The fall months are flying by, and winter is just around the corner! As the term and the year draw to a close, take a moment to pause, recharge, and enjoy the season with camaraderie and Harvard programming featuring music, snacks, crafting, dancing, and more. Browse upcoming events and ideas below to help you make the most of the season, and make sure to check Engage regularly as new happenings are added.
Savor the Season
As the temperatures drop, there’s no better way to stay warm than with comfort, connection, and good food. For sweet treats and warm beverages, stop by Longwood Coffee & Cookies on November 17, hosted by the Harvard Griffin GSAS Office of Culture, Community, and Engagement (CCE). It’s the perfect excuse to step away from your lab, class, or study space and enjoy casual conversation with fellow graduate students and members of the CCE team.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Office of Residential Life’s Thanksgiving Lunch, a beloved Harvard Griffin GSAS tradition open to residence hall students that brings the community together for a Thanksgiving meal featuring delicious classics like turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and more. Especially cherished by international students, this Thanksgiving Day gathering is both a celebration of community and a gesture of giving back, with ticket proceeds donated to the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter.
And of course, fall is a great time to find new cozy corners and seasonal treats on campus. Why not grab a latte at the grad student-run Café Gato Rojo in Lehman Hall for a tasty beverage, good company, and cozy atmosphere?
Arts, Crafts, and Creativity
One of the best ways to recharge is to tap into your creativity—or be inspired by the creativity of others. Learn how to make your own winter scarf or bring a project you’re working on to Knit and Crochet Night. Then, in December, join your fellow student-parents and Harvard families at the popular Winter Family Holiday Crafts event. (Things may get a bit messy. Dress your kids accordingly!)
Don’t miss Drawing from Life: Storytelling, Heritage, and the Personal as Universal on November 17. Academy Award-winning director and animator Domee Shi, the creative mind behind Pixar’s Turning Red (2022), will join Ju Yon Kim, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Professor of English, for a conversation about creativity, identity, and how personal stories can resonate universally. They will explore Shi’s life and career, the surprising creative risks she has taken, and how animation allows her to bring diverse worlds to life while revealing shared human experiences. This event promises an engaging discussion on storytelling, artistic expression, and the power of empathy.
The season also offers opportunities to experience live performance on campus. On November 22, the Student Center Choir and World Music Collective will present a program in Holden Chapel, featuring songs and traditions from around the world. The following evening, the Student Center Orchestra will perform in Paine Hall. The orchestra’s 2025–2026 program highlights underrepresented voices and stories in classical music, featuring works by Alberto Ginastera, Dorothy Howell, Francis Poulenc, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and more.
Get Moving
If you’d rather recharge outdoors, join the Student Center Athletics Fellows for a guided Bluebike ride along the Charles River on November 22. The route will move at a comfortable group pace, offering plenty of time to take in the views, enjoy the crisp air, and share the experience with fellow students.
When it’s time to swap your sneakers for dancing shoes, mark December 6 on your calendar for the much-anticipated annual Winter Ball in Lehman Hall. This cherished Student Center tradition offers a delightful evening of music, dancing, and celebration. Join your fellow students on the dance floor for a memorable finale to the term.
Fall is also the perfect time to explore beyond campus. Wander along the Charles River, stroll through the Boston Public Garden, or head to the South End for a cozy café afternoon or gallery walk. Sometimes a simple stroll and a change of scenery are all it takes to find your balance again—as you’ll learn at the Mind and Body Lunchtime Talk led by Margaret Rennix, PhD, Assistant Director for Humanities and Social Sciences Support at the Academic Resource Center.
Whether you’re looking to connect with others, express your creativity, or simply take a quiet moment for yourself, there are countless opportunities to find your center before the year and term end. Take time to enjoy the community around you, appreciate the beauty of fall, and recharge before winter arrives. Here’s to a restorative end of the season and year!
