There are only a few short months when it is socially acceptable to drink everything pumpkin-flavored, wear an oversized sweater every day, and watch Gilmore Girls for the hundredth time. So, why not make the most of it? College can make fall feel a little different. Between classes, studying, work, extracurriculars and trying to maintain some sort of social life, it is easy to let the season pass by without actually doing anything. This year, make a fall bucket list with your friends and actually give yourself a reason to slow down and enjoy it. Whether you are looking for a fun weekend activity, a cozy night in or something to add to your fall date-night plans, here are some ideas to put on your list.
Have a Pumpkin Patch Day
Grab your friends, put on your cutest fall outfit and head to a pumpkin patch. Pick out a pumpkin, take pictures, grab some cider and make an afternoon out of it.
Try Every Fall Drink at Your Favorite Coffee Shop
Fall is basically an excuse to try every seasonal drink on the menu. Pumpkin chai? Apple cinnamon latte? Maple something? Order it. Make it a tradition with your friends and pick a new seasonal drink every week. You might even find your new favorite.
Go Apple Picking
Spend an afternoon picking apples with your roommates, friends or significant other. And, obviously, you cannot go apple picking without taking pictures and bringing some of the apples home to bake something with later.
Have a Fall Baking Night
Pick a recipe, invite your friends over and spend the night baking. Pumpkin bread, apple pie, cookies, or whatever you are in the mood for. It does not even have to turn out perfectly. Half the fun is making a mess in the kitchen with your friends and eating the results afterward.
Have a Gilmore Girls Night
Get into your comfiest pajamas, make some hot chocolate or apple cider, order takeout and turn on Gilmore Girls. Bonus points for watching it while wrapped up in a blanket with a candle burning in the background. Honestly, this one should probably be mandatory.
Have a Halloween Movie Marathon
Pick your favorite Halloween movies and make a whole night out of it. You could go classic horror, nostalgic Halloween movies or even the movies that are more cozy than scary. Make popcorn, grab some Halloween candy and invite your friends over. The more blankets, the better.
Have a Pumpkin Decorating Competition
You do not have to be good at carving pumpkins to participate. In fact, that might make it more fun. Get a few friends together, buy some cheap pumpkins and see who can come up with the best design. You can carve them, paint them or completely cover them in glitter if that is what you are feeling.
Go to a Haunted House
If you and your friends enjoy being scared, put a haunted house on the list. Go with the friend who insists they are not scared and see how quickly that changes once you are actually inside.
Have a Fall Date
Fall is arguably one of the easiest seasons for a cute date. Go for a walk, grab coffee, visit a pumpkin patch, get apple cider or find a local festival. You do not have to spend a lot of money to make it memorable. And if you are single? Take your best friend instead.
Your Morgantown Fall Bucket List
Luckily for WVU students, you do not have to travel far to find things to do this fall. Add these local events to your calendar:
Go to a Morgantown Ghost & True Crime Tea-Vent
If you love true crime, spooky stories or anything slightly mysterious, this one belongs on your list. On Thursday, October 8 at 6 p.m., The Tea Shoppe is hosting Morgantown Ghost & True Crime Stories: A Local History Tea-vent at 709 Beechurst Avenue. The event combines Appalachian folklore and notorious local crimes with a themed tea service and a complimentary glass of prosecco for adults. Grab your friends, dress for the occasion and make a night of it.
Take a Trip to the Mon Valley Fall Festival & Carnival
Looking for something a little different? Make a mini road trip out of it. The Mon Valley Fall Festival & Carnival takes place October 7–11 at Palmer Park in Donora, Pennsylvania. There will be carnival rides, food and plenty of fall-festival atmosphere. Grab your friends, get some festival food and spend the evening riding carnival rides. Sometimes a spontaneous little road trip is exactly what you need during the semester.
Go to a Trunk-or-Treat
Who says you have to be a kid to enjoy Halloween? On October 27, Adventure Time Child Development Center is hosting a free Trunk-or-Treat at 1311 Pineview Drive in Morgantown. The event is family-friendly and gives you another excuse to dress up and enjoy some Halloween festivities.
Spend Halloween at the Ruby Amphitheater
If you do not already have Halloween plans, add this one to the calendar. The 2026 Halloween Spooktacular is happening on October 31 at the Ruby Amphitheater. The evening includes a Trunk-or-Treat at 4 p.m., The Nightmare Before Christmas at 5 p.m. and The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 7 p.m. Whether you go for the movies, the Halloween atmosphere or just want something fun to do with your friends, it is a pretty perfect way to spend Halloween in Morgantown.
And Most Importantly… Romanticize It
Your fall bucket list does not have to be filled with huge plans. Some of the best memories might come from the little things: getting coffee before class, taking pictures when the leaves change, baking cookies with your roommate, watching a movie after a long week or spontaneously deciding to go somewhere with your friends. College goes by quickly, and it is easy to get caught up in everything you have to do. So this fall, make time for the things you want to do, too. Grab your friends. Put on your favorite sweater. Order the pumpkin drink. Take the pictures. Make the fall memories you will want to look back on.