As September passes by, and October and November approach, fall has begun in Hudson. But the date is not the only thing marking the arrival of this time of year. The town enters this chilled time of year with the commencing of fall activities and preparations for the upcoming holidays. Hudson’s fall traditions and events are what make this time of year special.
The most prominent event marking the beginning of fall is the Case Barlow Farm Fest. Within Hudson High School in particular, many students get involved with this seasonal celebration. HHS students fill many volunteer positions there, as Hudson Community First has most of their members fill spots. Students also have been known to attend by themselves or with their families to participate in the festivities independently. This year, the festival took place on Sunday, September 17, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. This event featured many different activities like hay rides, music, candle making, duck races and much more. The barn was also decorated to look like a railroad station by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad group while they also provide activities based on railways.
As previously mentioned, members of Hudson Community First worked as volunteers helping out with the fest. These students made it clear that they had a great time helping the community and that the fair was a huge hit. A junior at Hudson, Natalie Muni, who has been a member of Hudson Community First for three years, shared her experience helping with the fest. “ I always try to make sure I volunteer when this festival takes place each year because it is such a good time. This year I was tasked with working at one of the food stations but then I got moved to the apple bobbing station. That one [the apple bobbing station] was a lot of fun because I got to interact with more kids and watch them having fun.” Muni also mentioned how working with other classmates was fun. “I loved that I was able to volunteer with my friends and that I knew a lot of the others that were there. I think the fest in general is such a great fall tradition and is so important in the start to fall in the community.”
The attendees also voiced their love for the festival. Molly Grady, a freshman at HHS said, “ I think it is great that this festival has been a tradition for so many years. The festival is a great way to begin the fall season in Hudson, this event marks the beginning of fall activities in the community.” Grady also voiced her favorite part of the festival. “ I loved all of the fun activities there but my favorite part was the apple bobbing! It was also super cool to have fellow classmates and members of the community working at different stations.”
Another one of the major events contributing to Hudson’s unique fall experience is the opening of the Hudson Haunted House. It is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and select Sundays that feature kids matinees from 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. until October 29. The Hudson Haunted House is an experience that lasts anywhere from five to 30 minutes depending on how long participants walk through the house. There are no age restrictions for the house, but a mature audience is recommended for Friday and Saturday night groups. One of the most interesting things about this attraction is that it is a 100% non-profit organization with all of the actors and workers being volunteers.
Madeline Halford, a sophomore who has attended the haunted house in years past shared her experience. “ I first took on the haunted house when I was much younger in middle school. It was super fun then and I think that as I get older the scares definitely don’t get old. I would say the target audience would be pretty much all teenagers.” Halford also noted that the staff and overall experience was great. “Apart from the expected scaring, all of the workers were very nice and worked to get the line moving fast, and make sure everyone was having a fun, safe time.” Halford shows that the Hudson Haunted House can be enjoyable to all, especially the students at HHS.
The Case Barlow Farm Fest and the opening of the Hudson Haunted House are just two of the many events that marked the start of the fall season in Hudson. These two activities that are particularly enjoyed by students demonstrate how autumn creates an engagement and is an exciting time for Hudson residents, especially those at the high school.
