Fall Crazy in Love With Fall

Victoria Baek, Sophie Mansoury, & Jules Rau

Although fall in Orange County isn’t exactly sweater weather, there are plenty of activities to do with your favorite people  —  for the homebodies, the thrill-seekers or the aesthetes all over OC. So cozy up, turn on the 10-minute version of  “All Too Well” and get ready for an overload of fall activities. 

We have Nov. 11 off for Veterans Day, and Nov. 23-27 for Thanksgiving break. The last day of conservatory is Dec. 10, so take a break from academic stress and spend time outdoors! We recommend going to the North OC Night Market in Anaheim to enjoy local street food and live music for $6. If you’re in for a little scare, starting Sept. 12 until Halloween night, the lights go down, the fog turns on, all the monsters come out and Knott’s Berry Farm transitions to Knott’s Scary Farm. Enjoy an immersive, thrilling experience mixing roller coasters with horror-themed attractions and scare actors. Similar to Knott’s Scary Farm, Universal Studios has Halloween Horror Nights from Sept. 3 through Nov. 1, adding thrills based on Universal’s horror features. The tram is hijacked, the houses are haunted and you’ll find characters all over the park, scarier than usual. You may even spot Nikki Freeman looking for her next Bear. For less pricey thrills, check out local haunted houses, like the Haunted Mansion Haunt in Lake Forest. 

Or maybe scares aren’t your thing. If you’re still feeling outdoorsy, visit Oak Glen or the Julian Farm and Orchard. They offer apple-picking, a petting zoo and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities. In addition to apples, pumpkin patches are a great addition to your Instagram grid. Daily wagon rides are offered September through October at the Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch. If looking for an after-school activity close to OCSA, the MainPlace Mall hosts a free admission seasonal event, with a petting zoo and selection of pumpkins.   

A cozy night in with friends can be a good alternative when the weather doesn’t permit outdoor activities. Enjoy a movie marathon with some fall favorites, including “Hocus Pocus,” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Casper.” Turn on an episode of “Gilmore Girls” while baking a seasonal treat — pumpkin bread, cinnamon rolls or even Julia’s fudge brownies! 

Finally, don’t forget to check out the events we have here on campus! Every fall, P&D and A&E put on their annual student-produced Halloween Maze, with student actors hanging upside down in a Ghostface mask. On the opposite side of school, the Annual Painted Pumpkin Auction by the VA students excites not only classmates who get to see it in the Tower Lobby, but also aesthetes who crave artsy pumpkins. Interested in listening to plays? Act or write a short Halloween-related play for Scarefest, created by CW teacher Mr. Frost! 

Fall in Orange County has something for everyone, so grab your friends and make some memories before we start counting down the days until winter break!