MAYBE BLEACHERS trigger bittersweet nostalgia. Maybe Friday Night Lights fascinated you. Either way, few rituals epitomize fall like high school football rivalry games. Here are three of our fiercest: Central Catholic takes on David Douglas at renovated Jeld-Wen Field in both teams’ league opener (Sept 30). Just four miles separate Lake Oswego and Lake-ridge. Lakeridge coach Tom Smythe started his career at Lake O—now coached by one of his former Lakeridge players, Steve Coury. The old friends meet on Lakeridge’s home turf (Oct 7). Last season, Wilsonville and Sherwood met to determine who would go undefeated. Sherwood prevailed. The Wildcats seek revenge at home (Oct 7). Clear eyes, full hearts! 

For a good time involving fewer face masks, Wordstock briefly makes Portland the nation’s literary capital (Oct 8–9). The festival’s short-story contest produced Monona Wali’s winner. The weekend’s roster includes Jennifer Egan (above), Michael Ondaatje, and Barry Lopez.

October just can’t happen without a visit to Sauvie Island—and you might as well hit the brand-name Pumpkin Patch, where the corn “maize” grows high and the hayrides roll daily. Avoid weekend afternoons unless you enjoy your fellow man as much as you do bucolic harvest scenes.