September in Maine: When Summer Refuses to Leave and Fall Shows Up Anyway

September in Maine has absolutely no idea what season it is.

And frankly, neither do we.

You wake up in the morning and it's 48 degrees, so naturally you put on jeans, a sweatshirt, maybe socks. By 2:00 in the afternoon, it's 78 degrees and you're questioning every decision you've made since breakfast.

Welcome to September in Maine.

It's the month when summer refuses to pack its bags while fall is standing at the front door holding a pumpkin, wearing flannel, and asking when it can come in.

Honestly, it's one of the best times of year to be here.

The enormous summer crowds begin to thin. The beaches get quieter. Apples are ready.

Cider doughnuts return to their rightful place in the food pyramid. Farm stands are overflowing. The first hints of color begin appearing up north. And there's still enough summer hanging around to convince us that winter is nowhere near Maine.

We all know better, but let's enjoy the denial while it lasts.

Here are 15 ways to make the most of September in Maine.

1. Go Apple Picking

This is September. You are in Maine. At some point, you are required to stand underneath an apple tree holding a bag you fully intend to fill with twelve apples but somehow leave with forty-seven.

It's basically state law.

Maine orchards come alive in September with pick-your-own apples, farm stores, hayrides, pumpkins, baked goods, and all the other things that make you suddenly want to live on a farm despite having absolutely no farming skills.

Go.

Pick the apples.

Take the picture.

Then spend the next three weeks figuring out what to do with all the apples.

2. Eat a Cider Doughnut While It's Still Warm

This deserves its own category.

There are doughnuts.

And then there are warm cider doughnuts eaten at a Maine orchard in September.

These are not the same thing.

If there's cinnamon sugar all over your shirt afterward, you've done it correctly.

3. Go Back to the Beach

Here's a Maine secret that isn't particularly secret: September can be spectacular at the beach.

The summer crowds are smaller. Parking may be easier. The air is beautiful. The water remains Maine-water cold because apparently the Atlantic Ocean has made a lifelong commitment to this personality.

Bring a sweatshirt even if it's 75 degrees when you leave home.

Actually, that's good advice for everything on this list.

4. Keep the Flip-Flops Out

Do not put them away yet.

This is amateur behavior.

September in Maine requires access to flip-flops, sneakers, rain boots, and possibly something lined with fleece, sometimes within the same 24-hour period.

There is no seasonal shoe transition here.

There is only preparedness.

5. Visit a Maine Farm Stand

If you've driven past the same farm stand twelve times this summer saying, "We should stop there sometime," September is your sometime.

Tomatoes. Corn. Apples. Squash. Flowers. Fresh eggs. Jams. Pies. Pumpkins starting to appear.

Bring cash.

Bring a bag.

Bring absolutely no self-control.

6. Take One More Lobster Roll Seriously

At some point every September, I become concerned that I haven't eaten enough lobster rolls.

Was there a quota? No.

Does it suddenly feel urgent anyway? Yes.

Some seasonal seafood spots begin winding down as fall progresses, which makes September an excellent excuse for one more lobster roll, basket of fried clams, or dinner beside the water.

For research purposes, obviously.

7. Go North and Find Fall

If you're impatient for foliage, head north.

Northern Maine begins changing before the southern and coastal parts of the state, which means September can give you an early glimpse of what's coming.

Just don't panic if Portland is still green.

The leaves know what they're doing.

They've handled this before.

8. Go to a Maine Fair

September and Maine fairs belong together.

Agricultural exhibits. Animals. Giant vegetables. Rides. Harness racing. Crafts. Fried things we apparently only eat while standing outside near a livestock barn.

It's all part of the experience.

And if you find yourself admiring a prize-winning squash with genuine enthusiasm, congratulations.

September in Maine has gotten to you.

9. Sit Outside Somewhere and Refuse to Go In

This is important.

Have your coffee outside.

Eat dinner on the deck.

Sit by the firepit.

Read on the porch.

Meet a friend at an outdoor table.

There will come a day, sooner than any of us care to discuss, when sitting outside requires several layers of clothing and an unreasonable commitment to the concept.

Take advantage of it now.

10. Go for a Hike Without Melting

Summer hiking is beautiful.

Summer hiking can also involve heat, humidity, mosquitoes, black flies, and the occasional moment when you wonder why you didn't just go get ice cream.

September hiking?

Now we're talking.

Cooler mornings and changing scenery make this one of my favorite times to get outside.

11. Buy a Pumpkin Way Too Early

You don't need it yet.

Buy it anyway.

There is always one September day when you see the first big display of pumpkins and suddenly think:

Yes.

It is time.

Never mind that it's 79 degrees outside.

That pumpkin is coming home.

12. Have the Annual Flannel Debate

Too early?

Not too early?

September 1?

September 15?

Do we wait until the temperature drops below 60?

There are no official rules governing flannel season in Maine, although I'm reasonably certain someone somewhere is willing to form a committee.

Wear the flannel.

If you get hot, tie it around your waist like it's 1993.

Problem solved.

13. Take the Scenic Way Home

This might be my favorite.

Turn off the main road.

Drive through the small town.

Follow the road along the water.

Stop at the farm stand.

Pull over at the scenic overlook.

Maine is really good at reminding you that getting somewhere isn't always the best part.

September makes the back roads especially hard to resist.

14. Watch the Light

September light in Maine is different.

The days begin getting shorter. The sun sits differently in the sky. Mornings can feel softer. Evenings can turn golden.

Go outside around sunset and pay attention.

No ticket required.

No reservation.

No admission fee.

Sometimes the best things to do in Maine are simply noticing Maine.

15. Don't Rush Fall

This may be the most important one.

We love fall in Maine.

Of course we do.

The foliage is spectacular. The air gets crisp. The pumpkins arrive. The sweaters come out. Everything suddenly tastes like apples, cinnamon, maple, or pumpkin spice.

But September doesn't need to become October before its time.

There are still beach days left.

There are still tomatoes at the farm stand.

There are still warm afternoons.

There are still dinners outside.

There are still bare feet, open windows, late sunsets, and maybe one last swim for people considerably braver than I am.

September is the bridge.

One foot in summer.

One foot in fall.

And a sweatshirt in the car because we're not idiots.

The 207 Vibes September Rule

If I had to make one rule for September in Maine, it would be this:

Don't put anything away yet.

Not the beach chairs.

Not the flip-flops.

Not the sweatshirts.

Not the sunscreen.

And definitely not your sense of humor.

Because you may leave the house dressed for fall, spend the afternoon at the beach, stop for apples on the way home, eat a cider doughnut in the car, and turn on the air conditioning when you get there.

That's September in Maine.

Summer isn't quite finished.

Fall isn't quite here.

And for a few wonderful weeks, we get a little bit of both.

That's a pretty great 207 vibe.