It's festival time again — here's a don't-miss list of local fetes

It's that transitional time of year again.

Summer is waning, although there are some hot days left.

Kids are headed back to school.

Autumn displays are out in the stores.

And festival season has arrived.

Everything's peachy in Leitersburg this weekend, and If peach cobbler, peach pies peach ice cream, peach anything appeals to you, the Leitersburg Peach Festival is the place to be.

Opening day is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Sunday's activities kick off at 8 a.m. with the Peach Festival 5K. The main festival, with food and craft vendors, kids' activities and live demonstrations, resumes at 9 a.m. at Leitersburg Ruritan Park, 21427 Leiter St.

Hosted by the Leitersburg Ruritan Club, the festival supports local orchards, the Leitersburg Volunteer Fire Department and Ruritan community projects. Admission is free; charges for some activities. More information is available at leitersburgruritan.org/peach-festival.

Late summer/early fall celebrations continue through August and September. Here's a sampling:

Augustoberfest — Aug. 20-21 at the Washington County Agricultural Center, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike. General admission is $10; children 12 and under admitted free.

Indulge your inner Bavarian during this celebration of the area's German heritage. Revel in oom-pah music and folk dancing, and let the kids enjoy crafts, storytelling, puppets and magic at the Kinderwanderland.

Are you a car aficionado? You'll want to catch the Potomac Region Porsche Club of America show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 21.

Oh — and there's a "biergarten," pretzels, bratwurst and other German fare.

For more information, visit augustoberfest.org.

C&O Canal Days — Aug. 27-28, Byron Memorial Park, Williamsport.

Pay tribute to the waterway that helped shape Williamsport and other canal towns and have fun in the process. Craft and artisan vendors, decadent food, live entertainment — and admission is free!

Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 27 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 28. More information is available at williamsportmd.gov/event/43rd-annual-co-canal-days.

Heritage Spud Fest — Aug. 27-28, Washington County Rural Heritage Museum, 7313 Sharpsburg Pike. Admission is free; parking by donation.

Potatoes are a big local deal this weekend — learn all about them and their role in local agricultural history. Like to haunt flea markets and antique shops? You'll want to check out the craft show and "fleatique." Lots of activities for the kids, including a "potato pickin' contest" on Saturday. Afterward, you can dig a 5-gallon bucketful for $10. On Sunday, there's an antique tractor pull and cruise-in ($5 to enter your classic car). Food vendors, bake sale — and potato candy.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit the museum. More information is available at ruralheritagemuseum.org/events-rural-heritage-museum

And if you like bees and butterflies, don't miss the University of Maryland Extension Office's "Pollinator Palooza" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, as part of the Heritage Spud Fest.

Boonesborough Days — Sept. 10-11, Shafer Park, Park Drive, Boonsboro. Admission is free.

Enjoy the traditions of this historic mountain town at the Boonsboro Historical Society's annual showcase of juried handmade arts and crafts. More decadent food, arts and crafts demonstrations and more than 130 vendors. If you're after original and unusual craftwork, you'll be spoiled for choice as you wander around Shafer Park.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day; community worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday. More information is available at boonsborohistoricalsociety.org/boonesborough-days

Wings & Wheels Expo — Sept. 10, Hagerstown Regional Airport. Admission: $5 donation

Historic aircraft, classic cars, exhibits and yes, more decadent food! Learn about Hagerstown's storied aviation history. See vintage, locally built military aircraft up close and personal — and for a $200 donation, you can even take a ride in a 1943 Fairchild PT-19.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Horizons Band concert at noon. Proceeds benefit the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. More information is available at wingsandwheelsexpo.com.

City Park Fall Fest & Fireworks — Sept. 17, Hagerstown City Park. Admission is free.

Arts, entertainment and history come together in activities spread throughout the park. Pony rides, museum tours, art activities and the Monarch Butterfly Parade.

Children are invited to dress as butterflies or other pollinators to parade down the Cultural Trail to the Hager House in City Park. Register to participate at https://tinyurl.com/2p8s6dff and meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Mural of Unusual Size ("Building Blocks") to line up.

New this year: fireworks on the lake

Hours: 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Fall Fest is presented in partnership with Bester Community of Hope. More information is available at hagerstownmd.org/901/City-Park-Fall-Fest

Smithsburg Steam Engine and Craft Show — Sept. 24-25, 22 N. Main St., Smithsburg

Cool air, antique steam engines, rows of crafters and artisans and, you guessed it, more decadent food. What better way to spend an autumn afternoon in the country?

With completion of new concession stand, this year's show is back in Smithsburg after a two-year venue change (the first because of COVID-19, and last year because construction on the concession stand was incomplete). Displays, demonstrations — and a parade through Smithsburg at 5 p.m. Sept. 24.

Proceeds benefit Smithsburg High School athletics. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/steamandcraftshow.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Here's a list of local festivals through September