As summer comes to a close and everyone returns to Pitt for another year, the start of classes brings with it an unlimited amount of opportunity and fun. Leaves are falling off trees, restaurants are selling apple cider, and the weather hasn’t had the chance to be brutally cold just yet. While many name spring semester as their favorite, fall semester holds its own as one of the most beautiful and exciting times to be a Pitt student. Besides perfect weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and Instagram-worthy photos of Cathy, fall in Pittsburgh is filled with activities and events that spring semester just can’t compete with. Here are the top ten reasons why fall semester deserves to be your new favorite:
1. O-Week Events
Everyone knows O-Week for its insane parties, swarms of freshmen getting settled into campus, and abundance of events for incoming students. While partying every night of O-Week can be fun, the real value of the week before classes start lies in the free food. Anyone can attend the O-Week events for freshmen and take advantage of the millions of opportunities to gain a free meal. Why use your meal plan or hard-earned money to eat when you could stack a plate high with international foods at the Global Carnevale or top a bowl of ice cream with tons of chocolate syrup at the Ice Cream Social? This weeklong buffet only comes around once a year, so make sure you take advantage of it while you can.
2. Football
Anyone who thinks football isn’t fun clearly hasn’t been to a Pitt game at Heinz Field. Whether you’re an avid fan of the sport or not, there are tons of opportunities to have a blast while watching the Panthers make some touchdowns. Tailgating is an awesome way to socialize and have a meal, all while getting excited for the game. And, of course, there’s nothing better than cheering on the Panthers and singing Sweet Caroline at the top of your lungs after the third quarter ends. Plus, who doesn’t love to see those Victory Lights on Cathy after Pitt wins?
Good times never seemed so good.
3. Family Weekend
After a few weeks of classes, you’ve probably burnt out your groceries, your hard-earned summer money, and of course, your brain. Family weekend is the best time to relax and refresh all of these. When else are you going to be able to stock your fridge for free? Plus, that new hoodie in the Pitt Shop has been calling your name, and we all know you can’t afford to drop $60 on it. But you know who can? Your parents. Go girl, get that hoodie, and maybe those sweatpants too. Just make sure you tell your parents you love them, and maybe take them to the football game or show them some cool places to eat around campus (parents love The Porch). They’ll appreciate it and cure some of that homesickness you might be feeling.
4. Homecoming
Homecoming is by far one of the best nights of the year. Besides the homecoming game, Pitt pulls off an awesome laser and fireworks show on Bigelow, which gets better every year. Add this to the thousands of students and alumni gathered on campus wearing Pitt colors, and it’s impossible to feel anything but love for our wonderful university.
5. Halloween
Halloween is arguably one of the best nights of the year because of the endless possibilities it holds. This is the one night of the year when it’s perfectly okay to be whomever (or whatever) you want. However you choose to dress up or celebrate, this is a night dedicated to having a blast and acting as immature and crazy as possible. To help you get even further into the Halloween spirit, Haunted Holland and the haunted Nationality Room tours are cheap and fun ways to creep you out and give you and your friends shivers.
6. Long weekends and holiday breaks
After four months of summer freedom, getting back into the flow of classes, club meetings, and schoolwork can be difficult. Thankfully, Pitt provides us with lots of long weekends and breaks during fall semester to help us cope with the sudden onset of homework. Whether it’s Labor Day Weekend, Fall Break, or Thanksgiving Break, there are plenty of opportunities to put off your homework until Monday night and get a few more hours of sleep (or fun) than usual. There’s only one long weekend during spring semester, so fall definitely wins this category.
7. Milkshake Factory
While Milkshake Factory is undoubtedly the best part of South Side, nothing beats the huge variety of new flavors that fall semester brings. Pumpkin pie and salted caramel are two of the best, and there are plenty of other flavors (over 55!) for those who like a more classic shake. Plus, the weather will still be nice enough to enjoy a cold milkshake, so there’s no need to worry about your hand turning into an ice cube while shopping around afterwards. If milkshakes aren’t your thing, you can pick up some cute chocolates for your roommate or grab some pumpkin or leaf-shaped cookies or candies.
8. Market Thanksgiving
Even as a clueless freshman, Market Thanksgiving is hard to miss. The lines snake past QuickZone, and people rush to Towers between classes to get a good spot in line and get first pick of the food. You may have sworn off Market after freshman year, but going to this yearly event is a Pitt rite of passage and by far one of the best nights of the semester.
9. Fall foods and drinks
We all know fall doesn’t officially start until the release of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks, but there are so many other fall foods that deserve the same amount of love. Apple cider, pies, caramel apples, fall flavored drinks, and pumpkin seeds are just a few of the best foods of the season, and there are so many more to enjoy during this perfect time of year.
10. Fall Fest
Nothing says fall like Fall Fest, the free concert and carnival that Pitt Program Council hosts every year. PPC has a history of rounding up amazing headliners, like All Time Low and OneRepublic, as well as some pretty awesome opening bands. This year, Hoodie Allen is performing, and we hear there will be free food, so there’s no reason not to love this annual event.