October is upon us!

It's Autumn in New England! Time to grab your pumpkin  coffee, donut, muffin, bread, or pie and get going on those wonderful fall adventures.

This October starts off with a twist-- “Sun Day on a Saturday” at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics offers a chance for the curious to see for themselves what is happening on the surface of the sun.  With all the talk in the news lately about solar events and the effect solar activities has on us on Earth, this is a great chance to see for yourself what all the fuss is about. This event is open to the whole family. Please visit http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/events/public_events.html for additional information. And well you are at it, check out the information this month's Observatory Night. October's topic covers the search for Earth-like planets. Are there more life sustaining planets out there?

The next day, you will have no doubt that there is life around here. The 34^th annual Harvard Square Oktoberfest and Honk Parade will take place on Sunday, October 7th. With seven different stages, music lovers of all genres will be sure to find something to their liking. In fact, marching band enthusiast will probably find more than one thing to their liking. The Honk Parade features 35 marching bands parading from Davis Square to Harvard Square. Talk about making little noise. The procession starts at Noon in Davis Square and ends at 1pm in Harvard Square, just in time to join the fun of Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest kicks off at Noon and wraps at 6pm. Please visit http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Articles/Oktoberfest-Entertainment-Lineup-Announced.aspx for performance schedules and more information. (...because this is New England in the Fall, there is a backup plan in case of rain. The rain date is Monday, October 8^th).

Let's hope the rain stays away October 20th and 21st for  the 48 Annual Head of the Charles Regatta . With 9,0000 rowers, the Head of the Charles is the largest two day regatta in the world. And, when you are weaving your way through the 300,000 expected spectators lining the banks of the Charles River, it will feel like the largest two day regatta in the world. For additional information, please visit http://hocr.org/ .

Rather you are on the banks of the river, at a football game, or stroll a college campus during parents' weekend, remember to bring a sweater as the temperatures have started to drop along with the leaves.