43 Autumn Bucket List Ideas for the Whole Family

This post will give you 43 great ideas of things to do this fall. You will also be able to download the autumn bucket list printable for free. How many can you cross out this autumn?

I don’t know about you, but my favourite season is fall, followed closely by spring, as there are so many things to look forward to and enjoy in autumn. 

For me, the best things about fall are that temperatures go down a little to the point where I can finally breathe, I stop being covered in sweat all the time (ew), nature produces all these beautiful colours and the smell of pumpkin pie is one of the best. Not to mention that fall also means Halloween and that’s so much fun especially since I became a mom.

Every year, towards the end of summer, I start thinking of all the wonderful autumn activities that we could do as a family and start making a list. Like an autumn bucket list if you will. So, if you are looking for some inspiration for things to do in autumn, here are 43 fun fall activities for all the family to enjoy:

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1. Visit a pumpkin patch

Is there anything more “autumny” than visiting a pumpkin patch? Kids will love the freedom to run around and pick their own pumpkins not to mention the opportunity to learn about the different types of pumpkins and other veggies that grow on vines. Many pumpkin patches offer excellent activities for children, like horse/pony rides, petting animals, playing in the hay, so take advantage of those.

2. Carve a pumpkin

When it comes to autumn activities, especially around Halloween, carving a pumpkin is definitely up there. This year, play around with the way you and the kids carve your pumpkins and make different style pumpkins from the scary ones to the cute and glittery ones. Here are a few ideas. 

3. Make a pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie is on each year’s autumn bucket list for my family. Now that kid number 1 is older he can help me bake thus turning this into a fun activity where he can also learn about ingredients, what it takes to cook or bake and kitchen safety. I am by no means a good cook but pumpkin pie is one dessert that I make every year so I can proudly say that I got pretty good at it. 

4. Roast some seeds

Since we are talking about carving pumpkins, you will also have some seeds lying around. I love roasting and eating seeds. Besides the fact that I like the taste, cracking them open also relaxes me (is that weird?).

5. Collect some beautiful autumn leaves

One of the most inexpensive and fun things to do in autumn is collecting some of those colourful autumn leaves. It’s like looking for little treasures. Who can find the biggest and most beautiful leaf? After you have a nice collection of leaves you can either decorate your house with them or use them for arts and crafts.

6. Go on a forest hike

One of the best ways to see all the gorgeous changes that fall brings about is to go on a forest hike. It is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy not to mention that you could also find a nice spot for a picnic (if allowed). 

7. Go pick apples

Another activity that you need to tick off your fall bucket list is picking apples. Most likely there will be an apple farm near you or a short drive away so it would be a pity not to have a fun day picking apples. You know what they say, no apples taste as good as the ones you pick yourself. Some farms will also offer additional activities for the visiting families.

8. Go to a fall festival

Each city/country has its own traditions and celebrations when it comes to autumn. But one thing is certain: they are insanely fun. From the grand fall processions to the more small town intimate pie baking competitions, all of them are worth taking part in. 

9. Have a picnic

One of my favourite autumn activities is having picnics. At the beginning of fall when the weather is not hot, not cold but just right is when I get my picnic blanket ready, fill the picnic basket with goodies and away we go. 

Sometimes we don’t even go far away, just on our front lawn. But what makes it fun is the break in our daily routine, the fact that we eat on a blanket instead of the traditional chair and table and, of course, the picnic games that we play.

10. Have a hot chocolate party

When the weather gets cooler there’s nothing better than a nice cup of hot beverage. Why not turn this into a little party? 

Blow up some balloons, prepare your family’s favourite party music, have some nice cookies ready and some simple activities to add to the fun. And of course, the star of the party, the lush hot chocolate. It can also be tea, but in my family, the kids prefer hot chocolate.

11. Roast some marshmallows by an open fire

I love a good bonfire. There’s something almost hypnotic about staring into it while the heat makes you warm and cosy. When it gets cool, one of our favourite autumn bucket list activities is to build a nice fire and roast some marshmallows. 

12. Decorate your home for autumn

When the season changes, do the same with your home. Add a little bit of autumn charm to your house by decorating it. There are so many fall decor ideas out there that even a not-so-crafty person like myself can manage to turn their home into a fall wonderland. The best thing is that most of these ideas are inexpensive, simple to make but so beautiful.

13. Enjoy a warm bowl of soup

A nice warm bowl of soup will not only chase away the chills from your bones but also give you a pleasant fuzzy feeling especially when enjoyed with your family. If you need some inspiration on soup recipes, take a look at these fall soup recipes. 

