Author Barbara Kingsolver will speak at Virginia Tech on Sept. 14.

Over the past few weeks, e-mails and press releases about fall food events in Southwest Virginia have been raining down on me like autumn leaves. Summer is a popular foodie time, but fall brings those cooler temperatures and lovely colors that make outdoor events special. Also, I think organizations want to get the fundraisers out of the way before wallets start opening for Christmas.

Without further ado, here is a big, honkin’ list of September events. I’ll share October events in the next few weeks:

Friday, Sept. 10: Taste of Culture’s September event will feature the cuisine and culture of the Philippines. Admission is free, food will be for sale. This Local Colors event happens on Wall Street beside the market building in downtown Roanoke from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. October’s culture will be Scandinavian!

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11-12: Mountain Road Wine Experience. This self-guided tasting tour winds through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. It includes stops at Amrhein Wine Cellars, Blacksnake Meadery, Chateau Morrisette, Foggy Ridge Cider and Villa Appalaccia Winery. Cost is $30 per person for “innovative food and beverage pairings at each location,” the flyer states. You may want to think about a designated driver. For more information, click here.

Tuesday, Sept. 14: Barbara Kingsolver at Virginia Tech. From the press release: “Kingsolver and her husband and co-author, Steven Hopp, will give a presentation at 8 p.m. in Burruss Hall Auditorium. A special event will precede the presentation from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at D2 dining center, featuring a complete menu of locally sourced or sustainably produced food. Both events are open to the public and the university community.” For more information, including ticket pricing, click here.

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 17-19: Greek Festival. This annual festival is a MUST for folks who love Greek salads, moussaka, pastichio, spanikopita, green beans with tomatoes, baklava and other delicious Greek foods. If you don’t know what some of that stuff is, go and find out. You won’t be disappointed. If you aren’t in the mood to see people, hit the drive-thru.

Takes place at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Huntington Boulevard, off Williamson Road, in Roanoke. For more information, including event hours, raffle tickets, entertainment and more, click here.

Friday, Sept. 24: 5th Annual Al Pollard Memorial Foundation Golf & Gala. This event takes place in memory of Al Pollard, an innovative local restaurateur who played a major role in the early revitalization of downtown Roanoke. Proceeds from this event go to fund scholarships for students at the Culinary Institute at Virginia Western. The gala is 6 to 11 p.m. and includes a chef’s competition, music, dancing and a silent auction for $25 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.