Now that apple picking, pumpkin carving, and cider season is here, it’s the perfect time to plan your fall activities and invite friends and family to join in on the fun! Fall is one of my favorite seasons, and as I walk to class I admire the colorful leaves that add so much brightness to the stone buildings. There’s so much to enjoy in this season, from cozying up in the library with a pumpkin spice latte to planning a hiking trip, or simply watching classic Halloween movies with your friends. Every season is an opportunity for growth, new beginnings, and happiness that we receive from being in this very moment. Whether you are on or off campus, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in fall events, meet new people, and to stay active within the URI community. Stay up to date on Campus Recreation’s events calendar to see our different fitness programs and challenges, URI’s Day of Giving, and more to come! For concerts, fairs, workshops, and other fall events, check out the URI Events calendar.

URI Family Weekend 
With Family Weekend approaching from November 1st to the third, get ready to show your Rhody Spirit and start prepping your favorite fall recipes for tailgating the football game! Make sure to visit our Campus Recreation booth during tailgating from 9:30-1:00 PM in the Plains Road Lot! I look forward to tailgating with my family and friends every year. There are so many activities that you don’t want to miss out on, such as lawn games, the URI Marching Band and Cheerleaders performance, Rhody the Ram, pumpkin painting, a DJ, and even food trucks! It is such a blast to get dressed up with your family and friends in Rhody Apparel, take pictures, walk around the endless rows of cars and tailgaters, and enjoy the game. My favorite part is the food and games. My family and I always tailgate with family friends, and so we set up cornhole, tables and chairs, a tent, and a cooler for drinks. My favorite tailgating food/snacks are calzones, a charcuterie board, pasta salad, fruit, and Sun Chips. For dessert, we often bring a platter of assorted cookies, brownies, and URI themed cupcakes! Tailgating has become a tradition and going full out with food and decorations makes the experience memorable! My family and many others enjoy tailgating from 10am till dinnertime. Dedicating the entire day for festivities, such as stopping by booths, checking out the game, or even walking around and meeting new people is the best! 

 

Relaxing Ramblers 
If you enjoy the outdoors as much as I do, you’ve come to the right place! Now that it is fall, get outside, go for a walk and take some photos of the fall foliage. Relaxing RAMblers is a group organized by Health Services, where students can join to take group walks around campus, as their intention is to “explore, connect, and thrive.” With midterms approaching, taking study breaks to get outside or meet up with friends can help you to recharge and have a more balanced schedule. I love getting out in nature and taking time to reflect. Self care is important, and so energizing yourself with activities that bring you positivity and peace can help you to stay more focused when it comes to studying and meeting deadlines. My favorite ways to de-stress include listening to music to boost my mood, taking walks to recenter my attention, rewarding myself occasionally with a pumpkin iced coffee from Dunkin or an acai bowl, and even just taking time in the morning and at night to reflect on my day and relax. Some ways I incorporate mindfulness and relaxation into my daily routine include working out, finding inspirational pins on Pinterest, listening to a podcast, and reading. Embrace relaxation, and find what brings you the most peace.

2024 Farmer’s Market
If you would like to receive free, fresh produce, from the URI farms, head on down to the farmer’s market located on the quad! The Farmer’s Market is open every Thursday from 11-1 PM until October 31st. Having fresh, organic vegetables accessible on campus is something to be grateful for! There is nothing better than produce straight from the farm. Some vegetables and fruits offered include apples, lettuce, cauliflower, potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and more! The market also is a great way to interact with those running the booth and to discuss nutritional recommendations of foods that help fuel your body! My favorite healthy meal to prepare is chicken broccoli rice bowls with sweet potatoes and cinnamon sprinkled on top. I am definitely going to attend the market this week as taking advantage of receiving free food is a massive benefit to college students, particularly for those who have limited access to meals or who cook for themselves.

Off-Campus Events:
Clark Farms 
If you haven’t visited Clark Farms yet, you definitely should! They offer a corn maze up until October 30th, along with hayrides, a zip line, go-karts, etc. I enjoy going with my friends every year to pick pumpkins and embrace the fall spirit! Then, we will have a pumpkin carving contest and watch some classic Halloween movies with some apple cider donuts. Spending the weekend to go to the farm, paint, carve pumpkins, and have a movie night makes fall fun! Speaking of Halloween, throw a costume or themed party, host a movie night and binge watch all Halloween classics, or head on down to Scary Acres in  Hope, RI. From the haunted hay ride to the corn maze, it is a thrilling moment. As it has been voted the “scariest haunt” in RI and from my personal experience, I would go in a group as you don’t want to lose your friends in the maze. The hayride and corn maze is around 40 minutes, so if you love a good adrenaline rush, this is the place for you. All tickets have to be purchased online.

Rail Explorers
Rail Explorers is the perfect way to workout while being in nature. The Rail Explorers is presented by the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad. There are various tours available, including a track-or-treat tour, a brunch tour, a fireside costume ride, and a lantern ride. The booking process is selecting which tour and selecting a railroad bike. The available options are a quad and tandem pedal Rail Explorer. It was so fun going with my family a couple years ago. Once we arrived, there was a specific lot for parking and so a shuttle bus brought my family and others to the rail explorers. While pedaling in the quad explorer, there was plenty of room. As you are pedaling along the rails for two hours, there is plenty of time to explore all of the scenic areas while also going at your own pace. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys being in nature, especially during this time of year!

Roger Williams Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular 
The classic Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is always a great idea for some fun. The Spectacular is held at Roger Williams Park up until November 2nd, and tickets can be purchased online. I love seeing the creative and unique designs! This year the theme is trivia, which includes trivia-themed pumpkins, trivia questions along your tour of the zoo, and halloween skits will be taking place! The pumpkin trail opens from 6:00-10:30 PM and tickets are sold online. Watching the pumpkins glow when it is pitch dark out is my favorite part! 

 

I hope you take these ideas and add them to your fall bucket list! Whether you are on or off campus, there are plenty of opportunities for you to connect with others, try new things, and have fun!