50+ Fall Bucket List Ideas To Keep Your Family Entertained All Season (+Free Printables)

Packed for Life contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure policy for more info.

As the leaves start to change colour and school heads back in full swing, we turn our thoughts to fall activities we can do with our kids.

Give them something to look forward to with the ultimate fall bucket list for families.

From sipping hot cider, and searching for the perfect pumpkin, to fall fairs, and cool hiking weather with fewer bugs. There are so many fun fall activities for kids and adults this time of year.

We’ve pulled together a list of 50+ family friendly Autumn adventures you can cross off your list of things to do in September, October and November this season. Plus FREE fall bucket lists and Halloween coloring and activities pages you can download.

FALL BUCKET LIST IDEAS

Indoor Fall Activities for Kids

Fall is the perfect time to curl up in front of a fire, or snuggle up in a cozy blanket and read a good book. It’s a good idea to have a few indoor fall activites for kids on hand.

1. Bob For Apples

Bobbing for apples reminds me of Hallowe’een Parties as a kid. If you don’t want to share water, hang donuts up on string and get the kids to try to eat them with no hands.

A yummy fall bucket list idea.

2. Watch a Fall Movie Marathon

Some of our kid family favorite Fall movies include Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Coco, Over the Moon and It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Or see a Fall themed play like Wicked or Hocus Pocus.

3. Learn A New Skill

It’s always a good time to stretch your brain. Try your hand at pottery, indoor rock climbing, embroidery.

Or learn a new language To a place you plan on visiting soon, or sign language.

4. Knit A Scarf Or Hat

Be prepared for the cozy time, by knitting a scarf or hat, you all can wear through the cool months.

My daughter loved this scarf knitting kit we bought her for Christmas last year. Or try a beginners knitting kit for adults.

5. Host a Fall Themed Party

Invite some friends and/or family over for a themed party. Looking for ideas? Try:

• Caramel apple making party
• Pumpkin carving or painting party
• Fall party games night with themed snacks
• Fall craft party – put together some easy fall crafts and make a party out of it

Don’t forget to make some homemade pumpkin muffins for a tasty snack.

6. Read Fall Books

Cozy up on the couch and read together with some fall favorites:

• The Shadow in the Moon: A Tale of the Mid-Autumn Festival by Christina Matula & Pearl Law – Two sisters are excited to celebrate the autumn Chinese festival, as they listen to their Ah-ma’s stories and eat mooncakes.
• The Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert – Follow the gusty journey of Leaf Man, then head outside for a leaf collecting walk.
• All’s Faire in Middle School graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson – Follow up to Roller Girl which we also loved.
• Wish Tree by Katherine Applegate – An oak tree and a crow help their neighbors embrace their differences in this beautiful, nuanced middle-grade novel.

7. Have a Games Night

Put on your game party hats. Use your favorite at-home games or try something seasonal like pincone bowling, dress-up relays, flashlight tag, or minute to win it games.

8. Use Free Seasonal Coloring Pages

Coloring can be a calming activity after too many candy treats this season.

Pick up some FREE Hallowe’en coloring & activity pages you can print off at home.

9. Paint Your Nails Fall Colors

Liven up your wardrobe with some fancy nail colors. Sparkly purple by Piggy Paint is a favorite non-toxic kids nail polish option in our household any time of year.

10. Learn About The Fall Equinox

Invite some curiosity, and learn some cool facts about the Autumnal Equinox.

The Fall also happens to be one of the best times to see the Northern Lights.

AUTUMN FALL CRAFTS BUCKET LIST FOR KIDS

No fall activity list for kids is complete without some craft time. Supplies you will need:

• Construction paper in Fall colors.
• scissors
• glue or tape
• crayons and/or pencil crayons
• Non-toxic paint (washable for the youngest ones)
• Nature materials

11. Make Apple Stamps

Cut your apples in half and dip the flat side in paint to make cool patterns, and pictures.

12. Make Leaf Rubbings

Head out on a neighbourhood nature walk. Grab pretty fall leaves to bring back home.

Just place thin paper over the leaf and rub gently with a crayon or pencil crayon to make leaf rubbings.

Or for a spookier version, go to a cemetary and make rubbings of the headstones. Being respectful of course.

13. Decorate Trick or Treat Bags

Grab some paper lunch bags or paper gift bags with handles. Then decorate with felt pens, Hallowe’en stickers or cut out jack o lantern faces and glue on.

14. Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Those little birds get hungry in the Fall. Make bird feeders out of large pinecones, slathered in peanut butter and sprinkled with birdseed.

You can even do the same with a clean empty toilet paper roll.

15. Paint or Draw a Fall Themed Picture

Pull out the paints, crayons or felts and let your imaginations soar.

16. Draw Handprint Turkeys

Trace or dip your kids hands in paint to make hand print turkeys. Just add eyes, feet and the dangly wattle.

