70 Fun Fall Activities That Kids and Adults Alike Will Enjoy
Add these wonderful ideas to your autumn bucket list, stat!
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It's one of the most magical times of the year. The crisp and cool autumn breeze feels like an invitation to explore a multitude of exciting things to do all season long. Head to the attic to pull your coziest sweaters and hats out, grab a pumpkin spice delight at your favorite coffee shop and dive headfirst into the wonderful world of fall activities! Whether you're a veteran leaf-peeper or a newbie to the apple picking scene, we've lined up a ton of activities to help you make the most of this welcoming season. From antiquing adventures to memorable family road trips, DIY crafts to up your fall decorating game and mouthwatering baking sessions (did someone say apple pie?) using all the best fall ingredients, autumn brings a variety of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
We get it, fall can sometimes be a little hectic. The kids go back to school, football season is in full swing, and you've got to really start getting busy on creating the perfect Halloween costume. Amidst all the chaos, don't forget to soak it all in, because before you know it there won't be any foliage to admire or pumpkins to pick until next year. Now, get ready to fall in love with fall all over again this year with these fun activities!
Find more exciting fall crafts, decorating tips, halloween content, and more.
Make a DIY Apple Wreath
Welcome fall with an easy-to-make craft project! Fresh apples, boxwood sprigs, berries, jute webbing ribbon, wired wood picks, and a wreath form are all you'll need to make this gorgeous seasonal item.
GET THE DETAILS: DIY Apple Wreath Tutorial
Make Painted Leaves
To make: Use acrylic paint pens to draw and paint animal faces on fall leaves, using the shape of the leaf to help determine which animal and where its features are placed.
RELATED: Leaf Crafts to Help You Fall Into the Season
Host a Fall Potluck
Gather with your friends and family to reconnect during the fall! Make the occasion stress-free by having a good old fashioned potluck! Invite guests to bring their favorite fall dishes for a casual get-together to celebrate any ol' occasion—or for no reason at all!
Hit the Hiking Trail
Autumn is the perfect to explore the great outdoors! Pack a few bags, bundle up, and make a trip to a local forest this fall. Whether you're going with your partner or the little ones, everyone will have a blast exploring new territory, especially if there's a spectacular aerial view waiting for them at the end.
RELATED: 105 Instagram Nature Captions for Those Days When the Mountains Are Calling
Gaze at the Harvest Moon
Scout out a location with a great view of the eastern horizon and be there at sunset to watch the Harvest Moon rise on the evenings of September 16, 17, and 18, 2024. The date changes every year, but it's always the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. Our ancestors relied upon this annual lunar event for extra light at harvest time, but for most of us today, it's simply a chance for us to stand in awe of Mother Nature.
Bake an Apple Delight
Don't let your orchard haul go to waste. Make the most of your fruit with these delicious sweet and savory recipes!
RELATED: 40 Best Apple Recipes for Delicious Fall Dining
Make a Simmer Pot
Whip up a cozy concoction that will fill your home with delightful autumn aromas.
To make an Apple Pie Simmer Pot: Evoke the nostalgia of a Saturday spent baking alongside Grandma. Add two apples (sliced), one finger of ginger (sliced), and three cinnamon sticks to a pot of two to four quarts water set over low heat.
To make a Perfect Pear Simmer Pot: Settle in for a lazy chilly morning with a good book, a blanket, and an earthy scent. Add two pears (sliced), one lemon (sliced), two drops mint extract, and four drops vanilla to a pot of two to four quarts water set over low heat.
RELATED: 10 Simmer Pot Recipes That Will Make Your Home Smell Like Fall
Go Apple Picking
There's nothing like the fresh taste of fruit picked right from the tree. Bring home a bushel from a U-pick apple orchard or farm, then serve up creative takes on classic recipes, such as Apple Crunch Pie.
RELATED: 35 Amazing Places to Go Apple Picking Across the U.S.
Take Fun Fall Photos
Celebrate the beauty of autumn with a festive fall photoshoot! Whether you're making your way to the pumpkin patch or going on a therapeutic run, snap a few pictures outside.
Attend a Fall Fair or Festival
Wherever you are, there is sure to be a fall fair or festival near you. So grab your sweater and get ready for games, rides, and epic state fair food. Willing to make it a road trip?
RELATED: 32 Best Fall Festivals and Fairs Across the United States
Make a Fall Flower Arrangement
Flowers aren't just for spring! This beautiful arrangement makes the most of ranunculus, dahlias, and Queen Anne's lace nestled in a basket or a wood bucket. Don't worry about perfection: Keep the arrangement loose and casual.
RELATED: 35 Best Fall Flowers to Plant in Your Garden
Make Shareable Sweets
Kids will love crafting these sweet treat ghosts and passing them out to their friends on Halloween!
To make: Cut a 4- to 5-inch circle of fall colored fabric (for added flair use pinking shear). Place the lollipop in the center of the fabric and wrap the fabric down and over a lollipop. Gather the fabric around the handle and hold in place with a piece of jute twine.
RELATED: Marshmallow Heads
Set Up an Apple Toss
Got a few apples past their prime? Use them for a fun game. Gather vintage produce baskets in assorted sizes, and designate points for each vessel. Write the game name and point assignments on green card stock. Split up the family as Team Red and Team Green, and take turns tossing to find out who is the winner.
RELATED: 57 Best Halloween Party Games for Kids and Adults
Visit a Small Town
Road trip to see the changing leaves in a small town you've never explored before! Two of our favorite destinations for the season? Sperryville, Virginia and Lambertville, New Jersey.
RELATED: 55 of the Best Fall Towns in the U.S. for Foliage
Make Caramel Apples
No treat says "autumn" quite like a crisp caramel apple. Simply melt caramels according to the instructions on the bag. Role in peanuts, if desired.
GET THE RECIPE: Candy-Coated Caramel Apples
Play Tree Slab Tic-Tac-Toe
Ditch your devices the next time you head on a family camping trip and focus on the fun to be had in the world around you with this kid-friendly craft.
To make: Pick up a round wood slab and four leather strips. On the slab, form a grid (pictured at left) with the strips and secure each end with an upholstery tack. Once in the woods, gather two five-piece groupings of found objects such as small rocks and pine cones to use as game pieces.
RELATED: 93 Simple Crafts to Help Celebrate Fall in DIY-Style
Rethink the Salad
Leafy greens aren't the only way to eat your veggies! This perfect fall salad subs in hearty radicchio, and the pears and gorgonzola cheese are the perfect add-ons.
GET THE RECIPE: Roasted Pear, Sweet Potato, and Radicchio Salad
Cozy Up with a Good Book
The perfect definition of "me" time is a cozy nook, a warm cup of tea, and a book you can't put down. Pick up a few new novels to enjoy during the cozy season.
RELATED: Make a Book Spine Bookmark
Set the Table
Take your fall dinner party up a few festive notches with these seasonal place cards. Draw a letter on paper, then cut out and tape to an apple. Using a straight pin, lightly prick along the outside of the letter to make an outline, and then fill the letter with cloves.
RELATED: Four Cute Ways to Fold Napkins this Halloween
Create a simple fall centerpiece.
Stack vintage aluminum colanders to create a picture-perfect kitchen display.
To make: Cut pieces of floral foam to fit in the bottom and middle colanders. Push colanders into foam to help them stay in place. Place pumpkins around the bottom and middle colanders and completely fill the top colander. Add bittersweet sprigs throughout.
RELATED: 50 Beautiful Fall Centerpieces To Liven Up Your Dining Table
Janece Maze is the former Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covered DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.
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