Worried about being bored this October (the month you so anticipate every year)? Don’t panic, here are seven things to do during this autumn month:
- Visit a pumpkin patch!
Super cliche yet still pretty fun for all ages. Most “patches” have multiple things to do aside from basically browsing through large produce stacked on bales of hay. Sometimes there are corn mazes, or even rides. Take your friends, a date, or just go with your family. Some local pumpkin patches: Spina Farms, Pick of the Patch Pumpkins, ABC Tree Farms.
2. Bake some seasonal stuff.
You know those cookies with the cute little ghosts on them that everyone somehow forgets about until this time of year? It’s a known fact that cookies taste better when they’re themed. Have a couple of friends over and pretend you know how to do more than just peel dough off a roll and throw it in the oven. Have a cookie decorating party complete with a variety of frosting jars, sprinkles, and cookie cutters.
3. Halloween Haunt
Make sure to wear comfy shoes; there will be lots of running. This one might take a couple days of mental preparation. Maybe bring an extra pair of pants. This Great America theme park tradition is widely praised for excellent actors dressed as your worst nightmares, and includes mazes. Tickets prices start out at $30.
4. ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween (or just Netflix)
ABC Family is famous for their scheduling of Halloween related classics, and it’s totally fun to accompany #2 on this list and with a night of movies. If you don’t have cable (like a lot of college students) you can take the Netflix route as it’s most likely at least someone you know has a subscription. Netflix releases new Halloween favorites throughout October so get some food, your festive cookies, and binge.
5. Crafting, of course.
We all tease hardcore advocates of Pinterest, but let’s be honest: if you actually do the crafts you save, you probably have your life together. That’s why instead of just hitting save after whispering “that’s so cute” to your phone as you scroll through Pinterest, this year you should really do the crafts. An adventure to Michael’s (the best, yet probably most useless store on Earth) with your friends, and then back to your place to get hot glue everywhere? Sounds like a grand ol’ time.
6. Halloween costume fittings.
Have your own Hilary Duff in “A Cinderella Story” montage with your pals. Try on some super dumb Halloween costumes; maybe even without the intention of ever buying one. After all, what other time of year do you get to walk around a store in a hotdog costume? Oh, and nothing beats scaring the crap out of yourself with the creepy animatronics placed around the store.
7. Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival
Have a day reserved for this famous festival that’s filled with fall festivities. It only runs for two days, October 17th and 18th, but it’s not unrealistically far from San Jose. It’s basically anything fall related rolled up into two days, so it should be an excellent way to get into the autumn spirit.
