The first official day of fall – Sept. 23 – is creeping closer on our calendars. But just because the summer is ending doesn't mean the fun does too. As proof, we offer this list of 100 great things about autumn (in no particular order).

1. The smell of burning leaves
2. It's apple season!
3. The end of humidity
4. A trip to Holy Hill to see the colors
5. Binge-watching Netflix with a bowl of popcorn
6. Flannel sheets
7. Decorating the house for Halloween
8. Taking little kids trick or treating
9. No more mowing the lawn
10. Hitting the Stadium Bar before a Badgers game at Camp Randall Stadium
11. Wearing your favorite fall jackets
12. Watching soccer at the Highbury and Nomad
13. Brunch at the Apple Holler
14. Checking out Doors Open Milwaukee
15. Harvest Fair at State Fair Park
16. Driving through Lake Country to look at the foliage
17. Al's Run & Walk 
18. The Admirals drop the puck
19. Brisk mornings at the dog park
20. A spirited touch football game (with no injuries)
21. The apple guy at the East Town Market
22. Friday night football at Hart Park
23. White pants go deep in the closet
24. Walks through Doctors Park
25. The Halloween section at Goodwill
26. Fan Appreciation Night at Miller Park
27. Knowing that it's truly time to drink Guinness at County Clare
28. Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival
29. Pumpkin spice lattes at Stone Creek Coffee
30. Playoff baseball ... hopefully
31. Monday Night Football
32. Making a giant pot of chili
33. Watching scary movies on big screens across the city
34. Bars with heated outdoor patios
35. One last fishing trip
36. Deer hunting
37. Deer hunting widow's weekend
38. Cheery Cherry Fall Fair in Menomonee Falls
39. Thanksgiving
40. Raking leaves (it's good exercise)
41. Lots of shows at the Pabst Theater Group venues
42. Bowling leagues
43. The "Fifth Quarter" in Madison
44. Brewery tours
45. UWM soccer games at Engelmann Field
46. Marquette soccer at Valley Field
47. Farmers' markets
48. Game day in Green Bay
49. A weekend in Door County
50. A crisp round of golf
51. The Milwaukee Film Festival 
52. Planning a winter getaway
53. An afternoon at the Union in Madison
54. Oktoberfest in La Crosse
55. Visiting haunted houses
56. Marquette Madness – a kickoff for basketball
57. The WIAA football playoffs
58. Brookfield East vs. Brookfield Central soccer showdowns
59. Pumpkin carving
60. Eating squash
61. Watching football on Thanksgiving Day
62. The night before Thanksgiving, aka one of the best drinking days of the year
63. Cardigan sweaters
64. Wearing dresses with tights
65. The disappearance of mosquitoes
66. Hot toddies (Whiskey, rum, or brandy?) 
67. Leisurely hikes through Grant Park
68. Experiencing a showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" 
69. Comfort food
70. Using the fireplace again
71. The smell of firewood
72. Stream "When the Leaves Come Falling Down" by Van Morrison
73. Pumpkin pie
74. Wearing boots
75. Leaves crunching under your feet
76. Canning season
77. Trips to a less-crowded Zoo
78. Freshly pressed apple cider
79. Wool socks
80. Reading a book on a rainy afternoon
81. Extra beautiful sunsets 
82. Elaborate spider webs
83. Freshly baked bread
84. Indoor home remodeling projects
85. Blankets on the couch
86. New TV shows to obsess over – including a new season of "This Is Us"
87. Put "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young on repeat
88. Sending kids back to school
89. Fall weddings
90. The song "September Gurls" by Big Star (it makes us think of fall, anyway)
91. Getting a head start on Christmas shopping
92. Comfy pajamas
93. Fall colors in fashion – brown, rust, orange
94. Seasonal beers
95. Crock-Pot dinners
96. Bake sales
97. Irish coffee seems to taste better
98. Testing new recipes for the holidays 
99. Leftover Halloween candy
100. The opening of Bucks training camp