12 Ways to Celebrate the First Official Day of Fall

Break out the seasonal candles and summon the turtleneck sweaters: Fall is coming. September 22 marks the first official day of the season, and with it comes a whole slew of activities. And since this year’s Autumn Equinox falls fortuitously on a Friday, we have a whole weekend to celebrate. Not sure where to start? Here are a few ways we’re welcoming fall.

Bring in fresh blooms.

Contrary to popular belief, all things green don’t curl up and die come cold weather. There are plenty of flowers and greenery that are perfect for this time of year. Read up on how to put together the perfect autumnal floral arrangement here. Complement blooms with in-season fruit and changing leaves.

Try a home refresh.

From mustard yellow to forest green, fall’s colors are prime for decorating. Give your interiors a facelift with a new seasonal color palette—which can be as simple as swapping out your crisp white throw pillows for ones in a deep terracotta hue.

Go all out on the seasonal candles.

We love a good candle, and here are 12 of our favorites to get your home feeling (and smelling) more like fall in mere seconds.

Celebrate accordingly withspiked cider.

As much as we’ll miss rosé (and that’s a lot), fall brings a whole new set of boozy beverages to enjoy. Try one of these ten delicious recipes for spiked cider to welcome fall the right way; from a caramel apple sangria to apple cider bourbon jello shots—seriously—there’s something for every type of celebration.

Indulge in some retail therapy.

One of the most exciting things about fall? All the new decor collections coming out now. From Anthropologie’s gorgeous fall collection to a recently-launched decor line at Target, there are endless ways to spruce up your home this season.  

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Plan a fall retreat. 

Whether you want to see the changing leaves up close or would rather admire nature from a distance in a cabin with a book and maybe a spiked cider drink in hand, there’s no better time for a weekend getaway than early fall. Check out our top destinations for fall foliage here, and go here to see our picks for cozy cabin retreats.

Get your ’gram prepped for the season.

And speaking of leaves, ’tis the season for posting carefully-planned, not-so-candid pics of frolicking in leaves on Instagram. Ensure you’re up to speed with the latest in leaf photography with our helpful guide!

Get your home fall-ready. 

Okay, so maybe this isn’t the most fun way to celebrate… but if you have a few free hours this weekend, it’s worth it to go down the checklist and make sure your home is well-equipped to handle the season ahead. And don’t forget to get your fall cleaning in, too. HGTV star Sabrina Soto recently shared her top tips for tackling hard-to-reach areas, and you can find them here.

Test out a new recipe.

Channel your inner Ina Garten and dedicate some time to mastering a new fall-approved recipe. And since crock pots are basically a comfort food staple, break out the slow cooker and celebrate the end of bikini season accordingly. The chicken gnocchi soup is basically a gift from above.

Throw an actual celebration.

Sometimes, the best way to celebrate a new season is to, well, literally just celebrate. You’re already armed with some great new cocktail recipes to test out, but if you’re looking for some chic DIYs to elevate your party decor, try these Ikea hacks. Because a party without upcycled bottle flower vases is not a party at all.

Curl up with a book.

If your type of celebration is more low-key, pick up one of the many great new design books and spend an afternoon gathering inspiration and relaxing.

Whip out the pumpkin.

Pumpkin and fall are probably the most dynamic duo since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, so grab a can and get cracking. If you’re not ready to commit to a full-on pie yet, try out some delicious pumpkin pastry recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth in the interim.

See more fall-related stories:

Benjamin Moore’s New Paint Line Is 75 Shades of Fall We Found the Coziest Throws for Chilly Fall Nights Everything We’re Looking Forward to This Fall