As a third-year student-athlete, I have made it my goal to explore the beautiful city that UMass Boston resides in. Although sometimes it is hard for me to find the time to do stuff for myself, Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, especially around fall time and I want to take advantage of it. I am fortunate enough to be able to come to this state for college, away from my home in South Florida. I came here for a change in scenery and to be able to experience the beauty of the different seasons. It may sound boring to people who grew up in the Northeast but, for me, I never experienced anything but 90-plus-degree heat all year round. Now that my tennis season is over, I have made it a priority to go out into the city and do something that brings me joy. Whether that means doing homework in a coffee shop or visiting a farmers market with some friends, it is something I will be aiming to do once a week. Boston is filled with endless ways to spend your time, including city parks, kayaking, Duck Tours, farmers markets, and a ton of outdoor dining options.
This November, there are an abundance of events that are occurring all over the city, including the Day of the Dead Celebration on Nov. 1 and 2, the Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 8, the SOWA Winter Festival, and the Holiday Market at Snowport opening on Nov. 7! Most events that are taking place this month, carry over into December for the holidays. The Day of the Dead Celebration is an event that honors loved ones through a beautiful tribute filled with food, culture, art, and music vendors. The festival is free and open to the public both of these days and located in East Boston. The history behind this event is that it was believed that there was a process to be born and another to die. When the soul leaves the physical body, it must go through a series of tests or dimensions to reach the desired rest.
The Veterans Day Parade, taking place on Nov. 8, is a parade that starts at the Boston Public Library and goes all the way to Tremont Street. It is a free event, from noon to 3 p.m. and is held in order to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families, as well as a thank you to all who serve. Other events that are upcoming this autumn are the Snowport and the SOWA Holiday Markets/Winter Festivals. Snowport, which begins Nov. 7 and runs until Dec. 28, is a holiday market where your shopping needs can be met! I love getting my gifts here because not only am I supporting small businesses, I am also finding unique items that my friends and family will love. There are also a ton of food vendors that will be around the market as well. SOWA Winter Festival, taking place on certain days of the week from Nov. 28 to Dec. 28, is an outdoor winter festival that has hundreds of different vendors selling everything that you could possibly think of! These events are amazing to bring children to, as there is an abundance of games and activities to do there.
Meet Boston is an amazing website that lays out all the events that are going on in and around the city. I access it frequently to discover the events going on right outside my apartment! There are so many opportunities right outside our doorstep that we must take advantage of. I will be at all of these events throughout the next month or so, and I hope to see everyone there!