by Mallory Carlson ‘19

For many, fall is their favorite season. The leaves turn all different shades of red, orange, and yellow. People put pumpkins and other fall decorations outside their homes, and the weather gets cooler. It’s a great time to be outside doing things, which is why I wanted to put together a piece detailing some fall activities and events that a lot of people may not first think of when trying to come up with something fun to do on the weekend.

First, for the art lovers or for those who simply like to walk around and window shop, the Bethesda Row Arts Festival will be taking place this weekend (October 15-16), and this festival is essentially an outdoor art gallery that will include a host of different art forms like ceramics, drawings, pastels, wearables, glass, jewelry, and more. There will also be a variation of genres of live music and free admission. It is open from 11 to 6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. If you cannot make it to Bethesda or want to make a weekend out of it, the Sugarloaf Craft Festival is occurring the same weekend, on October 14-16. This festival is at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and will include all kinds of artistic fashion, home decor, furniture, photography, pottery, and the like. There will also be demonstrations by some of the artists, live music, and specialty foods. The festival is open from 10 to 6 on Friday and Saturday and 10 to 5 on Sunday. The admission is $8 when paying online, and $10 at the door.

There are also some events for those who love history or just want to be outside and enjoy the day. The Mount Vernon Harvest Days will be on October 22 and 23 from 9 to 5. This fun fall gathering will include wagon rides, various demonstrations, a maze, and other activities. The cost is included with admission to Mount Vernon, but getting tickets ahead of time is recommended. If going even farther back in time is more appealing, the Maryland Renaissance Festival is going on right now on weekends through October 23 from 10 to 7. This is a large festival with many types of different activities, from elephant rides to stage productions. There are also many different shops offering a host of different products, like costumes, woodwork, or blownglass. The admission for ages 7 to 15 is $10, and $24 for those 16 and older. It is located at 1821 Crownsville Road in Annapolis.

And finally, for those seeking a thrill, the Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion is happening every weekend (Friday-Sunday) through October 30. This is a frightening event that has all sorts of different experiences like rides, mazes, shows, and scare zones. It is open from 7 p.m. to 12 midnight on Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 12 midnight on Saturdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket cost varies based on time and what experiences are chosen; more details can be found on the website. For those seeking a more tame evening, check out Hersheypark in the Dark, happening on weekends through October 30. This Halloween event includes dark rides, Creatures of the Night at Zoo America, and lots of other festive fun. And if staying closer to home is more appealing, Field of Screams is open through October 31.