The fall semester is definitely more festive and exciting than second semester because think of all of the action-packed events that happen over just a few short months. Firstly, you are moving back into school and seeing all of your friends again if you’re an upperclassman, or you’re just beginning your new start at college as a freshman! After that comes football games and fall sports, NFL game viewing parties, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and so much more in between. Fall semester is like the gift that keeps on giving, and you should always have something to do! Don’t forget about all of the fun things to do on your own campus first, because your school likely throws some of the events listed below! If you need some ideas to get started, however, here is a bumpin’ list of places to go, things to do, and people to see if you are studying in the Boston area and Eastern Massachusetts:

1. Activities Fair.

This event is not a weekend plan or trip, but it’s extremely important for setting a foundation for the whole semester and planning out your weeks. Activities fairs are universal college fairs that have a table for basically every club your school has to offer, including representatives who can speak to you about the commitment and what you will get out of their club. Definitely don’t sign up for 17 clubs because you’ll never go to anything, but it’s important to sign up for a few so that you can get involved in your school and keep busy throughout the semester. It’s also a great way to meet new people!

2. Family Weekend

Do not discount family weekend as a time away from your friends and only showing your parents around the library. Some of the funniest moments of the year can happen at family weekend, a time when your parents are mingling with your friends’ parents for that one time a year, and it’s all so awkward but so great. Nothing can bring friends and family together like some aggressive and heated family bingo or your college’s football game rivalry.

3. BINGO!

I haven’t heard of a school yet that does not have some form of bingo. Whether it’s every Tuesday night for small prizes, once a month for amazing technology and bookstore prizes, you cannot miss this competitive event. You don’t want to be that kid that graduated college without winning at least one time at bingo. College bingo is nothing to mess with and people go all-out, but you have to play to win when televisions or Beats by Dr. Dre headphones are at stake. BINGO!

4. Apple Picking.

Apple picking is what September is all about. It’s still a little warm out as the summer wraps up, but you want to get in the fall spirit and also have a great day trip with your friends and take super cute squad pictures together. What better way to accomplish this than apple picking? There are a lot of positives to going apple picking, such as actually getting fresh fruit out of the experience — a rarity among college dormitories — and getting off campus for a day. There is bound to be a farm or seasonal place near your school to apple pick, all just a click away on Google Maps. Think of all of the great photos you can take — climbing trees, actually eating the apples, wearing your flannel, etc.

5. The Jack-O-Lanterns at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

This is one of my favorite places from my childhood, and it turns out three of my best friends at school are from Rhode Island and have gone to this event in the past as well. We tried to go last year, but people had homework, but this year it is a must on the calendar. The Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island is about an hour drive from Boston, and it holds an amazing event every fall around Halloween. There are hundreds of carved pumpkins that are lit up and placed all over a large pond and in the trails around it and it’s the most festive display ever! There is food — step one of attracting students — and more photo opportunities, but it’s also a nice way to get ready for Halloween and do something different with your friends.

6. Go to a haunted house.

I will have to persuade my friends to do this as you may have to, but go to a haunted house. There are so many different ones in and around Boston, and you are sure to get to one with an easy drive or by train. This is the perfect trip to take if you love the scary and horrific side of Halloween, and it can be hilarious to see how your friends react under pressure from being in those dark scary houses chased by clowns. If you’re not brave enough for it, don’t worry, there are great alternatives as haunted ghost walks in Boston and some iconic towns in Massachusetts such as Plymouth and Concord. These walks are far less scary, but they take you around Boston at night in large groups and explain some of the historical significance of the area, why this place or that place is “haunted,” and even take you to some historic graveyards. I definitely would recommend making a Groupon account which gives you great deals on events like this for group rates.

7. Go to a concert in the city.

Boston is filled to the brim with talent in the fall, and all you have to do is take a train into the city and start walking toward music because everywhere you go you will hear some. There are concerts every day of the week at so many venues in the city, and some of the best talent is that which you discover by accident. Instead of researching tickets for groups and major headliners coming to T.D. Garden, I suggest looking for small venues like those in Harvard Square or beyond that host lesser-known groups, but guarantee good music and a fun night. Some great small venues that are packed for the fall include The Sinclair Music Hall and The Middle East in Cambridge, and The Paradise Rock Club and The House of Blues, both in Boston.

8. Plimouth Plantation.

You might think you’ve grown out of this after your third grade field trip, but I can assure you it still holds all of its charm now that it did then. Plimouth Plantation is basically Thanksgiving and the historic center of America all wrapped into one colonial experience, and if you’ve never been, you have to go. This is a fun trip because you can do all of the tourist sightseeing and make a whole day out of it, and it’s accessible by the commuter rail or a relatively short drive from your school. There is a lot of great shopping and food in Plymouth Center, so after you go to the Plantation you can continue to hang out downtown and check out all of the shops and stores you would find in a mall and grab something to eat as well.

9. Check out the North End of Boston.

September is the month of feasts in the North End and it is the perfect opportunity to visit the city and experience all of the great food in the North End. These feasts, honoring saints and religious festivals throughout September, draw a large crowd and are full of music, singing, that amazing food I mentioned, and a true taste of the North End. Of course, this is accessible by train and I certainly would not recommend driving in because parking is non-existent in the North End. If you do plan to go to one of the feasts, plan time for travel because it will be packed as mentioned above.