It may be only Monday, the first of five sure to be painfully long days of classes, exams, and due dates, but certainly I am not the only student looking ahead to Friday at say about 3 or 4 o’clock when the last class of the day finally wraps up and the beautiful 70-degree weather welcomes us to the weekend. The enticing fall-like weather is especially fitting this week as the campus amps up for fall break. I know, the break is technically only two days and the following Wednesday will sneak up far too quickly as usual, but still, the four-day weekend promises a healthy break from the stuffy walls of Main Hall.
Though I am certain the rest of you are as pumped as I am, I worry for the few who may be uncertain how to make the most of the break. So just in case you do not have plans, or even more dreadful, you made plans to catch up on school work, here are a couple alternatives to fill your weekend.
Try venturing into Chester County. Though West Chester never fails to entertain, students should not miss the wealth of breathtaking scenery and fun fall events just a short car ride away. Get a few friends to pile in and wander out to Unionville this weekend for their community fair which features the largest display of handcrafted gifts, arts, and agricultural products in Chester County, not to mention petting zoos and good food.
The local farms offer more fall fun with pumpkin patches, hayrides, and corn mazes. A few good ones include Hurricane Hill Farm in Coatsville, Wynnorr Farm in Glenn Mills, and the Marlborough Valley Corn Maze in Kennet Square. Flashlight mazes and haunted woods ensure entertainment for even the bravest among us.
If barnyard animals are not your thing and you prefer macadam to cornfields, try checking out the Paoli Blues Festival and Street Fair on Saturday for some local music, food, and vendors. For the lucky ones over 21, the street fair also offers a newly added beer garden and Blues Pub Crawl. Of course, enjoy responsibly.
Then go ahead and take Monday off to recover, or God forbid, do that last minute homework you have been putting off, because Tuesday kicks off West Chester’s second annual Paint the Town Purple. Even if you do not sign up to volunteer to transform the town, at least attend the kick-off ceremony at Hotel Warner or gather after the window painting at Barnaby’s for some great food. Then take a walk through town to check out the artwork and show some WCU pride before Homecoming.
By then, hopefully the fall break will have refreshed us all, and the return to classes on Wednesday will be more comfortable than dreaded. Until then, happy fall break, WCU!
– Joy Wilson
Op-Ed Editor