As summer slowly gives way to fall and the colors of the season change over to the bright oranges and reds we’re all used to, attention turns once again to what the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center offers during this time of year.

As it has in previous years, the nature center is offering a whole host of events to keep visitors busy during the autumn months and those days leading up to it.

“There’s certainly lots of things to do; whatever you might like to do outdoors,” Jay C. Hormel Nature Center naturalist Larry Dolphin said.

Among the events planned include the very popular, two-night Halloween Warm-up. Entering its 32nd year, the warm-up is one of the nature center’s most popular events of the fall season and includes actors with the Matchbox Children’s Theatre.

Part of the charm is its mix of fear and entertainment.

“It’s fear being a little bit scared,” Dolphin said. “Doing something at night, walking trail that’s lit with candles that takes you from one skit to another.It’s fun for the kids to be in the skits and it’s fun for the adults.”

Another big event comes toward the tail-end of the season. The 13th annual Thanksgiving Feast is a fundraiser that includes dinner, a live auction and a short program. It’s a big source of income for the nature center in terms of what it can offer the public.

“This is what pays for our interns and our programming out here,” Dolphin said.

Other events including walking meditation, an expert on monarch butterflies, former intern Sammie Peterson and bird watching.

People still have the opportunity as well to utilize the nature center’s canoes and kayaks until the end of September.

“There’s certainly lots of things for whatever you might like to do outdoors,” Dolphin said.

Jay C. Hormel Nature Center’s fall lineup

• Sept. 15: Kelly Nail, University of Minnesota Monarch Lab. 7 p.m., RSVP by Sept. 14.

• Sept. 20: Walking Meditation Class with Chris Anderson. 2 to 4 p.m., Preregistration required by •Sept. 26: 11th annual Hormel Nature Center 8K and one-mile kids run. Registration is $18 for the 8K, $5 for the kids run. Parents and chaperones for the kids run are free. Race-day registration is $25 for the 8K and $7 for the kids run. Register with Dr. Eric Overby, 507-437-3269. Pre-register online or print forms at www.hormelnaturecenter8k.org. Race-day registration beings at 8 a.m. Running starts at 9 a.m.

• Oct. 3: Friends-only mushroom class with Sammie Peterson. This class for Friends of the Nature Center members, led by Peterson, will help people become familiar with the assorted mushrooms in the area. This event is free and is limited to 30 participants. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 2.

• Oct. 9-10: 32nd annual Halloween Warm-up. The woods of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center become haunted for two nights as families can hike through the dark to listen to skits performed by creatures, critters and spirits. First hike is 6:50 p.m., last hike is 9:10 p.m. each night. Cost is $6 per person and includes apple cider and a cookie. Tickets available from Sept. 9 through Oct. 9 and can be purchased at Super Fresh Produce, Bakery & Garden Center.

• Oct. 21 and 24: Beginning Birding Class with the Austin Audubon. This class is split into two parts with the first part on Oct. 21 being an informative session in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium followed by part two on Oct. 24 that includes a morning bird walk in the nature center. Call 507-470-1700 to register or call Pete Mattson at 507-567-2570 or Leslie Meyer at 507-433-2615. Class is for 16 and up and is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $5.

• Nov. 22: James Keelaghan — Canadian folk singer-songwriter. Show is at 7 p.m.. RSVP by Nov. 20.

• Nov. 14: 13th annual Thanksgiving Feast. 5 p.m. doors open, 6:30 p.m. dinner is served, 7:30 p.m. short program and live auction. Tickets on sale now and are $35 per person for Friends of the Nature Center and $40 for non-members. Call the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center at 507-437-7519 or contact event committee chairs Rich and JoAnn Aho at 507-433-6928 or Finn44@charter.net.