Fall is also a time for many festivals in the Washington region. From food and wine events, to street fairs and Oktoberfest, plenty is planned.
This year, check out the H Street Festival on Sept. 21 for a day packed with arts and entertainment. Now through October, travel back in time at the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Anne Arundel County.
Crystal City's annual wine and food event, Sip and Salsa, takes place Sept. 15, and Festival Latino 2013 takes place in D.C. on Sept. 22.
Several local areas celebrate Oktoberfest. Check out the events planned in Frederick, Md., Lovettsville, Va., and Germantown, Md.
Later in the season, catch an outdoor fall fair, holiday decorations and antique furniture at the Old Lucketts Store Holiday Open House. (Getty Images)
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Apple pie, pumpkin bread and doughnuts with hot cider. Nothing screams fall like the season's flavors.
Frequent WTOP contributor Mary Beth Albright, a local food expert and food lawyer, shares a few of her favorite fall dishes on the following slides. (Thinkstock)
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Ingredients:
1 ½ lb whole butternut squash 2 tbsp. melted unsalted butter 1 tbsp. real maple syrup 1/8 tsp. salt Pinch of nutmeg Pinch of cinnamon
Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler and cut in half with a large, sharp knife. Scoop the seeds out with a spoon or your hand and cut the squash into 1-inch cubes.
Place in a baking pan and toss with butter, syrup and salt. Roast for 45 minutes or until the squash is tender, shaking the pan a couple of times during cooking to keep squash coated.
Before serving, toss with nutmeg and cinnamon. The dish is fantastic with pork. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
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Fantasy leagues, high school lights, college games and Sunday tickets. Fall is football season!
The Redskins kick off the regular season on Monday, Sept. 9 and the Ravens begin the team's season on Thursday, Sept. 5. And while tackles and touchdowns rule the D.C. area, the other kind of football is also in full swing and gaining popularity.
The English Premier League started its season on Aug. 17. For the first time in the U.S., NBC Sports will show all of the Premier League games on the NBC family of networks. Catch a game online, on TV or at a local pub. (Getty Images)
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Fall also brings a new season of entertainment. New shows are scheduled, old shows are returning and long-time favorites are coming to an end. Yes, that's right. Kids, we will finally meet the mother.
TV Guide offers a list of the must-watch new shows for fall, as well as a recap of returning shows What's going to make your TV calendar? (Getty Images)
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Fall ushers in the liberal use of pumpkin in coffee shop staples, from the beans, to syrups, muffins and more. Pumpkin spice latte, anyone? Yes, please. (Getty Images)
Getty Images
Goodbye shorts and bathing suits. Hello leggings and riding boots. Sweater weather is just around the corner, so it's time to put away your skimpy summer outfits and embrace the cozier, heartier styles of fall. Or at least just be thankful you can walk to work from the Metro without sweating through your dress. (Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
