According to the calendar it's officially fall, even though the kids are still wearing shorts to school, the air conditioning is cranking into the night and sweat is dripping from your brow. Despite these oddities, it must be October because football flags are flying high and Instagram is flush with proud apple-pickers and those adventurous others sporting lederhosen while drinking from steins. Welcome to Oktoberfest! To see how outdoor creatives are embracing the season, check out what we're loving in out-of-home.

Smokey Bear, the face of the longest-running PSA campaign in United States history, turned 75 this August, continuing his legacy of bringing awareness to unwanted, human-caused fires in America. Smokey Bear's wildfire prevention campaign has had a dramatic impact since its introduction in 1944, and this progress continues today, with an approximate 14 percent reduction in the average number of human-caused wildfires from 2011-2018, compared to the previous 10 years. While it's clear his work has been successful, 9 out of 10 wildfires are still caused by humans, which means Smokey's iconic message is as important as ever.

Outdoor and Smokey have a storied history. To see how Smokey’s image has evolved through the years, scroll through Clear Channel's vintage billboard collection dating back to the 1950s.

All they do is WIN, WIN, WIN. Of course, we're referring to the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. Throughout their journey in the 2019 World Cup, powerful imagery of the team clad in bright red jerseys with stoic poses and strong statements displayed prominently on the outdoor canvas. As they continued to knock out competitor after competitor, the vision of their strong legs gliding across the turf, connecting with their teammates and shooting past the goalie will stay with their fans forever. Check out the inspiring out-of-home creative that has recorded history this summer, and more head-turning campaigns that will make your world go upside down.

Distracted driving took the lives of 3,166 people in 2017. Research shows texting while driving increases the risk of a teen vehicle crash by 23 times, and is the leading cause of teen deaths. One in three teens who text said they have done so—while driving. This is why Clear Channel Outdoor has partnered with Project Yellow Light and the Ad Council for the fourth year in the effort to #StopTextsStopWrecks.

Project Yellow Light hosts an annual nationwide scholarship competition calling for students to create a TV, radio or billboard PSA to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving. Scholarships of up to $5,000 are awarded to those who create the most captivating PSAs promoting safe driving habits. This year, 2,709 students vied for the scholarship awards, a 69% increase from 2018!

In a city commonly referred to as Cowboys' Country and inside a state whose slogan starts with “Everything’s bigger…”, the Dallas Mavericks knew they had to GO BIG to standout in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. Heading into the 2018-2019 season, they had a clear mission: To excite, inspire and unite communities through entertainment, service and memorable experiences, creating Mavs Fans for Life.

If you’ve ever attended a Dallas Mavericks game, you've seen firsthand how the entertainment inside the arena spans far beyond the basketball played on court. Each and every game is uniquely memorable for those in attendance with immersive experiences scattered throughout the entire stadium. But this year’s mission was to unite “communities,” and not just the fans inside the building. So, how did Clear Channel combine the Mavs' experiential marketing initiatives with their dominant OOH presence outside of the stadium? 

We're happy to share Universal Studios received the 2019 OBIE Hall of Fame Award last night at the 77th OBIE Awards ceremony at the ARIA Las Vegas. Universal Studios was chosen by the out-of-home advertising industry and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA), which established the OBIE Hall of Fame in 1992 to recognize brands that have built an enduring legacy through the consistent use of OOH advertising over many years and many, many standout campaigns.

Our CEO Scott Wells presented Universal Studios with the honor:

We're really, really pumped about the billboards we've spotted heating up the landscape across the country this spring. Naturally we love great outdoor creative, and we must confess we also love—the brooding, dark-haired, steely-eyed, "he's dead...he's not dead," never a zombie, always a hero—Jon Snow. Game of Thrones may be airing its final season, but their billboards will be forever immortalized.

Add the legend of Ron Burgundy, the fierce determination of Captain Marvel and the aerial wonders of Dumbo, and the spring batch of outdoor campaigns are scoring high with consumers. See these displays and more of What We're Loving  for your OOH cultural check:

After the decorations and holiday lights were finally stowed...(wait, you don't still have your lights up, do you?), we hope you've caught up on your "To (Binge) Watch" list. It's about time you found out what all those people on YouTube walking around blindfolded with birds on their shoulders, walking into walls are doing—and what they've been watching. And then there are your neighbors tossing boxes out front, proclaiming "This doesn't bring me joy!" What's going on? Here's a hint, check out these displays in Times Square and more of What We're Loving for your OOH cultural check:

It's the most wonderful time of the year...there are bright lights, snowmen and reindeer  everywhere you turn, and billboards providing entertainment and seasonal cheer for frenzied commuters and last-minute shoppers on the go, go go.

For some, the thought of stowing the Halloween decorations and going full-on 'Santa and snowflakes mode' is just too much. They need more transition time. Don't fret, the terror isn't gone yet − we're sharing some of our scarier fall campaigns, and Mr. Grinch himself for those cringing at holiday music (too soon, too soon)!

There's nothing we love more than the creative geniuses that display their art on our billboards across the country. Check them out in these unskippable campaigns.