Despite the cries of outrage against St. Louis’ daily weather extremes, fall in St. Louis is simply perfection. ’Tis the season to get outside and enjoy what St. Louis has to offer in the autumn chill.

Fall for Free

Fall highlights St. Louis’ reputation for free entertainment and activities around town. Enjoy the weather while taking in a Twilight Tuesday on the north lawn of the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Music includes blues, jazz and rock ’n’ roll. If you just want some great food, head to The Hill, St. Louis’ famous Italian neighborhood, on Oct. 13 for the annual Columbus Day celebration and parade.

Have a Haunted Halloween

Six Flags offers the most well-known way to find fall fright with its annual Fright Fest. Take in the Halloween horror with the haunted houses and mazes while riding the roller coasters any Friday night this fall. A hidden haunted Halloween gem of St. Louis is The Darkness Haunted House, one of the top-ranked haunted houses in the country, located in Soulard. If you’re looking for a truly frightening time, The Darkness is rumored to be possibly the scariest of scary haunted houses.

Walk it Out

Fall is the best time to get involved in the community on the outdoor front—St. Louis has tons of fall walks and runs. Throughout October in Forest Park, look for various charity walks including the Autism Speaks 5K Puzzle Run (Oct. 12) and the Second Wind Lung Walk (Oct. 19). If you’re ready to run amidst the changing leaves, train for a longer distance and sign up for the St. Louis Half Marathon on Nov. 3.

Patch Perfect

If you’re in the mood for some relaxing fall fun, head to one of St. Louis’ countless pumpkin patches. Eckert’s has locations in Belleville, Millstadt and Grafton, all towns just across the river in Illinois, and offers haunted hayrides, bonfires and apple picking. Rombach Farms in Chesterfield, Mo., is similar, but it capitalizes on the fall atmosphere—the decorations abound.