When the weather starts to cool down, don’t expect the fun to stop! In the coming days, check out any number of entertaining and diverse festivals that are sure to please all ages.

Finding something to do on a fall weekend is hardly a challenge wherever you look in Washington State. The festival season is here, and the assortment of themes and attractions keeps growing each year. Mark your calendar and make tracks for a new destination and a whole new set of memory-making opportunities.

<麤š>Everett

Start the season off with the big flavors of the Everett Sausage Fest scheduled for October 2, 3 and 4 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church grounds. The event is a family-oriented weekend fair with a German theme. From a traditional Bavarian dinner and a variety of food booths to children's games, the Family Entertainment Stage, bingo, a carnival and the Widmer Oktoberfest Bavarian Beer Garden Stage, there is something for everyone. Visit www.everettsausagefest.com for all the details.

<麤š>Shelton

The 28th Annual West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival is coming October 3 and 4. Head for the Mason County Fairgrounds in Shelton where the gates are open to the public from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. each day. On Saturday, the shuckers go for speed, and Sunday is the Half Shell (presentation) shucking event. There are seven heats each day, and the final heat determines who will win the Pacific Rim Oyster Open Speed Shucking and/or Pacific Rim Oyster Open Half Shell Shucking titles. For more info, visit www.oysterfest.org.

Issaquah
Mark your calendar for the 40^th annual 2009 Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, slated for October 3 and 4. This year’s event celebrates “40 years of Great Returns.” As the salmon return to Issaquah’s lakes, streams and the downtown hatchery, witness their valiant journey up Issaquah Creek. This year’s festivities promise to be the best ever with lots of featured favorites including the Grande Parade, delicious Foods of the World, creative and colorful arts and crafts, exciting live entertainment and the family-oriented Field of Fun. Check out www.salmondays.org.

Long Beach Peninsula

Ever been to the Cranberrian Fair? Enjoy all things cranberry October 10 and 11 – and you’ll be glad you came. A bog tour, food sampling, live entertainment, crafters and more will showcase the area’s cranberry growing heritage during the 87^th (wow!) annual event. Cranberrian Fair buttons are $5.00 each and cover admission to the festival activities at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, the Cranberry Trolley and all events at the Cranberry Museum. There will also be a cranberry growing display, a number of raffles and locally produced cranberry products from Oysterville Sea Farms. Learn much more at www.funbeach.com/events/cranberrian/index.html.

Seattle

Beginning October 17 and running through November 8, the Earshot Jazz Festival brings in notable jazz musicians from around the world. The 21-year-old event includes concerts, jam sessions, master classes, lectures and workshops. This year's festival will present hundreds of the most important artists of our day at more than 60 events in venues all around Seattle. In addition to concert performances, the festival includes educational programs and panels, a film series, poetry and author readings and art exhibits. The very long list of performers includes the Don Byron Quartet, Myra Melford’s Be Bread, the Gonzalo Rubalcabo Quintet, the Matt Wilson Quartet, Trio M and many more. Get the full story at www.earshot.org/Festival/festival.html.

Don’t miss out on a fun-filled fall.