Fall is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy nature. There are plenty of things families can do together to have fun in the fall weather.
Whether you enjoy carving pumpkins or visiting haunted houses, this list has something for everyone. Enjoy the cooler temperatures while getting your family active!
Find ideas fall project and crafts here.
Get inspired by these 72+ fun fall activities and add them to your fall bucket list.
Scroll to the bottom to access a printable version and select the adventure that best suits you and your family!
Take a hike
Hiking is a great way to get exercise and spend time with your family. You can likely find trails all around your area that are perfect for a family outing.
Bike ride
Exercise can be fun! Enjoy the outdoors with your entire family.
We have a trail near our home that we just love. Look in your area for either a trail or a fairly wide sidewalk that is safe for kids and adults and get on your bike and ride!
Camping
Camping is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. You can find camping sites all throughout the country and they are a very affordable way to get a mini vacation for a weekend getaway this fall.
Know that some campsites get booked fairly far in advance. Keep this in mind when making camping plans.
Pumpkin Picking
Pumpkins are a must for fall!
They are a fun and festive way to decorate your home all season long. Get online and find a local pumpkin patch in your area that will no doubt have pumpkins for you and the family to pick from.
Apple Orchard
Do you like apples?
You will not be disappointed by spending some time at a local apple orchard in your neck of the woods. They are a great way to get in your daily dose of fresh fruit and they are easy on the wallet, too.
If they have it, grab some apple butter. SO good!
Apple Picking
While just visiting a local orchard can be a fun activity on its own, actually picking apples is fun for the entire family.
You can find apple orchards all over the country! Do a quick search and see what you can find.
Corn maze
The corn maze is a fun way to get the family together and have a great time in the process. Corn mazes can entertain for hours! Kids (and adults) of all ages can enjoy this activity.
Local farm
Visit a local farm in your area to really get in touch with nature and learn a thing or two! You might even find a good price on a bale of hay to decorate your outdoor space and front porch.
Apple cider
Buy or make some apple cider to enjoy.
I love the smell of warm apple cider on a fall day. Perfect for a cozy picnic or just relaxing on your porch.
If you can't find apple cider, apple juice is a tasty treat that will get you in the fall spirit. When my kids were toddlers, they preferred this anyway.
Nature walk
Go on a walk in your neighborhood or find a pretty area to explore. Being outside is the best way to really get in touch with the seasons!
Hot chocolate
Hot cocoa or hot chocolate bombs are a tasty way to toast in the fall season.
There are so many fun hot chocolate recipes you can choose from. You might want to select something with a little pumpkin spice!
Pile of leaves
Nothing says autumn quite like grabbing some rakes and making a huge pile of leaves. Let the kids (and dogs!) have some fun and dive in.
You might even get to reap the benefits of cleaning up your yard while you rake leaves!
Local park
Visit a local park and take in the surrounding nature of your own community. Get on the swings, go down the slide, have some fun with the kids.
Candy Apples
Put some of those apples you snagged at the apple orchard to good use and make tasty candy apples.
Fall Foliage
Enjoy all of the beautiful fall leaves. Depending on the area of the country you are in, you might have different ways of doing this. If you have a convertible, this is the time to put the top down and enjoy.
Other ways to enjoy the pretty fall foliage is by train ride, biking, or just walking through a pretty park.
After your day of enjoying in the leaves, snag these cute fall leaves coloring pages!
Apple Pie
My husband is a BIG fan of a tasty apple pie and I must admit, I'm with him! Baking delicious pies is a fall family activities must-do!
Petting zoo
Head to your local petting zoo and enjoy all of the sweet animals. I think fall is the perfect time because they are not so overheated by the hot summer sun.
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Caramel apples
Caramel apples are such a treat. I love to cut my apple into bite sized pieces and pour the caramel on top. However you enjoy your caramel apple, have fun.
Leaf rubbings
Leaf rubbings from your favorite fall leaves is a great craft for kids!
Framed leaves
I pressed and framed leaves from our own backyard trees several years back and just love them! It's also a great project to give you some personalization to your home decor.
Farmer’s market
Pick from the local farmer's market to save on your grocery bill. You can get all of the fresh fruits and veggies that you need without paying a lot for it.
If you don't have the opportunity to visit a pumpkin patch, you might find some great pumpkins, butternut squash, or other fall fruits and veggies.
Fall is a great time to go, but you can find a lot of great local items any time of year.
Fire pits
One of my favorite fall activities is sitting around a toasty fire.
If you have a fire pit in your backyard, great! But, you can enjoy fire pits while camping or even at many different restaurants that have outdoor seating.
