all feel more manageable. Walking home from school with the sun already setting feels cinematic, like you’ re the main character in some indie movie. And don’ t even get me started on Friday night football games( Yes, even if you don’ t care about football.) There’ s something about bundling up, being surrounded by friends, and sipping hot chocolate under the stadium lights that screams fall.
Food = Happiness tIf you’ re like me, food is one of the best parts of autumn. Pumpkin spice everything? Yes, please. Our local spots always bring their fall menus back around this time of year. Whether it’ s apple cider donuts from a farm stand, homemade pies at a diner, or just your favorite coffee shop making a caramel latte, the seasonal treats bring people together. Even if you don’ t like pumpkin spice( I get it, not everyone’ s into it), you can’ t deny that fall flavors are unmatched.
At home, families start cooking differently too. Out go the BBQs and popsicles, in come soups, stews, and fresh-baked cookies. There’ s nothing like walking in after school to the smell of chili simmering on the stove. ot afternoon.
Local Fall Traditions
Every town has its little traditions, and in [ insert local towns ], fall traditions
hit hard. From weekend farmers’ markets to Halloween parades, there’ s always something going on. My personal favorite? The pumpkin patches and hayrides. It doesn’ t matter if you’ re five or fifteen— wandering through rows of pumpkins never gets old. Plus, let’ s be honest: carving pumpkins is basically just an excuse to see who can make the coolest design( and whose pumpkin collapses in two days).
Halloween, of course, deserves its own mention. Some people age out of trick-or-treating, but I’ m a firm believer that you’ re never too old to throw on a costume and have some fun. Even if you’ re not out collecting candy, there are haunted houses, movie marathons, and parties to keep the spirit
alive.
A Season of Change
Maybe the reason fall feels so special is that it’ s all about change. Leaves fall, temperatures drop, school routines settle in, and we start thinking about the holidays creeping up. There’ s a certain comfort in knowing that as everything shifts, we’ re all going through it together. In small towns like ours, it’ s easy to notice those changes, not just in the weather, but in the way people come together to celebrate the season.
So, whether your fall vibe is cozy nights with Netflix, taking a million leaf pictures for your Instagram, or hitting up every pumpkin patch within driving distance, I think we can all agree: there’ s just something magical about this season. Fall is a reminder to slow down, breathe in the crisp air, and appreciate the little things— because honestly, those are the moments that make small-town life so great.
Here’ s to crunchy leaves, warm drinks, and everything that makes fall feel like home.
Mariam Ndao is a 2025 graduate of TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy. She is passionate about appreciating her community and shedding light on important topics through writing. In her free time, she loves to spend time reading, volunteering, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.
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