Tag: fall
Pumpkinfest
by Christian Cintron ’28 on November 6, 2025
News
On Sunday, Nov. 2, Student Congress’ Committee on Outreach held their annual Pumpkinfest in collaboration with other on-campus clubs and organizations. The event took place on Aquinas Lawn and was open to parents and their children from the surrounding community to attend and participate in various autumn and Halloween-related activities. These activities included the Board of Programmers holding a contest to accurately guess the number of candy corn in a jar in exchange for a $250 gift certificate to the campus bookstore, the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs providing turkey hand prints and coloring sheets, Friars Club assisting with pumpkin and face painting, Campus Ministry helping with candle painting, and culminating in the 02908 Club taking the children trick-or-treating down Eaton Street.
The first Pumpkinfest was held in 2009 and has been a long-standing tradition due to its promotion of engagement with the greater Providence area and principles of giving back to the community that the PC campus is built on. A remarkable connection between PC students and the children and parents of the local community isn’t always frequent, so Pumpkinfest serves the purpose of bridging the gap between the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Not only has Pumpkinfest brought these two communities together, but it has also immersed the student population in further internal collaboration, with several clubs being able to unite for the common purpose of serving the Providence community and coordinating a fun, memorable experience.
The turnout for Pumpkinfest was significant, and attendees seemed to enjoy the event’s festivities and lively atmosphere. In addition to the club-sponsored activities, refreshments such as pizza, cookies, and apple cider were provided, with music boosting the lawn’s positive ambience. One parent in attendance, Ben Kelly, brought his four children to enjoy Pumpkinfest, expressing that “Pumpkinfest has been a perfect end to Halloweekend.” He further praised the event’s welcoming nature towards his children, stating that, “It’s a special opportunity to see the community of students welcoming families in the neighborhood and an awesome way of giving back.”
Claire Daly ’26 is the chair of Student Congress’ Committee on Outreach and plays a large role in directing the event’s organization and execution. She found the process of arranging the event to be exciting, appreciating how helpful faculty, other student organizations, and the 02908 Club were in the undertaking. Connecting with the community and seeing the children in attendance excited to be on a college campus and enjoying trick-or-treating proved to be gratifying for her, along with conversing with PC alumni who attended with their children. The goals of the Committee for the event were met, and Daly loved to see students, children, and parents having a good time. The work and collaborative efforts with the Committee on Outreach was an especially delightful aspect of the event for Daly, who exclaimed, “My committee is amazing!”
To Enjoy Each Season
by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on October 30, 2025
Opinion
Admittedly, I find autumn to be somewhat of a dreadful season. Not because of the weather, the colors, the spry wind, or the delicious food, but because it feels rushed, bittersweet, and gloomy—similar to a Sunday evening. The sun no longer lingers; instead, it tumbles over the trees and sends a wistful glow across nature. There’s something so sad, so pitiful, about how the days grow shorter and you are aware that winter is coming. I hate to speak so negatively, but in all honesty, I would cast summer as the leading role for the movie where the seasons change.
However, the holiday season is an exciting one. Halloween feels like somewhat of a kickoff for the holiday festivities marathon, carrying us all the way through the winter. And in truth, Halloween does make fall feel more exciting, at least to me, who finds it difficult to muster strong motivation with colder months looming. Over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate Halloween, even though as a kid I was too scared to fully enjoy it. If you’re similar to me and you’re apt to feel the melancholy winds of fall, it may be time to grasp on to Halloween as hard as you can. Let it be the start of the final, most thrilling part of your year. This could be quite feasible, especially if you pop on a classic spooky movie and get a sugar high. Treat Halloween like a car you need to jumpstart. Get in the front seat, and drive that car all the way from fall to winter, until once again the trees are dressed with bright, promising buds.
As a child, I was frightened by Halloween decorations. While trick-or-treating in my Strawberry Shortcake costume with my brother dressed as Optimus Prime, I’d skid across the pavement with my plastic jack-o-lantern candy holder, shrieking, and my brother would chase after me, making all sorts of scary noises. Giant skeletons, uncanny ghosts, pumpkins carved with evil faces—it was all too much. I never understood the anticipation around Halloween. I was always looking forward to Christmas, and not just because of the gifts, but because I knew my entire family would get together, eat my aunt’s golumpkis, and tell stories over chocolate cream pie by the wood stove all evening. Halloween felt bleak compared to the winter holidays.
Nonetheless, there’s something charming to me about Halloween now. It’s not necessarily the costumes, decorations, and traditions that excite me, but more so the celebration of fall, and the anticipation around it, which is something I’ve struggled to find in the past. This year in particular, Halloween has inspired me to savor fall more thoroughly. Being on campus, the foliage is clear and stunning, and the sun casts a comforting light over the dorms. Everyone walks around outside, all the time, almost aimlessly, and it is wonderful to see people treasuring this time of year. Even though I’ve frequently associated Halloween with scariness and nightmarish activities, the more I learn about how other people appreciate it, the more I relate it to just being a kid. Halloween has recently felt nostalgic, with all the antics included—feeling ambivalent about what costume to wear with your friends, debating about what candy is the best, plastering on colorful makeup, and piecing together outfits that remind me of the times I used to beg my mom to wear sundresses during the winter in preschool.
