It's almost October, and the weather is (finally) feeling like fall. No wonder that harvest festivals are popping up everywhere. These festivals run the gamut from single-day, ingredient-themed festivities (such as pumpkins or apples), or celebrate a more general harvest theme; some are strictly entertainment, others raise money for good causes. What follows is just a sampling of what you can find over the next couple of weeks.

Deephaven's Church of St. Therese has one of the metro area's largest fall church events with its annual Oktoberfest. Events kick off Oct. 3 with a family fun run, blessing of the animals, a polka mass and brat dinner; Oct. 10 is the big day, with a kids carnival, silent auction, a polka band and Boogie Wonderland, and plenty of food and beer.

Pinehaven Farm takes the harvest festival concept very seriously -- but in a fun way, of course -- by celebrating the harvest every day through October. Mini-train rides, pumpkin patch, peddle tractors and trike tracks, magic shows, Halloween parties and even a pumpkin cannon.

The folks at the Minnesota Historical Society wouldn't let an opportunity like harvest season pass by without exploring it. At Historic Forestville, Oct. 3 is Harvest Day, with demonstrations of old-time farm implements and farming techniques, apple-cider pressing, quilting and grain fanning. There will also be free pumpkins for kids. On Oct. 17, Forestville will have Apple Butter Day, making apple butter the old-fashioned way -- in hand-pounded copper kettles over open flames.

Johnny Appleseed Days will take place Oct. 3-4 in Lake City. But it's not just about the apples -- there's a chili cook-off, a kids pedal tractor pull, scarecrow find, a craft fair and a farmers' market and food.

The first two weekends in October, apples are the star at Afton Apple's Apple Festival. Enjoy a hayride, pick some apples, watch cider being pressed and munch on apple-based goodies.

Oct. 10 is the day for Aurora's Pumpkin Fest. Craft and quilt shows, clowns, food and even stagecoach rides will be offered.

A "harvest" festival of a different sort is held in Middle River. Goose Fest features goose-calling contests, live music, parades and food of all sorts, including Uffda Tacos.

Williams celebrates Potato Day on Oct. 10 with a parade, a potato cook-off, live entertainment and a dance. (No mention if they match Barnesville's annual tradition of mashed potato wrestling.)

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.