Fun things to do in the Fall for families, couples, with friends! Use these unique and creative autumn ideas to create your autumn bucket list and make the most of this harvest season!
Ahhh…Fall! Do you look forward to it all year too?
We need to soak up as much of the season as we can, while it lasts. This year I decided to make a Fall bucket list, and wanted to come up with a bunch of ideas so you can create one too!
These bucket list ideas are perfect fall activities for couples, kids, or to enjoy during any precious alone time you have.
I’ve also included indoor AND outdoor fall activities, so you have plenty of autumn ideas for every kind of weather.
👉 Be sure to check out the bottom of the post, where I’ve created a fall bucket list template for you!
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This post may contain affiliate links. You can view my full disclosure policy here.
107 Fall Bucket List Ideas
Indoor Fall Activities:
1. Eat donuts and apple cider – There’s something about the combination of those warm donuts and that cold cider that is just paradise.
2. Carve pumpkins – Hone your skills with this Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Kit
3. Make homemade caramel apples – Try this easy recipe to make your own caramel apples. These caramel apple sticks make the process even easier.
4. Create an autumn craft – Check Pinterest for some fun (and easy) fall craft ideas.
5. Make a fall cocktail – A hard cider sangria would be a tasty and festive option to make in this lovely 7-piece Sangria Set. Or try an apple cider float for a non-alcoholic treat.
6. Fall movie night – Nothing puts ya in a fall mood quite like a classic fall movie. Check out my list of the best fall movies here!
7. Make apple-themed baked goods – Such as apple cake, bread, or crisp.
8. Perfect your soup, chili, or stew recipe – Check out these61 Easy & Delicious Slow Cooker Soups.
9. Make a Fall bouquet – Buy or pick fresh sunflowers, mums, or dahlias to make your home more festive. Or buy faux floral from your craft store and reuse it year after year.
10. DIY Halloween costume – Prepare for Halloween early by making your own Halloween costume.
Related: 55 Cheap and Easy Halloween Costume Ideas (that you can make from a thrift store)
11. Decorate your home for Fall – Deck out your fireplace mantel, kitchen, and living room with cute pumpkins, garland, and burlap.
12. Open your windows – Let that refreshing crisp Fall air inside when you open your windows.
13. Light Fall candles – I have such a weakness for scented Fall candles! The Leaves candle from Bath & Body Works is my all-time favorite.
14. Knit a scarf – These easy knitting kits make it far simpler than you’d think!
15. Create a Fall wreath – Here are 25 easy DIY autumn wreath tutorials to get you started.
16. Make a pumpkin recipe – Consider trying a pumpkin soup, cupcake, bread, pancake, or roll recipe.
17. Wear a blanket scarf – Nothing completes your Fall outfit quite like an amazing blanket scarf like one of these.
18. Visit a haunted house – Or make one of your own!
19. Go on a weekend getaway – Take full advantage of the beautiful Fall season by enjoying a weekend getaway to a new (or your favorite) destination. We always book our getaways on Airbnb. You will enjoy your trip so much more if you’re not cramped in a hotel room.
Psst: Click here to get $55 off your first stay through Airbnb!
20. Warm apple cider – Cozy up with some hot apple cider as you visit with friends, or relax with a good book.
21. Host a Fall party – You could even go old-school with festive Fall activities like bobbing for apples.
22. Begin planning for the holidays – Take your family Christmas photo, create a holiday budget, or make a gift recipient list.
Related: 19 Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for Christmas Early
23. Start Christmas shopping – You’ll thank yourself come December, when things are most hectic.
24. Cook with seasonal ingredients – Such as all the different squash varieties, brussel sprouts, or sweet potatoes.
25. Roast pumpkin seeds – Save the seeds from when you carve pumpkins. Clean the gook off, toss with 1-2 tbs of olive oil and 1-2 tbs of your favorite seasoning, and bake in a single layer at 300 degrees for about 45 minutes. Garlic powder and salt make them savory, and cinnamon and sugar make a sweet treat.
26. Swap out your closet with fall clothes – Tuck away those summer clothes to make room in your closet for your cozy sweaters and boots.
27. Make apple butter – Mmm I love apple butter, especially spread on top of peanut butter on toast or an english muffin. Here is an easy way to make it in the slow cooker.
28. Bake a pie from scratch
29. Buy some new boots – Whether you like tall boots or short boots, all boots are just a Fall must have! Amazon has some of the cutest ones I’ve seen, and most of them offer free returns.
