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Midway ridges in colorful action at the Greater Gulf State Fair — Conecuh corn dogs, midway rides and music take over The Grounds mid-October through early November during the Greater Gulf State Fair. (Greater Gulf State Fair)

Fall is a special time of harvest, transformation and magical things underfoot, from plants taking root to unexplained occurrences of the spooky season. There’s nowhere quite like historic places to experience this kind of energy, and we recommend a trip south to Alabama’s oldest city.

(A quick fall getaway to Mobile is only a four-hour drive!)

Read on to see what’s on the Port City calendar over the next few weeks. You’ll get into the fall spirit, whether sipping or chasing them.

Ghost tours + ghoulish goodies

A purple lit mausoleum and person in a dark hooded cape at Church Street Graveyard in Mobile, Alabama, which is Alabama's oldest city. — Top left, an apparent apparition at Church Street Graveyard, a creepy cocktail from POST on the Bites & Frights Food Tour and Historic Oakleigh House Museum (Bienville Bites Food Tour + Visit Mobile)

A creepy blood bag cocktail from Jefferon's in Mobile, Alabama, part of the annual Bites & Frights Food Tour by Bienville Bites Food Tour. — Top left, an apparent apparition at Church Street Graveyard, a creepy cocktail from POST on the Bites & Frights Food Tour and Historic Oakleigh House Museum (Bienville Bites Food Tour + Visit Mobile)

With almost 325 years of history, Mobile has an allure that appeals to storytellers and, yes, ghost hunters, especially this time of year.

Here are a few activities and attractions for embracing the spooky Halloween season while you’re there:

👻 Ghost tours are available through local guides, or you can craft your own adventure around notable sites around town.
🖤 Mobile In Mourning: Death Practices in the Victorian Era opens Oct. 17 at the History Museum of Mobile.
🧛 Bites & Frights: Haunted Food Tour of Downtown Mobile presented by Bienville Bites, with tours set for Oct. 16, 18, 23, 25 and 29

For many more Halloween events, check out the latest blog from Visit Mobile.

And should you need a glass of wine or comfort food to calm your nerves, we have just the thing . . .

Sunset sips by a famous ship + cozy cuisine

late afternoon aerial shot of the USS Alabama Battleship and park in Mobile, Alabama — Sample wine from national and international vineyards at the 8th annual Wine on the River event on Oct. 18. (Visit Mobile)

Mobile Foodie Fest continues through October and “wines” down by the water on Oct. 18 at USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park for Wine on the River, a huge wine festival that benefits United Way of Southwest Alabama.

Fall is also the season for comfort food, and you can get your fill of some of the best at Mobile Greek Fest set for Oct. 16-19. Greek donuts with honey and cinnamon (loukoumades) are just the treats to do the trick.

More fab fall vibes

Pumpkins in the foreground surrounded by colorful mums and more pumpkins at the seasonal pumpkin patch at Pop's Midtown Mardi Gras Store in Mobile, Alabama. — Pretty pumpkin patches and Bellingrath’s extravagant fall displays bring bold color to The Port City this fall. (Top left: Visit Mobile; Others: Bellingrath Gardens & Home)

A white pumpkin and moss display near the entrance to the home at Bellingrath Gardens & Home in Theodore, Alabama — Pretty pumpkin patches and Bellingrath’s extravagant fall displays bring bold color to The Port City this fall. (Top left: Visit Mobile; Others: Bellingrath Gardens & Home)

While it takes a little longer for fall color to make its way into the tree canopy down south, you’ll find a bounty of oranges, golds, purples and reds popping off at several spots around town.

⛲️ The Great Bellingrath Harvest at Bellingrath Gardens and Home is a must-do through October. In November, the scene cascades into more color with the largest display of cascading chrysanthemums in the nation.
🎃 Bring some color home from one of the best pumpkin patches around the Port City.
🎡 Surround yourself in bold colors and bright lights of midway rides (funnel cake in hand) at the Greater Gulf State Fair from Oct. 24-Nov. 2.

Connecting to culture in November

Three women and a man view exhibits about urban renewal at the Historic Avenue Cultural Center in Mobile, Alabama — Visitors to the Historic Avenue Cultural Center view exhibits about urban renewal initiatives throughout the district. (Visit Mobile)

If you need to plan your trip a little later, keep in mind the celebration of the city’s long history continues into November with Cultural Connections, a collection of events, experiences and extras that make the place “so Mobile,” from being the birthplace of Mardi Gras to an International Festival that’s run over 40 years to distinctly local cuisine and historical attractions.

Ready to go 👏? Visit Mobile.org for details on where to book your stay for a delightful fall season in Alabama’s oldest city.

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