October is an awesome time in both Annapolis and Santa Fe, with tons of fun stuff going on. We decided we would put together some highlights of activities getting our students and the people in our community ready to celebrate Fall.

1. Halloween on the Avenue

A whole day of fun with local vendors, artists, and community members getting to the town in the mood for Halloween. It even comes complete with a very adorable dog parade.

2. The Maryland Renaissance Festival

This is a favorite Maryland tradition. Tons of people come from all over the country to have a turkey leg, dress up, and take in the fall foliage.

3. US Sailboat and Powerboat shows

Each year, downtown Annapolis becomes loaded with tourists looking to check out the boats and yachts from all over the world. They don’t call us the sailing capital of the nation for nothing. 

4. Haunted House at McDowell

A student run haunted house to help get our campus community to celebrate the spookier side of our history.

5. Tug of War against Eastport

Perhaps the oldest tug of war (over the water) in the world, this is an annual tradition held by the City of Annapolis and the Maritime Republic of Eastport to celebrate the geographic (and philosophical) differences between the two communities.

In Santa Fe

1. Mid Semester Activities fair

The mid-semester activities fair great way in Santa Fe to break up the fall semester, learn or re-learn all about the awesome clubs on campus, and check out any new groups that have popped up since the start of the semester

2. Graduate Institute Potluck

Students and faculty from the Masters in Liberal Arts and Masters in Eastern Classics program hold an annual fall potluck to mark the midway point of the semester and enjoy a community meal together.

3. Student Halloween Festival

Students also marked Halloween with candy, live bands, a costume contest, and dance party all rolled into one, in order to really get into the “spirit” of the holiday!

4. Pumpkin Carving Contest!

On the afternoon of Halloween, students, staff and faculty gather to eat pumpkin pie, drink hot cider, and have a Jack-O-Lantern carving contest. May the best pumpkin win!

5. Turning of the Aspen Trees 

Who says that New Mexico doesn’t have seasonal foliage? Each year all around campus and town, and particularly at the Santa Fe ski basin, the Aspen trees blaze with autumn colors – something the entire community of Santa Fe can look forward to as the semester winds down. In fact, that’s where the cover photo of this blog post comes from!

Hopefully your October has been just as much fun! Enjoy any tricks or treats that you may be getting into, and let us know if we missed on any important Santa Fe/Annapolis traditions!