Fireplace
Sometimes a fire indoors is just what you need on a chilly fall evening. Put on a cozy sweater, grab a blanket, and snuggle up by the fireplace with your family.
Read a fall book
Pick a fun book for the family and read it together this fall.
When our kids were young, my husband read the Harry Potter books to our kids. What a fun thing to do, wrapped up in blankets on a fall evening.
Pumpkin patches
Pumpkin patches have a ton of activities besides just picking out a pretty pumpkin. This is a great way spend a few hours in the fall and can be entertaining for all ages.
Some have mini petting zoos, horseback riding, fall games, corn mazes, and more.
Roast marshmallows
Whether you like marshmallows roasted by themselves or s'mores, this is a great chilly evening activity around a firepit.
Roast pumpkin seeds
We love to make roasted pumpkin seeds each year after carving pumpkins for the porch. We don't do anything fancy, just sprinkle with olive oil and salt. But, they are super tasty!
Pumpkin carving
Get creative with your pumpkin carving.
We had a neighbor that had each family member carve something different and they left a voting box on their porch for neighbors to vote as they went by when trick-or-treating on Halloween.
It was such a cute idea and got the neighbors involved in their fun!
Make a fun jack-o-lantern
If you are more traditional with your pumpkin carving, just a basic jack-o-lantern face is still fun! Add a battery operated candle and light up your porch in the evening hours.
Volunteer at a Food Bank
Get the family together and give back this fall. A food bank is a great way to spend time with your family while also helping other families who might just need a little something extra this year.
Pinecones
Picking pine cones is a great activity by itself. But, the pinecones look great to add to seasonal porch decor in the fall as well as the winter!
Halloween Costume
Family themed Halloween costumes are always a hit! Get creative and select costumes that fit your family.
Some common ideas are M&M candies, Incredibles, etc. But, there are endless ideas!
Decorate your front porch
Pull out your decor for the fall season and start decorating.
I like to do this in September, but you decide the time of year that works best for you. I actually wrote a post about when the best time is to start decorating for fall.
Decorating your front porch, patio, or deck can be a great way to get the family into the fall spirit.
Play Touch Football
Have a sporty family? Then touch football is for you!
Put on your cozy sweatpants and see who scores the first touchdown.
Pumpkin Spice latte
Go to Starbucks or your favorite coffee shop and order a fun pumpkin spice drink! There are always a lot of great options to choose from.
Light a Scented Fall Candle
Perhaps I do this a bit early each year, but I get the entire family in the fall spirit by burning fall-themed candles. My favorite are the ones that crackle when they burn.
Make a Fall Wreath
Grapevine wreaths make it really easy to change out the floral stems in a wreath. Find your favorite fall colors and make a fall wreath.
Share Your Ghost Stories
Do you have a favorite ghost story? Share your stories with your family fire side under blankets! Lights out:)
Put up a tent in your own backyard
If you don't have an opportunity for a full camp experience, putting up a tent in your yard will definitely give you a taste of fall.
Crisp fall nights
However you wish to experience it, get outdoors when the weather turns cooler and embrace the season.
Attend a Breakout Room
If the weather doesn't allow for outdoor activities, a breakout room is a great activity for families.
I highly recommend this if you have yet to try one! It's really fun to see the entire family coming together to get out.
Fall Craft
Find a simple fall craft that you can complete in under an hour. The old fashioned Child Craft books never disappoint for this.
Candy Corn
Putting some candy corn in a little dish is something I do each year. Our family all likes candy corn, but I know some don't like it at all! Are you a lover of candy corn?
Pumpkin painting
Painting real or plastic pumpkins is a great activity that you can use to add to your porch or interior fall decor. The inexpensive plastic pumpkins can be painted in minutes and are SO cute.
Wine Cork Pumpkin
If you have leftover wine corks, wine cork pumpkins are a fun crafting activity that can be done in about 30 minutes.
Thankful List
Make a list of all the things you are thankful for. This is a great way to really appreciate all the blessings in our lives.
Not sure where to begin? I have a list of 100+ ideas of things to be thankful for.
RELATED: Breaking Down the Meaning of Thankful, Grateful, Blessed
Go on a Holiday Family Shopping Trip
Get a jump start on your holiday shopping and take the family shopping. Even if you don't make any purchases, it is a great way to get ideas for the upcoming Christmas season.
Haunted house
If you have older children, going to a haunted house as a family is a scary but fun activity that you will talk about for years to come.
Fall scavenger hunt
Make a list of fall items around your home, street, neighborhood, park, etc. and go on a scavenger hunt.
