SD card is required. Participants will experience an indoor presentation and try their photography skills by taking photographs in the beautiful Little River Canyon National Preserve. There is a fee of $40.00 for this excursion, and you are asked to bring a day pack with lunch and drinks.
On November 5, 2022, enjoy Canyon Fest, an annual celebration of art and nature featuring local art, crafts, live animal shows, music, food, and fun for the entire family. This event is free and open to everyone. Pets should be on leashes.
Finally, if you prefer seeing the beautiful fall colors from inside a vehicle, choose the 11-mile developed scenic drive on the western side of Little River Canyon along Highway 176 (off Highway 35). This area is located near Fort Payne, Alabama. The developed scenic drive begins with Little River Falls Boardwalk Overlook and ends at Eberhart Point Overlook.
The canyon drive continues on County Road 148 (DeKalb County)/275 (Cherokee County) to the Canyon Mouth Day Use Area. Although there are no developed overlooks along this drive, the scenery is amazing in some places. This road is newly surfaced but very steep. RVs and buses should exercise caution or avoid County Road 148/275 entirely.
The Scenic Drive allows the visitor to view the splendor of the canyon from a series of overlooks. Each overlook has a pull-off to park and enjoy the scenery; very little walking is required. Touring the scenic drive and the overlooks is free of charge. It is open during daylight hours. No one is allowed in these areas after dark.
Don’t let the season pass you by without enjoying the fall beauty DeKalb County has to offer.