The trees are changing colors, the leaves are falling, and fall activities are going on.
There are so many fun fall activities to do with your family, whether you want to go out or stay at home.
Head on out to the local orchard or farmer's market, or even your own backyard, and check off some of your favorite things during our favorite season.
Some of the best fall activities can be enjoyed during these cooler temperatures by kids of all ages.
I have compiled 8 outdoor activities and 12 activities to do at home that are fun activities for the whole family.
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Outdoor Fall Activities:
1. Apple Picking
One of the favorite family activities to do in the fall is to go out and pick apples at an apple orchard. I go every year with my family to pick apples to use in my holiday apple pies. It has been a family tradition to make homemade apple pies since before I was born, and this is a great way to use fresh apples. The bonus is that there are so many different types of apples to choose from.
2. Pumpkin Picking
Another family favorite is Pumpkin picking at the local farm. Whether you go to large pumpkin patches and pick the pumpkin yourself or pick your favorites out of a pile of pre-picked pumpkins, it’s a great family activity to get out and enjoy the cool weather. You could also incorporate your pumpkins into your holiday home décor.
Photo Credit: Katie Wagner Designs
3. Corn Maze
My cousin was recently telling me about a large corn maze she went through that can take over an hour to get through. She said she had a great time finding her way through the 15-acre corn maze. If this is your thing, I would highly suggest finding a local corn maze is a great place to get lost in for a few hours.
4. Haunted Trails
Do you like to be scared? Haunted trails typically have popular scary movie characters wandering through the woods or a nature walk to jump out and scare you. There are many you walk through and some you can take a haunted hayride through. If you see someone coming at you with a chainsaw… run!
5. Hayride
I love to ride on hayrides to enjoy the fall scenery and fresh air, but a lot of people love haunted hayrides. No matter which type of hay ride you enjoy, they are a great addition to the outdoor fall activities.
6. Fall Hikes
If you live in an area with all 4 seasons, I’m sure you love to watch the trees change colors and the leaves fall around this time of year. To really get close to nature and enjoy the autumn season and the fall foliage, you could go for a hike. Check your area for different paths to take that would be best places for you.
7. Take Fall Photos
Are you jumping ahead and want to get your family photos done early for Christmas? You can opt for a fall family session outside and you can enjoy the weather before it gets too cold. Grab the entire family and head to the local park to get some great pictures during this perfect time of year. Many photographers offer mini sessions, so check your local photographers for a session to sign up for.
8. Fall Festivals
I feel like there is a Fall Festival going on every weekend with Pumpkins, Corn Mazes, Hayride, Caramel Apples, and more. So, if you want to complete most of this list in one day, you should check out a local Fall Festival.
Fall Activities at Home:
9. Watch Halloween Movies
The lists of the best Halloween movies to watch this season are out with where to watch them. Many of the popular streaming services have a large collection of Halloween movies to choose from. My family tries to watch a Halloween movie or tv show episode a night before bed in October to really enjoy the season. Our favorite family-friendly movies include Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown.
If you're looking for the best Halloween Movies to watch with your kids, check out my List of Family-Friendly Halloween Movies & Where to Watch Them.
10. Decorate your Home
My fall decorations are out in September, and I will be adding onto my Halloween decorations soon. Some simple ways to decorate your home include lanterns filled with fake gourds, vines of fake leaves, or beautiful signs with pumpkins.
11. Carve Pumpkins
Have you gone pumpkin picking yet? Pull out those pumpkin carving kits and add some cute decorations to make the perfect pumpkin. Once you've carved out your pumpkins, you could even roast pumpkin seeds with the seeds. If you do not want to put real candles inside your pumpkins, you can also look to get fake candles, like these Battery Operated LED Pumpkin Lights sold on Amazon, to illuminate your pumpkins.
12. Pumpkin Painting
If your children are little and want to participate in decorating your pumpkins, you may want to consider painting them instead. This gives the kids full creative control without worrying about a large mess and rotting pumpkins.
13. Bake Apple Pies
As mentioned above, I love to pick my own apples for my apple pies. The day after apple picking, I spend a full day in the kitchen baking 4 apple pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I use an Apple Corer, like this Johnny Apple Peeler, Corer, and Slicer that can be found on Amazon, and I fully bake all of my pies that day. I fully seal the pies and freeze them until the day before we want to eat them. My family has been doing this tradition for years and it is one of the most popular pies every holiday season. I’m honored my mother has passed this tradition of baking the fresh apple pie onto me.
14. Make Pumpkin Pies
So many people associate fall with pumpkin and pumpkin spice drinks and flavors. To keep up with the pumpkin flavor, you could make your own pumpkin pies to enjoy during the holidays.
15. Make Fall Crafts
There are so many creative fall crafts to do with your kids to keep them busy and still enjoy the fall season. The best time to pull out a fall craft is on a rainy day or an extra cold day. My daughter and I try to do a craft every week and I love to see her learn and grow. We have made a jack-o-lantern out of construction paper and ghost out of our handprint.
16. Make a Scarecrow
If you have a lot of leaves in your yard, a fun way to dispose of them is to bag them up and turn the bags into a scarecrow. Some cities even have competitions you can sign up for to see who can make the best scarecrow. It’s a great way to get your kids to join in on raking up the leaves as well.
17. Make a Big Yard Spider
This is similar to the Scarecrow, except you use the bags to make a large Spider. You can purchase different sized black garbage bags to create the body, the head and the 8 legs. To make the spider look more realistic, you can add sticks to prop up the legs and head. As a child, my family would use the pile of leaves in our yard to make a large spider and it was awesome to have in front of our house on Halloween night.
18. Roast Marshmallows over a Camp Fire
My city allows you to have your own fire pit in your backyard, as long as you keep the flames low, and you have a way to put the fire out. It is so nice to go outside on crisp fall nights to make s'mores and it does not require you to go camping. You could even tell ghost stories around the campfire to make it spookier.
19. Eat and/or Make Apple Cider Donuts
My husband and I love apple flavored desserts, so we are always excited when we find a place that sells apple cider donuts. This time of year is the best time to find these delicious treats. While I have never made apple cider donuts, I know many people who have. I'm still looking for the perfect recipe to try.
20. Snuggle with a Book and a Blanket
The simplest thing on this list is to just relax and enjoy the fall season. Kick your feet up with a good book, cover up with a warm blanket, and sip your favorite drink. Even the smallest things can be enjoyed by the whole family.
There you have it, 20 fun family activities in the fall you can do with your family and check off your fall bucket list.
I wanted to also include some honorable mentions if you are looking for more seasonal activities to have some family fun.
Drink Hot Chocolate
Go to a Friday Night Football Game
Go for a Scenic Drive
Go for a Bike Ride
Check out a Haunted House
Go to a Petting Zoo
Enjoy a Fall Scavenger Hunt
There are so many fun things to do every fall with your family members. What better time for autumn activities than when the crisp air and colorful leaves make an appearance.
Do you have any fall family activities to add to our list?
Comment below your favorite fall activities.
