The change of seasons is much like the resurgence of new life and change. As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” Each season brings with it its own unique sentiments; fall is that time of year that brings excitement for the little things as the air gets chillier and the nights become longer.
There’s something about the return of cozy nights staying in with a bottle of wine, starting your day off with a pumpkin spiced latte and smelling the sweet scent of your favorite apple cinnamon candle that gets people excited about summer ending and fall taking its place.
Some of the more typical nights that we look forward to are the most simple of all, but because it’s fall again, these activities take on a whole new meaning. Other activities only come around this one time of year, so we make the most of them and embrace our child like animation for a new holiday season.
Star gazing picnic party
There’s only a scarce few brisk nights left before winter’s freeze will take reign. A night filled with blankets, wine, good food, friends and the stars is a great way to soak up the last bit of fall’s warmth before Christmas is upon us.
Either in your backyard or in the park, grab some friends and plan for an ethereal night under the sky’s prettiest lights to eat, drink, and be merry.
Pumpkin carving, apple picking, and DIY crafts
The corniest of all autumn festivities definitely falls into the category of choosing your perfect selection of pumpkins and apples to later be carved as art or baked into pies.
Fall offers us the opportunity to feel like children again; to get our hands dirty with pumpkin guts and baking ingredients.
Scary movie marathons
It’s the random weekend night that you don’t feel like going out so you plan a night in with friends to watch the scariest classic films. The popcorn is popped, the wine is uncorked and every small creak or squeak is magnified by the ascending fear rising in your stomach.
What is it about the thrill we get from being scared that we love so much? It’s only until we’re later alone before turning out the lights that we regret binge watching the most horror filled scenes in the history of Halloween movies.
As much as our classic fall rituals will never get old, here are a few new ideas to try this season.
Wine, cooking & baking nights
Every September or October, my sister and I have a girls’ night with some friends to cook festive autumn dishes, bake fall themed cookies, drink delicious bottles of red wine and watch the movie Practical Magic.
We call it our “fall party” and as dorky as the title is, every year that September rolls back around, we all look forward to hosting this annual tradition of ours that has become a warm memory on a crisp fall night.
Autumn themed dinner party
I always love looking online for creative new ideas when hosting a party or having friends and family over for dinner. Whether it’s having unique table settings, festive home décor or authentic menu items, I really enjoy making the night a memorable experience for everyone.
Stop by your nearest farmers market or grocery store to handpick vegetables that are fresh and in season for your dish of choice. Once you have found something that you like and is within your budget, try your best at creating your own version of it in your home.
Bringing in the new with a bonfire
We all love making smores, sitting around a bonfire and telling ghost stories with friends. Here’s a “New Years” twist on the old Halloween classic storytelling night.
Instead of telling ghost stories around the bonfire, this fall why not get “wishing paper” and write down all that you want for yourself in this new season? As each season draws to a close and another one begins, we too change as well.
All you need besides wood and a couple of matches are pieces of paper to write down what you want to bring into your life this fall. After you’ve shared your desires among friends, each person will throw their piece of paper into the bonfire and imagine all good experiences for themselves.
When summer is in the past and colder weather briskly arrives, we not only go indoors, but we tend to turn inwards and reflect on our year thus far. What better time to set positive and fulfilling intentions for ourselves than at the start of autumn before a new year has begun?