I look forward to September every year. It seems to signal the end of the summer and the start of something new. When I hear someone say “September” I instantly think of plaid skirts, apples and cinnamon, changing leaves and snickerdoodles baking in the oven. The return of fall to me brings on a welcome change of cool nights, warm afternoons and crisp mornings, such a change from the oppressive and exhausting heat and humidity of summer.

When I lived in Kansas City, I used to look for small towns with charm to venture to on weekends. I wanted to step right into those Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post Covers. How I longed for antique shops with unique finds, local restaurants with friendly staff and apple orchards in secluded farm like settings. And, that’s what I found in Ottawa, Kansas!

Not only are there 10 antique shops to choose from and many local restaurants, but the fall feeling can be found everywhere. They have an orchard, Pome on the Range Orchard & Winery in Williamsburg, that has you-pick apples, a wagon will take you out to the orchard where you will be delivered right to the produce. The trees aren’t very tall so even the little kids can pick them right off the trees themselves! Inside the store you can sample their wines. They have apples, peaches, elderberry and lots of other fruit wines they produce themselves.

I found the kids really liked going to Peckham’s Pumpkin Patch in Rantoul. Here they could have a lot of fun starting in October. There’s a tractor that will pull your wagon down to the pumpkin patch, but there’s also a hay bale maze, duck shoot, tube slides and so much for the kids to do. It was fun for the kids and fun to see the smiles on their faces.

Another reason September is a great time around Ottawa is the cool events – the likes of which I had never seen before. Before marrying my husband, I hadn’t given a whole lot of thought to tractors. But he very much wanted to take me to the Power of the Past Antique Engine & Tractor show. They’ve been hosting it now for 17 years and it’s obvious. They seem to know what they are doing! It’s a great way to show people how this antique farm machinery was used as they do many demonstrations such as hay bailing, rock crushing, threshing, and apple pressing. Last year they had over 500 antique tractors on display of all makes and models. Not only was it pretty neat to see all these old pieces of equipment up and running but they also had a lot of food, craft and flea market vendors there too. The fun went on for 3 days, and is always the second full weekend in September. It only cost $3 a person with kids under 12 for free. I’d have to say it was quite a value for all the fun.

The weekend right after this, the third full weekend in September is the Ol’ Marais River Run Car Show. I’d never been to a car show before and if you ever go to one, this one should be it. Like the tractor show, the car show is also held in Forest Park in Ottawa which is a great place because it is very full of trees which makes both of these events very shady and cool. The car show each year seems to bring in more and more classic cars, all 1972 and older. This year is their 25th anniversary and I hear they’ve got some pretty neat stuff in store, including fireworks! The public can get into the park to see the cars for free, and boy is the park full of classic cars and trucks. The cars are parked there on Saturday, which is the big day, and some on Sunday. For me the real treat is Saturday night. They close down Main Street in Ottawa and only the old cars cruise up and down the streets. Music from the 1960’s comes on and you would think you had stepped back in time with sidewalks full of people and the streets are busy with classic cars strutting their stuff. It’s certainly one of the more unique experiences I’ve had in my life and one I would suggest you try out!

If you’re looking for fall fun, you won’t be disappointed in Ottawa.

~Amber Wood

Amber is the Director of Marketing & Events for the Franklin County Convention & Visitors Bureau.