This year, I’m ensuring that Halloween is nothing but fun and lighthearted, no horror and dread involved whatsoever. I’m not going to think about the cold, or the even colder weather that is to come. Nor will I think about hibernating and letting myself crave the spring months. This is a celebration of the seasons! No. This is a celebration of fall!
Use Every Piece of Your Pumpkin!
by Courtney Wight ’26 on October 30, 2025
Opinion
While we may view pumpkins during fall as merely a decoration or a carving activity, pumpkins are still food! In 2020, it was estimated that out of the two billion pumpkins produced in the United States,1.3 billion of them ended up in landfills. Pumpkins don’t have to be thrown away, and there are a variety of alternative options on how to reduce pumpkin waste.
One obvious option is to eat the pumpkin. I know many people who, when carving pumpkins, save the seeds, roast them, and eat them. In addition to the seeds, the pumpkin insides can also be used as food. These bits can enhance flavors in vegetable stock, be added to soups, or be pureed and used in smoothies, oatmeal, and various other recipes.
If you get absolutely sick of eating all the pumpkin insides, another alternative to the trash cans is composting. Many Americans have compost bins at home, and more cities across the country are adopting composting services. These services are similar to those for trash and recycling, as the composting materials can be picked up from an individual’s home by the city. By composting the uneaten food rather than throwing it in the trash, food waste can be reduced.
If your city or home does not have composting, the pumpkin insides can also be used to feed pets, farm animals, or wildlife. Some ways include leaving your pumpkins in the backyard or cooking up the pumpkin to feed to your dogs.
Any of these alternatives to the trash is better than simply throwing the whole pumpkin away. It is our duty to ensure that our holiday celebrations remain fun, but at the same time, do not rapidly increase the existing problems of climate change. This includes eating the pumpkin, composting it, or feeding it to animals.
An Overview of Fall Music
by Ian Gualtiere ’27 on October 9, 2025
A&E - Music
When the Leaves Change, So Do the Playlists
What defines a summer of sounds? Flashy, jumpy pop songs that swoon over summer romances and beach getaways to anthemic rock pieces that pierce the current artist’s tours. But what hits the charts when the leaves begin to color, the air becomes crisp, and several layers have to cover the body? As the world begins to brace for a long winter’s nap, radio waves and streaming sites become dotted with songs that offer a reflective quality, a sense of twilight in the year, and a warm, intimate sensation to the listener’s moods. Fall music has a characteristic that immerses a listener in the “fall vibe,” where music slips into an acoustic and quieter form, as opposed to the sunny, hard-hitting, and loud songs of summer. What makes fall music so special to those who avidly partake in it is that it is a full endeavor filled with compilation playlists with no boundaries and no rules; there is no defined term for what makes fall music. The sounds are in the ears and minds of the beholder, wishing to parallel the moods of the changing landscapes into music.
An example of a “gateway” artist into the world of autumnal music would be Neil Young, not in the sense of his proto-grunge sounds or anti-establishment lyrics, but in his sweet-sounding love songs that ripple through his discography, offering a sense of peaceful reflection as the year draws to a close. One natural notion that fall has arrived is the presence of the harvest moon, which appears in the night sky every mid-September or early October. What better way to celebrate the close of summer than with Young’s own 1992 song “Harvest Moon?” A soft-sung, richly tuned, and prolonged love song that strikes at every listener’s heart, signaling a mood shift for the year. Or look no further than his famous 1972 album Harvest, which not only brings in a fragile sound and sense of isolation but also lays the groundwork for other indie artists to explore the nature of themselves as we take to the insides of our homes and our minds when autumn arrives.
The artists that bring a broken, almost somber feature to their music are sometimes where people tend to gravitate towards in searching for fall music. Artists like Elliot Smith, Nick Drake, Phoebe Bridgers, Jeff Buckley, and Radiohead tend to attract those longing for quiet and sometimes downright sad music. Though these artists are critically renowned and have large fan bases, they could also lead listeners into more moody yet hopeful spirits when looking back on the year. Thoughts flow through the lyrics of intimate relationships, bright futures, and the riveting beauty of the changing nature of the world.
Fall music does not necessarily equate to quiet sounds, again sticking with this prolonged theme of the listener being able to interpret the music in their own sense. It allows the addition of extremely famous pop stars who could sometimes not be recognized for the reflective and brooding quality of their songs. Or English rock bands like Arctic Monkeys with “Mardy Bum,” The Kinks with “Waterloo Sunset,” and even The Beatles with “Here, There and Everywhere” and “Dear Prudence” bring a jamming and loving but sullen sound that creates a rich addition to anyone’s definition of what fall music truly is.
