CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Meteorologists mark September 1 as the first day of fall, even though the astronomical equinox doesn’t arrive until later in the month. For West Virginia, that date rings true in a way that many residents feel almost immediately.
The sticky, thick August air begins to lift, nights turn cooler in the hollows, and the mountains hint at the fiery colors yet to come. September may not be the peak of autumn’s glory, but it is the turning of the key, the moment when summer’s door closes and fall’s door creaks open.
From August Heat to October Chill
August in West Virginia is often the height of summer. Humid afternoons push temperatures into the upper 80s and low 90s in the valleys. Thunderstorms are frequent companions, fueled by heat and moisture, and the lush green canopy of the mountains still hums with the sounds of cicadas and katydids.
By contrast, October carries the crisp sharpness of true autumn. Temperatures typically range from the 60s to the 40s. In higher elevations, such as Canaan Valley or Spruce Knob, frosts are common by mid-October, and the trees blaze red, orange, and yellow, drawing thousands of “leaf peepers” to scenic highways.
September rests between those two poles. Early in the month, afternoons can still climb into the 80s, but humidity wanes, and by mid-month, 70s are the norm. Nights cool into the 50s, especially in the mountains, where fog lingers in valleys each morning before burning off into bright, dry skies. Rainfall is steadier and less dramatic than in August. Meteorologists often call September one of the most pleasant months of the year in the state, a bridge between extremes.
A Month of Shortening Days
The other sign of change in September is not felt but seen—or rather, lost—in the dwindling hours of daylight. On September 1, the sun rises over Charleston, West Virginia, at about 6:50 a.m. and sets at 7:55 p.m., granting nearly 13 hours of daylight. By the end of the month, sunrise comes closer to 7:20 a.m., and sunset slips to 7:05 p.m. That’s nearly an hour and 45 minutes of daylight surrendered in just four weeks.
For schoolchildren adjusting to earlier alarms and farmers wrapping up harvest work, those shrinking days are a reminder that time is tilting toward winter.
Festivals for a changing season
West Virginia communities embrace September with festivals that celebrate both tradition and transition.
The Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins, though it spills into early October, begins its coronation ceremonies and parades in late September. One of the state’s oldest and largest festivals, it honors the Appalachian forest and the people who work it, complete with log rolling contests and chainsaw carvings.
The Mothman Festival at Point Pleasant on September 21-22 is one of the most remarkable festivals celebrated anywhere. This one-of-a-kind event celebrates the spooky lore surrounding the Mothman legend and takes place annually on the third Saturday of September.
The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Milton begins in late September, marking the start of a month-long celebration of gourds, crafts, and autumn traditions. Families wander rows of food vendors and artisan booths, while children climb hay bales and watch pumpkin-themed contests.
In the southern coalfields, smaller towns hold heritage days and apple festivals, honoring the harvest season with pie-baking contests, fiddlers’ conventions, and gospel sings. Find out more about fall festivals in West Virginia here.
September is also the season of Friday night lights. High school football returns, and small towns rally behind their teams. In places like Bluefield, Wheeling, or Martinsburg, the crackle of marching bands and the glow of stadium lights are as much a September tradition as falling leaves.
The harvest of September
September is one of the busiest months for West Virginia farmers. Gardens planted in spring come to full fruition. Tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and sweet corn taper off early in the month, while fall crops like pumpkins, squash, and gourds take center stage by mid-September.
Apples are the undisputed star. From Berkeley County orchards in the Eastern Panhandle to small hillside groves in Clay and Lincoln counties, September is peak harvest season. Golden Delicious apples—the state fruit—ripen around mid-month. Local cider presses buzz into operation, producing jugs of tangy, amber liquid sold at roadside stands. Families flock to orchards for pick-your-own weekends, often topping off the day with apple dumplings and cinnamon donuts.
Haymaking also reaches a final round in September. Farmers cut and bale fields for winter feed before the frosts set in. In the state’s higher elevations, dairy and beef producers rush to secure enough forage to last through the long Appalachian winter.
Traditions and Rhythms of September
For many West Virginians, September traditions are tied less to formal festivals and more to the rhythms of everyday life at home.
Hunting preparation begins in earnest. Archery deer season typically opens in late September, sending bowhunters into oak and hickory ridges. Families check tree stands, sight in bows, and scout trails. Youth squirrel hunts are also common, giving children their first taste of the woods. Find out more about fall hunting in West Virginia here.
Church homecomings dot the calendar. Rural congregations invite former members and families back for a Sunday of preaching, singing, and “dinner on the grounds”—long tables laden with fried chicken, casseroles, pies, and homemade rolls.
Labor Day, the month’s opening holiday, remains one of the last great weekends of summer on West Virginia’s lakes and rivers. Families camp at Summersville Lake or paddle the New and Gauley rivers, where whitewater outfitters also begin their famous Gauley Season, which features six weekends of world-class rafting unleashed by scheduled dam releases.
For many households, September also means back-to-school routines—band practices, homework, and Friday night ballgames. The hum of cicadas fades, replaced by the sound of school buses winding through narrow roads at dawn.
The beauty of a subtle September season
What makes September special in West Virginia is not only the festivals and the harvest, but also the quiet transitions that can be felt on a porch swing or a back road.
The first drifting leaf, the first morning fog rolling off the Cheat River, the first cool night that makes you reach for a quilt—all are September’s quiet markers. The season doesn’t roar in; it arrives with a whisper.
Why September is perfect for woodland walks
September may not boast the fiery foliage of October, but for many West Virginians, it’s the best month to step into the woods.
Comfortable Air: With daytime highs in the 70s and cooler, drier nights, September sheds the sticky weight of August. Walkers can cover miles of trail without the draining humidity of midsummer.
Fewer Bugs: Mosquitoes and gnats retreat as nights grow cooler. Ticks are less aggressive, making woodland rambles far more pleasant.
Early Splashes of Color: While the full blaze of autumn waits until October, September offers the first signs—dogwoods turning burgundy, sumac glowing red along the edges of fields, and goldenrod blooming bright in the meadows.
Wildlife on the Move: Squirrels scurry with acorns, flocks of warblers migrate overhead, and deer feed heavily at forest edges. September’s woods feel busy, alive, and full of seasonal energy.
Lingering Daylight: Though the days are shortening, there’s still plenty of light for long afternoon hikes, without the harsh glare of midsummer sun.
The Scents of the Season: Drying leaves, ripening apples, and the faint tang of woodsmoke on cool nights create an atmosphere unique to September walks.
For those who love the outdoors, September offers a rare balance—summer’s warmth without its bite, autumn’s promise without its frost.
Looking ahead to October
By the end of September, the hillsides show the first real blush of color, particularly in the northern and higher counties. Maples redden, dogwoods darken, and sumac glows along fence lines. The promise of October’s grandeur is visible, but September remains its own quiet treasure—warm enough for summer memories, cool enough for autumn dreams.
Meteorologically speaking, September may be fall’s first step. In West Virginia, it’s also a month of balance, when the Mountain State lives with one foot in summer and the other in autumn. It is harvest and homecoming, football and festivals, foggy mornings and golden afternoons.
And it is fleeting. By the time the Forest Festival parade rolls through downtown Elkins in early October, the days will be shorter still, the nights sharper, the mountains already blazing. But for four short weeks, September offers West Virginians the gift of transition—an interlude where the state is at once green and gold, humid and crisp, noisy with cicadas and hushed with falling leaves.
For those who call the Mountain State home, it is a season not to be rushed.
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