Good morning, Burlington.

Whitcomb’s Land of Pumpkins in Essex Junction opens today at 10 a.m. to welcome fall visitors, while Adams Apple Orchard continues its apple picking season to offer locals a taste of autumn harvest (both farms are gearing up for a busy weekend).

Oktoberfest returns to Burlington's South End with live music, games, and a best dressed contest.

The festival runs Friday (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and features food trucks, an authentic seven piece band, and local and foreign beers.

The Queen City Ghost Walk returned Friday — its first tour since a brief retirement — leading locals and tourists through haunted sites including Nectar's, with creator Thea Lewis sharing spooky historical tales of the city.

Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band will perform at Camp Johnson in Colchester on Sept.

25 to honor veterans, service members and first responders and their families, with registration available through each participating organization.

The Vermont Department of Labor reported today that the statewide unemployment rate in August remained at 2.6 percent while labor force participation held steady at 62.1 percent.

Minor month-to-month adjustments balanced out job losses and gains, keeping Vermont among the states with one of the lowest rates.

Burlington Electric Department announced plans to build a 128-kW timber-frame solar parking canopy at its Pine Street office that will cover 13 parking spaces and generate up to 152 MWh annually when it becomes operational in 2027, following voter bond approval and a unanimous commissioner vote.

Yankee Magazine released a list of six scenic drives across New England that highlight peak fall foliage.

In Burlington, visitors can enjoy Lake Champlain’s wide views and take a short drive to Smugglers’ Notch, best experienced late September to early October (the article recommends vibrant autumn scenes).

At the 29th annual Women's Health and Cancer Conference hosted by UVM Cancer Center, Nora McInerny delivered a keynote sharing her personal journey through grief after a miscarriage and losing close family to cancer.

The event gathered hundreds of physicians, patients, and caretakers to address the emotional impact of the disease.

Nine games were played Friday, Sept.

18 in Vermont high school football — including a rematch between St. Johnsbury and Middlebury from last year's Division I championship — and five contests are underway today with live score updates. Coaches are asked to report scores promptly after each game.