October traditionally has ranked among the busiest months of the year.

It’s filled with many different festivals and events, and it’s likely there are several reasons for that.

If you’re having an outdoor event, for example, the month usually offers good weather, falling between the hot days we normally experience near the end of summer and the colder days we can expect to find in November.

Plus, the month offers the last opportunity to fit in some events ahead of the rush that leads up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For example, Oct. 4 saw the last First Fridays on Fourth of the season. Oct. 4, 5 and 6 marked the return of the Wellsburg Applefest and Oct. 12 and 13 welcomed Follansbee’s Christmas in the Park event.

Each of those events certainly has become built into the schedules of area residents for many years. First Fridays has grown in popularity since the series of monthly street fairs was launched in 2018. Christmas in the Park, meanwhile, has been around since 2003, offering a jump start on the coming holiday season while raising money for local charities. And the apple festival has been celebrating fall for 45 years.

What’s impressive about those events are the numbers that are associated with them. For events to have been held for 45 years, 21 years and six years means that those who are in charge are doing a lot of things right. They are able to maintain — and build on — everything area residents have come to expect. They provide quality experiences and know what works. Even more important, they are willing to make changes that help their events evolve.

The same goes with several other items on the October calendar.

On Oct. 9, for example, the United Way of Jefferson County held its 28th-annual Taste of Jefferson County at St. Florian Event Center in Wintersville. It’s an evening that allows area residents the opportunity to sample offerings from several area restaurants, caterers and bakeries, while raising money the organization uses to help its 11 member agencies.

“We are proud to serve our community and those in need of our services,” said Laura Rauch, executive director of the United Way.

“The evening is a great way for the community to come together. And by everyone attending the Taste of Jefferson County, it just really shows how much our community cares.”

Being an anticipated event on the community calendar for a quarter of a century, a half of a century or even three-quarters of a century is impressive, but at least one area organization has been recognizing good things that are happening for more than a century. That’s the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, which will be holding its 116th-annual meeting and awards banquet Oct. 30.

This year’s theme is Adventure Awaits in Jefferson County, and it will provide an opportunity to celebrate the many opportunities for outdoor recreation and exploration the region offers. Bill and Marsha Cable of Austin Lake RV Park and Cabins will receive the lifetime achievement award at the dinner.

The evening also will give area residents the chance to get a glimpse of the Christ the Teacher Academic Center at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. The 110,797-square-foot building, which houses the Pope St. Paul VI Conference Center and the school’s nursing, business and engineering and computing departments, opened in August. Built at a cost of $59 million, it is the first new academic hall constructed on campus in more than 20 years.

Tickets for the evening, which will start with a reception at 5 p.m. that will lead up to the dinner at 6 p.m., cost $65 each, and reservations can be made by contacting the chamber at (740) 282-6226.

Before the chamber dinner, the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, will hold its 80th-annual Meeting at Banquet Oct. 28 at St. Florian. The evening will include voting in the supervisor election and for the annual photo contest from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with dinner, recognitions and presentation of the conservation awards at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 each and are available by contacting the district’s office at (740) 264-9790.

St. Florian is a busy place this time of year — and that includes this coming Wednesday, when the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times will recognize the top finishers and name the winners in numerous categories during this year’s Best of the Best Readers Choice gala. Readers will be able to see who the top finishers are in the special section that will be included in our Thursday editions.

All of those events, and many others, make October an interesting month.

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A final reminder: If you are planning to write a letter to the editor that has anything to do with the Nov. 5 election, the deadline for submissions is noon on Thursday. All the letters we receive before that deadline will run in next Sunday’s edition — or, depending on the volume, in Friday’s and Sunday’s editions.

A quick rundown: All submissions have to be 500 words or less, include the name and city of the writer and a telephone number that is used only for confirmation purposes or if there’s a question that needs to be answered.

The complete set of guidelines appears on the editorial or opinion page almost every day.

Write a letter — be involved and let your voice be heard.

(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)