It’s October already and the beginning of full-fledged fall in D.C.
Autumn is . . .

Crisp skies and fog—the air just starts to look cold, no?

The beauty of changing leaves and their pleasant wet smell in the air.

Harvest time, marking the end of the growing season . . .

. . . and the beginning of Fall festival season (featuring giant corn wagons??).

“Spirits” in photographs . . .

. . . and in the sky.

Spooky things (or cute things, depending on your outlook)— like bats (!) . . .

. . . and eerily smooth skin.

Pumpkins, and masks, and of course . . .

. . . Halloween parties (complete with cowgirls, clowns, and colonists)!

Link to any of your favorite fall photos in the Smithsonian collections in the comments.