Ahhhh…..cool weather! It’s finally here. Okay, maybe it’s closer to cool-ish weather, but the important thing is, it looks like we’re done with triple digit temperatures for the year. Everyone say, “Yippee!”  But wait, it gets even better. This fabulous fall weather has floated in just in time for the  kick-off of the festival/fair season here in North Texas.

Now, when you think of fairs this time of year, the great State Fair of Texas is generally the first thing that springs to mind. You might not know it, but there are multitudes of other family-friendly festivals happening in our neck of the woods right now. Here are just a few you’re going to want to check out this weekend.

Come peruse the pumpkins at the Kessler Pumpkin Patch. Photo: shutterstock.com

If you’re a lover of all things autumn you won’t want to miss the Kessler Pumpkin Patch and Marketplace. Besides pumpkins galore, the event also features an artisan marketplace, live music, bounce houses, and pony rides. And if that weren’t enough, organizers have added Dallas food trucks, a dunk tank, and big kid attractions to the festival line-up this year. The annual autumnal fiesta happens  this Saturday at Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Oak Cliff.

Make your own chapeau at the Cottonwood Art Festival. Photo: Cottonwood Art Festival

Other sure sign of fall is the return of the semi-annual Cottonwood Art Festival. Besides the one-of-a-kind art that’s available for purchase, the event also features craft beer, live music, and tasty goodies from many unique food vendors. New this year is Mrs. Lively’s Southern Cuisine, and if you have a sweet tooth, check out Press Waffle Company and Jim & Lor’s Candy. Kids can be artsy in their own space at the ArtStop interactive children’s area. Little Lichtenstein’s can design a sculpture, create a hat from scrap, or throw some mud on a real potter’s wheel. When they’re finished they can take their masterpiece home to enjoy. The fun happens all weekend at Cottonwood Park in Richardson.

Come say hello to Peanut Man at the Aubrey Peanut Festival. Photo: Aubrey Peanut Festival.

Head north to Aubrey, Texas this Saturday for the Aubrey Peanut Festival. It’s small town fun at its finest. The festival dates back to 1986 when the town broke out the party hats to celebrate the harvest of the local cash crop. The celebration honoring the area’s peanut past kicks off this year with a hometown parade at 10 a.m. and continues with a whole array of activities including  strolling cowboy musicians, magicians, a horseshoe tournament and kid-friendly activities. Don’t miss the various peanut-themed contests. There’s a peanutty-chef cooking contest, a peanut spitting contest, a peanut shelling contest, and my favorite, a peanut butter sandwich eating contest.

Lager’s reign as Spokes Dog is almost over. Who will the next haute dog be? Photo: Dog Days of Denton

Even if you’re more of a cat person, the Dog Days of Denton is a howling good time. You and Fido can enjoy live music, craft vendors and delicious food and drink. You can also sniff out valuable information on pet care, pet rescue groups, and get a “Glamfur” photo. And be sure to stick around for the canine contests like the Dog Singing Contest, How Obedient is Your Dog,  the Spokesdog Pageant, and Haute Dogs–a canine couture fashion show. The quintessential celebration for pups and their people happens this Saturday from 9 to 3 at the North Texas State Fairgrounds in Denton.