30. Bake cookies – Try these adorable fall cookie cutters to make festive fall-shaped sugar cookies.
31. Put together a Fall puzzle – If you enjoy putting together jigsaw puzzles, try one with a beautiful Fall scene.
32. Make Fall potpourri – Here’s a recipe for an easy stovetop potpourri.
33. Enjoy a Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte – Or try making your own.
34. Decorate for Halloween – Build excitement for Halloween in early October by putting out your decor.
35. Make a Halloween Tree – If you love decorating (and Christmas trees), try your hand at making a Halloween tree. Here’s an awesome example!
36. Eat candy corn – I just have to have a little candy corn every Fall : )
37. Watch Stranger Things – If for some reason you haven’t watched Stranger Things on Netflix, Fall is the perfect time!
38. Collect and press Fall leaves – Here’s an easy tutorial.
39. Take advantage of your favorite shows back on TV – Fall usually brings about the return of all the shows you missed during their summer hiatus.
40. Read Fall books – I’m still working on my Fall reading list, but I know I want to read this book and this book. Do you have any other suggestions? Here are 20 ways to find time to read when you’re just too busy.
41. Cozy up your house – Put out your favorite blankets, throw pillows, and lots of flameless candles.
Related reading:
42. Visit Halloween stores – Even if you don’t buy anything, just visiting Halloween stores puts you in a festive mood.
43. Host or attend a chili cook-off – Fall is quintessential chili season. Have a contest to see who has the best recipe.
44. Use your crock pot – A lot. It’s so convenient and easy, and coming home to the smell of dinner already made is priceless. Here’s the slow cooker I have and love.
45. Attend a craft fair – Craft fairs are such a fun activity to do in the Fall. I love looking at people’s handmade goods. It’s kind of like Etsy, but in real life.
46. Wear a cozy sweater
47. Have a game night – Clue is especially fun to play in the Fall.
48. Write out your Fall Bucket List – Here’s a free printable you can use to make yours!
49. Mystery dinner theater – Check out Groupon for discounted tickets to a mystery dinner theater. It’s like a real-life game of Clue!
50. Pop popcorn on the cob – Did you know you can actually make popcorn from dried corn on the cob? Here’s how!
51. Visit an escape room
52. Take a class at a local craft store – Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and Joann’s all offer them.
53. Color in seasonal coloring books – The dollar store always carries some Fall and Halloween coloring books. I keep ours with the Fall decor and bring them out every year. It’s fun to look back on our previous ‘art.’
54. Polish your nails a dark color – Wicked, by Essie, is one of my favorites!
Outdoor Fall Bucket List Activities:
1. Visit a pumpkin patch – You can buy your pumpkins there, or just explore and take cute pictures.
2. Plant fall flowers – You could plant mums, or tulip and daffodil bulbs that will turn into beautiful flowers come spring.
3. Visit Greenfield Village – If you live anywhere near Michigan (or will be visiting), you must check out Greenfield Village. It’s a one-of-a-kind outdoor living history museum that should definitely be on your bucket list.
4. Have a bonfire – Smores are a must! Try these marshmallow roasting sticks to make life easier. Ghost stories could be a fun addition as well.
5. Leaf peeping – Take a scenic drive and absorb the beauty of all the leaves changing color. These Fall Foliage Train Tours in New England sound heavenly.
6. Walk in the woods – Walking through the woods is a peaceful way to spend time year-round, but Fall is particularly magical. You’re just never too old to crunch the leaves.
7. Attend a football game – College or professional football games are certainly enjoyable, but don’t ignore the games at your local high school. It’s so fun to see the kids’ enthusiasm, and a whole lot cheaper too!
8. Tailgate – Whether you’re going to a game or not, tailgating is a fun and tasty way to get that Fall feeling.
9. Go apple picking – Apple picking is such an iconic Fall activity. You can go with a small group and split the bushel so no one ends up with more apples than they can use.
10. Visit a Fall or harvest festival – Many towns have festivals in the fall that you can attend.
11. Go on a hayride
12. Corn maze – Many pumpkin patches and apple orchards also offer corn mazes.
13. Decorate your front porch – Make your home look welcoming and festive with some bales of hay or corn stalks and pumpkins.
14. Go antiquing – You can find some great home decor or gifts at antique shops. Here are 27 Genius Thrift Store Shopping Tricks to try on your next trip.
15. Fall photo shoot – Grab your camera or cell phone, and take some photos of the scenery or your loved ones. Or hire a local photographer for a family photo shoot.
16. Rake leaves and jump in – Raking leaves is one of those necessary chores, but make it fun by jumping in the leaf piles before you bag them up.
