After my first Fairfield University Halloweekend during my freshman year, I told my friends that it was my favorite weekend of the year. Four years later, I still make this claim as a senior. There is something special about celebrating Halloween on Fairfield University’s campus—the selection of festivities, humorous costumes, beautiful foliage—that makes me look forward to it each year. Now, only two days away, I am excited to see what this year’s Halloweekend brings.
I will note that, this year, Halloweekend is different for me. I am a senior student living on a beach instead of an underclassman confined to on-campus housing and restrictive Resident Assistants (RAs). Although the Halloween Naut was canceled—a disappointing decision in my opinion—my friends and I still have two days to dress up, go to The Seagrape, eat tons of treats and enjoy 21-plus beverages—and I have very high hopes for it.
Having the Halloween Naut would have been a really unique addition to a Fairfield Halloween. Despite it not occurring, I can acknowledge an abundance of additional reasons to come to the small Connecticut town for the holiday. Foremost, during Halloweekend, there is always something going on. Freshman year I enjoyed my first townhouse party; sophomore year, my friend threw a gigantic Halloween party with all our friends. Last year, which was my junior year, my sister came up to partake in a joint costume with me—Candance and Vanessa from Phineas and Ferb—and we went to a house party, rallying for a Halloween darty (“day party”) the next day. This year, I am excited for my first Halloween at The Seagrape.
These experiences are something that not every school offers. Since we do not participate in Greek life, huge, sweaty and sometimes uncomfortable frat parties are, thankfully, not a thing. However, our campus is not too small to prevent us from having numerous Halloween activities. Aside from actual partying, I have had multiple professors each year pass out candy as a sweet Halloween treat, and in my freshman year, my friends and I visited Fall Fest out in the Freshman Quad, where pumpkin painting and other fall stations were available.
Events like these allow students to successfully celebrate and spend time with friends without having to travel too far. I appreciate these outlets and definitely think they help spread the excitement around Halloween.
Each October, the Freshman Quad is decorated with red and orange leaves that really scratch my itch for fall. While I am not a fan of the colder weather, I absolutely love the pretty, color-changing leaves and fall decorations. Walking down Barlow or Post Road, a picture-perfect scene lies before me, just like the downtown depicted in “Gilmore Girls.” Moreover, so many farms and pumpkin patches are an acceptable driving distance from campus; I have been to both Lyman Orchard and Silverman’s Farm to pick pumpkins, go through a corn maze and pet incredibly cute farm animals. Additionally, right by Silverman’s Farm, is Sherwood Farm.
Usually, there is not really any debate regarding when Halloweekend should take place. This year, however, the holiday takes place on a Thursday, which begs the question, “should Halloweekend be the weekend of Oct. 26 or the weekend of Nov. 1?”
Evidently, Fairfield University’s Halloweekend 2024 is taking place after Halloween, from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2. Personally, I think this was the right decision. Having the holiday on a Thursday is the perfect way to kick off a perfect weekend. With many students enjoying a “thirsty Thursday” anyway, students can begin their festivities late in the week and continue them until the arrival of the haunted Sunday Scaries. I do not think it would have made sense to celebrate Halloweekend, wait four days, and celebrate again on Thursday.
Regardless of any controversies, Halloween at Fairfield is simply one of the best times of the year. With fall leaves, plenty of costumes and friends to watch scary movies with, it really cannot get any better nor any more special for Stags.
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