We all know how unpredictable the weather can get up here in New England, as it starts to cool down you may be looking for some weather-friendly activities to do this fall!

1. Baking

Baking a dessert or cooking a meal is a great way to spend an afternoon in October or November. Try out some fall-themed recipes to see if they would be a good fit for your thanksgiving dinner or bake with friends and discover your new favorite food! Here are five delicious recipes all containing an element of spice or autumn produce. Start off your day with these maple-bacon scones if you can’t decide if you want sweet or savory.  https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a36078692/maple-bacon-scones-recipe/ 

If you have a sweet tooth in the morning you can try out the Swedish cinnamon buns topped with salted caramel, it looks just as delicious as it sounds! https://www.purewow.com/recipes/swedish-salted-caramel-cinnamon-buns 

If that breakfast wasn’t enough for you, for lunch you can make pumpkin swirl bread that only takes an hour. Reviews say the best part was the pumpkin taste! https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pumpkin-swirl-bread/ 

After so many bakery items you may need something savory, well, for dinner try this easy butternut squash alfredo pasta from the food network. One person who tried this recipe said she switched out the regular noodles for zucchini noodles! Recently, I made this for my family and they gave it a 5-star review. With only 7 ingredients, this recipe was simple and fun to make! https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/butternut-squash-alfredo-pasta-3757763 

And finally, if you are more of an advanced baker and want a project that could take up to three days just to prep, here is the recipe for Pear Tart with Dulce de Leche. This dessert is gorgeous, delicious, and worth every minute it takes to make. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pear-tart-dulce-de-leche-drizzle-judy-kim 

2. Spooky Movie Marathon

After making all this delicious food, have some friends over to share it with you while you watch some Halloween movies to get ready for the 31st! Here is a list of my favorite Disney Halloween movies, Classic (non-scary) Halloween movies, and classic scary Halloween movies for thrill seekers!

• “Halloweentown” – A 13-year-old girl discovers she’s a witch and a secret portal that transports her to a magical place where monsters live called Halloweentown
• “Twitches” – Two teen witches who were separated at birth but they meet on their 21st birthday to use their powers to save the world
• “Girl Vs. Monster” – A tween discovers on Halloween that she and her family are monster hunters. The monsters are out to stop her before she even begins monster hunting.
• “The Haunted Mansion” – A realtor and his family are summoned to a mansion, which they quickly discover is haunted. While they attempt to escape, he learns an important lesson about family.
• “Hocus Pocus” – An evil but funny trio of witches is accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. 

As well, if you are not a big Disney person but also not into scary movies, you can check out these creepy, comedic Halloween classics

• “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
• “The Addams Family”
• “Beetlejuice”

However, if you want to see some iconic Halloween movies and are looking for a thrill but don’t have a problem missing a night of sleep, here are three horror movies for you to watch!

• “Nightmare on Elm Street”
• “Halloween”
• “Friday the 13th”

3. Read a new book

Cuddle up by the fire with a hot pumpkin spice latte and a good book. Visiting a bookstore with friends can also be fun. Take a weekend trip to The Unlikely Story in Plainville! The building itself emulates autumn inside and out. The walls are covered floor to ceiling in books so you will have no trouble finding the perfect book, and on the way out don’t forget to stop by the cafe! If you are interested in reading a book that will get you in the fall spirit, take a look at these 4 summaries and see if any interest you!

• “A Discovery of Witches” – A historian opens a “bewitched alchemical manuscript” it causes an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her ordinary life. Coming from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain uninvolved. 
• “IT” – A terrifying thriller that follows the story of seven children as they are terrorized by an evil clown that exploits the fears of its victims to disguise itself. 
• “Friday Night Lights” – The story of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team from Odessa, Texas, as they made a run toward the Texas state championship. 
• “Twilight” – Everyone knows “Twilight” but if you have somehow avoided hearing about it, it’s the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan, who moves to Forks, Washington. She is endangered after falling in love with Edward, a 103-year-old vampire frozen in his 17-year-old body.

4. Visit a farm

New England has plenty of farms for you to visit – try a bunch and find your favorite! If you are looking for an adventure to see some of the beautiful fall foliage, take a road trip to Burlington Connecticut, and visit Hogans Cider Mill to spend time with family and try out their excellent apple cider. However, nearby you can visit the Big Apple in Wrentham or The Pumpkin Farm in Medway. The Big Apple will be open until Thanksgiving. Ashley Pepin, Franklin High School junior and Big Apple Cashier, explains it is a great place to come with your family and recommends the apples and doughnuts that come right from the farm. Currently, you can go pumpkin picking or take a hayride but don’t forget to bundle up, it might get chilly! 

5. Carve a pumpkin

Having your family or friends get together to make jack-o-lanterns is super fun during the fall! However, if you’ve ever carved pumpkins, you know they don’t last very long. Well, you may not know that there are things you can do to prolong your jack-o-lanterns life. Rather than cutting your big hole at the top, before you scoop the inside guts, try cutting the hole at the bottom or the back! Also, take your time when picking out your pumpkin. You want to get the freshest one you can find. You can tell a pumpkin is right off the vine when the stem is firm and green. Avoid pumpkins with bruises or brittle stems. Once you get home, put your pumpkin next to or even in the fridge (not the freezer!) until you are ready to carve. Now that you’re ready, carving pumpkins doesn’t have to be a quick activity where you cut out the average face. You can make so many activities out of it! Make it a friendly competition. See who can make the best pumpkin, the funniest vs. scariest face, or take the fastest – don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Finally, once your jack-o-lanterns are done and you’ve set them out on the front porch, you may be wondering what to do with the pounds of guts and seeds you’re left with. There are plenty of recipes you can make. Brit + Co put together a big list consisting of desserts, savory meals, dog treats, and even skin care products you can make so that half the pumpkin doesn’t have to go to waste!

Although it’s easy to get negative when the weather starts to get cold, hopefully, these five exciting activities will brighten up your day and bring you joy this fall!