Ways to enjoy the fall season in and around Boston

Autumn in Boston Public Garden, Massachusetts, USA

With the start of fall officially here, it’s time to break out your favorite hoodie or jacket and enjoy the crisp New England weather. But while the temperature will surely drop, there certainly won’t be any shortage of fun events and activities to keep you busy all season long.

Columbus Day festivities

Use the holiday weekend to squeeze in a few outdoor fall activities such as Harvard Square’s Oktoberfest celebration, which will take place on Oct. 11, from noon to 6 p.m. The festival will feature six stages of live entertainment and hundreds of vendors selling food, artwork, and clothing.

For Columbus Day celebrations with an Italian flair, head to the North End for the annual Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. The parade will feature live entertainment including marching brass bands, floats, military units, and vintage cars.

Closer to campus, take a walk to the Christian Science Plaza for the Fenway Alliance’s “Opening Our Doors” festival on Monday, Oct. 12, for free cultural events, walking tours, art, and music. Be sure to get there for the kick-off celebration at 10 a.m. to snag a free cupcake from Oakleaf Cakes.

All things apple

If you have access to a car, head outside the city for a full day of apple picking and activities at a local farm. To help you decide, here is a map of Boston Magazine’s top 10 picks for apple orchards within an hour’s drive of downtown Boston.

For fresh apples and sugary apple cider donuts without traversing city limits, head to the Boston Public Market to pick up goods sold by Red Apple Farm. The market is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is easily accessible from campus by taking the Green or Orange lines to Haymarket station.

Halloween-themed fun

Get in the Halloween spirit in Salem, Massachusetts, as it is celebrates its 32nd annual Haunted Happenings festival. The celebration continues throughout the month of October, with haunted houses, street fairs, and an open-air arts market to keep you entertained.

If you’re looking for something spooky, do some ‘frightseeing’ on a Boston Ghost Tour to hear legends of Boston’s haunted sites.

Foliage in Boston

With New England foliage peaking during the third week of October, now is the perfect time to admire the changing colors of the trees before the leaves drop for the winter. Take your own leaf-peeping tour around the city at the Arnold Arboretum, Boston Public Garden, and Rose Kennedy Greenway, or stroll along the Southwest Corridor Park from campus through the South End.

Outdoor shopping

Catch the last of the open-air farmers market scene before the weather gets too chilly to peruse goods outdoors. The South End Open Market at SoWa is open every Sunday through Oct. 25 with food trucks, a farmers market, and arts market, and the Greenway Open Market is open until Oct. 10.