Baala Shakya, Contributing Photographer

On Tuesday and Wednesday, in the midst of midterms, Silliman College’s annual Fall Fest returned to Yale, bringing joy to many. 

Throughout the two-day extravaganza, the Silliman courtyard — decorated with pumpkins, hay bales and maple leaf garlands — came alive, welcoming flanneled students from all 14 of Yale’s residential colleges.

The festival featured pumpkin-decorating stations, field games and small autumn eats for all attendees to enjoy.

“Fall Fest is a time when the community really comes together for the change of seasons,” said Sophia Schwaner ’26. “It’s like a good study break in the middle of midterms. I feel like it returns you to the moment — to what actually matters — during one of the most stressful times of the semester.”

Silliman’s Head of College Office planned and organized the event in conjunction with Yale Hospitality. 

Bella Amell ’27, a member of Silliman’s Activities Council and a Yale College Council senator, noted that the event was successful in large part due to considerable student involvement.

According to Amell, many of the decorations for the event were made by Silliman students — colloquially named “Sillimanders” — and members of the Silliman HOC Office. 

The festival notably included six tented booths assembled, decorated and staffed by Sillimanders. 

Each booth served an assortment of traditional “sweater weather” cravings that changed day to day. This year’s menu featured everything from pumpkin pie to hot apple cider to rosemary and brie focaccia with fried sweet potato wedges.

Amell added that participating behind the scenes of Fall Fest was a great way to get to meet new people and talk to other members of the larger Yale community. 

Breetika Maharjan ’26 told the News that she especially enjoyed seeing students come together and find joy in each other’s company, even in the very thick of midterms.

“I love the music, and I love how people are able to sit and chill on their phones if they need to or talk with friends if that’s how they need to de-stress,” said Maharjan.

As the day brought back warm memories from last year’s celebration — with some students reminiscing and also expressing their slight disappointment at there being no goat at the festivities this year — others, especially first-year students, remarked on how Fall Fest marked a memorable community-building event for them. 

“Just being here with my friends, I felt such a deep sense of community, and then I saw the HOC and all these adults that I know and I felt really happy,” said Shua Hahm ’28. “I tried out a little pumpkin decorating, and I had some pumpkin pie, and I just think it’s such a nice way to have a little break from the hectic day.”

Throughout the courtyard on both days of the event, students could be seen lounging with friends on picnic blankets, playing rounds of cornhole and chatting by the food booths, cups of hot cider in hand. 

Following Silliman’s Fall Fest, Yale will be hosting a campus-wide Fall Festival this Sunday, Oct. 13, on Old Campus.