14. Gather a pile of leaves and then play in it

Find a place with lots of trees and fallen leaves. This will be the perfect spot to make a big pile of leaves and then go crazy in it. 

An activity idea is to hide an object in the pile and have the kids race to find it. 

15. Make pickles for winter

I confess that I love pickles. My grandma used to prepare various pickles like cabbage, cucumbers, cauliflower, pepper, onions etc and my mom did the same. So it’s like a tradition in my family, something that I want to pass on to my children as well. 

I know that nowadays you can find all the pickles that you want ready-made in a shop but those don’t give you the feeling of accomplishment that eating your own pickles does. 

16. Visit a fall market

No matter where you live, there’s bound to be a fall market full of fresh, local produce and other autumn related wonders. 

Don’t hesitate to visit your local fall market as most will organize activities for families, plus you will be helping out local small producers.

17. Learn how to knit 

This year, at the Olimpic games in Tokyo, British diver Tom Daley has been spotted knitting in the stands. Ever since this has been spread around by the media, knitting is suddenly a cool hobby and more people are taking knitting up than ever. 

With so many free tutorials out there it’s so easy to learn how to knit and start making some nice, warm clothes for the chilly weather ahead. What could be more relaxing than knitting next to a cosy fire, with a cup of warm drink next to you and your family around you? That is pretty close to perfection to me.

18. Organize your wardrobe

Since you probably won’t be wearing that cute flowery dress in the next few months it’s a good idea to take it out along with the other summer clothes and make room for the fall and winter ones. 

This is also a good time to decide what clothes you’re not going to wear anymore and if they are still in decent shape you can donate them. 

19. Visit a corn maze

Visiting a corn maze has to be on your autumn bucket list as it is one of the most exciting and fun activities that fall has to offer (at least in my opinion and I’m sticking to it lol). 

Some farms create these really intricate mazes that take some serious navigation skills to get through which only add to the fun, of course. So make sure that among this year’s autumn activities you visit a corn maze.

20. Throw a fall home party

When you think about fall activities at home surely throwing a party is top of the list. Having a fall-themed home party is a great way of marking the changing of the seasons. You can also organize some fun games and activities that adults and kids alike will enjoy. 

21. Visit a vineyard

This autumn activity is probably going to make the grown-ups of the family very excited. There is a symphony of colours as the leaves change colours into vibrant red, yellow and orange. You can help pick grapes and learn about the process they go through to become wine. 

Then, it’s time to test the product (yaay!), this being, of course, an activity for mom and dad. 

22. Cook your favourite comfort food

One of the best fall activities to do at home on those chilly days is to cook your family’s favourite comfort food. There is nothing better than putting on some warm clothes, gathering around the dinner table and enjoying together that steaming, delicious dish. 

My family has a few comfort dishes that we eat as soon as the temperature takes a nose dive but if I had to choose a favourite one it would probably be Goulash. What’s yours?

23. Have a movie night under the covers

Since we are talking about fall activities at home, you need to add a movie night to

 your autumn bucket list. 

Get some snacks, fizzy pops, take out the warm blankets and the most comfortable cushions. It’s movie time. Hurry up and press play!

If you are looking for some inspiration on what movies to watch here is a list of 38 family-friendly movies to watch this fall.

24. Tell scary stories by the fire

What do people do when they gather around a fire? Usually, they either roast something or tell scary stories. There is something about the glow of the fire reflected on everybody’s faces and the shadows that it casts that makes a scary story even scarier. But it’s also tons of fun. Just make sure if you have younger kids that the stories are not that terrifying. 

25. Organize a Halloween party

One of the best things about fall is Halloween. As soon autumn approaches, the youngest members of the family start thinking about it and planning their scary outfits. 

It would be so much fun to decorate the house and throw a Halloween party. Whether you choose a small party just for your family or to invite a few friends it will be guaranteed fun.

26. Make a bouquet of autumn flowers

Leaves are not the only beautiful thing about fall but there are also many pretty flowers. Go to a field and make a lovely bouquet of autumn flowers. You can either display it in the house or give it to a loved one.

27. Bake your favourite fall dessert(s)

In summer we tend to avoid anything that requires an oven so we tend to stay away from baking. As a person with a sweet tooth, I can’t wait to start baking some of my favourites without turning into a pool of sweat. 

In autumn most of the desserts that we make contain apples and pumpkin. From apple crumble, caramel apple pie to pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. If you need some inspiration here are 80 easy fall desserts.

