Fall activities are a fantastic way to celebrate the season! The combination of the crisp air, the bright colors, the sweet and hearty comfort foods, and the rustic charm of fall are hard to resist. Add in some of our favorite holidays and it makes it hard to not get out and enjoy the awesomeness of autumn.
If you're looking for fun fall activities to fill their calendar, we have a cornucopia worth of ideas to help you ring in the fall-idays!
Outdoor Fall Activities Anyone Will Love
The cooler temperatures and beautiful leaf colors make it hard to resist going outdoors during the fall months. These fun fall activities for families, friends, or couples are perfect for anyone who loves autumn and the outdoors.
Make Your Way Through a Corn Maze
Bundle your gang up, or grab your significant other or BFF, and see if you can get through the local corn maze! You can work on your team-building skills to see if you have what it takes to solve the clues and beat the maze while filling your lungs with fresh fall air.
Take a Hike and View the Colorful Foliage
Many parts of the country put a true color show on during the fall months. If you live in a part of the country that goes from green to reds, oranges, yellows, and browns during the autumn months, get outside and get hiking. While exploring the great outdoors, collect various leaf samples to use for simple fall nature crafts once you get home!
Go on a Hay Ride
Is there anything that screams fall more than bouncing along the dirt roads while enjoying a hayride? There's probably no better way to take in the sights of the season than cozying up with loved ones on a tractor packed full of hay bales.
Take the Gang Apple Picking
Fall is the perfect time of year to spend an afternoon in an apple orchard. Take the time to learn about apple picking techniques and the various types of apples grown in the orchard you tour. Then, choose the perfect apples to take home with you so that you can make apple pies, apple sauce, and apple butter.
Pick Pretty Pumpkins
You can't celebrate fall without picking the perfect pumpkin! Take family or friends out and see who can find the roundest pumpkin, the tallest pumpkin, the smallest pumpkin, or the fattest pumpkin. Carry them all home and display them on your porch or carve them up for Halloween.
Try a Fall Camping Adventure
Camping is often thought of as a summer activity, but fall can be prime camping time. This fun fall activity lets you take in the colorful leaves and vibrant stars while snuggling up in a thick layer of sleeping bags and blankets as the temperatures drop in the evening.
Make warm, savory camping meals over an open fire and finish the night off with toasty marshmallows. A bonus to fall time camping is there are far fewer bugs buzzing around during this time of year.
Picnic in a Sunflower Field
A fall picnic is a wonderful way to spend a weekend afternoon. Pack up rustic bread, artisan cheeses, apples, butternut squash soup (in a thermos), freshly baked cookies, a plaid blanket, and some apple cider, and seek out a field of sunflowers. What a party for the senses to dine on your favorite fall foods in a field of bright yellow florals!
Head to the Farmer's Market
The local farmer's market is a common place to hit up during the summer months, but in the fall, the entire experience transforms. Gone are tomatoes, cucumbers, and berries, and in their place are loaves of bread, fall vegetables, and baked goods. See what you can find locally and then take everything home and create a meal from what you buy.
Run a 5K
Running in July and August is a tall task because of the hot and muggy weather. A brisk gallop in cooler fall temperatures is absolutely invigorating by comparison. If you enjoy getting outside and stretching your legs, and you happen to have sporty kids and an athletic partner, sign the gang up for a local 5K. Run or walk it as a group and then do something fun afterward to celebrate.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means that you can have fun running and support a good cause at the same time. This can be a great way be there for someone you know who is battling this disease.
Tour a Graveyard
One particular month in the fall is all about the spooky. During October, get into the Halloween spirit with a graveyard tour. This doesn't have to be scary. In fact, it can serve as an excellent history lesson.
Check out the gravestones in your local graveyard. Which one is the oldest stone? Do any of the deceased share your birthdays? Are there any last names you recognize? Write them down and do some local research later!
Have Fun With Haunted Houses
If your kids are older and won't scare too easily, take the family through a haunted house. This is another quintessential fall activity that can get your blood pumping! Hold hands and face your fears with this timeless fall thing to do.
Host a Tailgate Party
Tailgates are fun fall activities for the whole family to partake in on Saturdays. If your brood loves football, then gather with friends and family and pre-party outside. Grill hotdogs, enjoy your favorite fall beverages, wear your team colors, and play corn hole before game time. Go team and go fall!
Participate in a Fantasy Football League
Fantasy football leagues are easy and fun ideas for families to do as a group. Set up your own league, choose the best team name possible, and see who ends up taking the first place spot.
