October has always been prime time for downtown Cranford’s fall festivities, and this year was no exception. Fall has never been my favorite season, but I can’t escape the annual pumpkin spice enthusiasm. 

Of course, nothing says fall like warm apple cider donuts from Dreyers Farms. If you can’t get enough, you can head to Vanilla Bean and get their seasonal Apple Cider Donut (made with said donuts), Oreo Pumpkin, or Cinnamon Crumb flavors. Next door, if you call ahead, you can pick up a fresh apple pie from Breadsmith, which I can shamelessly admit I’ve eaten more than half of in one sitting. You can also drop by Track 5 and buy a variety of pumpkin spice coffees and pastries, from the classic latte to a cold brew. 

I’ve only scratched the surface with a few of my favorite specials of the season thus far, and this isn’t even including the plethora of autumnal events Cranford hosts every year. On Saturday, October

22, people crowded Hanson Park for the Great Pumpkin Carveout and an outdoor movie. That same night, LAS also opened its family-friendly haunted house to get everyone in the Halloween spirit.                          

And who can forget about the Scarecrow Scroll every October? Running through Halloween night, scarecrows made by local businesses, organizations, and schools line the streets. CHS boasted a few of its own; Latin Club’s scarecrow of Atlas, the Titan sentenced to holding the weight of the world on his shoulders in Greco-Roman mythology, was featured in a New Jersey 101.5 article! 

As we enter the holiday season, let’s keep looking forward to all the upcoming events Cranford has in store for us to get involved in our community!