Autumn is a period of time when Florida shifts from blazing hot to much cooler weather. With both Thanksgiving and Winter Break around the corner, events and occasions start to pick up. Everyone starts to feel the excitement of the changing season. Autumn encompasses a variety of holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Dia de Los Muertos. These holidays are particularly exciting between the colorful decorations, countless desserts, and feeling of connection to other people.
“Fall is just such a cute time of the year, I love how all the stores are decorated with little colorful fall leaves. I also really love the candles and all of their new fall scents. Fall is such a cute time of the year,” says SHS Eshal Ahmed, a senior and full time dual enrollment student.
The Harvest Season and How It Connects With Students
Autumn provides time for a student to reflect, recharge, and reset themselves. With a new semester approaching in less than two months, students should reflect on their progress this semester. They should also focus on some things that they did wrong and some things that they should keep exactly the same. Recharging prevents students from experiencing serious burnout. Students resetting gives students the opportunity to let go of their old habits and implement new ones.
Students enjoy this time of the year because it is packed with events.
Here are some events that have/have not already happened! These events are all around the Sanford area!
Pumpkin Carving Contest: The contest happened this past Friday (October 13th), it was at 6:30pm and was hosted by The Station Bar & Grub. Prizes were given to those that came in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.
Zoo Boo Bash: Done by the Florida Central Zoo, this occasion is filled with halloween themed activities for kids. It will be this weekend and end on Monday (October 21, 2023).
Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch: This event started on September 16th and will go on until October 29th. It is on Fridays from 4-8pm. The event takes place at Gross Farms. There are a range of activities, such as, cart racing, bounce pillows, hayrides, children’s play area, and slides. Live music will also be played. Both food and ice cream will be provided.
Truck or Treat: There are four trunk or treat events happening. One is at Airplane Lanes Bowling Alley, on the 28th, ending at 6pm. There is a prize of $250 for the best decorated car. Another truck or treat is at Sanford Cars & Grub, one can check out different cars as they are collecting candy, it is on October 29th. The last two are done by churches. One is Holy Cross Lutheran Academy Upper School and the other is at Central Church. The first one starts at 5pm on October 28th and the second goes from 6-8pm on the 31st.
Sophomore student HannaBrianna RoundTree-Littles attended the pumpkin carving contest. “I absolutely loved the event. I was sad that I did not win first place, but I loved participating. It was so much fun! I went on October 7th. I really loved it. I would have loved to speak to the first place winner but I did not get a chance to.”
Autumn is definitely a time in the year that students look forward to because of all of the breaks they get. It is also a time where people start to embrace the holidays and get excited about all of the events coming up. The stores are filled with all kinds of cute scents and new pumpkin flavored treats. It is only the beginning of this fun-filled season!