Spend the Day on a College Campus
Fall is a great time to tour college campuses as a family, especially if you have teenagers headed off to higher learning institutions soon. Walk past the beautiful buildings and catch the spirit that college campuses give off when the new academic year is finally in full swing. Stop by the campus store and buy a few items to commemorate the day.
Find a Fall Festival
Autumn festivals are everywhere and they are one of the best fall activities to get you in the spirit of the season! The theme of these events will vary from festival to festival, but expect to enjoy fun games, live music, yummy treats, and even a chili cookoff or pie baking contest.
Have a Bonfire
Fall brings cooler evening temperatures, which are ideal for late bonfires. Cuddle up under blankets and sip warm apple cider while you relax by a fire. Tell your favorite spooky story or share your favorite fun fall activity with your family. The name of the game here is staying warm and staying connected with those you love.
Visit a Working Farm
Everyone will get something out of a trip to a working farm. Make this family day one where everyone learns something about a job that is so important to so many lives. What takes place on a working farm? Check out bee hives, chicken coops, vegetable and fruit growers, and livestock!
Tour the Local Zoo
Lots of people make the trek to the area zoo once the hot weather exits the forecast. Best of all, fall is a great time to experience the zoo animals because crowds are minimal and cooler temperatures result in fewer whiny children and therefore longer hours to take in the sights.
Go to the County Fair
Our list of fun outdoor fall activities would not be complete without carnival rides, fair foods, and fun games! These limited time events are a great way to check out unique exhibits, get some thrills, and spend some quality time with family and friends.
Take in a Drive-In Movie
This old-school fall activity is a great way to spice up the season and take in some new flicks at the theater. Grab some blankets, load up a large thermos with hot cocoa or apple cider, and enjoy!
Visit an Amusement Park
We normally think of summer when it comes to amusement parks, but this is one of the best fall things to do for a couple of reasons. First, the lines are shorter and the weather is much more pleasurable. Second, parks across the united states turn their typical parks into Halloween haunts, which can make for lots of spooky fun!
Leap Into Leaf Piles
Rake up a bunch of leaves, get a running start, and fling yourself into them. Nothing is more simple or more fun for a family to do together in the fall.
Go Trunk-or-Treating
We all know that Halloween brings lots of sweet treats, but nowadays, one of the top fall things to do is enjoy the many trunk-or-treats that churches, schools, and local organizations put on for families. This is a great opportunity to get outside, make some new friends, and find out about local businesses in the area.
Host an Outdoor Game Day
Giant games are always a big hit for families to play outdoors in the fall! Giant Jenga, Yardzee, and corn hole are all classics, but you can also add in some fall-themed options.
Head to the store and snag a handful of orange and white mini pumpkins along with some chalk or painter's tape. Then, play the gourd game tic-tac-toe! You can also print out a large picture of a turkey and use construction paper to make feathers and play a round of pin the tail on the turkey!
Start Your Holiday Shopping Early
If you think about it, the fall is filled with opportunities to save money find some truly unique gifts! First of all, you have tons of holidays and with these festive times come big sales. Take advantage of Columbus Day, Halloween, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Also, make a point to peruse the local vendors at festivals, the farmer's market, and other events. They can many times have fun gifts that you can't find anywhere else!
Fun Fall Activities to Help You Get Your Gobble On
Fall and food go together like turkey on Thanksgiving. You can't have one without the other! This season, have fun with your family while making delicious autumn dishes. Spending time in the kitchen is guaranteed to bring smiles and full bellies!
Host a Chili Cook-Off
Chili is a crowd-pleasing dish, and there are so many unique variations to try. Host a chili cookoff and see who brings the best batch of deliciousness. Consider making a fall-inspired chili or a vegetarian option!
Bake So Many Apple Pies
Can you even have a fall season without baking at least one apple pie? Probably not. Don't stop at just one pie though — make lots! There are so many unique and creative twists on this classic treat that it seems impossible to hit them all.
Making pies can be more than just a fun (and delicious) activity. Pies freeze wells, so you can also plan to give them to friends and family as seasonal gifts.
Make Caramel Apples
Make sure to save some of those Granny Smiths for some sour, yet sweet caramel apples! These are a staple of the season and a sneaky way to get your kids to eat something somewhat healthy.
Get Inspired by Festive Fall Mocktails and Cocktails
Ciders and pumpkin spice rule the autumn season, and there are dozens of drink recipes that will inspire any fall get-together. Make fall-infused mocktails for those who don't partake in libations and fancy fall cocktails for those who can handle a bit of alcohol. These are the perfect pairing for an array of fall activities so don't forget to include them at your next event!
