Fall Bucket List: 15 Fun Activities for Families
Fall is a beautiful season filled with vibrant colors, crisp air, and endless opportunities. Make the most of these days with your kids by creating memories with these family fall bucket list activities.
What is it about fall that makes us long for it every year? Maybe it’s the end of the intense heat of summer and opportunities to spend time outdoors. It’s when we long to be cozy, visit farms and drink warm, spicy drinks.
Fall gives us the perfect opportunity to spend time with family. With cooler weather, we can get outdoors and explore God’s creation. And there’s so much to learn!
15 Fall Family Activities
As a homeschool mom, I want to find meaningful activities that bring my family to one another and to our Creator.
That’s why I’ve put together a “Fall Bucket List” full of fun, inexpensive ideas that celebrate the beauty of this season.
This list includes a mix of faith-based and educational fun activities. They’re perfect for homeschoolers who want to learn while having fun.
Ready to dive into some autumn fun? Grab your free printable fall bucket list at the end of this post and start checking off these activities with your family!
1. Take a Nature Walk and Leaf Collecting Adventure
Explore a local park or nature trail with your kids and turn it into a learning experience by collecting different types of leaves.
Discuss the changing colors and how God’s handiwork is evident in every season. Use the leaves for a science lesson at home—create a leaf identification chart or press them to make beautiful artwork.
Fall is the best time to explain photosynthesis to your kids, since you can see the changes taking place right in front of your eyes!
2. Host a Family Bonfire Night
There’s nothing like a cool fall evening around a warm bonfire. Gather some marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for s’mores, or roast hot dogs.
Make everyone leave their screens indoors, and enjoy time in nature. If you don’t live in an area where you can easily or safely build a fire, check out these personal firepits. They’re small and safe enough to use on a porch, and you’ll be surprised at the amount of heat they put out!
3. Read Outdoors
Find a cozy spot under a tree or near a small stream, and read passages from Psalms that speak of God’s creation.
Encourage your kids to share what they see and feel around them that reflects God’s handiwork. It’s a beautiful way to connect with nature while soaking in Scripture.
Another great option is to listen to an audiobook. A couple of years ago, we found the audiobook for The Action Bible. We listened to it while snuggled under a blanket beside our firepit.
It was an awesome experience. For some reason, listening to the story outdoors made it even more real.
4. Apple Picking and Homemade Apple Treats
Visit a local apple orchard and let your kids pick apples right off the trees. Make a day of it by following up with homemade apple treats like applesauce, apple pie, or apple chips.
If you don’t live in an area where you can pick apples at an orchard, check your local grocery stores. They often have different varieties of apples during the fall that aren’t readily available the rest of the year.
We’re all familiar with Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Gala, but fall is the perfect time to try something new. You might just find a new favorite.
5. Organize a Family Picnic at the Park
Pack a simple picnic lunch and head to your local park. Let the kids run around, enjoy the playground, or play a game of tag.
If the weather is right, take along your schoolwork and do it outside. Make the most of cooler weather and walk a trail, or try an outdoor fitness challenge.
6. Have an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Autumn is the perfect time to get outside and explore. Create a list of fall-themed items your kids can find.
Here are a few fun fall scavenger hunt ideas:
- Color Hunt: Search for leaves in different colors—red, orange, yellow, brown, and green.
- Nature Items: Find a pinecone, acorn, or chestnut.
- Animal Watch: Spot a squirrel, bird, or chipmunk preparing for winter.
- Sound Hunt: Listen for specific fall sounds, like crunching leaves, wind in the trees, or bird calls.
- Textures: Feel something smooth (like a stone), rough (like tree bark), soft (like moss), and crunchy (like dry leaves).
- Shape Search: Look for a leaf shaped like a heart, a circle-shaped mushroom, or a star-shaped flower.
- Fall Food: Spot an apple, pumpkin, or ear of corn.
- Sky Watch: Find a cloud that looks like an animal or something else fun!
If it’s too chilly or rainy to go outside, set up an indoor scavenger hunt instead.
7. Volunteer for a Fall Cleanup in Your Community
Organize a family day to help clean up a local park, church grounds, or a neighbor’s yard. This simple act of service is a great way to teach your children about stewardship.
Many elderly or disabled people struggle to take care of their yards as leaves and branches fall. Raking leaves or cleaning up is a wonderful opportunity to model loving your neighbor as yourself.
8. Make a DIY Bird Feeder
You’ll find pinecones everywhere in the fall, so make good use of them with a fun craft project.
All you need are pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed to create homemade bird feeders. Hang them around your yard and observe the different types of birds that come to visit.
Fall is a fun time to birdwatch since many birds are migrating. You might be surprised at the different types you’ll see stopping by.
9. Build a Blanket Fort and Read Together
On a chilly day, build a cozy blanket fort in your living room, gather some hot cocoa, and read aloud a favorite book or Bible story.
This simple, no-spend activity creates a warm and loving environment for learning and bonding. Even though this seems like such a small thing, but these are the memories kids cherish forever.
10. Have a pancake or waffle breakfast.
Fall makes me crave all things pumpkin, maple, and cinnamon. What better way to celebrate these flavors than with a pancake or waffle breakfast?
Enjoy your cozy breakfast on a slow Saturday morning. Or have breakfast for dinner and make pumpkin-shaped pancakes and eat by candlelight. Cozy, cozy!
11. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Is it really fall if you don’t visit a pumpkin patch? Pumpkin patches often include more fun activities like painting, corn mazes, petting zoos, and more. It’s a great way to make memories–and of course, there are plenty of photo ops.
12. Pick a Fall Bouquet
Even though many trees and plants are giving up their leaves and flowers for winter, beautiful colors are everywhere!
Choose some mums, daisies, or sunflowers and create a gorgeous bouquet to look at in your home. Add in some branches with colorful leaves to complete your autumn flower display.
13. Host a Fall-Themed Movie Night
Choose a family-friendly movie with a fall theme or one that shares a positive message. Skip the scary stuff, and watch something fun and family-friendly.
Here are a few ideas:
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
- Paddington
- Little Women
Create a cozy movie-watching experience with blankets, popcorn, and hot cider.
14. Craft Fall Decorations Together
Make DIY fall decorations like wreaths, garlands, or painted pinecones to bring the beauty of autumn into your home.
Remember, crafting with kids can be a challenge, but it’s rewarding, too. So, embrace the imperfection and display your pretty decor with pride!
Related: 14 Cool Fall Crafts For Kids to Make and Share
15. Attend a Local Fall Festival or Harvest Celebration
Check your community calendar for fall festivals or harvest celebrations. These events often include fun activities like hayrides, face painting, and live music.
Many also have free or low-cost entry, making them an excellent addition to your “fall family checklist.”
Churches also often have fall festivals. If your church is having one, do your best to attend. If possible, volunteer to help out, too. It’s a great way to prepare your kids for service!
Download Your Free Printable Fall Bucket List
Ready to make the most of this fall season? Download your free printable fall bucket list and start creating beautiful memories with your family today.
Remember, the best activities don’t require spending a lot of money—just a willingness to enjoy the simple things God has blessed us with!
Download Your Free Printable Fall Bucket List
By embracing these activities, not only do we celebrate the beauty of fall, but we also create moments that bring us closer to our families and to God. Enjoy the season, homeschool mamas!
More Family Activities to Love
Looking for more ways to enjoy time with your family? Check out these other ideas:
