As the calendar has turned to September and fall is approaching, fairs and festivals are getting into full swing around the Ohio Valley — and valley residents would be silly not to visit.

The fun has begun this week with the Belmont County Fair, a 176-year tradition that offers all of the classic fair of rides, livestock exhibits, food games and more. The same can be said this week for the West Alexander Fair just across the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border.

Barnesville gets into the act on Sept. 22-25 when it hosts its annual Pumpkin Festival. That not only features fair and festival favorites, but also includes the crowning of the King Pumpkin at the annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. That’s always a sight to behold. Last year, the winning pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 2,196 pounds.

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