Fall Fest

Alina Cromer

Immediately, the smell of apple cider in the air.

The day was only slightly cold and had that chill in the air that went up the back of your spine, that made the cider going down feel like a warm heaven to the throat and warm one’s whole body, the smell of the apples enough to distract one from the cold.

It’s different than a carnival. There are still little ones whipping around, weaving through the group of people with their little screams filling the space in between the sounds of the rides going, adults talking, and the wind whistling ever so slightly, making all of the smells fill your nostrils. There’s a different smell in the air at the fest, celebrating the time between summer and autumn specifically.

It’s the smell of the hay that they use to make scarecrows, people dressing them up in donated clothing. People carry them around the fest, occasionally waving their scarecrow hand at people that they know. It’s the candles that vendors have lit, their cinnamon-y richness traveling all around catching the noses of the older women that have early Christmas presents to buy for their grandchildren.

Just when your stomach starts to rumble, you smell the mouthwatering smoked meat. This is accompanied by its dessert counterpart, the fried doughy goodness with powdered sugar hiding its perfectly browned cake-like richness.

Your nose thanks you for going to the lovely harvest fest, as you begin to embark on the journey that autumn gives you.

Alina Cromer is currently pursuing her MA in English with a focus in Creative Writing. She has a love for all kinds of creative writing, but creative nonfiction has a special place in her heart. This story is about the simplicity of a local autumnal gathering in her small town.