Happy Autumn.

I’m happy to report that tourism has now slightly surpassed agriculture in its economic impact.

Our industry of hospitality and leisure travel shows gross receipts in Minnesota of more than $11 billion annually.

In Minnesota, 245,000 jobs are created by tourism and travel. That interprets to more than 1,300 jobs in Mower County alone. That’s pretty impressive.

My staff and I are here to help you celebrate local tourism … even local residents have an impact on tourism.

For example, are you planning or will you be attending a class reunion this year? How about a family reunion? If you are, have you thought of your own city of Austin as the site for such events? Austin has wonderful lodging facilities, fantastic dining options of just about every flavor imaginable, and some of the best attractions available anywhere in our state.

I, along with our Tourism Coordinator Heidi Murray and our office support staff Eileen Chao, are here to help you make your plans.

We can supply official Austin Visitors Guides, city maps, and assist with planning your itinerary for your guests while they’re visiting.

Summer has departed for another year, and as we roll into Autumn, we know that there continues to be an abundance of fun, family activities for you. Some of the amazing seasonal events soon to be happening in Austin include the following:

Sunday: The AAUW House Tour is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Four beautiful homes will be open for touring as part of a scholarship to help students attend Riverland Community College. This year’s homes were chosen for their varied and unique features that reflect the interests of their owners. This year, you can tour the homes of the Bross, Schindler, Perry and Ransom families. Tickets can still be purchased on the day of the tour at any of the 4 homes.

Wednesday: Bocce Extravaganza. If you have never played before, this is your chance. Bocce veterans as well as newbies to the game can come out to the North Todd Park Complex, 6 p.m. Teams play in groups of two. Call the Austin Park and Recreation office at 433-1881 for more details.

October 7-8: The 28th annual Halloween Warm -up at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. The first hike both nights begins at 6:50 p.m. and the last hike will be at 9:10 p.m. Celebrate Halloween a bit early in the enchanted forest at the Nature Center.

Every 10 minutes, a group of 25 are lead into the “Boo”-tiful forest to meet the assorted spirits that reside there. This event is co-sponsored by Matchbox Children’s Theatre, and is appropriate for children of ages 4 – 11. This event sells out fast. Get your tickets at Super Fresh Produce only.

October: Remember that the Austin Farmer’s Market continues to offer its wonderful fresh produce and baked items each Monday at Oak Park Mall afternoons as well as Saturday mornings there, and each Thursday downtown across from the Jail and Justice Center.

The fall book sale at the Austin Public Library is set for Saturday, Oct. 8. Book donations are greatly needed. The Friends of the Austin Public Library are asking for donations of books in good condition for the sale, in which proceeds go to fund library events throughout the year.

All videos and books are accepted, with the exception of textbooks and Readers Digest Condensed Books. No magazines, please.

Drop your book and movie donations off at the library front desk anytime during business hours there, prior to Oct. 5.

If you are a Friends of the Library member, you can take part in the special pre-sale on Friday evening. If you’d like to participate in the pre-sale, you can join that night for just $10 for a year.

That gives you a great start in planning your fall activities: tour some wonderful Austin homes, learn to play Bocce, buy your end-of-season goodies to make that wonderful harvest time meal or hot veggie soup, get your fill of Halloween fun, and buy some new books. Call Eileen, Heidi or I at the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau at 437-4563 for more information on these events.

Be sure to listen in every Friday morning at 8:45 p.m. to me and John Wright at KAUS on 1480 AM for the Austin Action Report.

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