Fall in New England is a time of year that many residents of Orono and students at the University of Maine look forward to. The crisp leaves and end to the humid summer weather bring people out of their houses to enjoy the outdoors. One of the many popular activities for students in the fall at UMaine is to go to local farms like Treworgy Family Orchards. Treworgy Family Orchards, located in Levant, has a host of affordable fall activities to participate in.
“I went to Treworgy farms recently to go apple picking, and we had a great time. We were able to pick our own apples, and also pet the goats and see the other animals they have,” fourth-year athletic training student Nick Soper said. “Along with that, we got a chance to buy fresh apple cider donuts, which are probably the best ones you can get in the area.”
Some of the activities Treworgy Family Orchards offers include apple, blueberry and raspberry picking, a corn maze, free hayrides and an in-house gift shop and ice cream stand. The farm also sells pumpkins, hot apple cider, homemade desserts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and festive holiday decorations. Conant Orchards in Etna, and Sullivan’s Orchard in Charleston are also popular destinations for fruit picking and outdoor fall activities.
“I am planning on going apple-picking this weekend and I am really looking forward to it,” first-year English graduate student Nick Weller said. “I haven’t been apple picking since I was like five years old and [I] am excited to kick off fall.”
As fall brings new activities and places to visit, the University of Maine’s campus also has an array of available sports games and campus events that kick off the fall season. Sororities and fraternities on campus are hosting a variety of philanthropy and fall events, including haunted houses, pumpkin carving and craft-making activities.
“I am really looking forward to our haunted house this year and all the Halloween activities that will be going on in the Union,” fourth-year parks, recreation and tourism student Kimberley Stoddard said. “Fall is such a fun time of year to be on campus and it definitely brings everyone together. When the winter hits, it is hard to spend time with your friends outside around campus, but fall is a nice in-between season where you get to do that.”
UMaine offers various festive events free to students throughout the season. Pumpkin carving, painting and decorating, and trivia nights are just a few of the planned activities available throughout the months of October and November. If you are looking to get off campus, the Orono Bog Boardwalk, Acadia National Park, downtown Bangor and other places in the local area offer seasonal events and hours to accommodate the students and families who are looking to get immersed in the fall season.
“I love this time of year because of the fun and positive atmosphere. There are so many things to do in Maine during the fall season. The new school year brings with it the changing of the leaves and the smell of pumpkin candles, which are my favorite,” third-year civil engineering student Claire Klaus said. “I also really love going on hayrides through corn mazes and doing things like apple picking with my friends.”
Whether you are staying in the local Orono area to enjoy everything that fall has to offer or taking a road trip to see a festival or sight, fall is a time that everyone can enjoy.
