Although it might not feel like it outside, with daily temperatures continuing to climb into the 80s, the first day of fall was yesterday, so you know cooler weather is right around the corner.

The changing of the season also signals the kickoff of the fall festival season in the River Parishes, starting with the Alligator Festival at the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling. The fair opened Thursday for a ride preview night and continues through Sunday evening. A wide variety of south Louisiana food favorites, including several dishes with alligator as an ingredient, are available in addition to live music every night.

Following close behind, St. John the Baptist Parish will hold its annual Andouille Festival about three weeks later on Oct. 14-16 on the grounds of the St. John Civic Center in LaPlace, with rides, music and an assortment of sausage dishes.

On a smaller scale, various area churches will also begin holding their own festivals in the coming months to add more events to an already full fall season calendar.

So, with cooler temperatures on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get out and enjoy all the River Parishes has to offer.