Fall is usually a festive time with the leaves changing colors, pumpkin spice everything, sweater weather and the crisp smell in the air. However, with COVID-19 not many people are feeling festive. Not to worry, there is still plenty to do.
Personally, one of my favorite things to do is to cuddle up next to a fire with a good book or make delicious s’mores when I am tired of doing schoolwork.
Another fun thing that is easily accomplished while social distancing is apple and pumpkin picking. Grab all of your friends and head to one of the many orchards near Monmouth, you can get cute little pumpkins to decorate your dorm or house and take cute fall pictures.
People might be excited about Halloween but curious as to what direction this year will take us. At this point, haunted houses are not allowed, but corn mazes and pumpkin patches are. In New York, there is a wonderful exhibit called The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. This exhibit contains a walkthrough of different structures and pathways created entirely of pumpkins and lights.
Another unique opportunity that is available this year is a drive-thru at Skyland stadium. This is also a Jack O’Lantern exhibit, only filled with different themes. The difference between the Skyland exhibit and the one in New York is that Skyland is more than just a drive-thru. One can walk around the field where you can get food, drinks, play carnival games, paint pumpkins and go on rides.
For my friends’ 21 and over, there is a nice little winery right here in Colts Neck, NJ. 4JG’s Winery, has wine tasting for only $15 per person. You can sample three wines and get a full glass of wine in a gorgeous glass cup you get to keep. You can also walk the grounds, which has many opportunities for amazing pictures.
If you happen to go to the winery there is an amazing shop and bakery called Delicious Orchards right next door. Their baked goods are outstanding and a must-have if you are in New Jersey. They have apple cider donuts that are to die for and pies that are wonderfully fresh. They also have cookies that are both soft and crispy that makes your mouth water just thinking about them.
Another classic fall tradition that always ensures a good time is watching “fall” movies. Some movies that I consider a must-see are Hocus Pocus, all of the Halloween Town series, Casper and The Little Vampire. If you like scary movies I would recommend Insidious, The Conjuring, Annabelle, Strangers and When a Stranger Calls.
Another fun activity you can do that is visiting six flags’ Fright Fest, which is now called Hallowfest. There you get the joys of an amusement park, all while feeling the crisp air against your skin and slipping back into some normalcy. They decorated the entire park for Halloween and created Hallowmazes. Some parts of the park are designated for the scary side of Halloween and other parts are more for fall fun so there is something for everyone.
This year is obviously going to be different, but if you try hard enough you can have a good time, as well as gain some sense of a social life during these difficult times. Let us all celebrate the fall season!
PHOTO TAKEN by James Tierney
PHOTOS TAKEN by Gina Urbanik