The beginning of fall brings a feeling of change, whether for good or for worse, natural or emotional, even warm or cold, the days begin to fluctuate in mood. Fall music is the attempt to characterize these feelings into sound; it is your sound, your attitudes, and the feeling you get when you see the first hint of yellow leaves on the trees.
Fall Festival in North Providence
by Janet Newman ’27 on September 18, 2025
A&E - Music
Fall in New England is one of the beautiful times of the year and the best season in the region according to many. It provides the perfect weather to enjoy time outside and take in the atmospheric scenery. Providence has many fall festivals that offer seasonal fun and hosts events from Oktoberfest to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo. More notably, Providence is holding its 4th Annual Fall Festival this Saturday, Sept. 20 in the Jewelry District.
The Fall Festival takes place on Richmond Street from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission. During this event, there will be live music from Rory and the Blue Hounds and Lisa Bello, along with over 30 local vendors, where one can find treasures and support small businesses.
Amidst the live bands bringing the energy and tunes all day long, there will also be delicious food and various kids’ activities. Some of these activities will include face painting, balloons, and costumed characters for magical meet-and-greets.
Throughout the Fall Festival, there will be surprises, community fun, and a whole lot more! So grab your friends and take in the spirit of fall. The Jewelry District is the place to be this September!
While many still refer to this area as the Jewelry District, it is also widely known as the Innovation District. Located on the southeast side of downtown, adjacent to I-95 and the Providence River, it has long since evolved into a modern center for innovation as a result of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and parts of the Johnson and Wales University campus. Its walkability and accessible public transportation only add to the district’s modernization.
The 4th Annual Fall Festival, hosted by The District, The Tiny Bar, Xaco Taco, Somo, Seven Stars, Nick-A-Nees, and Jarit, is without a doubt the perfect New England fall activity. I hope that many will take advantage of the seasonal fun!
Fall in Friartown
by The Cowl Editor on October 15, 2020
Portfolio
by Taylor Rogers ’24
A rainbow of colors fall from the sky,
Invading every inch of Slavin’s grass field.
Students aimlessly walk throughout campus,
Wondering when the current lockdown will yield.
As the rainbow falls, the wind begins to blow,
Persuading people to take out their sweaters.
With pumpkin spice coffees in hand, students rush to class,
Hoping that soon, everything will be better.
The rainbow of leaves fly,
Their orange, red, and yellow hues flee into students’ dorm rooms.
Amazed, they wistfully look out their windows,
Knowing that soon, fall and her beauty will begin to bloom.
More leaves fall from the trees, their color reminding students
That, yes, fall has finally appeared.
Excitedly, students begin to buy Halloween candy,
Snacking away and hoping Halloween this year isn’t weird.
The leaves soon turn into piles,
These clumps, the same size as the stacks of notes on students’ desks.
As the students begin to work, the piles begin to shrink,
And they find themselves looking for something to cure their feelings of unrest.
More days pass by and the leaf clumps grow,
Beginning their invasion of PC’s grassy fields.
Meanwhile, the students invest themselves in fall activities,
Ready to see what this fall will yield.
Giggles erupt as students jump into leaf piles,
Their inner child letting worry turn to glee.
With grins on hidden under their masks, students play,
And the atmosphere around Providence feels more carefree.
The piles of leaves grow and grow,
Matching the rate of people’s smiles and new friends.
While the leaves die around them, the students still have hope,
Knowing that like the seasons, this pandemic is sure to end.
Seasons
by The Cowl Editor on October 15, 2020
Portfolio
by Sarah Heavren ’21
A rainbow of colors
A gentle breeze
Tickling the branches
Waving at me.
Little squirrels scampering
Across the grass
The smell of the season
Coming to pass.
Cloudless, deep blue skies
The freshest air
Crisp as a tart apple
Grown with true care.
Winter is drawing near
With a bleak hue.
But winter brings changes
That will change too.
In moments of sheer doubt,
Moments of pain,
Just simply remember
Seasons will change.
Four-Hundredth Fall
by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019
Portfolio
by Sean Tobin ’20
One of mine, but given:
Today when I arise
And see slow-rolling skies
Illuminate what lies
This bleak side of heaven,
Just one thought do I save—
How bless’d this northern shore;
The same which fathers fore,
Sea-sick, God-starved, back-sore,
Saw and knew they must have;
We know the sounds she made,
To hear minute man’s shout,
The Sacred Harp throughout,
Oak leaves falling round ’bout,
Over and over played;
Is she not the same still?
Green mountains surrounding,
Waves on white rock pounding,
Life through valleys sounding—
New England steals her fill, and so much more.