With fall here and cooler temperatures, it makes me reminisce over what fall activities we would do as children.
Jump in a big pile of leaves, go to drive-in movies and go see the hot air balloons at the local airport. Luckily, we can still do most of those things, with the exception of some drive-ins closing for the season.
I love having great memories with my family from when I was little and then getting to recreate them as an adult with my own family now.
Going to the movies was always fun and a treat growing up, but going to sit outside, with all your blankets and pillows, and a bucket full of popcorn and snacks was so much more fun. Before the movie starts, it’s a great time to let the kids run around in the grassy areas and run off some energy before the movie.
Another great thing about the drive-ins are they normally have two movies showing, one for the youngsters and then one for the older viewers. I always enjoy going closer to fall to the drive-ins so we don’t get too hot to enjoy the movie.
Another great option for fun in the fall is going to watch local hot air balloons launch. In my hometown they have been doing this for years with an event that started out as Mountaineer Balloon Festival and has now turned into Balloons Over Morgantown. This event was always so much fun for little ones. You get to go up close to the balloons and see their huge size and see in the basket to see how the balloons work.
It’s a magical moment in my memory seeing all the balloons flying over the beautiful West Virginia hills and disappear into the fall foliage. I truly believe this event would still wow any kids and adults today!
So, if you are looking for something fun to do in the upcoming fall weekends, try looking into drive-ins and the balloon festival. If you’re looking for a drive-in, just go to google and find the closest one near you that is still open for the fall.
This year the Balloons Over Morgantown will be Oct. 12-15. Check out the website for more information balloonsovermorgantown.com and watch The Dominion Post for articles on the event.
ANN BURNS is a Morgantown native, raising two young children with her husband, Drake. She writes weekly columns for The Dominion Post. Contact her at Columns@DominionPost.com.
