POINT PLEASANT — Fall has certainly made its arrival with the weather beginning to cool off and colorful leaves slowly starting to peek through.

The fall season also is a time for many area festivals and activities, and Mason County has several events on tap this weekend.

The Battle Days festival kicks off on Friday and continues through Sunday. Battle Days is the commemoration of the Battle of Point Pleasant, which is considered by many as the first battle of the American Revolution. The Battle Days Committee along with the Point Pleasant Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) sponsor the three-day event, which features a variety of activities for both children and adults.

Friday’s activities will be geared toward children with students from several area schools expected to attend the event, which will take place at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park. There also will be a variety of re-enactors on hand as well as craft demonstrations on Main Street. There also will be an art show at Gallery at 409. The Mansion House will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the day as well.

Friday evening will feature the lantern tour, which is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. Re-enactors portraying Benjamin Franklin, “Mad” Anne Bailey, Chief Cornstalk and Gen. George Washington are scheduled to make appearances during the tour. Refreshments provided by the DAR will be available following the tour.

The annual Battle Days parade will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade route will start at the Mason County Board of Education office and will continue down Main Street. The parade will feature a variety of floats along with the 2009 Battle Days Queen Kiona Norvell and members of her court. To participate in the parade, please call the tourism center at (304) 675-6788.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, the latest section of the floodwall murals at Point Pleasant Riverfront Park will be dedicated. The newest scene depicts Lord Dunmore’s War, and was painted throughout the summer by Robert Dafford. The dedication will be sponsored by the Main Street organization and the City of Point Pleasant. Other activities set for Saturday include the traditional John Marshall Fife and Drum Corps, a cannon firing demonstration, children’s colonial games, militia drilling and a ladies’ colonial tea.

The Colonial Governors Reception, which for SAR and DAR members only, is slated from 6 to 8 p.m. Closing out the evening will be the Colonial Ball, scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m. at the American Legion. The ball is free and open to the public.

A colonial church service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday. The annual memorial service also will take place at 2 p.m. to close out the festival. In addition, the Mansion House will be open from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

The fall season will also be celebrated this weekend at the West Virginia State Farm Museum. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday and will feature entertainment and activities. The festival will include an antique gas and steam engine show, working saw mill, CEOS quilt show and antique bottle show. The Gun Slingers will make their trip back to the festival with three performances on Saturday at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

In addition, there will be a Gravely Swap Meet and an antique tractor pull, which is set for 1 p.m. Apple butter and apple cider making also will take place, and both items can be purchased during the festival. Event organizers urge apple butter enthusiasts to get their jars early as the delicious spread typically sells out each year. There will be a church service at 9 a.m. Sunday followed by a gospel sing at 1:30 p.m. The museum’s Country Kitchen and Store will be open both days of the festival as well.