Music fills the air this month, with festivals big and small arriving in Boston. Additionally, all the students are back in town, and with the beginning of the new school year comes football, a proud pastime around the city. Whether you're a fan of pro or college football, there are plenty of games to take in throughout September.

Whatever your plans may be, be sure to budget extra time this month to get around town and to find a parking space.

September is notorious for bad Boston traffic, as the influx of new students and other transplants pack downtown and the outlying suburbs. Give yourself an extra 20-30 minutes, regardless of destination, and you should be in good shape.

Here are some can't-miss events for Boston in September.

1. Boston Calling

September 5-7, 2014, City Hall Plaza, passes range from $50 to $375

Spring's popular music festival is back for autumn: Boston Calling features a three-day lineup of indie rock, R&B, and other live acts on two stages, again at City Hall Plaza. Scheduled performers include Lake Street Dive, Lorde, Nas x The Roots, Spoon, and more. Food and drink, as well as artist- and limited-edition festival merchandise, will also be available for an additional charge.

2. Football is Back

Pro and collegiate fans, rejoice: Your favorite sport starts again this month. The New England Patriots travel to Miami for their first game of the season on September 7, and their first home game is two weeks later, against the Raiders on September 21.

For college teams, check schedules and buy tickets by visiting your team's respective university website. Local favorites such as the Harvard Crimson and the Boston College Eagles tend to draw sell-out crowds (especially for rivalries such as Harvard-Yale and Boston College-Notre Dame), so be sure to purchase tickets well in advance for the games you really want to see.

3. Cambridge Carnival

September 7, Kendall Square, FREE

With the 22nd annual Carnival International -- Cambridge's largest festival -- thousands flock to Kendall Square to celebrate African and Caribbean traditions. Rain or shine, costumed revelers parade through the streets, live bands and DJs keep the atmosphere upbeat, and vendors both local and far-flung serve up delicious food. 

4. Back Bay Night Out

September 10, The Shops at the Prudential Center, FREE 

The second annual Back Bay Night Out comes to the Pru on September 10. The shops will be holding special sales and events over the course of the evening, and there will be a showing of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" on the Pru South Garden at sundown.

5. Boston Comedy Arts Festival

September 10-14, various venues, ticket prices vary by performance

Improv, sketch, stand-up comedy -- all are well represented at this year's five-day Boston Comedy Arts Festival, sponsored by ImprovBoston. (Where else are you going to see a performance of "OK Cupid: The Musical"?) If there's a particular show you want to see, get tickets early to guarantee your seat. 

6. MixFest

September 13, DCR Memorial Hatch Shell, FREE

The ever-popular MixFest concert features O.A.R., Magic, Philip Phillips, and Christina Perri this year, and will be held on the Esplanade rain or shine. While admission is free for everyone, you can enter to win tickets to the VIP area (the closest seats available) with MIX 104's contest, running now through September 10.

7. Boston Local Food Festival

September 14, Rose Kennedy Greenway, FREE

All things delicious and local take place at the Boston Local Food Festival, which showcases the bounty of local farmers, the dishes from area restaurants, live music, chef demos, and a "seafood throwdown competition". Be sure to stop by the Do-It-Yourself demo booth, where this year participants can learn how to make cheese right at home.  

8. The Phantom Gourmet Food Festival

September 20, Lansdowne & Ipswich streets (next to Fenway Park), $30-$40 in advance, $50 at the door; $100 for VIP admission

Samples from 100 of the Phantom Gourmet's favorite foods are the big draw for this annual festival, with tastings available from Comella's messes, Daddy Jones' Greek pasta salad, Flatbread pizza, and Grillo's pickles, to name just a few. This truly is a pig-out feast, so bring your appetite.  

9. iFest

September 26-28, Seaport World Trade Center, admission ranges from $30-$145 

If you can't afford a trip to the Emerald Isle this year, do the next best thing and head down to the Seaport District for the three-day iFest, which celebrates the arts, culture, and cuisine of modern Ireland. Riverdance performances, literary salons, Guinness tasting bars, and chef demos are just a few activities on the docket -- if you can't decide what to see first, get a multi-day pass and explore at your own pace. 

10. What the Fluff? Festival

September 27, Union Square, Somerville, FREE (Rain date September 28)

Love marshmallow fluff? Then head to its birthplace, Union Square in Somerville, for the ninth annual celebration of this sweet and sticky treat. This year's theme, "Steamfluff", also celebrates steampunk culture along with fluff -- so expect to see both elements well represented in the food, games, and live music throughout the festivities. A new Pharaoh of Fluff will be crowned this year, and the Fluff Cooking Contest is also back, with awards to be given in the categories of best original recipe, best traditional recipe, most creative, best youth entry, and best overall. With these two competitions, the rivalries will be fierce amid the goofy fun. 

Is there a September event in Boston that you'd like me to cover? Send me an email and let me know!