I’m just wondering if it’s normal/acceptable to leave and join other clubs mid-year or between years at College in the USA (I’m an intl student). It’s just that I’m beginning freshman year in the next few weeks and have a bit of an idea what to join but I’m also the type of person who’d might love to switch after the Christmas holidays! Do music clubs/sports teams normally accept people this far into the year who might have had no previous experience of the activity? From what I’ve seen, the freshman activities fair seems to be the be-all and end-all of clubs and activities on campus!
In general, this is totally fine and quite normal.
Some clubs may be by audition or tryout only, and difficult to get into at midyear. Performing arts groups, in particular, may be rehearsing well in advance for their shows and not willing to bring someone up to speed who has already missed half of the rehearsals. But you can always go out for those in Fall of your sophomore year.
On most campuses, though, the majority of the clubs have open membership, so you can just show up and join at any time. And people drop out of clubs all the time as well.
Just don’t leave a club you’ve decided to drop in the lurch. E.g. if you agreed to make a website for them, or to fundraise for an upcoming trip, either do what you have committed to do or find someone to replace you and get them up to speed before you leave. There will likely be no negative consequences other than ill will if you don’t do this, but doing it is good practice for proper etiquette and civility in the professional world.