The fall season officially arrived Monday afternoon, and with it an expectation of cooler temperatures and a change in the look of the world around us.

What better way to welcome the season, then, than by attending one of our local autumnal community events?

New Cumberland’s Fall Riverfest is set to take place Saturday and Sunday with a variety of vendors, entertainment and other activities for all ages.

The festival will kick off Saturday with the Riverfest 5K Walk and Run, with registration at 8 a.m., and the race at 9 a.m. The course begins at the Hines Park gazebo, traveling south along Route 2 to the baseball fields, and returning north to Magic Tree Garden. It will be followed by the opening ceremony at 11 a.m., with a welcome from Mayor Will White and a performance by the Oak Glen High School band.

Vendors of all types will be set up along River Avenue, with two days full of live musical entertainment sure to appeal to all residents.

The Riverfest Art Show, organized by the Top of West Virginia Arts Council, will be set up in the old city building, and the Riverfest Car Show will be at Firemen’s Field.

Sunday will see the return of the Little Miss New Cumberland pageant, which will feature local youth vying for the titles of fair royalty.

The festival also helps to serve as a fundraiser for local organizations. The 5K, for example, raises money for Oak Glen High School’s Physical Education Department.

Other community organizations often set up at the festival, selling crafts, food, baked goods and more, with proceeds benefiting their programs and activities.

A big thanks to the members of the festival committee for their hard work each year in putting this event together.

Our area has many wonderful opportunities for residents to come together as a community, and this is just such an occasion.

The Riverfest is always a great time, providing New Cumberland and surrounding towns a chance to get outside, sample food and crafts from local businesses, churches and social organizations, listen to some music and just enjoy some time together.

We encourage residents to take some time this weekend to check out this great event.