Discover 20 unforgettable fall family activities for 2024! From pumpkin patches to cozy movie nights, create lasting memories with these fun-filled autumn adventures.

Why Should You Embrace a Variety of Fall Family Activities?

Fall is in the air, and you know what that means – it’s time for some family fun! With the crisp air, colorful leaves, and endless possibilities for adventure, it is no surprise that fall is an overall favorite time for outdoor adventures. So, get ready to make this fall unforgettable with these top picks for family-friendly activities that’ll have everyone from toddlers to teens (and yes, even Mom and Dad) excited about participating!

Embrace the Great Outdoors for Adventurous Fall Family Activities

1. Go apple picking at a local orchard

  • Even if you aren’t a huge apple eater, going apple picking can be such an enjoyable experience! There is just something about being in nature and picking fruit the way it is meant to be rather than grabbing some not so fresh apples off of the shelf at the store.
    • Consider challenging yourself by making homemade apple pie or apple cider when you get home! Keep reading for a recipe!
  • In addition, apple picking is a great chance for a DIY photo op for some beautiful fall family pics!

2. Navigate through a corn maze

  • Corn mazes are one of those fall family activities that is sure to be a crowd pleaser! Not only is it a great way to challenge your family to work together to get out, but you can also turn it into a competition to see who makes it out first!

3. Take scenic fall foliage drives

  • Although this one may seem super simple, it definitely makes it feel like fall. Don’t forget to take a few stops on the way to get out of the car and enjoy the crisp fall air and take some family photos with the beautiful fall colors!

4. Go camping

  • Camping is my favorite way to make it feel like fall! Fall camping trips is one of our seasonal family traditions and a perfect way to unwind a little and actually enjoy the fall season before it slips right into winter. Typically, we go to Blue Ridge, GA for a weekend which offers us camping but also a little town feel for some shopping/sightseeing.

5. Take a hike

  • Hiking is definitely number 2 on my fall family activities list! As the weather cools off, it is so pleasant to hit the trails for a few hours. This is something you can easily do even with little ones! I would just suggest picking a short trail unless you want to be carrying your toddlers for most of the hike.

Get Crafty with Autumn-Inspired DIY Fall Family Activities

6. Create fall-themed artwork

  • Autumn leaf crafts are an easy and fun way to get your kids as excited about fall as you are. Even if you don’t have kids, getting creative with nature, in particular beautifully colored leaves, is a must!
    • Consider leaf rubbing, leaf drying, or painting leaves.

7. Make pine cone bird feeders

  • Making pine cone bird feeders in the fall before winter arrives was one of our seasonal family traditions growing up, and it is one of the ones I plan to continue with my own children. These are super simple, eco-friendly, AND you get to feed little birdies (or squirrels).
    • Supplies: Pine cones, peanut butter, bird seed
      • Simply cover a pine cone with peanut butter and then sprinkle bird seed on top. Place outside your window if you want to see the birds, or place in a tree.

8. Design and build scarecrows together

  • My mom used to make homemade scarecrows when we were growing up to place in our front yard for fall decor. All you need for this one are some old clothes, stuffing, burlap, and a stick/pole!
    • Once you have your scarecrow’s outfit picked out, simply stick a pole in the pants leg, stuff the clothes with hay, regular stuffing, or even old plastic grocery bags. Next, you will need a head, so fill some burlap with stuffing of choice and top with a hat. Finally, you can paint or draw a face on the burlap.

9. Paint and decorate pumpkins (no carving required!)

  • Painting pumpkins is one of my go-to’s for fall family activities, especially for younger children! If you are like me and don’t enjoy cleaning out the inside of a pumpkin to carve it, painting might become your new favorite too! First, choose your design. Then, collect your supplies (paint and paintbrush). Finally, paint as you wish! Yes, it really is that simple! This is a fun activity for all ages and is great for decorating inside and outside. Additionally, painting pumpkins instead of carving them means they will last longer since you aren’t cutting into them. Win-win!
Abigail and friend painting pumpkins as an example for fun fall family activities

10. Craft autumn wreaths using natural materials

  • Instead of spending too much money on buying a fall wreath, try making a DIY one instead! Use natural materials like sticks, leaves, flowers, mini pumpkins, hay, etc. You can always buy a wreath base and just add what you want to it, or you can start from scratch and try to make the wreath itself as well as the decorations.