17. Touch football – Have an impromptu game of touch football with friends or family.
18. Dog costume parade – Any type of costume parade would be fun, but dogs in costumes? C’mon : )
19. Go horseback riding – Consider fulfilling your horseback riding dreams this Fall.
20. Visit a Renaissance Fair – Does anyone know why Renaissance Fairs are only in the Fall? Whatever the reason, it is definitely a fun thing to put on your Fall bucket list.
21. Run a 5K – Especially if it’s Halloween themed! I did one a few years back, and there were zombies and monsters jumping out at us in the woods. So fun!
22. Make a scarecrow – Even if you don’t have crows to scare off, it could be a fun project, and would make a good decoration.
23. Attend Oktoberfest – You could travel to Germany in late September, or make it easy on yourself and find an Oktoberfest festival in your area.
24. Visit a Farmers’ Market – If you haven’t been to a Farmers’ Market yet this year, add it to your list! The seasonal produce and harvest decor are totally worth it.
25. Go canoeing or kayaking – I think canoeing is even more enjoyable in the Fall. Much cooler, no bugs, and scenic views.
26. Bike ride on scenic trail – Riding your bike is another great way to take in the gorgeous Fall colors.
27. Art Prize – Art Prize is an international art festival and competition that takes place every year for 19 days in September in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The art spans many city blocks at over 150 different venues, and is free to attend.
28. Go on a picnic – Grab your favorite plaid blanket (or any blanket) and enjoy a picnic lunch or dinner outside. This picnic set has everything you need!
29. Go camping – Camping isn’t just for summer. In fact, campgrounds aren’t nearly as crowded, and you won’t have to deal with the heat or bugs if you go in the fall.
30. Hot air balloon ride – Imagine rising up above the colorful trees. What an experience that would be.
31. Tour a winery – Try visiting a vineyard or tour a winery. Many have free or inexpensive samples.
32. Stargazing – Take advantage of the earlier sunsets and clear, crisp air and go out and gaze at the stars.
Since Halloween and Thanksgiving take place in the Fall, of course I had to include some fun ideas for celebrating them as well.
Ideas for celebrating Halloween:
1. Learn the Thriller dance moves
2. Scary hayride – A nice variation from a haunted house.
3. Go trick-or-treating
4. Create and listen to a Halloween playlist
Related: 25 of the Best Halloween Songs for Your Halloween Playlist
5. Pass out treats on Halloween – I’ve started handing out little bags of chips instead of candy the past couple years, and the kids love it! Popcorn would be another fun alternative.
6. Halloween scavenger hunt – There are tons of free Halloween scavenger hunt ideas online, or make up your own.
7. Halloween gingerbread house – Gingerbread houses aren’t just for Christmas. Try your hand at making a spooky one for Halloween instead.
8. Halloween movie night – Here’s a list of the best Halloween movies for kids.
Ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving:
1. Send ‘grateful for you’ notes or cards to friends and family – Or change it up and send Thanksgiving cards instead of Christmas cards this year.
2. Make a list of what you’re thankful for – Nothing reminds us how lucky we are more than listing out all the blessings in our life.
3. Celebrate Friendsgiving – If Thanksgiving day is dedicated to your family, pick another day and have a Thanksgiving potluck with your friends.
4. Have a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and snack on their Friendsgiving meal: Two slices of buttered toast, pretzel sticks, a handful of popcorn, and a few jelly beans.
5. Classic Thanksgiving meal – Forget your keto diet and eat all the carbs : )
6. Make a wish with the wishbone
7. Thanksgiving movie night – Here’s a list of the best movies to watch on and around Thanksgiving.
8. Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade – There’s just something so fun about watching the Macy’s parade on TV on Thanksgiving morning.
9. Look through newspaper ads – While you’re watching the parade, flip through the giant Thanksgiving Day newspaper.
10. Create a Thanksgiving craft – I love the idea of making a ‘Thankful’ tree!
11. Black Friday shop – Whether you stay up all night to get the best deals, or shop online introverted-style, there really are some unbeatable savings to be had.
12. Volunteer – While volunteering is important all year long, it’s easier for us to remember to give back during the gratitude season.
13. Giving plate – Start a new Giving Plate tradition with family or friends. The recipient keeps the plate, then fills it up and passes it along to someone they know, and so on.
Go forth, and fill your bucket list
There are over 100 ideas to fill your Fall bucket list with!
Try to take full advantage of the beautiful autumn season, and be sure to make time for the activities that only come around once a year.
Click here to get your own Fall bucket list printable!
Creating a bucket list is just a good way to ensure that you’re always making memories with your loved ones.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
What’s on your fall bucket list this year?
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