Starbucks announced the return of the beloved pumpkin spice latte on Sept. 1.

For many, this news, and the end of Labor Day weekend, signifies the official start of the fall season. It’s finally the time of Halloween, colorful leaves and Champaign’s abrupt transition from the Sahara Desert to the North Pole.

The blissful sentiment of fall won’t last long. Those who’ve spent the last couple of years at the University would agree that the comfortable temperatures of spring and fall are moments to be cherished. Students would be wise to take advantage of this period and enjoy unique seasonal activities on and off campus.

If you signed up for various organizations on Quad Day, your email inbox should be flooded with invitations to tours and group activities throughout Champaign-Urbana. These events provide perfect opportunities to make new friends and create some of your favorite college memories.

One of the most popular locations to enjoy fall is the Curtis Apple Orchard Students can roam free in the Orchard and de-stress from the fast-approaching gloom of midterms. Along with the experience of walking along the apple trees and stepping on crunchy leaves, you can bring home some apple butter and other goods to support the Curtis family business.

Another typical University fall activity is to attend your favorite RSO’s barn dance. The October Lovers club hosts many activities that are seasonally appropriate, but their barn dance is perhaps the most popular on campus. Other organizations, such as UIUC Zagloba Polish Club, host their own barn dances, which sell out within hours. They are excellent occasions to get away from the usual party scenes on the campus and have fun in the middle of corn fields.

If you wish to enjoy the crisp fall evening, a good way to spend the night would be making s’mores or having a barbecue at the Illini Grove. The location, right next to PAR and FAR, is convenient for students to get an outdoor feel without having to travel far. Take a pumpkin spice latte or hot chocolate to keep you warm as you enjoy a late night picnic or afternoon snack. Everyone can use the area as long as cleanup is done responsibly and the music isn’t too loud.

Lastly, trying out escape rooms in downtown Urbana or Champaign can be an adventure as you try to get out of the themed rooms by solving mysteries. The activity should take about an hour, and it will make you feel exhilarated when you successfully get out of the chamber at the end. There will be new themed rooms added this fall, and it will be a great experience to share with a group of friends.

If you’re already convinced that you will be stuck in the libraries to cram for quizzes and exams for the rest of the season, trying out different types of fall-themed coffees at Espresso Royale, Kopi and other cafes in the area might cheer you up. There are definitely more flavors to fall than pumpkin spice, and it would be a shame to miss any of it if you’re a coffee addict.

Even walking around the campus to witness the Main Quad’s changing colors is a great way to enjoy the altering temperature and scenery.

No matter how you choose to spend your fall on campus, it’s important to look up from studying once in awhile to witness and expose yourself to this short, yet delightful time of the year.

Da Yeon is a sophomore in ACES.

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