Everyone’s favourite season is back! From festive drinks to elaborate plans, here are 10 activities you can do around Kingston to ring in the fall season and make each day just a little brighter.
- Morning Coffee walk
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Out of all the ways to start the day, getting sunshine on your skin first thing in the morning is definitely one of the best. I try to get up before 8, make myself a vanilla iced coffee with oat milk, put in my earphones, and head out the door. Although it’s an early start time, my morning coffee walks have quickly become my favourite part of the day — I feel so much more awake, energetic, and happy. If you’re looking for a podcast to listen to on your morning walks, I’d highly recommend Emma Chamberlain’s Anything Goes for fun stories and advice, Zach Sang’s The Zach Sang Show for in-depth interviews and album reviews, or Seaweed Brain: A Percy Jackson Podcast if you’re craving something more nostalgic.
- Visit Coffee & Co.
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Hot take: Coffee & Co. is even better than Crave! With floor-to-ceiling windows, tables that are both private and communal, and delicious coffee, Coffee & Co. is the perfect study spot if you’re looking to switch it up from Stauffer. Plus, it’s right across from Pan Chancho bakery, so you can pop over and get some of their olive-rosemary bread in between readings. Go for a study session and stay for the blueberry scones.
- Cozy Sweater SZN
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Nothing screams ‘Fall’ more than wearing a cozy knit sweater for the first time all year. Break out your sweater collection and find your favourite ways to style them. Some of my go-tos are with a midi-skirt or a corduroy jacket — look on Pinterest or around campus for more ideas.
- Watch a Fall-inspired show with your roomies
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Fall is often synonymous with Halloween, and who doesn’t love a good murder mystery around this time of year? Cuddle up with your housemates and put on a fall-inspired show like Only Murders in the Building on Hulu. Set in New York City and starring Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Tina Fey, the show follows the lives of three strangers who start a true crime podcast after a murder took place in their apartment building. However, as they investigate, they start to become trapped in a real-life true-crime story. If you’re not into murder mysteries, Gilmore Girls is always a fun fall classic that has something for everyone.
Warner Bros. Television - Carve pumpkins and roast the seeds
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Another classic fall activity to do with your housemates is carving pumpkins. Grab some pumpkins from Metro and your sharpest carving knife, lay some kitchen towels or baking trays out on a flat surface, draw your designs using a Sharpie, and then carve your pumpkins! Bonus points if you scoop out the insides and roast the seeds afterwards; not only is it environmentally conscious, but it also makes for a delicious, fall-inspired snack!
- Pumpkin head photo shoot
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If you’re a fan of taking things to the next level, then you’ll love this Halloween-inspired photo shoot that took TikTok by storm. After carving pumpkins, hollow them out and cut a hole in the bottom big enough to put your head through (no, really). Then, go out to City Park with friends and have someone take photos of you wearing the pumpkin heads. If you want an alternative, non-messy photo shoot idea, throw a white sheet over yourself and put on sunglasses over top of the sheet. It’s funnier if you do mundane things while dressed up — go on a swing set, to a splash pad, or to the baseball diamond. It makes the pictures even spookier if they’re taken on a disposable camera.
- Market square farmer’s market
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If you want to journey into town, the farmer’s market is running for a few more weeks every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning in Market Square or City Park. Go with some friends or by yourself, and look around at the local produce.
- make a fall playlist
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There are some songs that just scream fall, and what better way to celebrate the season than curating the perfect fall playlist? Some of my favourites are “There She Goes” by the Oh-La’s, “an ego thing” by Lizzy McAlpine, or “Kingston” by Faye Webster (because of course). I also recommend anything from Taylor Swift’s album “Red (Taylor’s Version)” or Phoebe Bridgers’ “Stranger in the Alps.” If you’re looking for more suggestions, check out these tips on how to create the best fall playlist ever.
- iced chai latte with espresso, almond milk, and pumpkin cream cold foam
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Like a pumpkin spice latte, but better!
/ Unsplash - Buy yourself some festive flowers
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Buying yourself flowers is one of the easiest ways to brighten up your day and week! Treat yourself by grabbing some colourful ones that remind you of fall and rejoice all week at how beautiful they are.
