I hung my autumnal wreath on my front door yesterday. Like a lot of people this time of year, I’m very eager for the fall season to commence and I’m hoping that a little decorating will help hurry it along. Sadly the balmy 90-degree temperatures and the persistent buzzing of cicadas are making that very hard.

The cooler temperatures and the changing leaves might be a few weeks away, but you can get in a fall state of mind lickity split with a seasonal festival. Lucky for you that it just so happens the unofficial kick-off of the fall festival season happens this weekend.

Check out the cornucopia of weekend offerings.

Photo: Therese Powell

If you just can’t wait another second for fall then you don’t the opening weekend of  Autumn at the Arboretum this Saturday. The event has been called “One of The World’s 15 Most Breathtaking Gardens” by “Architectural Digest,” and this year is no exception. There will be over 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash on display that are used together to create a village made out of pumpkin houses. Be sure to stop by Cinderella’s carriage where thousands of pumpkins, hay bales and cornstalks are artfully arranged to give you the perfect photo op. There will be multiple activities for kids during the two-month run of the festival.  If you need another reason to go, this weekend also marks the 5th birthday of the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Following the garden’s theme of “Adventures in Neverland,” there will be  Lost Boys Games, fairy dust-making,  shadow drawings and a scavenger hunt for pirate treasure.

Celebrate the annual migration of the monarch butterfly with the first-ever EpicFest in Grand Prairie. The event will include a beautiful monarch butterfly release, multi-cultural performances on the Rotary International Stage and other live entertainment, lawn games, food and beer gardens and more. The free event happens this Friday and Saturday, September 21^st-22^nd at Epic Central Park.

Photo: Greek Food Festival of Dallas

It’s fall, so that means it’s time for the Greek Food Festival of Dallas at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The annual Greek mega-party is celebrating over 60 years of sharing hospitality, culture, and, most importantly, glorious Greek cuisine with North Texas. Everything from gyros to spanakopita will be on the menu so be sure to come hungry. Besides all the good grub, there’s also a children’s area for the kiddos with sand art & crafts, caricature artists, and face painting. But the best part of the Greek Festival is the music and dancing. I highly encourage you to get in touch with your inner Zorba and let loose on the dance floor. The Big Fat Greek Party opens for its three-day run this Friday at lunch, so grab a co-worker or two for a mid-day break.

Get ready to have your spirits lifted along with dozens of hot air balloons at the 39th annual Plano Balloon Festival at Oak Point Park in Plano. The weekend offers something for everyone, music, entertainment, fireworks show, kids activities, skydivers; and of course lots of beautiful hot air balloons. The balloons will launch Friday at 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. (weather permitting).

Photo: Trinity River Wind Festival

Another festival that’s taking advantage of the breezy North Texas sky this weekend is the Trinity River Kite Festival. Formally known as the Trinity River Wind Festival, this annual outdoor fest has been rained out a few times when it happened in the spring. Lucky for us organizers have given this sweet, unassuming, outdoor event a new home in the fall. The wide open space along the river makes the perfect backdrop for both kite flying or kite watching. You can bring one of your own kites to fly or watch one of the many spectacular shows or stunt kites. Kids can also take part in a wildflower planting, see the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center stage show, play in the kid’s fun zone, watch Japanese kite makers at work, and even make their own kites.