Are you ready to fall in love with fall at Bowling Green State University (BGSU)? The best way to kick off the chilly weather, crunchy leaves and pumpkin spice is with fun and festive autumn activities.
Nature walks
Before Blowing Green wind gets blustery, enjoy crisp walks through town. Slippery Elm Trail, about a mile and a half from campus, boasts beautiful, color-changing foliage. If you’re up for a drive, Swanton, Ohio’s Kitty Todd Nature Preserve hosts autumn bird-watching and 1,400 acres of hiking trails. If the weather turns cold, head to the Perry Field House Track Room on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. where students can enjoy a Halloween-themed Well-O-Ween Walk with pumpkin strength circuits, free healthy treats and a pumpkin decorating contest.
The Pumpkin Peddler
What feels more fall than a classic pumpkin patch? Wood County’s The Pumpkin Peddler fulfills fall fantasies with hayrides, apple cider, a corn maze and a pumpkin patch. Sample fall foods, enjoy face-painting, snap aesthetic photoshoots and try to guess the weight of a pumpkin. This pumpkin farm has become a decades’ long, budget-friendly tradition for the whole family. An on-property store also supplies corn, gourds, mini and pie pumpkins and Halloween decorations.
Fall crafts
With colorful leaves scattered on every corner, fall crafts are waiting to be created. Leaves can be preserved by pressing with an iron between wax paper or smushing between heavy textbooks. A coat of Mod Podge will seal off any moisture. Spice up white walls with orange-and-brown paper chains or leaf garlands. Pumpkin painting and carving has become a seasonal staple, but consider DIY-ing the pumpkins themselves with origami gourd templates or finger-print pumpkins.
Spooky movie nights
Sometimes you need a night in. Cozy up on the couch with a blanket, hot chocolate and a scary, or not-so-scary, fall movie and series. Some popular suggestions include “Hocus Pocus,” “Over The Garden Wall,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Beetlejuice” and “Halloweentown.” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”—the interactive cult classic—returns to BGSU’s Bowen-Thompson Student Union theatre on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. This theatrical experience features a shadow cast, with fan-favorites Frank-N-Furter, Brad and Janet.
