A lot of people we cross paths with call the time of year between now and Thanksgiving their favorite. The fall season in northeast Missouri and western Illinois has a lot going for it for a number of reasons.

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For the record, the only thing I don't like about fall is that it's followed by winter.

To list all the good things about fall would take too long (I'll ask for your help on that later). We'll take the next couple hundred words to hit the highlights.

I've broken it down to three categories: Food, Festivals and Foliage.

Food

TSM Media Center
TSM Media Center
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From apple cider (hot or cold), to all things pumpkin spice to hot dogs and marshmallows over a bonfire on a crisp October evening (preferably after a hay ride), to Halloween candy to Thanksgiving dinner, autumn, maybe second only to the Christmas season, is the time of year hardest on the waistline.

Festivals

Louisiana Country Colorfest
Louisiana Country Colorfest
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One thing we know how to do in this corner of the world is throw a party. Especially when you get into October, all roads lead to a number of area events. From the Barry Apple Festival to the Louisiana Country Colorfest to Pike County Fall Pickin' Days to the Early Tin Dusters in Quincy and, of course, Hannibal's Autumn Historic Folklife Festival.

Foliage

Spectacular Autumn Colours Are Seen After Mild Temperatures Over The Last Two Months
Matt Cardy
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The Missouri Department of Conservation says, generally speaking, the peak time for fall colors is mid-October, but can vary depending on the weather. For many years, the Pike County Fall Pickin' Days on the third weekend of October was known as the Pike County Fall Color Drive.

So, what did I miss? What's your favorite thing about fall in the Tri-States?

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