The following information is from the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

Mother Nature stars in Berkeley Springs this weekend as autumn colors move into high gear and shine their most brilliant. Every drive down the road is a work of art; every walk brings you up close and personal with an array of reds, yellows, oranges and greens begging to be photographed.

In between the motorcycle rides, walks or car and bike trips enjoy food and music, two of the area's best offerings.

For two days -- Saturday and Sunday -- a full array of local musicians are performing in Musicians Helping Musicians to fundraise for Mike Anderson of Possum Holler, one of the area's best know bands. Anderson needs a kidney transplant and his musician friends are doing their part from 3 to 9pm on Saturday and 2 to 5pm on Sunday at the north end of the Old Factory Antique Mall. There is food, drinks and lots of music related auction items as well as more than two dozen bands and solo musicians performing everything from country to blues. No tickets needed, just stop on by and make a donation.

For more local music, come Thursday at 8pm to Tari's Cafe and enjoy Jam Nite hosted this week by Dave Elliot. Saturday nite at 8pm at the Fairfax Coffee House, it's the traditional and contemporary Irish music of Steve Morris direct from Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland and appearing with Dennis Vaughan and Bruce Foley. Other regular venues for local music on Saturday night include the Troubadour Lounge featuring New Moon for bluegrass and Earth Dog Cafe with Cindy Born and her blues band No Way Out.

At the movies, it's hard core action fun with GI Joe on the big screen at the Star Theatre which also offers the best popcorn in four states Friday through Sunday starting at 8pm. If high tech shoot-em-ups is not your choice, stop by for the popcorn anyway.

The fun starts midweek this week since the leaves don't just show off on weekends. Wednesday night Panorama at the Peak is hosting an 8-course dining experience Harvest Dinner celebrating all the farms and farmers that provide the fresh, local and organic food they serve at Panorama all the time. Wine pairing and vegetarian dinners are also part of the fun. The menu includes everything from an appetizer that features house made Smoky Bacon Ice Cream and creamy Butternut Squash and Apple Soup to lamp chop, crab and corn cake and deconstructed Beef Wellington. Limited seating requires reservations for the dinners which are served from 6:30 to 10pm. If you cannot make it Wednesday, come for lunch or dinner Thursday through Sunday and the same great fresh food is served. And did we mention the bonus? The most spectacular view in the region is decked out in all its fall glory and visible from the dining room. The restaurant is truly Panorama at its peak this week.

Other fine eateries in town are also in the forefront of the local food movement including the exquisite gourmet comfort food at Lot 12 where Chef/owner Damien Heath is devoted to hearty eating. Local products are also served at the Country Inn and Tari's Cafe which reportedly has an outstanding apple wine on its menu as well as the impressive special offerings of Chef Devin. Highlawn Inn offers one of their silver service dinners this Saturday night but reservations are a must. The list of places to eat continues including family favorite Earth Dog Cafe for all-day breakfast and great barbecue to Angus & Ale with outstanding ribs and steaks to Maria's Garden when Italian-American is your choice. There is sushi at Rose Cafe and vegan at Soupity Soup and lite fare at a range of places from Ambrae House to La Luna Wine Bar. For coffee try Fairfax Coffee House and for ice cream is Creekside Creamery. George Washington raved about food offerings in the 1760s and things have only been getting better in the two centuries since.

If you want to take the fresh local produce home, you're in luck. Visit the Farmers Market in the heart of town on Sunday from 10am to 2pm and you can arrive back home with lots of fall fruits from apples to pumpkins to squash.

Since the outdoors is so beautiful this week -- both in town and in the countryside, let's talk about how you can best experience it. In town, it's all about strolling the historic streets shopping along the way. You can also make stops at the various spas and visit the springs in the downtown park. Out in the countryside, the choices include mapped motorcycle rides around the county, the Washington Heritage Trail National Scenic Byway or hiking on the Tuscarora Trail, C&O Canal towpath or at Cacapon State Park. If you choose Cacapon, do not miss a walk around the lake and the view from the overlook with an east facing vista of Sleepy Creek Mountain.

The natural beauty inside and out of town carries over to your choice of lodging places. There is brilliant color in town as well as B&Bs, the Country Inn and various suites and cottages. Out of town, you can choose isolated mountaintops, cottages on the river or fully equipped vacation homes all of which come complete with fall foliage and woodland creatures. October is a favorite month in Berkeley Springs and everyone will be thrilled to share their pleasure in their home place with you.