With the end of September marking the end of the first month of school, many students have likely found themselves settling into a steady pattern that includes classes by day and partying by night. After a few weeks, students may find themselves growing tired of the same weekend festivities. While parties will always be a part of college nightlife, students should take a break from their typical Friday night plans and take advantage of off-campus activities and events.
Students can keep it local by grabbing a group of friends and a few flashlights and going to the Haunted Corn Maze at the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry during the month of October. Students can also check out the Haunted Tunnel in Coventry for just a few dollars, which boasts "5,000 feet of your worst nightmares" and offers scary entertainment with both actors and props for Halloween.
Don't feel like leaving campus or spending money? The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is hosting its 15th Annual Cornucopia Fest on October 4th at the Storrs campus, and admission is free. The festival will include numerous exhibits as well as demonstrations, among them fly-casting and a scavenger hunt. Now is your chance to get that behind-the-scenes glimpse of the UConn Creamery and enjoy a pumpkin-flavored ice cream cone while the weather is still warm.
For those who have a car and are willing to travel, The Big E is "New England's autumn tradition" and is the largest fair in the Northeast. Taking place from September 18 to October 4 in West Springfield, MA, it is a 17-day extravaganza that offers entertainment, exhibits, New England history, animals, rides, shopping and crafts. Visitors can take a "walking tour" and visit the six states of New England in under an one hour while indulging in a "Craz-E Burger," which is a burger with bacon and cheese in between a grilled glazed donut. If you're feeling a little nostalgic, be sure to check out the Boyz II Men performance at the Comcast Arena Stage to relive some of your best middle school years.
Between haunted hayrides and local festivals, October is the perfect month to get out of your dorm to explore weekend alternatives. With about ten weeks left in the semester, don't let yourself get stuck in a rut; go do something new. Those parties will be there all year. Besides, your liver will thank you.
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