As August melts into September, and September into October, the autumn awakening has hit FCHS. With pumpkin spice lattes making their yearly debut, and Halloween decor littering Walmart and Target, many people are leaning into the spicy sweet aromas and earth-tone colors that come along with fall.

If you’re looking for ways to take advantage of the fall season, consider these options.

Visit an Orchard

Orchards and farms are a hot spot for some family-friendly fun, especially if you like hot cider, hayrides, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and apple picking. Less than a mile from the high school is Fruit Hill Orchard which offers a variety of apples, pumpkins, baked goods, dairy, and honey for purchase. There is no fee to visit, and the orchard is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.

Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville is another option for a close-by orchard with all sorts of activities. From now until Nov. 5, on weekends there is a $8 admission fee for people over the age of 12. The orchard holds events with live music, hosts food trucks Friday through Monday, and of course, apple picking. They sell a variety of fruit, vegetables, bakery items, household products, and preserves. Carter Mountain Orchard is also especially known for their apple cider doughnuts. They’re open 9 AM to 6 PM everyday. 

Take a Hike

Going for walks during the transition between seasons is also a great way to relax. Crisp wind and the warm sun make for a prime morning jog temperature. In Fluvanna, the leaves have already begun to take on their annual hues of orange, red, and yellow, and Pleasant Grove Park is a great place for fall leaf viewing. It also has 22 miles of trails which run through heavily-wooded areas, brooks, and the Rivanna River. You can find a map of the trails here. 

Pleasant Grove also offers a self-guided nature hike which you can download here. The open grassy areas and their pole barn also make for a prime location for picnics. “The overall aesthetic [of fall] is nice. It makes me feel cozy just by looking at it,” said junior Tomas Cruz Vega.

Take in a Game

Sure, you can watch sports online, but getting outside and supporting your school team is a big part of fall. Perhaps the biggest event of the school year is the Homecoming football game which is held this year on Oct. 6 at the football field. Homecoming events will begin just after the annual Homecoming parade at 6:00 pm that evening in the school bus parking lot. You can save on sports tickets by buying them in advance at gofan.org.

Following the game will be the Homecoming dance on Oct. 7. “I’m really excited for Homecoming because I wasn’t able to go last year. I’m also excited to see what theme they come up with,” said FCHS junior Victoria Martinez. 

For something unique, check out the Powder puff football game on Oct. 2 at 7:00 on the football field. 

You might consider catching another one of the fall FCHS sports like field hockey or cross country. You can find their schedule of games and meets at flyingflucos.org. Don’t forget about the annual Powder Puff football game which is currently scheduled for Oct.4 at 7:00 at the football field.  

Get Haunted

Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, but there are still many spooky activities to take advantage of throughout the month. Kings Dominion in Doswell is having their annual Halloween Haunt event which is held weekend evenings through Oct. 29. Tickets start at $54.99 and are available at the Kings Dominion  website.

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is having their own Halloween event called “Howl-o-Scream” now through Oct. 31. You can buy tickets starting at $82.99 at their website.

For more local Halloween fun, the Fork Union Fire Company is organizing a haunted trail featuring “the purge” on Oct. 27, 28 and 31. Go to the Fork Union Fire Company for more information.

FCHS’ Interact Club will host a Jack O’Lantern Jamboree and Trunk-or-Treat, featuring games and activities, a costume contest, and a Local Eats food truck, on Oct. 14 from 4-9 pm. All money raised from the event will be used towards the non-profit charity Rise Against Hunger. 

Looking for more fall fun? Consider these options:

• Cozy up with a scary movie or a book on chilly days.
• Bake themed cookies either from scratch, or from the impossibly good, ready to buy cookie dough.
• Carve pumpkins outside with friends
• Decorate around the house to get into the mood for Halloween. You can find DIY Halloween decoration ideas at Country Living.com.

For more ideas of things to do this fall, see this article by former Fluco Emma Ward.