Alison James, Columnists, COLUMNS--FEATURE SPOT, Opinion
 By  Alison James Published 
2:32 pm Friday, September 27, 2019

Promise of fall hangs in the air

When football season kicks off, we want to think, “Hey, now it’s fall!”

Unfortunately for us fall-lovers, that’s not really the case in north Alabama. Those blazing hot 90-100 degree days aren’t scared away by the Friday night lights.

But as September marches toward October, we can start to feel it.

My living room is now home to an electric fireplace, and even though it’s been far to hot outside to need a fire for warmth, the unit can run the flames without the heat. It’s been so cozy. With the AC kicked up, I can slip into a pair of fuzzy socks, stare into the fireplace and pretend the best season of the year has finally arrived. 

It takes more than football to make it fall, but the signs are starting to pop up everywhere. Commercial are hawking pumpkin spice everything, and tourism departments are promoting the season-openings for pumpkin patches, scarecrow trails, hayrides, cornfield mazes and more. Pretty soon we’ll be able to trade in our T-shirts and flip flops for sweaters and boots – and I don’t know about you, but that make me just giddy with delight. 

The first official day of autumn was Monday. All we need is the weather to cooperate with the calendar, and we’ll be all set. 

If you’re looking for some fall fun in Franklin County, look no further than page A3 of each issue of the Franklin County Times. Our community calendar is already starting to fill up with some great events to enjoy the season. 

Maybe you’d like to dive into some history with the Russellville Bicentennial Committee’s Cemetery Tour. Maybe you’ve been waiting all year for the next Spirit of Hodges Festival or Spruce Pine Day – your wait is coming to an end. Whether you want to enjoy musical entertainment or an outdoor adventure, Franklin County has it all.

If you have an event to add to our calendar, be sure to send it along! We want to make sure and share all the great activities Franklin County has to offer the community – in fall and in every season. 

Also on Franklin County Times
Russellville to host MLK march on Monday
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Martin Luther King Memorial Scholarship Committee is planning its annual commemoration march, which this year will ...
Career tech programs return to remodeled RHS building
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Students at Russellville High School returned from winter break last week to a newly remodeled and expanded Career Technical Education ...
Dowdy sentence delayed
Main, News, Russellville
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The sentencing of Brandy Dowdy will have to wait until another day after her defense attorney suffered a “medical emergency.” Dowdy’s s...
MLK march is about ‘keeping the dream alive’
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The Rev. B.J. Bonner was 11 years old in the summer of 1963 when the civil rights movement reshaped the South and communities across Al...
FCREA finalizes 2025, looks ahead to 2026
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 14, 2026
There are moments in our meetings that stay with you long after the chairs are folded and the dishes are washed. One of those moments came in November...
This year, let’s resolve to be more involved
Columnists, Opinion
January 14, 2026
Stop eating desserts. Go to the gym every day. Read 50 books this year. Learn a language. Start my retirement savings. Every year we make our resoluti...
RHS track looks ahead to state meet
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville High School track athletes have posted multiple top 10 and top 20 section finishes this season, along with podium performa...
Vote of Red Bay budget delayed until February
News, Red Bay
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 14, 2026
RED BAY — City councilmembers will vote next month on the 20025–26 fiscal year budget. Mayor Mike Shewbart told the council last week the budget was n...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *