Maine is known for its beautiful seasons and crisp fall weather. The leaves change, the Bean boots are dug out of closets and the newly crisp air signals the start of the fall and winter seasons that are about to begin. Located in a rural area, the University of Maine takes pride in its diverse collection and variety of outdoor opportunities available to students. This makes fall an especially celebratory time to get out and look at leaves, visit apple orchards and farms and pick pumpkins.
“Fall is a great time to get outside and hang out with your friends. These past few weeks I have gone apple picking at Treworgy Orchards, carved pumpkins, and made sure to enjoy the beautiful fall colors,” third-year student Olivia Reese said.
Students often go apple picking at Treworgy Orchards in Levant, Maine, and to other places and attractions in the state that open for the majority of the fall season. Treworgy Orchards also has a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides and apple cider donuts that bring college students and families over to the farm.
Calkins Farm Stand in Hampden, Maine and Gray Farm in Newport, Maine are other sites popular from September to December. Fright at the Fort is an attraction located in Fort Knox that allows people to explore the Fort and experience characters and frightful scenes from many of Stephen King’s famous books and films.
“My friends and I go to Fright at the Fort in Bucksport, Maine, and it’s a wicked good time. What’s great about this state is how excited everyone gets for fall and there are so many activities to do in the area,” fifth-year student Alex Newhall said. “It’s nice to know that there are plenty of things to do during these first few months of school, both on and off campus to get in the spirit of the season. I also love to visit farms and places with beautiful natural scenery during this time of year.”
UMaine brought the farm-style celebrations to campus with the Highmoor Fall Harvest Sale on Oct. 10. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the lawn by Cyrus Pavilion, students were able to purchase pumpkins, apples and squash from staff members from UMaine’s Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, Maine.
“This is the first year that I have walked by the annual Harvest Sale on the lawn, and I was so excited to see the beautiful pumpkins and vegetables displayed on tables and in the grass. Our school is great about giving us resources and helping us fully enjoy and experience a ‘Maine’ fall even if we aren’t from the state,” second-year student Katherine Reardon said.
The campus has decorated various buildings with pumpkins, leaves, string lights and Halloween figures. York, Wells and Hilltop Dining Halls have created their own fall atmospheres with dessert decorating activities and festive displays. The Memorial Union has inflatable ghosts and skeletons scattered on each floor to spread Halloween cheer and promote students to enjoy the season.
“The autumn scenery and campus-wide cheerfulness is both inspiring and beautiful. I take pictures of trees and things I see around campus that remind me of fall and the changing seasons,” first-year student Autumn Rogers said.
UMaine isn’t the only place where fall decorations and festivities are taking over as many other towns and cities in the local area also take pride in setting up ornamental displays.
“I love how downtown Orono puts up corn husks and decks out the community in fall decorations. It really brings the harvest pride and Halloween spirit, their efforts don’t go unnoticed and it puts everyone in a great festive mood,” fourth-year student Daniella Romeo said.
Witch hats, black cats, pumpkin carvings and orange lights litter the steps of Orono and Old Town buildings and homes, filling the atmosphere with an excitement for fall.
