Though the thermometers in Atlanta may not show much of a difference between summer and autumn yet, festive fall activities in the city will allow you to experience the seasonal changes and to keep busy during the fun holiday months ahead.

SPECIAL EVENTS are planned throughout the upcoming fall months. When you have free time to enjoy, something special will surely be available at that time. Special events include festivals, parades and annually celebrations.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Georgia boasts spooky décor of spider webs, tombstones and scarecrows while real live ghosts, witches and creepy clowns gallivant around the park with you! The scary, exciting atmosphere surrounds you while the rides stay open past summertime. Fright Fest runs every weekend through October.

Harvest Midtown offers a sophisticated atmosphere for wine lovers everywhere! Sample 250 types of wine while enjoying appetizers, live music and an Organic Farmer’s Market. But tickets ahead of time at a cheaper price for this fun event taking place on Oct. 4.

Oktoberfest Atlanta takes place on Oct. 10 and 11 for all those lovers of bratwurst, sauerkraut and beer! Enjoy all of your favorite authentic German foods and drinks while watching live performances of German music and entertainment.

Atlanta Zoo is hosting a Boo at the Zoo event Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25. Not only can you have fun watching animals play in the perfect weather of fall, including pandas that only three zoos in America exhibit, but you also get to enjoy festively decorated paths, treats in the “Candy Forest”, costumed workers and a talking tree! If one day at the zoo just isn’t enough, stay overnight at Boo at the Zoos NightCrawlers.

Taste of Atlanta allows you to devour a taste of some or all of Atlanta’s best restaurants. Booths from over 75 restaurants in the vicinity gather in one place on Oct. 11 and 12 to offer you food samplings. This is a great opportunity for people new to the area! Cooking demonstrations and classes are also available.

Stone Mountain Park is located only 30 minutes outside of the city and will host a Pumpkin Festival Oct. 3 to Oct. 26 on weekends. This fun festival includes a maze, pumpkin pie eating contests, fall arts and crafts, trick or treating and more!

Atlanta Horrorfest screams into action from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26. Live music entertains you while costume contests take form. The main attraction includes the Buried Alive Film Festival, which allows independent horror films from around the country to make their debut. The finale of the Horrorfest consists of a 1.5 mile zombie walk!

The 2008 Bands of America Regional Championships is the nation’s leading event to honor exceptionally talented high school band students! From Oct. 31 to Nov.1., watch these amazingly talented young adults have their talents rewarded as they play for the nation!

The Annual Festival of Trees is a nine-day event from Nov. 24 to Dec. 2. It raises money for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta while having fun too! Local designers volunteer their time to decorate 200 trees and holiday scenes. Across the street from the trees, Centennial Olympic Park fills its surroundings with holiday luminaries, some that reach a height of 50 feet! Other attractions include hand-made gingerbread houses, specialty shops and live entertainment to please every type of personality.

Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade on Dec. 31 is a huge Atlanta event that takes place downtown Atlanta. The parade includes band performances, classic cars, floats and entertainment. Afterward, watch NCAA college football teams play at Georgia Dome.

Outdoor attractions don’t necessarily need to be special events. Parks and scenic areas in Atlanta are available year-round.

This fall, enjoy the changing colors of Piedmont Park, where you can view the city while enjoying activity on the tennis courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields and pathways for biking or running. If not in the active mood, just enjoy a picnic under a tree or by one of the two ponds.

Panola Mountain State Park offers three-mile walking tours. During this healthy travel, you will encounter forests, a lake, a boulder field and, of course, the mountain. While awing over these serene views, learn about the native plants, history and geology of this area.

Enjoy a lunch break at Centennial Olympic Park where pop, R&B and jazz concerts perform at noon every Tuesday and Thursday through October.

Broadway Shows are a relaxing escape from reality on cold or rainy nights. The Fabulous Fox Theatre is hosting plenty of upcoming shows! Whether you enjoy witches, sugar plum fairies or high school shenanigans, something will surely strike you fancy!

The ever-so-popular Wicked offers an unknown explanation of the Wizard of Oz witches in pre-Wizard of Oz days. Showings of Wicked run from Oct. 8 to Nov. 2

The comical drama High School Musical 2 continues the storyline of the young high school crowd that the world fell in love with. During their summer, these youngsters work at a country club together and deal with issues that all teenagers face. This show runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 16.