It’s time to break out your sweaters, hot cider, apple-bobbing buckets and ‘wonder-fall’ puns because the season of pumpkin patches and autumn leaves is finally here.
‘Fall’ good things must come to an end — and the days of melted popsicles, floating in the pool and basking in the summer heat are coming to an end for the year as the last day of summer has come and gone.
And even though it will feel like summer the rest of the week, cooler weather, shorter days and plenty of pumpkin spice lattes are just around the corner as Monday marks the first official day of autumn.
Monday marks the first official day of the fall season, bringing in colder weather, shorter days and plenty pumpkin spice lattes.
Here’s four things you need to know as we enter a new season.
When is the first day of fall?
Monday marks the first day of fall, but really, it’s just a moment in time, not a full 24 hours.
The start of fall is determined based on the autumnal equinox, which officially takes place at 1:19 p.m. Sept. 22, according the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The equinox occurs during the moment the sun shines directly over Earth’s equator, causing day and night hours to be split nearly evenly.
Fall will technically last until the week of Christmas, coming to an official end on Dec. 21. The winter solstice, when the northern hemisphere tilts farthest away from the sun, will take place at 7:03 a.m. that day.
Will the days get shorter now?
Starting Monday, the days will gradually become shorter until Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 2, when Nebraska and states across the country will fall back one hour to return to Standard Time until March.
Arizona and Hawaii are the only two states in the country that do not observe Daylight Saving Time and remain on Standard Time year-round.
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When will the leaves change color?
In Nebraska, the leaves are expected to begin turning into vibrant reds, yellows and oranges starting in late September and early October.
The state’s panhandle will likely see fall colors on trees first before the rest of the state looses its green, according to the Nebraska Fall Foliage Map.
Lincoln is predicted to reach peak colors around Oct. 20.
But, the peak fall leaf season in the Capitol City will be short lived, according to the map. By Oct. 31, Lincoln will already be past the best time to view fall foliage.
What are some fall activities around Lincoln?
The Lincoln area is home to some of the state’s most popular pumpkin patches, including Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Gretna, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Roca Berry Farms in Roca, Arbor Day Farms in Nebraska City and Oktoberfest in Lincoln, in addition to a variety of pumpkin patches in the area, are also highly frequented fall destinations and events in eastern Nebraska.
Other fall activities include:
* The Pumpkin Run, Sept. 28, Railyard, Lincoln.
* Haunted Hayrack Rides, through October, James Arthur Vineyards.
* S’mores and Gourds, Oct. 3, Pioneers Park, Lincoln.
* Harvest Moon Festival, Oct. 5, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
* Haunted Hayrack Rides, through October, Deer Springs Winery.
Reach Jenna Ebbers at 402-473-2657 or jebbers@journalstar.com.
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Jenna Ebbers
K-12 education reporter
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