The fall is one of the best times to get in some family activities. There are so many ways to take advantage of the beautiful weather and scenery outside, and still have fun inside also.
Here’s a list of 38 fun things you can do. Use this to create your fall bucket list. Or you can turn to this post when you are looking for something to do with the kiddos. If you are a stay-at-home mom, a lot of these activities will help keep everyone busy!
(Just so you know, I am overloading this post with many more personal pics than usual. I couldn’t help it since we seem to make so many memories this time of year ;-))
38 Things To Do In the Fall
1. Go on a fall scavenger hunt
Grab this fall scavenger hunt sheet from Domestic Mommyhood and take the kids outside to complete it.
2. Collect different colored leaves
This is a great way to talk about color with your kids. Better yet, collect some of those leaves for #3.
3. Create art with leaves
Use the leaves you collected to do a craft project with your kids.
4. Check with your local nature center to see if they offer fall programs
Nature centers offer guided trail walks, or fall related activities for adults and/or children. We recently attended a children’s program about squirrels burying their nuts for fall. My son loved it.
5. Go apple picking
Have fun trying out different kinds of apples.
6. Visit a pumpkin patch
Pumpkin patches aren’t what they used to be…it’s easy to spend a few hours hanging at the pumpkin patch while the kids jump off the hay tower, or slide down the tube slide.
7. Pick pumpkins
We have been to a few pumpkin patches this year, and surprisingly, haven’t picked any pumpkins, just enjoyed the activities. This means that picking pumpkins gives us another activity to do as a family.
8. Read a fall/scary themed book
If you like to read, find a book with a fall theme, or scary book to get you more into the mood of the season.
9. Watch fall Hallmark movies
Hallmark movies are no longer only for Christmas. I love to turn these on when I’m making dinner or just want to chill. Plus, I don’t feel bad if the kids watch them either.
10. Do a fall craft
Find something fallish that you (no kids) want to create. It could be a wreath or a painting. Anything to help you soak in the feeling of the season. Personally, I love to cross-stitch. I made the fall family portrait below. I loved using the vibrant colors to stitch the leaves on the trees.
11. Bring out the fall/Halloween books
We keep our fall/Halloween books with our fall decorations. The boys are always excited to see the books and read their favorites.
12. Search your neighborhood for creepy decorations
Since it gets dark early this time of year, it’s fun to have dinner, then pile in the car to search for the scariest decorations. If you are really brave, you could take a nighttime walk and check out the decorations.
13. Visit the Halloween store
Browse your local Halloween store, or walk around Target or Walmart and check out the latest decorations and costumes. Visit these stores the day after Halloween and buy decorations at a deep discount.
14. Make a treat with apples
Applesauce, apple tarts, apple pie, apple crisp, warm apple cider. So many options!
15. Go to the zoo
Check out the animals when it’s a bit cooler out and enjoy the fall foliage. Take advantage of Zoo Boo if your zoo offers it.
16. Decorate your house
My kids love decorating day. I bring up the bins of fall/Halloween decorations, then I have to just hold my tongue as they place stuff all over the house.
17. Go to Dollar Tree
Give your kids a few dollars each (or they can bring their own money) and let them pick out a few decorations at Dollar Tree.
18. Have a Halloween movie night
Turn of the lights, grab some candy and popcorn and watch a (age appropriate) Halloween movie.
19. Host a Neighborhood football game
We did this for the first time this fall. It was an official football game with a painted field, goal posts, and timed quarters. This was so much fun it’s going to become an annual event.
20. Visit a Harvest Festival
Look at your local events and see if there’s a Harvest Festival around. The festival is a great way to celebrate the fall season, and there are usually lots of things for kids to do.
21. Take a Hayride
With the popularity of pumpkin patches, you can usually find a hayride pretty easily this time of year. This is one of the most popular activities with my kids.
22. Enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte
I couldn’t go through this list without mentioning a pumpkin spice latte.
23. “Boo” your neighbors
If you aren’t sure what this means, go here. This is a fun way to share the Halloween spirit and the kids think it’s the greatest thing.
24. Jump in a leave piles
Get the kids involved in raking the leaves by allowing them to jump in the piles.
25. Burn a fall scented candles
Nothing says fall more than an apple scented candle. I have mine burning right now as I write this!
26. Walk through a corn maze
You can find one of these at almost any pumpkin patch. Let the kids take the lead and see what happens!
27. Enjoy apple cider donuts
Such a yummie treat!
28. Listen to Halloween music
Find a Halloween music playlist and enjoy it throughout your day.
29. Create a fall cocktail/mocktail
Search Pinterest to find your perfect fall cocktail/mocktail. Enjoy it during your Halloween movie night, or while carving pumpkins!
30. Host a football get together
Invite your favorite people over to enjoy fun food and drinks, while the football game is on. What usually ends up happening is the kids play, the football lovers watch football, and everyone else hangs near the food talking.
31. Make s’mores
Instead of using the traditional chocolate, use Halloween candy to create your original s’more.
32. Do a ghost walk tour
Ghost walk tours are a great way to learn more about the history of your town, while feeling the spooky vibes of the season.
33. Have a bonfire
Try out your new s’more or cocktail/mocktail recipe by the bonfire. Don’t forget to tell ghost stories!
34. Take a fall bike ride
Enjoy all the beauty fall has to offer while getting a little workout in.
35. Roast pumpkin seeds
Carving pumpkins isn’t the same without roasting pumpkin seeds.
36. Make chili
Try a new chili recipe and enjoy it while you are doing #30.
37. Enjoy fall story time at the library
Check your local library for story times. Your little ones can enjoy a fall related story and craft.
38. Try out new crockpot recipes
Fall is the perfect time to get the crockpot back out. Find a new recipe that includes fall favorites like butternut squash, or pumpkin.
Have Fun This Fall
There you have it, 38 things to do this fall. And the best part is, most of them are pretty cheap or free! What activities do you enjoy in the fall? Let me know in the comments below!
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All of these things remind me of what fall was like when we lived on the East coast! Now in SoCal, it’s been in the 80s and 90s so far all of this fall and doesn’t look like it’s cooling down any time soon. I’d love to go to a pumpkin patch and not sweat to death!
I used to live in Cali too and remember how much I missed the east coast seasons. But at least you don’t get the snow! š
The fall season is just the best season ever. I was remeber doing most of these activities when I was younger. Will definitely try to do something with my daughter this fall.
It is the best season, right? I hope you enjoy making fall memories with your daughter!
This is a great list of fall activities. Iām definitely doing some of these activities before the fall season is over. Thanks , for sharing!
Thank you Aliya! I hope you make great memories this fall!
So fun! Going to have to reference this list and work on them with my kiddos!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Yes, it’s a great way to find things to do with the kids.
Such a fun list of fall! I wish that we had more of the changing of the leaves! I would be collecting them!
They really are beautiful. I’m glad you enjoyed the list š
Great ideas for the fall. I especially like the Dollar store idea. I constantly forget about how much stuff they have at such low prices! Also can never go wrong with a hallmark movie!
Thank you! Yes, the Dollar Tree has so many fun things for the kids to choose!
Gosh, Fall is the best!
I love lists like these…they are so handy for when my brain can’t muster up any inspiration…thanks for these…there are a few in here that we haven’t done before…yay!
Thank you! I’m so happy to hear this!