Can you feel fall creeping in already? The days are getting shorter, nights cooler and routines are getting back to, well, routine. The Parks and Recreation department has a variety of fall events to help make the transition from summer to fall fun.

Parks

On September 18, join people across Canada and around the world for the 36th Annual Terry Fox Run. This 2 or 5 km walk, run or wheel continues on Terry's Marathon of Hope and starts in Bowen Park. Registration is at 9 am and the run starts at 10 am.

The last Sunday of September is Rivers Day, a day to celebrate the world's waterways and their importance to all life on earth. This year, a number of tours and activities are planned both before and the day of. On September 25, stop by Bowen Park from 11am to 2:30 pm for a salmon BBQ hosted by Nanaimo Area Land Trust (NALT) and live music by Mt Benson Ceili Band, Dave Hart and TerraZetto. You can also register for one of the many informative tours:

• Take a tour of the Nanaimo River Watershed with the Nanaimo River Watershed Roundtable on Friday, September 23. You will visit local forestry operations, the Jump Lake Reservoir and the new water treatment plant.
• Tour the Island's last remaining coal mining head frame with the Friends of Morden Mine and NALT during the Morden Colliery Historical Park Tour on September 25.
• Explore the unique flora and fauna of Vancouver Island's largest estuary either by walking with members of The Nature Trust of BC or by rafting with members of VIU's Recreation Management Department on September 25.
• Have a treetop adventure on Rivers Day with the Nanaimo River Watershed Roundtable during the Nanaimo River and Wild Play Adventure Centre Bus Tour.
• Go for a walk along the lower Nanaimo River with NALT and learn about this productive riparian area during the Nanaimo River Regional Park Bus Tour and Eco-Walk on September 25.

Pools

Families can soak up the fun at Beban Pool with Family Pool Party Fridays. Held every Friday evening from 7-9pm starting October 7.

Don't just sit and watch a movie, dive and watch a movie in Nanaimo Aquatic Centre! This unique way to watch movies is held one Saturday a month starting October 15 with a special Halloween-themed Dive-In Movie.

Speaking of Halloween, Beban Pool will be hosting the annual Halloween Howl swim on October 28 from 4-7 pm. The pool will be transformed into a spooky setting and fun activities like pumpkin relay races, water balloon toss, water running mats and face painting.

Arenas

Kids go back to school next week and the arenas are starting their fall programming with a series of Welcome Back Skates including:

• Senior Leisure skate. For skaters 60 years and up, this skate session starts Tuesday, September 6 from 10-11:30 am in Frank Crane Arena. Enjoy skating laps to our excellent musical selections or practice your skills in specially designated areas. Coffee and tea will be served during this session. 
• Parent & Tot skate. This skate for parents and kids 6 years and under starts Wednesday, September 7 from 12:30-2 pm in Frank Crane Arena.
• Family skate. Bring the family to Frank Crane Arena on Wednesdays from 6:30-8 pm and Sundays from 10:45 am-12:15 pm starting September 7 for this family-focussed skating session. 
• Adult Leisure. This skate session for adult skaters of all levels starts on Thursday, September 8 from 10-11:30 am in Frank Crane Arena.
• Everyone Welcome skate. The name says it all. Everyone is welcome at these sessions starting Thursday, September 8 from 6:15-7:45 pm in Nanaimo Ice Centre and Saturday, September 10 from 1:15-2:45 pm in Frank Crane Arena.
• Ryan Vending Twoonie Skate. This Everyone Welcome Skate on Friday, September 9 from 3:45-5:15 pm in Nanaimo Ice Centre is sponsored by Ryan Vending and costs (you guessed it!) just $2 per person.
• Glow in the Dark Skate: Held the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 pm, you will skate in an atmosphere of dimmed lighting and special effects. 

A new addition to Nanaimo Ice Centre is thE&Nbsp;Starlight Skate held one Saturday a month from 7-9:00 pm starting September 17. This skate is an opportunity to come out and enjoy soft lighting and mellow music. It's a great night out for couples and families. 

The popular Lions Free Skates start back up on Sunday, September 18. These sponsored skate sessions are held every Sunday from 12-1:30 pm (10:45am-12:30pm on Clippers days games) through to March 26, 2017 in Frank Crane Arena.

For more information on events with Parks and Recreation, pick up a copy of the Fall & Winter Activity Guide or check out the community events page on the City website.