17. Make a Wreath

Grab some materials from nature, or your local craft store and make a fall or Hallowe’en themed wreath. For wreath supplies, think yellow leaves, acorns, skulls, pumpkins and the like.

18. Make Hand Print Wreaths

Continuing along the handprint craft theme are Hand Print Wreaths.

Trace your kids handprints, and cut them out. Glue them into the shape of a Fall wreath. The adults can do this too!

19. Create A Hallowe’en Bucket List For Kids

A family tradition for my brother’s and I growing up was to watch Michael Jackon’s Thriller video, each Hallowe’en. I know, I’m dating myself.

Then we’d dance around the room with Thriller arms, cackling madly. If you know……..you know!

Create some yearly traditions your family can look forward to, with these Hallowe’en bucket list ideas:

1. Watch Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and practice your Thriller arms
2. Create a Hallowe’en music playlist
3. Host or attend a Hallowe’een Party
4. Make your own Hallowe’en costumes
5. Watch a scary or Hallow’een movie
6. Carve pumpkins
7. Make handprint witches
8. Make slime
9. Eat monster pancakes (add food coloring to the pancakes & candy eyes, candy corn horns for decoration)
10. Make spooky Halloween treats like these cute Oreo Cookie Bats
11. Make ghost footprint art – dip your feet in white paint, and place toes down on the paper. Add eyes & ghostly features.
12. Play the Marshmallow toss game – Use mini marshmallows & line up cups

Bonus: Play wrap the mummy game

Get players into even teams. Choose one player to be the “mummy.” The goal of the game is to see who can be the first team to wrap their mummy up, using a full toilet paper roll.

Winner is the first team to use up all their toilet paper, and have their team mate wrapped up like a muumy.

OUTDOOR FALL FAMILY BUCKET LIST IDEAS

20. Jump or Play in Leaf Piles

While not the most original activity, it’s one that both kids and adults love.

Get your kids to help you rake up the leaves into piles, and then run or jump through them.

21. Create a Fall Scavenger Hunt.

Scavenger Hunts can be a great way to get the kids excited about heading outdoors. Create your own or grab a free printable scavenger hunt game.

For older kids, a fall photo scavenger hunt can get them in the mood to explore outdoors.

Add teams to up the fun factor.

22. Take An Autumn Hike

Fall is cooler and with less bugs, so often one of the best times to go hiking in the woods, around a pond or on a mountain top.

23. Play At A New-To-You Playground

Get out of your regular routine and neighbourhood. Explore a new to you playground in your town, or a town close by.

You can even make a day trip of it and choose a restaurant with yummy seasonal food offerings for snak or lunch.

24. Play At A Family Favorite Playground

A great way to teach your kids mindfulness is to be quiet and observant to what’s around them.

Visit a playground you are familiar with, and see if you can notice anything different. Use all your senses. Close your eyes.

25. Go For A Fall Walk & Collect Leaves

Take a walk around your neighbourhood or in the woods and collect fall leaves to take home and press.

26. Plant Bulbs Or Garlic For Spring

Fall is the perfect time to get your garden ready for next Spring. Plant some flower bulbs or garlic in your garden beds, for colorful surprises.

27. Set Up A Bonfire Night & Eat S’mores

Grab your flannel, blankets and pull up your favorite camping desserts & camping food plus your camp chairs for a backyard bonfire. Swap ghost stories and spend some quality time with friends, family & neighbours.

Don’t forget to pack your s’mores kit for the kids, and some fancy coffee / hot toddys for the adults.

If you don’t want a fire, check out this fun tabletop s’mores maker for year round s’mores.

28. Go On A Hayride

Yee haw! Can you smell the hay and horses now? Combine a hay ride with a visit to a pumpkin patch and you have a winning combo.

29. Decorate Your Front Porch

Bring out your Martha Stewart vibes, and decorate your front porch. Or if you don’t have a porch, decorate a window, or door in your home or apartment.

30. Fall Photo Shoot

Grab your camera and take some iconic fall family photos. The grandparents will thank you.

Or even better, hire a local photographer to take some professional photos of everyone, in the same picture. Like we have maybe 5 photos of us all together…why is it so hard?!?!

31. Run A 5K Race In Costume

There are many a fall family run across Canada and the US you can join. Wear a team costume for even more brownie points.

32. Go On A Fall Picnic

It’s never a bad time for a picnic (well almost). Pack up the kids, their favorite snacks, fall desserts and picnic foods and head out to your favorite picnic spot.

If you are in Victoria, BC Canada in late October, head out to Goldstream for a hike & picnic and to watch the salmon run.

33. Stargaze

Grab a blanket and head out of town a bit to escape the lights to take in the Fall night sky. Do some stargazing. If you have a telescope, bring it along.

34. Visit A Haunted House

If you are feeling brave visit a nearby haunted house, or haunted corn maze.

