By Kendyl Kirtley
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been long awaiting the arrival of fall. Lucky for us sweater weather is finally here, so slip on your coziest knitwear, grab your P.S.L., and embrace all the festivities fall has to offer.
Pumpkin Patches
Whether you use them for carving, apartment decorating, or whipping up pumpkin-flavored desserts, a trip to the pumpkin patch is an essential fall activity. Spend an afternoon strolling through the Dallas Arboretum or St. James Church yard for picking pumpkins and fall photoshoots. If you’re looking for a day trip, Hall’s Pumpkin Farm located in Grapevine offers hayrides, a corn maze, and a pumpkin patch. To commence the fall season, my sister and I paid a visit the St. James pumpkin patch.
“My favorite part was seeing all the happy families picking out the pumpkins they were going to bring home to carve,” said SMU freshman Peyton Kirtley. “Everyone was really embracing the Halloween spirit.”
The Dallas Farmer’s Market
Take a quick drive into downtown Dallas for a trip to the Dallas Farmer’s Market. While the market is open year-round, come fall it embraces the season with a gorgeous pumpkin patch, fall-themed foods, and, in my opinion, the best chai lattes. Spend an afternoon at the market for festive shopping and mouth-watering local dishes.
Everything Pumpkin Spice
One of the most highly anticipated aspects of fall is the return of pumpkin spice. While we all love Starbucks, consider switching things up this season and supporting local favorites such as La La Land, LDU, Foxtrot, and Ascension. These local spots have brewed up some of the best in pumpkin spice, so be sure to add them to your coffee shop rotation this fall.
The Texas State Fair
The Texas State Fair is a must-visit. The fairgrounds stretch for miles, with attractions ranging from a butterfly garden to live concerts and pig races. Spend the afternoon sampling fried food, taking a ride on the Ferris Wheel, and don’t forget to pay Big Tex a visit.
“Going to the state fair I had no idea what to expect,” said SMU junior Ava Thornely. “But I loved trying the different fried foods, the weirdest one I saw was definitely fried butter.”
Fall Festivities From Home
While Dallas offers an abundance of fall activities, there are also plenty of ways to celebrate the season from the comfort of your home or dorm. Since coming to college, one of my favorite fall traditions has been inviting my friends over for a night full of festivities. Carving pumpkins can be messy, so this year, for our main activity we’re letting our creative side shine by painting pumpkins. Alongside crafting, we indulge in a variety of seasonal treats, sip on warm spiced cider, and cozy up to watch a horror movie, fully immersing ourselves in the spirit of fall.
Photos by Kendyl Kirtley.
