Finally, fall is here and the weather is starting to cool off. It's time to enjoy the outdoors again. Here's a quick list of fun fall activities for you and your friends or family to enjoy.

The Arkansas State Fair

Nothing says fall in Arkansas like a great fair, and the greatest of them all is the Arkansas State Fair.

The fair started last Friday and will run through this Sunday. The gates open at noon daily except Saturday, when the carnival opens at 10 a.m. The 10-acre midway is filled with carnival rides, games and tons of food.

There will be free concerts on the fairgrounds' outside stages in addition to children's shows, motor sports in Barton Coliseum and four performances of the PRCA Rodeo.

Admission to the fair is $7 for adults and $4 for children. Parking is $5. Ride coupons are $1 each and each ride requires a different number of tickets. Unlimited-ride armbands are also available for $18 to $20.

The rodeo, set for Thursday through Saturday, will feature bareback riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding. Tickets are $6 to $16.

There will also be a livestock show featuring cattle, pigs and sheep and the FFA Barnyard featuring baby animals.

My personal favorite is the pig races, held several times daily.

Fall foliage

One of the great things about living in the Natural State is all the wonderful scenery that surrounds us. As fall gets into full swing, the forests of Arkansas take on a truly stunning appearence.

A wonderful way to spend a fall weekend is on the road, taking in the changing foliage. Picturesque drives can be found throughout the state.

Crowley's Ridge National Scenic Byway follows Crowley's Ridge through the eastern Arkansas Delta and the St. Francis National Forest. The byway is comprised of U.S. 62, 412 and 49B and Arkansas 141, 135, 163, 284, 1, 44 and 242.

Scenic Arkansas 7 is also a good choice. It runs north to south from Bull Shoals Lake at the Missouri border to the Louisiana border. The scenery is especially pretty from Harrison through Russellville to Hot Springs and Arkadelphia. The views of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains are spectacular. The Buffalo National River, Lake Dardanelle, the Arkansas River, and DeGray Lake Resort State Park lie along the route. Viewpoints, gift and craft shops and restaurants are numerous along the route.

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has a statewide network of color spotters who supply weekly updates. The information is combined into a report that is issued each Thursday throughout fall, so people can make weekend plans. The report describes foliage changes in three regions: northwest/north central Arkansas (Ozarks), central Arkansas/Ouachita Mountains, and southern/eastern Arkansas.

According to the Oct. 11 report: "The upcoming week should slowly bring more fall color development to the northern third of Arkansas. Hints of autumn are visible, but hardwoods are still predominantly green. Look for more rapid changes when nightly lows consistently drop into the 40s."

Visit http://arkansas.com/calendar/fall_foliage_pg1.asp for more information on other great places to watch the leaves change and to view the latest fall color report.

Festivals

Fall is also a great time a great time to visit festivals and arts and crafts fairs and perhaps get an early start on your holiday shopping.

One of the state's most popular fall festivals is the War Eagle Fair in Hindsville in northwest Arkansas.

The festival takes place on a historic farm along the War Eagle River and features works by Ozark artists and craftsmen and more than 300 exhibitors.

The fair runs tomorrow through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day except Sunday, when the gates close at 4 p.m. Parking and admission are free.

Call (479) 789-5398 or visit www.beaverlake.com/wareagle/wareagle.htm for more information.

The Ozark Folk Center is holding it's 34th Annual Harvest Festival now thorough Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will be closed on Monday. The Folk Center will continue it's usual offerings in additon to the festival.

Activities scheduled include hominy making, natural dye demonstrations, pumpkin carving demonstrations, herb garden tours, shingle making and tomahawk throws. There will also be special guest demonstrators and special music performances. As the finale of the festival, the Extension Homemakers Club will present their annual Quilt Show on the 26th and 27th, with more than 80 antique, traditional and contemporary quilts on display.

Visit www. ozarkfolkcenter.com for more information and an event schedule.

Camping out

Another great thing to do now that it's cooling off is to go camping. The lack of air conditioning shouldn't be as bothersome and the bug hordes should be in decline. Campsites at state parks are available by reservation or on a first-come basis. Campsites can be reserved by calling or visiting the park center during business hours or online at www.arkanasasstateparks.com.

The rates for campsites range from $9 to $27 a day, depending on which state park you visit and what ammenities your particular campsite has. The parks also offer a 50 percent discount off regular campsite rates during January, February and December. The exception is Lake Chicot State Park during February.

The campsites are limited to occupancy by eight people, excluding day-use guests, and one camping unit consisting of no more than two structures.

Pets are welcome in state park campgrounds, but must be kept on a leash, caged or otherwise restrained. Owners are required to clean up after their pets.

While Arkansas' state parks are open throughout the year, some facilities close on certain days of the week or during certain seasons. Check with the individual parks for details. Usually, campground bathhouses are closed December through February.

So what if you don't own any camping gear? Don't worry, there are some parks that have that covered.

At Bull Shoals-White River State Park, Lake Catherine State Park and Petit Jean State Park you can Rent-A-Camp. Already set up on its own wooden platform, the rental tent includes two cots with foam mattresses, a lantern, stove and ice chest. The tent rental includes a picnic table, lantern holder and grill. A bathhouse with hot showers and flush toilets is located nearby. Rates range from $40 to $45 a day. Visit www.arkansasstateparks.com for reservations. You can also call Bull Shoals-White River at (870) 431-5521, Lake Catherine at (501) 844-4176, or Petit Jean at (501) 727-5441.