Cinnamon Rolls to Witches and Trolls

Rory Gilmore, orange heart emojis, pumpkin pies, cinnamon candles—if these phrases and things carry meaning to you, congrats! You are probably excited that fall is finally arriving. If you’re feeling unprepared, don’t worry—here is a fun, cozy list of fall activities that will bring you joy even amid the gloomy Cambridge weather (which is already triggering my seasonal affective disorder).

Binge a Television Show:

As the autumn leaves turn red and nights get longer, the best way to wind down is to sit back and chill with a good TV show. If you love a classic drama or sitcom, “Gilmore Girls” is right there. If animations bring you childlike joy, “Over the Garden Wall” is a cartoon with a perfect mix of cozy and eerie. Maybe you are craving a mix of dark comedy and horror—there is a reason “Widow’s Bay” just broke the record for the most Emmy wins in a single season of a comedy series. But beware: you might binge the entire season in a day and still want more, and season two probably won’t come out until 2028.

If you prefer some laid-back reality TV with great humor, the new season of “The Great British Bake Off” is about to start. Since you can’t watch “The Great British Bake Off” without craving something fresh out of the oven, remember to stop by Harvard Square first: grab a pumpkin spice latte, some cinnamon rolls, or a slice of apple pie. Tatte is my go-to bakery, with a great seasonal menu—or, better yet, use the inspiration to bake something with your friends in the common room kitchen!

Cuddle Up for a Movie:

If commitment is not your thing, go for a movie instead: you cannot miss the gothic, artsy stop-motion of Tim Burton. “Corpse Bride” is a bittersweet story about a soon-to-be-married couple in the Victorian era, and “Coraline” is the tale of an 11-year-old who discovers a parallel reality in her new home. This dark yet funny and magical production is considered a kids’ movie, though its content appeals to all audiences.

These two are my favorites, but you could also watch “The Nightmare Before Christmas” with your buddies and have a heated argument about whether it is a Halloween or Christmas movie. Also, if you didn’t see Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” (2025) last year, now is the time to watch it. Beyond the incredible acting and gorgeous costumes, the movie leans into the idea of humans playing God and explores its consequences. The visual references to “The Creation of Adam” and the creature’s wounds resembling the Holy Wounds of Jesus are among the elements that capture the “Modern Prometheus” aspect of the novel, fully titled “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.”

Flip the Pages:

Speaking of “Frankenstein”—reading the book is another fantastic fall activity. To immerse yourself in the novel, try gothic classical music, like Mark Korven’s work. You could even go one step further and read it in Mount Auburn Cemetery, a beautiful place to visit, especially in the fall. It is about a half-hour walk from Harvard Square, or, before it gets snowy in Cambridge, you could bike there in just over 10 minutes.

If you enjoyed Mary Shelley’s work, you may also know another iconic 19th-century female author from Bath: Jane Austen. An Austen romance might be the cure for those who read “Frankenstein” and are now scared there is a wretched creature under their bunk bed. “Pride and Prejudice” is one of her best works, and it has lovely movie and TV adaptations if you are not in the mood to read a long book (the 2005 version is the best, and I will die on that hill). If you are already a fan of the novel, “The Other Bennet Sister” is a TV show released earlier this year with a clever, humorous take on Mary Bennet’s journey to London to find love and independence.

Yet another great read for my fellow hopeless romantics is “Sense and Sensibility.” A new movie adaptation starring Daisy Edgar-Jones is coming out on Oct. 18. If you like a little horror with your romance, “Wuthering Heights” is a captivating gothic melodrama by Emily Brontë. It also has a recent adaptation that is… controversial.

Grab Some Yarn and Needles:

The coziest way to enjoy these books and movies is perhaps curled up under a blanket. If you don’t have one, you can make one of your own. Join the Harvard Undergraduate Knitting Circle—what is better than free yarn and warm company? If you are a lone wolf, you can always stay inside and knit with your favorite podcast or TV show on; it is a great low-cortisol activity to pick up as the midterm season approaches.

Celebrate 400 Years of Salem:

If you want to take it up a notch and unleash your witchy powers, we have the perfect place to go: Salem! This year marks Salem’s quadricentennial—the 400th anniversary of the town’s founding—and celebrations are taking place throughout September, October, and November. You can watch the Halloween Boat Parade, catch a screening of “The Witch,” or join a Puritan funeral reenactment. In addition to the anniversary events, visit the Salem Witch Museum or the Midnight Bookseller, one of my personal favorites. This newly opened bookstore, owned by two former Harvard colleagues, Chloé Holt and Mackenzie Heather, specializes in fantasy and dark literature. The Midnight Bookseller also offers whimsical items for daily use, such as bookmarks, jewelry, mugs, and various tarot decks.

Whether you prefer staying in your cozy dorm room, wandering about Harvard Square, biking in Cambridge, or traveling outside Boston, there is something fun for you to do this fall—from curling under a handmade blanket and baking something new with your friends to embracing your inner witch as you lurk in a cemetery. So soak it all in while you can, because as Jon Snow made ever so clear in “Game of Thrones,” “winter is coming.”

Delfin Urundul ’30 (durundul@college.harvard.edu) is eyeing the “I am Coming to Thee Cottage” print at The Midnight Bookseller.