Some ideas of things to look for would be acorns, butternut squash, white pumpkins, corn stalks, bales of hay, squirrel, etc.
Fall flavors
Make a list of your favorite fall flavors and make a goal of making a treat with each flavor.
Some fall flavor ideas: pumpkin spice, apple, caramel, maple hazelnut, chai, cinnamon, cranberry.
So many good ones.
Attend a Friday Night Football Game
I grew up in a small town and Friday night football games will definitely let you know it's fall.
Get the whole family together, grab some stadium blankets, and go cheer on your favorite team.
Grow your own pumpkin
This is definitely a fun family activity to enjoy in the fall. BUT, keep in mind you will need adequate space to grow the pumpkins.
When our kids were little, we grew giant pumpkins and were shocked how big the vines grew in our yard. While I don't think we'll be growing them again soon, I absolutely love the memory.
Make a pumpkin pie
Not many things make you think fall like a tasty pumpkin pie. I love them any time of year, but canned pumpkin is more readily available in the fall months.
Get my tips on how long a pumpkin pie will last in the fridge?
Fall festival
Look around your area of the country for potential fall festivals. Different communities will have different types of themes, but you are almost sure to find something your family will love.
There is a festival in Missouri called Apple Butter Makin Days. Lots of goodness can be found at this festival. While this might not be near your home, I'm sure you can find something that is all about the fall months.
Horseback Ride
Many of the fall festivals and pumpkin patches will have a small horseback riding area. This is fun for kids and adults!
Household chores fall maintenance
So you will need to get really creative to make fall maintenance a fun activity for your family. But, if it needs to be done, you might as well have some fun doing it.
Perhaps you could create a prize for whoever completes their task first. Every family loves a little competition.
Fall-Themed Family Photo Shoot
Fall is my personal favorite time of year to take family photos. The colors are outstanding and there seems to be a pretty backdrop nearly everywhere you look.
Fall Soup
Cook your favorite fall soup or chili with the entire family. Let everyone participate in preparing the dinner.
Colorful leaves
Go on a walk and start a collection of colorful leaves.
It's amazing how many variations of yellow, orange, red, and brown you can find in nature.
It's the Great Pumpkin - Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's fall television special, It's the Great Pumpkin - Charlie Brown, is a staple for many during the fall season.
Look up the date and time it airs and put it on your calendar.
Scenic Drive Crisp Fall Air
Roll down your windows and go for a beautiful drive while looking at the beautiful nature during fall.
Don't have anywhere to go? Perhaps an aimless drive is best and most relaxing.
Watching Fall Movies
My favorite movie to watch every fall is When Harry Met Sally.
It's a tradition I have with my husband, but also a good friend of mine. So, many years, I watch it twice in the fall.
Do you have a favorite fall movie?
Fall Coffee
Even if you are not a fan of pumpkin spice, make a tasty and hot coffee drink with the family. Flavor ideas for fall are hazelnut, chai, maple, etc.
Outdoor Movie Night at Home
Take it up a notch with an outdoor movie night. Projectors are fairly inexpensive and can allow a larger group to gather.
Be sure to pick a movie that all ages will appreciate.
Attend a Drive In Movie
Yet another way to enjoy a fall movie is at a drive in theater. If you have a pick-up truck, grab some blankets and/or lawn chairs and watch outdoors.
When I was a teenager I watched Silence of the Lambs at a Drive In. SO scary!
Hayrides
A great way to experience the cool air of fall is on a hayride. Grab some friends and find a hayride in your community.
Soccer Game
While soccer may not be your first thought for fall activities, it ranks pretty high in my household.
Be sure and bring a few blankets as it can get pretty chilly!
Apple Bobbing
The kids might enjoy a good ole' fashioned apple bobbing contest.
Making Fall Cookies
Grab a leaf shaped cookie cutter and get busy. Make sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, or any cookie your family loves.
Paint Acorns
Take a nature walk and gather several acorns. Paint these in your favorite fall colors!
Play Flashlight Tag
Get outdoors at night and play a fun game of flashlight tag. Parents can participate too!
Give a Boo Gift
This Halloween specific fall activity is a great way to bring the neighborhood together. Make sure you "boo" your friends and run away before they see you.
Leave them a basket of fun fall treats to enjoy.
Fall Centerpiece
Make a fun fall centerpiece with popcorn kernels, lentils, beans and add a candle to the center.
Conclusion
Regardless of your families interests, I think you'll find a fun fall activity on this list that everyone will love.
Happy Fall!
