The fall season is the perfect time to enjoy Abilene’s many festivals and events! Take some time to get out of the house, enjoy the cooler weather — and of course — experience all that Abilene has to offer!

Enjoy the eighth annual West Texas Book & Music Festival, through Saturday. An exciting weeklong festival to recognize authors, musicians, publishers, readers and listeners from around Texas.

Hear local and area authors and publishers speak at the Brown Bag Lunch Series throughout the week. Rosanna Herndon will tell stories from “The Line from Here to There: A Storyteller’s Scottish West Texas,” and Carol West will speak on her newest books, “Aloha, Texas” and “Assisted Living,” at noon today at the Abilene Public Library. The Brown Bag Lunch Series will feature cookbook authors, Rebecca Rather, Marie Heij and Tom Perini at noon Thursday at the Abilene Public Library. Bring your own lunch or purchase one for $4. Drinks are provided.

Come to the Paramount Theatre for the Texas Songwriter’s Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s program at the Abilene Civic Center includes: Hall of Texas Authors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boots & Books Luncheon at noon, panel discussions on self-publishing, Texas Rangers: Fact & Fiction and more. The festival concludes with the West Texas Gospel Hymnfest from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Abilene Civic Center. Most festival events are free of charge. Texas Cookbook Gala and the Boots & Books Luncheon require tickets. For more information, call Janis Test at (325) 676-6017 or visit www.abilenetx.com/apl and click on the Boots & Books logo.

See a show! Book an evening at the Abilene Community Theatre, 801 Barrow St., for “Arsenic and Old Lace.” The comedy will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Call (325) 673-6271 for ticket information.

Have some family fun at the 14th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival! Red Bud Park, at S. 32nd Street and Buffalo Gap Road. An entire weekend of fun, including: colorful, hot air balloons; children’s games and inflatable rides; silent auctions; 5K run; motorcycle bingo run; food and craft vendors; and much more! Sunrise Balloon Flight followed by activities until 10 p.m., Friday. Enjoy festival activities from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday. The Sunrise Balloon Flight will close the festival on Sunday. The 14th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival is sponsored by the Optimist Unlimited Club of Abilene. For more information, contact Robin Hicks at (325) 795-0995.

Browse the Colors of Life Art Show and Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Wesley Court Retirement Community, 2617 Antilley Road. Offering art by area artists ages 55 and older. Free to the public. Lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $12. For more information, contact Jo Ann Jones at (325) 437-1184.

You won’t want to miss “Autumn Nights,” the Home and Garden Tour Preview Party, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday. An exclusive preview party will be held in the garden of the Hall residence, 2417 FM 1750. Enjoy light hors d’oeurves and beverages in the poolside outdoor kitchen. This is your opportunity to become a member of the Abilene Preservation League and receive your ticket to the Fall Home and Garden Tour. Membership is $35 to enjoy the party and an entire year of events, activities and information from the Abilene Preservation League. The Preview Party is free to current APL members with purchase of ticket. An exclusive night to remember.

See six beautifully landscaped homes at “Sunday on the Lake,” the 2008 Fall Home and Garden Tour, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. View the featured homes’ vast array of architectural and design styles. Enjoy a fall afternoon touring the gorgeous homes on Lytle Lake! $12 for advance tickets or $15 at the door. For advance ticket sales, contact Diana Burk at (325) 676-3775. For more information, visit www.abilenepreservation.org.

For more information on Abilene’s attractions and events, visit www.abilenevisitors.com.

Shanna Smith is Heritage Tourism/special projects coordinator at the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau.