The Ultimate Fun Fall Bucket List for Families

Have a blast this Fall by checking items off of this Fall Bucket List for Families!

UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Fall Bucket List Ideas

Now that fall is here it’s time to start all the fun fall activities, which means it’s time to break out the fall bucket list so we can get started with our favorite fall activities. I can smell the pumpkin spice already! 

I mean it’s 90 outside right now but in a few days, it may go as low as 60 lol! I can’t tell you how excited I am about that! I love the sunshine but I’m ready for cooler temps and my wallet is ready for a cheaper electric bill.

​As the colors of autumn start to pop up all around us, it’s prime time to make some awesome memories with your family. Fall is packed with cool stuff to do that everyone, from the little ones to the grown-ups, can enjoy. 

So, in this guide, we’ve put together the ultimate Free Fall Bucket List for Families to make sure you and the entire family, squeeze every drop of fun out of this gorgeous time of year.

Kicking Off Our Fun Fall Bucket List: A Trip to The Local Apple Orchard

This past weekend my mom and I took my kids to Apple Hill, a beautiful area in Camino, Califonia that is home to dozens of apple orchards and farms. We are lucky enough to live within 20 minutes of this area so we get to go back often during the season.

The kids had lots of fun running around and checking out the farm animals. I had fun eating apple pie with ice cream on top. (I did share with everyone by the way.)

To celebrate the beginning of fall, I’ve created a Fall Bucket List for Families full of ideas so you can enjoy fall with your kids. Three days in and I can already check one off my fall to-do list.

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The Ultimate Fall Bucket List

Hot Apple Cider – One of the activities listed is making hot apple cider. If you don’t want to make this from scratch (that would be me lol) then I have a great tip for you. 

Buy some premade, put it in your crockpot on low, add some cinnamon sticks, and let it simmer throughout the day. 

It tastes amazing and your house will smell delicious. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, their cider is the best!

​Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids – Another fun activity that you can do at home, is going on a scavenger hunt. This is usually more fun for the little ones, but the bigger kids have lots of fun helping out. 

Indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts are a great way to keep kids busy while teaching them how to problem-solve. According to Scholastic, scavenger hunts help to boost children’s observation skills, while they have fun in a relaxed environment. 

Family Game Night – Kids love it when their parents take time out from doing grown-up stuff, to play with them. Family game nights are a really great bonding experience, plus it keeps the kids off screens.

Some of our favorites for family time are Uno, Clue, and Rummikub.

Our newest favorite is Kids Against Maturity. If typical board games begin to bore you, this is the game for you. It’s absolutely hilarious and really fun for kids and adults.

Related: Fun Halloween Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Best Family-Friendly Movies to Watch in October

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages for Kids

To get your copy, just click on the picture below to download and print.

Making & Decorating Caramel Apples – Organize a caramel apple-making and decorating assembly line with friends. It’s a really memorable experience for kids and a wonderful way to celebrate the fall season. Here are some ideas for your topping stations:

Topping Stations: Now comes the fun part! Set up individual stations with different toppings. Encourage creativity by offering a wide variety of choices. For example:

• Nut Station: Provide chopped nuts like peanuts, almonds, or pecans.
• Chocolate Station: Offer mini chocolate chips, white chocolate drizzle, or caramel chocolate chips.
• Cookie Station: Supply crushed cookies such as Oreos or graham crackers.
• Sprinkle Station: Offer colorful sprinkles, or crushed candy pieces.

​Jump in Puddles – When those autumn showers come pouring down, don’t let them bring you down! Instead, get ready to have a blast! Grab your family’s rain boots and waterproof jackets, and go on a puddle-hopping adventure. Even the older kids will have fun doing this!

Read Fall Books Together – Reading a good book designed just for fall is a great way to teach kids about the changing seasons. Plus kids love to be read to!

Donate Warm Clothes to Your Local Shelter – Get some clutter cleared and make way for all the new toys coming in December. Forget spring cleaning, the fall months are the perfect time to clear the clutter.

Collect & Paint Pine Cones – Take a stroll through a local park to scoop up those pine cones. Once back home, paint the collected pine cones with an array of colors and designs. Then, use them around the house as part of your fall decor.

Baking – Make pumpkin cookies, roast pumpkin seeds, or bake an apple pie or pumpkin pie with fresh ingredients from your local orchards. 

Carve Pumpkins – One of the best things about fall, is pumpkin carving. And even though it is on my list of the top 5 fun activities for fall, it can still be a little tedious. Here are a few ways to make it a little more exciting for everyone:

1. Pumpkin Patch Visit: Start by taking the kids to a pumpkin patch. Let them pick their own pumpkins. The adventure of choosing the perfect pumpkin can make the carving experience more special.
2. Pumpkin Decorating Station: Create a decorating station with various materials like paints, glitter, stickers, and markers. Before carving, let the kids decorate their pumpkins however they like. This adds an extra creative element to the activity.
3. Pumpkin Carving Contest: Turn it into a friendly competition. Set up categories like “scariest pumpkin,” “funniest pumpkin,” or “most creative pumpkin.” Provide prizes or ribbons for the winners.
4. Pumpkin Stencils: Download pumpkin carving stencils online. There are many free templates available, including popular characters and designs. Kids can choose a stencil that matches their interests and skill level.
5. Pumpkin Guts Exploration: Let the kids get their hands dirty by exploring the inside of the pumpkin. Talk about the different parts and seeds while they scoop out the guts. It’s a great learning opportunity about the anatomy of a pumpkin.
6. Pumpkin Carving Tools: Invest in safe and child-friendly carving tools designed for kids. These tools are typically less sharp and easier for little hands to handle.
7. Pumpkin Illumination: Instead of using candles, try battery-operated LED lights to illuminate the carved pumpkins. These are safer and can create unique lighting effects.
8. Storytelling: Encourage kids to come up with a short story or character background for their pumpkin creations. This adds a storytelling aspect to the activity and makes their pumpkins come to life.
9. Outdoor Pumpkin Display: Arrange the carved pumpkins in your yard or porch for a mini pumpkin display. Consider adding hay bales, spooky decorations, or a scarecrow to create a festive atmosphere.
10. Pumpkin Seed Roasting: After carving, clean and roast the pumpkin seeds with various seasonings for a tasty treat. This can be a delicious way to enjoy the fruits of your carving labor.
11. Themed Carving Night: Choose a theme for your pumpkin carving night, such as “monsters,” “superheroes,” or “Halloween classics.” Encourage the kids to stick to the theme when carving their pumpkins.
12. Pumpkin Bowling: After carving, use the pumpkins as bowling pins and roll a small ball to knock them down. This adds a playful twist to the pumpkin activity.
13. Glow-in-the-Dark Paint: Use glow-in-the-dark paint to add extra flair to your pumpkin designs. These pumpkins will look especially spooky in the dark.
14. Pumpkin Carving Music: Play some Halloween-themed music or spooky sound effects in the background to set the mood while carving.
15. Pumpkin Carving Party: Invite friends or family over for a pumpkin carving party. The kids can showcase their creations, and everyone can enjoy a festive atmosphere together.

Bonfire – Have a bonfire in your backyard and roast marshmallows or make s’mores over your fire pit. Here are fun things to make a backyard bonfire more exciting:

1. Themed Bonfire Night: Choose a theme for your bonfire night to make it more memorable. For example, you could have a “Halloween Bonfire” and encourage everyone to come in costume. Decorate the backyard with spooky decorations, play eerie music, and tell ghost stories around the fire. This adds a fun and spooky twist to the traditional bonfire experience.
2. Bonfire Games: Organize some fun and interactive games around the bonfire. Classic games like charades, marshmallow roasting contests (who can make the perfect golden brown marshmallow?), or a treasure hunt with clues hidden in the backyard can add an element of competition and excitement to the evening.
3. Gourmet S’mores Bar: Elevate your s’mores game by creating a gourmet s’mores bar. Instead of just the usual graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, provide a variety of toppings like peanut butter cups, caramel sauce, sliced bananas, strawberries, and different types of chocolates (dark, milk, white). Let everyone customize their s’mores with these delicious options, making it a culinary adventure by the fire. 

Make a Craft with Fall Leaves – Fall is the perfect time to make some leaf art! Creating art with fall leaves is a wonderful and nature-inspired activity for kids. Encourage them to collect a variety of colorful leaves from the ground during a crisp autumn walk. 

Once you’re back home, gather your craft supplies like glue, paper, and markers. Let their imagination run wild as they arrange the leaves into beautiful patterns, animals, or scenes on the paper, turning fallen leaves into works of art that double as your fall decor.

Make a Fall Wreath and Decorate Your Front Porch – Creating a fall wreath and decorating your front porch with kids is a wonderful way to embrace the autumn season and engage in a fun, family-friendly craft project.

Make Homemade Soup – Creating homemade soup with kids is a cozy fall activity that is amazing to make on a chilly night. Let your kids help you select a recipe, go to the store together, and get cooking.

Paint Mini Pumpkins –  The Dollar Store is a great place to pick up cheap craft supplies.

Rake Leaves & Jump in the Pile – Rake up a giant pile of leaves in your yard and let the kids (and adults!) jump into the leaf pile! It’s a simple yet timeless fall activity that is so much fun for everyone.

Sponsor an Underprivileged Child for Christmas – If you’re not sure how to do this, check your local library in November. Most (if not all) libraries have a giving tree set up in November with gift requests for underprivileged children or children in the foster care system. 

Best Outdoor Activities to Add to Your Fall Bucket List

Go on a scenic drive to See the Beautiful Fall Foliage – Time for a road trip! Fall is renowned for its stunning foliage once the leaves change colors, and there’s no better way to appreciate it than going on a drive to admire the fall foliage.

Plan a scenic route through the countryside, where trees showcase vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Capture the breathtaking views and create an autumn-themed photo album.

Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch – Visiting a pumpkin patch is a classic fall activity for families. Consider making it a yearly tradition for the whole family.

Go to local farms offering this experience. Walk around, pick out your favorite pumpkins – big or small – and take some great photos!

Go Apple Picking – Head to a local orchard for a fun apple-picking day. Fill your baskets with the juiciest ones you can find! When you’re back home, whip up some mouthwatering apple pies, crisps, or homemade applesauce. 

Visit a Haunted House – Visiting a haunted house during the fall season can be a thrilling and spooky adventure, especially as a Halloween activity for older kids and teenagers. It’s probably too scary for the little ones, but it’s a fun activity for the older kids.

Go Through a Corn Maze – Navigate your way through intricate corn mazes that come to life during the fall season. Many farms and pumpkin patches offer corn mazes with various themes, ensuring a new adventure each year.

Take Fall Pictures – Take your annual fall family photo. As the years go by, you will treasure these pictures and always be reminded of how much your kids have changed and grown.

Go to a Fall Festival – Check out your local fall harvest festivals, which always have tons of entertainment and family-friendly activities.

From hayrides and petting zoos to face painting and craft stalls, these events offer a wide range of autumn-themed fun. Plus there are always amazing seasonal treats like caramel apples and hot apple cider to try.

Go Hiking – Explore local hiking trails surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of fall foliage. Pack a picnic and go on a family adventure amidst the colorful leaves. A scenic bike ride would also be a lot of fun!

Go on a Hay Ride – Going on a hay ride is a fantastic way to embrace the autumn spirit and enjoy some rural charm. Head over to a local farm, where you’ll likely find this classic fall activity.

Hop aboard a wagon filled with fragrant hay bales and enjoy the cooler temperatures while taking a ride through the countryside.

Creating Your Fall Family Memories

Every family is unique, so consider adding your own traditions to this Fall Family Bucket List. Whether it’s a family game night by the fireplace, a movie marathon with autumn-themed films, or a scenic train ride through the fall landscape, these personalized activities will make your autumn unforgettable.

To get your copy of this Fall Bucket List for Families, just click on the picture to download and print.

Fall Bucket List for Families Final Thoughts

This autumn bucket list is designed specifically with families in mind. These are special activities and outings that will be fun for both kids and adults. 

Personally, I love creating special family traditions that we do every year. Going to our local apple orchards to eat apple donuts and enjoy their activities and beautiful views is our main tradition. 

But, it’s always fun to add other activities that will create memories that will last a lifetime. Plus, I’m always looking for ways to keep my kids busy so I don’t have to listen to the chorus of “I’m bored” all day long!

What family traditions does your family have each autumn? What’s on your fall to-do list this year? 

If you’re stumped, I hope you enjoy this fall bucket list and use some (or all) of these ideas to make amazing memories with your family. 

Happy Fall Y’all!!

P.S. Don’t forget to share this post on social media if you think it’s something your friends and family would enjoy. Thanks!

P.P.S. Looking for some more fun Thanksgiving activities? Check out these Thanksgiving jokes for kids and Thanksgiving Coloring Pages for Kids.

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