In early October, morning mist lingers over the tree line of the Coast Range Mountains. Earlier sunset walks along the banks of the Columbia bring hot coffee and sharp winds that scatter leaves from the trees. Soon, the rains will set in.

As in much of the coastal Northwest, fall in the Columbia-Pacific region is a short season. Few can agree on its precise end. Where the calendar lingers on, colorful leaves have long since disappeared, replaced by gusting winds and holiday window displays.

Still, the season arrives with its treasured set of traditions. Cranberries are harvested from the bogs of the Long Beach Peninsula, apple pies are baked and stored on bakery shelves. Haunted encounters are whispered about through the halls of preserved Victorian homes.

Through Oct. 25, Coast Weekend invites readers to submit their interpretations of the North Coast fall season – whether through poetry, short stories or visual artworks. Up to three items per reader are welcomed. Submit works with a name and town of residence to editor@discoverourcoast.com.