28. Make some fall-inspired crafts

All seasons are great for arts and crafts but there is something special about fall crafts. Use the beautiful leaves, sticks, seeds, acorns, chestnuts and everything else that nature offers in autumn. Crafts are probably the most popular fall activities at home that you can do with the kids. Pinterest is full of great, step-by-step ideas for you to try.

29. Organize a Fall Scavenger Hunt

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love scavenger/treasure hunts! So naturally, this activity is always on my autumn bucket list.

Scavenger/treasure hunts are not difficult to put together and can be played both outdoors and indoors. But if you lack the time to create one (which I can totally relate to) you can download a ready-made one off the internet. 

30. Attend a harvest festival

Harvest festivals are about celebrating the positive things in our lives like family, good friends, the food on our table, the roof over our heads. It is also a good opportunity for the community to come together and give thanks for the successful crops.

31. Organize a fun autumn family photoshoot

Choose an autumn decor, gather your family and take as many funny, goofy, beautiful photos as you can. Of course, the kids might need bribing to cooperate, the husband might roll his eyes but at the end of the day, you’ll have some wonderful photos to remind you of that wonderful moment.

32. Buy some fall candles

You may not have time to cook and bake all the time but what if you could have the wonderful smells of autumn dishes in your house whenever you want? 

Scented candles make that possible. There are so many amazing fragrances to choose from, you’ll probably want them all (I know I do). You’ll find candles smelling of pumpkin spice, mulled cider, pumpkin latte, salted caramel, salted caramel, pumpkin pecan waffles (OMG, this definitely goes on my autumn bucket list of things to buy!!), cinnamon and apple, cinnamon pecan swirl and many more.

33. Go camping

A great way to observe the effect that autumn has is to spend some time in nature. That means it’s camping time.

Find the perfect camping spot, grab your tent, food, drinks and all the accessories that you need and get ready for an unforgettable camping adventure with the family. 

34. Prepare your favourite fall drink

Since we talked about autumn dishes and desserts we couldn’t leave out the drinks. 

Kids can enjoy steamy cups of Fluffy Hot Chocolate, pumpkin milkshakes, pumpkin pie smoothies while the adults can indulge in alcoholic beverages like spiced hot apple cider, spiced mulled wine or apple amaretto sours. 

Get this autumn’s beverages inspiration from here.

35. Explore a nearby town

Put your explorer hats on and go discover the charms of a nearby town. This is a great fall bucket list idea that the whole family will love.

36. Collect acorns, chestnuts, pinecones etc

Autumn is the perfect time to take a bag and go collect acorns, chestnuts, walnuts and pinecones. You can turn this into a competition and see who can collect more, the biggest or the most interesting nut. 

37. Organize fun indoor activities for the kids

Autumn can bring about some bad weather with cold rain and wind. On such days there’s not much choice but to stay inside. However, this doesn’t mean that the kids have to be bored. Organize some fun indoor games for the kids. Here are 8 fantastic cooperative games that will teach kids to share, work together and make them feel part of a group. 

38. Plant flower bulbs

If you want to have a beautiful garden in spring then you need to plant some of the bulbs in autumn. Hyacinth, tulips, daffodils, bluebells, snowdrops to name just a few will mark the arrival of spring. 

39. Make a list of things you’re thankful for

Making a list of the things you’re thankful for will help you see how lucky you are and put things into perspective. 

And since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, it is the perfect time to make the list. It will be interesting to see what the other members of the family are thankful for.

40. Buy some decorative gourds 

Gourds come in many shapes and colours making them perfect to decorate your house, garden and front porch. You can find them at your local market or online, natural or made of plastic

41. Organize a pie bake-off

Everybody loves pies. So why not organize a pie bake-off with your friends? Prepare some fun prizes, perhaps some activities as well and let the good times roll. You can’t go wrong with a party that involves eating loads of pie.

42. Make an autumn wreath

Wreaths date back to ancient Greece and Rome and have different meanings depending on the material that they’re made of or the occasion. 

An autumn wreath or harvest wreath symbolizes the preparation of the harvest for the harsh winter ahead and bringing good fortune to the crops. 

Wreaths are so beautiful and not very difficult to make. Here are some ideas for stunning fall wreaths.

43. Go for a family bike ride

Besides the obvious health benefits, riding your bikes will allow you to enjoy the autumn scenery much better than in a car. 

So there you have it. I hope this list of 43 autumn activities for the whole family will bring you some inspiration and will help you enjoy this fall to the maximum. 

Don’t forget to download the autumn bucket list free printable and see how many you can tick off the list this fall. What else would you add to it? Let me know in the comments section below.