Bake Fresh Bread
On the more chilly, blustery fall days, take to the kitchen with your kids or partner and learn how to bake bread. Try a few recipes out and see which ones prove the easiest and most delicious. No matter which you choose, these can be another great fall gift for family and friends.
Serve Up Savory Soups
What is the perfect complement to freshly baked bread? Homemade soup! Fall-inspired homemade soups and stews are generally simple, hearty, and healthy. Try a few new recipes out and let your kids help with the chopping and the stirring.
Plant a Fall Vegetable Garden
If you love to garden, don't stop planting just because the seasons turn! You can definitely plant veggies in the fall months. Know which veggies thrive in fall temperatures and which ones do best in the climate that you live in. Once they are ripe for the picking, make recipes that use your harvest.
Have a Donuts and Cider Day
Celebrate fall with cider and donuts. This classic combination has served as a fall treat forever! No one will be sad about a delicious day at the local cider mill. Just make sure you buy enough to eat on-site and indulge in the next day.
Fall Activities for Crafty Minds
If you and your family love getting crafty, these fall crafts will keep everyone busy and happy while making your home festive for the season.
Have a Fall Photoshoot
Have your gang dress in seasonal shades and get some pictures snapped of your good-looking brood. You can do a fall photoshoot in a field of fall flowers, a pumpkin patch, an apple orchard, or among the color-changing trees.
Create Pumpkin Art
Pretty pumpkins have a place in any home or on any porch during the fall months. Another fun fall activity is to paint them, cover them in glitter, or attach fabric to them to create interesting and colorful pumpkins. Let each person in the family come up with their own decoration concept and see how they all turn out.
Paint Pretty Acorns
Gather and clean petite acorns that you find outside. You won't have to look very far for many of these as this is the time of year that they are seen scattered around the earth. Paint a handful of them in any color or design they choose. Let them all dry and fill vases with your creations.
DIY a Fall Wreath
Another fun fall activity that also adorns your home with autumn beauty is crafting a wreath for your front door! Leaves, acorns, twigs, and twine are perfect materials to consider for this family project. Get inspired by nature this season and make something beautiful to put on display.
Create Rustic Garland
Using twine, burlap, faux leaves, and acorns, make a pretty garland to string across your fireplace mantle.Kids help choose materials at a local craft store and ask them to assist in arranging the items on the garland. An adult should operate the hot glue gun, but everyone can participate in this fun craft.
Make a Pumpkin Vase
Hollow out a small to medium-sized pumpkin and arrange pretty fall flowers inside of it. Your family can lend a hand with the hollowing-out part or paint the pumpkins in preparation for flower arrangements. Make sure you save all of those pumpkin seeds for yummy snacks later on.
Create Pumpkin Spice Soap
If you know how to make soap, infuse the craft with scents of the season. Pumpkin pie soap smells so insanely good that you'll have to hold yourself back from eating it in the shower! Making soap is something that the entire family can help out with — and it ensures that everyone stays healthy throughout cold and flu season.
Get Into Candle Making
Candle making is a timeless hobby perfect for the fall season. Create fall-scented candles or pillar candles in red, brown, and orange tones.
Design a Sign
Think of catchy phrases like "Fallin' for Fall" or "Happy Fallidays" and turn your thoughts into a box sign for your home. Or, take turns coming up with different fall sayings for your letterboard.
Build a Scarecrow
Why not build your own scarecrow and pop him in your yard? He'll prove useful for those trying to grow fall veggies while serving as a festive decoration as well.
Fall Activities for Adults & Senior Family Members
Fall months are welcome months for older family members who struggle with the summer heat. It's time to get out and enjoy the season with grandma and grandpa. These senior-inspired fall activities are ones that older generations can set out and do on their own or do with their beloved grandkids.
Teach Your Kin How to Knit
If you know how to knit, use the fall to pass the tradition on to younger generations. Teach them how to make a scarf or a blanket. It might take patience and time, but the art of knitting will be something that the grandkids will keep with them always.
Assemble Your Troops and Decorate the Front Porch
As you age, dragging out fall decorations and transforming spaces like front porches for different seasons might become more difficult as the years progress. If you have family that lives nearby, ask them to help you do your fall decorating. Kids of all ages and grown-ups alike can lend a helping hand in this fall activity. Worst-case scenario, you bribe them to come with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and apple cider.
Help Your Grandkids With Halloween Costumes
Back in the day, there was no Party City at every corner packed full of trendy Halloween costumes. People made these disguises with their own two hands. Help your grandkids have the most unique costumes on the block. If you know a thing or two about making Halloween costumes, then use this time to get crafty, creative, and helpful.
