Fall Festivals
Fall means leaf peeping and pumpkins for some. For others, it’s the ritual of harvest, great tunes and good beer, or the chance to make art for charity. Across the country, a handful of fall festivals capture these rhythms.
The Telluride Blues and Brews Festival (tellurideblues.com) is held in the historic Colorado mining town September 18-20. It lands just when the air turns crisp, and the golden aspens start to edge the landscape, inviting travelers to settle onto blankets spread across the park or move between stages for blues, funk, rock, indie, gospel, and soul performances, accompanied by some of the country’s best craft beers.
At the Warrens Cranberry Festival (cranfest.com) in Warrens, Wisconsin, September 25-27, the county-fair-meets-flea-market energy is on full display and attracts roughly 145,000 visitors who wander between working bogs, talk directly with growers, watch the parades, and sample everything from fresh cranberries to homemade sauces and baked goods. But the real draw is seeing a working agricultural landscape in motion as growers wade into the bogs and the season with boots and booms, corralling berries in a process that feels by turns time-honored and mesmerizing.
Held October 2-3 at the intimate Riverfront Amphitheater in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Peacemaker Music Festival (peacemakerfest.com) brings Americana, country, Southern rock, and blues into one laid-back weekend celebration, geared toward those who appreciate great songwriting and rising stars over massive crowds. Proceeds from the festival go back to local charities, the artists’ charities, and downtown development.
Luggage Lurkers
A recent study by InsureandGo and microbiologist Amy-May Pointer shows that suitcases carry an alarming collection of microscopic hitchhikers. Pointer’s swab tests identified “presumptive Staphylococcus,” “likely Bacillus,” mold, and everything in between. Soft-sided suitcases fared worse than hard shells, trapping more moisture, dust, and organic matter — a bacterial feast. Improve your luggage hygiene with Pointer’s, uh, pointers:
Clean suitcases. Wipe the wheels and base with disinfectant or a warm soapy cloth after every trip.
Wash your hands. Use soap and water for around 20 seconds after handling your luggage.
Use the hotel’s luggage rack. The wheels of a suitcase are functionally outdoor shoes. Suitcases will transfer what they’ve picked up onto sheets the moment they touch them.
Service Freeze
In May, Delta Air Lines ended its snack and beverage service in the main cabin on flights of less than 350 miles. Delta Comfort and First Class passengers will still receive full service, regardless of flight length.
This article is featured in the September/October 2026 issue of The Saturday Evening Post.
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