Embrace the Best of Fall Family Activities by Indulging in Fall Flavors and Treats

11. Have a family baking day

  • You can forget stopping by starcbucks for some overpriced sweets and coffee. Instead, get creative with as many apple, pumpkin, and warm spice recipes as you want! Trust me, you’ll probably be adding this to your list of favorite fall family activities too!
    • Check out this post for some drool worthy ideas and recipes including apple pie cinnamon rolls, chai sugar cookies, and pumpkin spice latte cupcakes.

12. Visit a farmers market

  • There is just something about going to markets in the fall. Maybe it is because the weather is so much more enjoyable and it just makes you want to get out of the house to enjoy more natural things. Whatever the reason, purchasing fall seasonal produce and flowers from farmers markets is such an enjoyable activity! Also, it is a great opportunity to take your kids and teach them about seasonal produce, flowers, etc.

13. Organize a backyard s’mores and hot chocolate party

  • You don’t need much planning or prep for this! Just grab the ingredients next time you go to the store and have them on hand for a nice cool evening. First, you can start up a fire in the pit. Then you will need to grab some chairs and cozy blankets to really set up the environment. Finally, you can begin the best part – roasting marshmallows and sipping some hot cocoa (or maybe a chai tea latte or apple cider). This is one of those fall family activities that is sure to be a hit, no matter the age!

14. Make homemade apple cider

  • Believe it or not, this one doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds. My husband and I always “cheat” and purchase fresh apple juice from our favorite orchard each fall and then we either make a homemade mixture of spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and a bit of sugar, or we sometimes just purchase a pre-packaged spice mix.
  • If you have the time and creativity, try making it from scratch all together! Try this recipe and enjoy the smell of fall throughout your home as you sip on your fresh cider!

Embrace Cozy Indoor Fall Family Activities

15. Fall-themed movie marathon

  • Pick some favorite fall movies, or maybe ones you haven’t yet seen, and cuddle up for a relaxing moving marathon evening. Add in some extra cozy fall home decor with blankets, pumpkins, fall scented candles, and some warm apple cider.

16. Start a family book club with autumn-inspired reads

  • Getting everyone in on a book club is a great way to encourage building literacy skills while making it enjoyable! Choose books that are fun, engaging, and age appropriate for even the youngest readers in the family.

17. Create a fall-themed photo op for family pictures

  • Taking fall family pictures is an easy activity that will help you create lasting memories you can look back on… literally. You can set up a simple place for pictures with some pumpkins, galvanized tubs, hay, fall flowers, etc. However, if you don’t feel like putting something together, just seek out some nice fall foliage scenery and take some family pictures in your favorite fall outfits!

Participate in Community Events for Fall Family Activities

18. Attend a local fall festival

  • Attending local fall festivals is usually a big hit for kids and it is a fun activity that isn’t available year round. So take advantage of festivals in your area and have some fun while you are at it!

19. Participate in a charity walk or run

  • No, you don’t need to be an avid runner for this one! In fact, you don’t have to be a runner at all! Say less, right? Signing up for a fall family fun walk/run is a great way to get your family out and active while contributing to a positive cause. Just make sure you double check what the proceeds go to before choosing what “race” you decide to sign up for.

20. Visit a nearby pumpkin patch or farm

  • Okay, who doesn’t love this fall family activity? Visiting farms and pumpkin patches screams favorite fall family activities! So go ahead, take your kiddos to pick out their very own pumpkin from a patch or visit a local farm where you are more than likely going to find a hay/tractor ride, fall crafts, and maybe even a petting zoo.

Wrapping up the Fall Family Activities

There you have it, folks – 20 fantastic fall family activities that’ll make this autumn one for the books! From outdoor adventures to cozy indoor fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Remember, the best part of any activity is the time spent together, so don’t stress about perfection. If you want some more activities that are healthy and tech-free, check out this post! Embrace the laughter, the occasional mishap, and the joy of making memories. So, what are you waiting for? Get to planning your next fall family adventure! Leave some of your favorite fall family activities in the comments!