FALL FOOD ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES

35. Make & Eat Fall Themed Food & Drinks

Fall to me is the smell of applesauce and apple pies baking away in the kitchen. Of our family sitting around the table peeling endless apples into bowls of lemon water.

Food can evoke potent memories, and it’s a fantastic way to celebrate the season. Here are 10 food activities for fall your kids will love:

1. Make candy apples
2. Bake Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Cream Cheese Icing
3. Bake pumpkin spice muffins or bread
4. Roast pumpkin seeds
5. Drink warm apple cider
6. Create your own fancy Fall drink
7. Make apple pies or applesauce
8. Have a chili bake off with family or friends
9. Eat candy corn & your favorite Hallowe’en candy
10. Bake Hallowe’en cookies & treats
11. Hold a themed potluck

FALL TRAVEL BUCKET LIST IDEAS FOR FAMILIES

36. Go Apple Picking

Apple picking reminds me of visiting my grandparents in Victoria, BC, Canada in the fall. We would gather up all the fallen apples and take them home to make pies and applesauce.

There are many spots in the Canada and US. One favorite spot is to go apple picking in Rhode Island.

37. Explore A Pumpkin Patch

Find the perfect pumpkin for carving in a pumpkin patch. Most farms also have other fall activites like hay rides, and seasonal food you can try out too.

38. Be a-MAIZE-d in the Corn Fields

Find your way through a corn maze. Get lost and found. There’s even creepy haunted corn mazes if you dare!

39. Take a Fall Foliage Road Trip

Take a scenic fall foliage drive or plan a scenic road trip to enjoy the magnificence of the changing colors and the beauty of the fall season.

Smuggler’s Notch mountain pass near Stowe, Vermont and the Acadia Loop Road in Acadia National Park are popular New England spots.

40. Visit a National Park or State Park

Often times visiting a National Park or State Park in the fall can be a quieter and more pleasant experience without all the crowds.

Just avoid the parks with peak foliage, and be mindful that amenities and activites often start to slow down heading into fall and winter months.

41. Attend A Fall Fair

When I think of Fall Fairs I think of huge pumpkins, jam and pie making contests, and farm animals. But there are plenty of different types to choose from.

Fall and harvest fair are one of the best ways to celebrate the season with your family and friends.

See over 7,000 carved pumpkins at New York’s Great Jack o’Lantern Blaze, or the Seafood Fest and Jack O’Lantern Spectacular in Rhode Island in October.

Try some craft beer at the Oktoberfest, in Leavenworth, Washington, or the ride a hot air balloon during the Natchez Balloon Festival in Mississippi.

Those are just a few of many. Are there any in your area you can check out?

42. Take a Fall Camping Trip

Cooler weather and no bugs makes for better camping. Check out our camping with kids hacks and tips for an even easier experience. Be sure to bring some easy make ahead meals, to avoid spending your whole camping trip cooking.

43. Enjoy A Weekend Getaway

Take your family on a weekend getaway. It doesn’t have to be far. Local hotel for a night that has a pool, a cozy cabin in the mountains, or maybe a short hop away at a resort.

Prices are often cheaper in Fall, in that in between time between summer and Christmas.

44. See Fall Colors from a Mountain Top

The Hills are alive………….

Hitch a ride on a gondola to the the top of a mountain and shout your Fall wishes

45. Visit Acadia National Park in the Fall

Visit Acadia National Park in Fall to appreciate the true New England beauty.

ACTS OF KINDESS TO DO IN FALL

Doing acts of kindness can help teach your children to empathize with people’s situations. It can also help them learn to be grateful for what they do have, and can boost feelings of confidence, happiness and optimism.

Here are 15 acts of kindenss to this fall with your family:

1. Donate lightly used warm clothing to shelters
2. Write a letter or make a card and give to an elder in your neighbourhood
3. Offer to rake up a neighbours leaves
4. Drop off some Fall or Hallowe’en themed coloring books, and crayons at a woman’s shelter or organization
5. Donate to your local food bank
6. Donate spare veggies from your garden to a food bank, or local shelter
7. Compliment someone
8. Adopt a street or a park and clean up the litter
9. Write a thank you note to a teacher, fire fighter, crossing guard, someone who helps your community
10. Give your old blankets to an animal shelter
11. Do chores for a family member
12. Offer to help a neighbour clean up their garden
13. Walk dogs at the local SPCA
14. Write 3 things you are grateful for about each family member, then gift it to them
15. Bake pumpkin spice muffins and give them to a neighbour or someone who could use them.

Final Thoughts: Free Fall Bucket List for Families

We hope these 50+ fall bucket list ideas keep your family entertained and make this autumn unforgettable.

Whether you’re exploring the great outdoors or enjoying comforting indoor crafts, there’s something for everyone to love.

Don’t forget to download your free printable bucket lists to track your adventures and create lasting memories. Here’s to an amazing autumn filled with laughter, love, and endless family fun!

---