Now that it is October, fall festivities are in full swing! This wonderful season in the Midwest has many local opportunities, from cozy outings with friends or family to haunted houses for getting into the spooky spirit. 
 Some may say that the “ber” months are the most festive time of the year. The weather is getting chillier, and decorations are lining the streets, starting with the warm colors, hay bales, and pumpkins that October brings! Luckily, fall in Wisconsin brings so many opportunities for a teenager’s Friday night or a family’s Saturday morning. A classic and popular fall activity for all ages is apple picking. Going to the apple orchard with your family or friends is a tradition that is commonly followed. Fortunately, there are a great number of options in the Fox Valley to choose from! Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard is a classic option for apple picking or finding pumpkins perfect for your jack-o-lanterns. But did you know about the other activities that they offer? Hofacker’s also has a corn maze that is currently open for roaming, these 5 acres of fun could keep you busy for hours. They also offer more than produce, you can grab yourself some cupcakes, caramel apples, and other bakery items in the shop. Speaking of bakery items, Misty Ridge Orchard has a variety of sweet treats such as apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies, and caramel apples! Even though Misty Ridge is just north of Freedom, it is definitely worth the drive for this fun fall market. Another opportunity for pumpkin picking and hayrides is Cuff Farms, they offer pick-your-own pumpkin hayrides for $12/person, perfect for your weekend out. Circling back to the Appleton area, Sprangers Orchard and Sharky’s Orchard offer delicious produce and perfect apple picking opportunities! Both of these Orchards are family-friendly, making it perfect for younger siblings to pick their apples if you take them along. During October, don’t miss out on nature’s own fall decorations. In Wisconsin, the peak time for autumn leaves is around mid-October, so go while you can! There are many trails in the area where you can take a walk, including Plamann Park and Bubolz Nature Preserve. Sadly, summer is over, but make sure you seize the opportunities this fall!
 Now that October is finally here and it’s time to get into the spooky spirit! Luckily, there are many opportunities to do so! Do you like to be scared? Are you already planning on going to a haunted house? Fortunately, there will be a great spine-chilling haunted house here at Appleton North. This amazing event, A Night to Dismember, will occur on October 25th and 26th from 1:00-4:00 and 6:00-10:00 pm. For anyone age 12 and above a ticket costs $8, anyone under 12 years of age costs $6. In addition to a spooky time, you can also support Appleton North’s awe-inspiring theater department! There will be delicious baked goods for sale as well! This event has been a great success in the past, so watch your backs and prepare for a night full of spooks and fun! Some good news for scare lovers is that there are many renowned haunted houses in the area, including the Burial Chamber Haunted House Complex in Neenah. Make sure your Friday and Saturday nights are open to attend this horrifying experience from 6:45 to 11:00 pm! Burial Chambers is the largest haunted house complex in the Midwest and is voted one of the best in America! Not only will the scare actors be in the houses but they will taunt you while you wait to enter! Rain or shine this complex continues to operate, if it does get stormy there will be free ponchos for the taking. Unfortunately, Burial Chambers only operates until November 2nd but ends the season off with a blast. November first and second are blackout nights! This means that all the lights in the houses are turned off and your group travels through the complex with a single LED candle. A one-event ticket without the QuickPass costs $20.00, though pricing may vary depending on the frightening fun you choose! The spooks don’t end at Burial Chambers, there’s always the terrifying Realm of Darkness Haunted House in Kaukauna. Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 – 11:00 pm, and from 6:00 – 9:00 on Sundays this House offers incredibly terrifying interactive sets and some of the best scare actors in the state. Acclaimed for how truly horrifying this experience is, be ready for a heart-pounding time! This amazing experience costs $22 per person, and if you just can’t wait, you can buy a QuickPass ticket for $32. No matter if you go to Neenah, Kaukauna, or here in Appleton a scary, haunted time awaits you! Enjoy a spooky Halloween season! 
 You only get four fall seasons as a high school student, so don’t waste them! Go out and have fun with your family and friends, eat some warm baked goods, pick some pumpkins, and be spooked at a haunted house. We hope you enjoy a wonderful autumn season!