It’s the first week of autumn, which means it’s officially time to put away the beach towels and flip-flops and break out the long sleeves and rakes. You may be mourning the loss of long days lounging by the pool, but think about all of the fun fall activities you have to look forward to, like the ones listed here.

Sip on some cider

On a crisp fall day, a mug of hot, cinnamon-y cider is the perfect drink. If you prefer to make your own cider, you should start with some fresh-picked apples. Stacy Furbee, store clerk at Schweizer Orchards, says right now is prime apple-picking time.

“People just love to come and pick their own apples,” she says. “... (For) a lot of them, it’s a family tradition.”

Just check into the store at Schweizer Orchards and they’ll give you a bag and tips on the best places to find apples. They’ll also tell you the right way to pick an apple so you avoid shaking the tree and getting an apple upside the head.

“The main thing is to twist and then pull it,” Ms. Furbee says, “That way it comes off at the stem.”

Pick a pumpkin

If you’re decorating for fall/Halloween, you’re going to need some pumpkins. And it’s always more fun to get yours from the pumpkin patch rather than the grocery store. The Weston Red Barn Farm has several patches you can pick pumpkins from, and even gives you a hayride there. Steve Frey, owner of the farm, says when it comes to pumpkins, it’s easier to find one when you don’t have the perfect pumpkin in mind.

“I kind of think it’s a know it when you see it thing,” he says. “Kids know it a lot faster than adults. Kids know it immediately, and it’s got a personality.”

Carve the pumpkin

Sharpen your carving skills and get in the mood for PumpkinFest 2008, which runs Oct. 10 to 12. After you’ve enjoyed the food, parade, craft vendors and pony rides, you can watch as the pumpkin mountain, comprised of up to 1,200 carved pumpkins, is lit up.

“It’s a really, really neat thing to see,” says Cindy Daffron, director of development for the Pony Express Museum. “When they light up (the mountain), people really do light up.”

Get lost

In a corn maze that is. If you think bigger is always better, then the only corn maze you want to get lost in is the Liberty Corn Maze in Liberty, Mo. This year’s maze — which is actually five mazes in one — is a salute to the Kansas City Zoo, featuring monkeys, an alligator, a rhinoceros and a kangaroo. If you get lost, the maze has bird’s-eye views, as well as Corn Helpers, to help you find your way. The maze is open on weekends through Oct. 26.

Closer to home, you can lose your way in the corn mazes at Schweizer Orchard and Weston Red Barn Farm. Both also offer smaller mazes for children.

Raise your glasses

Break out your pint glasses and celebrate Oktoberfest. Downtown Kansas City is the site for not one, but two Oktoberfest celebrations this weekend. Kansas City Oktoberfest features German food, music and crafts (not to mention plenty of drinks) Sept. 25 through Sept. 27 in Crown Center. Tickets are $5, with free parking at Crown Center.

Not too far away, the second annual Beerfest will be from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Power and Light District Sept. 26. For $25, you can sample from more than 50 different types of beers. If that’s too short of notice for you, don’t start crying in your pint. A second session of Beerfest will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Legends at Village West.

Lifestyles reporter Lacey Storer can be reached at lstorer@npgco.com