10 Fall Fun Activities

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. It is a really busy time on the farm… a time of harvest and preparation for winter. But I love the coolness of days and a reprieve from the heat of summer that it brings. I love the shortening of the days so we can get in a little earlier and the boys don’t yearn to be outside soaking in every bit of sunshine the day offers.

It is a wonderful time to plan some special activities as a family. This is a great time of year to pull out some traditions and if you don’t have any fall traditions…now is a great time to start them!

Here are 10 Fall Fun Activities that you might enjoy:

Jump in a Pile of Leaves 

What else do you do with the big pile of leaves you have spent hours raking lol? Jump in them!! I loved doing this as a little girl. We worked hard raking the THOUSANDS of leaves at our home and then had so much fun jumping in them before finishing the job. We don’t have many trees on our yard, but my sons enjoy getting to do that some when we work at mom’s house.  Did you jump in a big pile of leaves as a child? Wasn’t it fun!!!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard

These are such fun places to visit! Even though we live on a farm, it is fun to visit a different kind of farm. Many times a pumpkin patch and apple orchard can be found at the same farm. It is fun walking through the fields and picking out a pumpkin and picking apples off the tree. Some farms may offer educational classes and tours.

They often have other activities like hay rides, activity/play areas, gift shop, craft area and there may even be some animals around to visit. This can be a special tradition your family looks forward to every year.

And then you come home and make something special with what you brought home…an apple pie, apple fritters, pumpkin pie.  How about a yummy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie?  Or pumpkin cookies?

Do you can and prep? Can some apple pie filling or make some apple jelly.

Carving / Decorating Pumpkins

Once you have the pumpkin, do something fun with it! You can paint your child’s handprint on it, put your family initial on it, carve out a face or a character, spray paint it a fun color, carve it and put a candle in it. You can even just use markers to decorate it and keep the mess down.

Don’t forget to save the seeds and roast them!

Decorate Your House

We love the seasons. We love to decorate for each season. When I was a teacher, I loved decorating my classroom. My mom always decorated our home for each season and that tradition continues! We have totes of decorations for each season. Okay, several totes probably for each season.

Tip: If you want to add some seasonal decor to your home, buy items on sale as the season is ending or after it is over. You can get things 75% off or more!

The mantle, fireplace, end tables, centerpiece for your table are all areas where you can decorate. You can also decorate your yard. We stack hay bales and decorate them with mums, pumpkins and fun scarecrows. It makes me smile to see my sons’ handiwork in the house and out and their delight in brightening up our home for the season. Make your home a haven. Your family will love it.

Fall Scavenger Hunt

Fall is a wonderful time to go for a family walk and make it into a scavenger hunt. Or plan something in your back yard. You can look for certain leaves, worms, acorns, pine cones, birds’ nest and many other things. It is a fun way to spend time together as a family enjoying God’s creation.

Build a Campfire/Make S’Mores

This is the PERFECT time of year for a campfire on a chilly crisp evening. We love cooking a meal by the fire in the firepit, on the patio, that our son built for Father’s Day. Quite an amazing job for a 12 year old! Cook some supper, roast marshmallows, make s’mores, sip on hot chocolate, read books, tell stories, sing songs, gaze at the stars and treasure your time together as a family.

Feed the Birds

We love studying and learning about birds. And feeding them. Put up bird feeders around your yard. Position some where you can watch the birds on cold, winter days. Spread pine cones in peanut butter and roll them in bird seed. Hang them in the trees for the birds to enjoy.

Create a Thankful Tree

As Thanksgiving thought approach, we tend to become more thankful. Start that early and make a tradition that will hopefully become a habit!  Grab some branches, put them in a jar, cut out strips of paper or leaf shapes and write what you are thankful for. The Thankful Tree is a nice conversation starter in your home.

Fall Family Photo

Find a fun, fall spot and take a family picture. Try to take a family picture at the same spot every fall. You will love seeing your family grow and change while capturing the memories!

Read Fall Themed Books

We love books in our home. There are books everywhere. We need a big room as a library to keep up with them all. I have books for each season and like to keep them in a basket or on the coffee table and read through one or two each day. Some of our favorite fall books include:

The Pumpkin Patch Parable

A Pumpkin Prayer

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts

The Fantastic Gifts of Fall

Why do Leaves Change Color?

From Seed to Pumpkin

From Apples to Pumpkins

How Do Apples Grow?

Johnny Appleseed

The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree

These are a few of our favorite fall family activities to do together. What are some of your favorite activities or traditions?

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