Read Your Way Through Colder Days
Get cozy near a cracking fire and open up a good book. The colder months are made for snuggly days of relaxing and reading. Consider starting a family book club with your older grandkids, focusing on some classic reads that everyone can enjoy.
Do Some Wine Tasting
Wineries totally transform during the fall season. Visit a few local spots, sip some vino, and bring a couple of bottles home to pop open over the upcoming holiday season.
Drink Some Pumpkin Beer
If you live in an area with breweries, this is a fantastic way to try some local ales and enjoy some seasonal specials that they many times offer. This is also a fun chance to learn about how beer is made and make some new friends.
Take a Color Drive
If hiking is too much exertion for you, take a scenic color drive through the forests. Check out the vibrant and rich colors of fall blankets and the gorgeous sunsets that Mother Nature has made to match. Toss the grandkids in the back of the car and bring along baked treats for a daytime drive that they will never forget.
Movies on the Patio
The summer season is hot and buggy, forcing many older folks indoors once the sun goes down. This makes fall the prime time for movies on the patio. Set up a screen and a video, gather blankets, popcorn, and other yummy treats. Watch classics with your loved ones on the back patio and enjoy the cool autumn weather.
Plant Fall Flowers
Fall gardens are lovely and lush IF you know what to plant in them. When it comes to adding flowers to gardens to create pops of color after the summer months, you need to know what to plant and when to plant them. Have your grown children and grandkids come and pitch in with the more strenuous aspects of gardening.
Tuck Yourself Into a Bed and Breakfast
A relaxing weekend away at a bed and breakfast in a quaint little town is magical during the fall months. Stoll the streets and sip warm coffee. Do some holiday shopping (you know Christmas is right around the corner), relax and read in bed, and enjoy hearty, home-cooked breakfasts right at the bed and breakfast.
Pull Out the Puzzles
Colder days call for complex puzzles. Call up the grandkids and have them help you master a 100, 500, or 1,000 piece puzzle! Choose a pretty puzzle with an autumn theme to stay in the swing of the season.
Fall Activities to Express Gratitude
Fall is the season of giving thanks. Use the spirit of gratefulness and work themes of gratitude into all the fall activities you're doing with your free time.
Volunteer at a Food Pantry
During the fall, many families find themselves in need as they head into the holiday season. Food pantries stock up like crazy so that the less fortunate will be able to create a meal for their families on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Take your family, partner, or a group of friends to a local food pantry and help others get the food they need.
Spend Time at the Soup Kitchen
Not everyone has a warm meal waiting for them at home, and volunteering at a soup kitchen can be a great way to help out in the community. Spend the day feeding those in need and sharing some kindness with those who need it most.
Clean Out Your Home and Organize Donations
One of the most productive fall things to do is a clean-out session. This will make room in your closets and drawers right before the holidays. Have everyone pitch in and get rid of things that they no longer wear, use, or need.
Encourage your kids to think about what they can live without and what those items might mean to those less fortunate than themselves. Pack everything up and donate it to a center that will make sure your former belongings find a good home.
Make a Gratitude Jar
Giving thanks is something many people do around the fall holiday of Thanksgiving. Before this holiday, have everyone help to create a Gratitude Jar. Write down everything that you are thankful for in your life on slips of paper. Fold up the slips and put them in the jar. After your Thanksgiving dinner, read the slips one by one and guess who they belong to around the table.
Create a Thankful Tree
Create a tree out of large rolled paper. Kids can help cut the tree trunk and branches out and color them in if you are using white paper. Cut out leaves in fall colors. Everyone in the family gets a certain number of leaves and writes what they are thankful for onto the leaves. Leaves get taped to the tree branches so that everyone in the home has a visual reminder of all that they should be thankful for during the season.
Do Yardwork for the Elderly
If you have a neighbor or relative nearby who is getting up there in age, volunteer to do some fall yard cleanup. Trim back branches, rake leaves, and plant fall flowers for those you love.
No matter what your age may be, you want to make the most out of the fall season before winter sets in. The best way to do this is to create a fall bucket list! This can ensure that you have fall things to do all season and that you get to enjoy the things that matter most to you and your favorite people.
Make the Most of the Season With Fun & Meaningful Fall Activities
Use all that fall offers to make the most of this special season. The colors, climate, and scents of autumn evoke warm, cozy feelings that any family will be inspired by. There are countless fall activities for families, friends, and couples to have fun with throughout the season. Choose any of these fall things to do to make some wonderful memories with the ones you love.
