CLAY COUNTY – While there’s no chill in the air yet, the smell of pumpkin spice and Friday night high school homecomings mean one thing: weekends will be busy with festivals.

Just in the next two weekends, there are at least four events to usher in the new season, including:

• The Melrose United Methodist Church Fall Festival on Saturday at 5807 Hampton St. from 3-7 p.m. The free event will feature a bounce house, dunk booth, free games, prizes and food.

• The Almost Fall Craft and Vendor Fall Festival is on Saturday at the Keystone Heights Woman’s Club, 6747 Woman’s Club Dr. The third annual event accepts vendors. For pricing or information, visit KHJuniorWomansClub@gmail.com.

• The Black Creek Fall Festival at Black Creek Methodist Church, 3925 Main St., Middleburg, Saturday from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. The Festival will include arts and crafts, quilt show, homemade baked goods, wood working, local entertainment, silent auction, car show, door prizes, train rides, petting zoo, large slide and bounce houses.

• The Fall Festival at the Amazing Grace Family Farms, 4251 State Road 21, Green Cove Springs (one mile south of SR 16) on Fridays (4-9 p.m.), Saturdays (10 a.m.-9 p.m.) through Nov. 2 and Monday, Oct. 14 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) at Amazing Grace Family Farms, 4251 State Road 21, Green Cove Springs (one mile south of SR 16). Admission includes access to a crop maze and pumpkin patch, attractions, farm animals, photo opportunities, a corn crib, a jump pad, a cow train and hula hoop cows. Tickets are available at agcropmaze.com.

• The Soul Food and Food Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5, from noon to 7 p.m. at Vera Francis Hall Park, 1503 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Green Cove Springs. The 23^rd annual event will start with a parade along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard into the park. It will include a kickball game, horseshoe and spades tournaments, sweet potato pie, barbecue rib and dance contests, music, food trucks, games, door prizes, gospel hour with gospel recording artist Helen Miller, appearances by Special Formula Band featuring Ms. Thickums, Men of Soul, David James, Mr. Showtime, Liz Owens and JTruth. Florida Blue and the Aaron Group will also sponsor a Children’s Fun Zone. For more information on the festival, contact Felecia Hampshire at (904) 622-7903. For more information on the entertainment, contact Diddy Coffey at (904) 525-6386. For more information on the parade, contact Debra Austin at (904) 599-5236.

• The Scottish Athletics Masters World Championships will be at the Clay County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. More than 200 international athletes 40 and older will compete in traditional Scottish games. The event will include games like the Hammer throw, Haggis hurling, Caber toss, Shot put, Weight for height and Gourock Highland Games, along with food, merchandise, Clans and entertainment. You can attend as an athlete or spectator, participate as a vendor or a volunteer or represent your Clan. To purchase advance tickets, which are $20, visit f4sa.ticketspice.com/2024-masters-world-championship. Tickets at the gate are $25.

(Editor’s note: The Touch-A-Truck: What Moves Clay County that was scheduled for Saturday at the Clay County Fairgrounds was postponed to a further dated by the threat of Hurricane Helene).