As the air turns crisp and the leaves transform into vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold (if your lucky enough to live in a geographic location where this happens), it’s the perfect time to embrace the beauty of fall and create lasting memories with your family. Fall traditions to start with your family provide the perfect opportunity to bond, celebrate the magic of the season, and enjoy the simple pleasures of autumn together. Whether you’re carving pumpkins, sipping hot cocoa, or exploring nature’s wonders.. there’s something on this list for everyone!
Let’s jump in! … 21 Fall Traditions to Start with your family:
- Apple Picking: Head to a local orchard and spend the day picking apples straight from the trees. Use your bounty to make homemade applesauce, pies, and cider together…. it doesn’t get much more “Fall” then this ! …….. Side note..If you are in Northern California (or are ever in the area during the season) the coolest place to go for this is Apple Hill ! Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, only about 1.5 hours away from Lake Tahoe… there are numerous farms at this one location, each specializing in something different … some have apple picking, some having pumpkin picking and others have hay rides and fresh cider!
- Pumpkin Patch Visits: The most classic Fall activity of all! You can’t get away with not visiting a pumpkin patch during the season… usually we hit a few! We like to hit a couple “lot” style patches with the jumpy houses etc and then a couple “farm” hayride style patches but they are all good fun!…. don’t feel bummed out if you live in the city and can’t make it out to the more “farm like” pumpkin patches… (kids love the basic lots just the same!)
- Fall Foliage Drives: Take scenic drives through the countryside or nearby parks to admire the breathtaking fall foliage. Pack a picnic and stop along the way to soak in the beauty of nature’s masterpiece! I live in the SF Bay Area, so for us we really have to drive and get out of our immediate area (totally worth it!)… but if you do live in an area of the country where you get all four seasons in your backyard.. consider yourself blessed!
- Leaf Collecting and Pressing: Go on a nature walk with your family to collect colorful leaves. Press them between sheets of wax paper or in a DIY leaf press to preserve their beauty. This is one of my absolute favorite Fall activities to do with toddlers, seeing what they collect is so special and fun and it really makes quite beautiful art to hang up for the season.
- Harvest Festivals: Attend local harvest festivals or fairs to enjoy live music, hayrides, corn mazes, and delicious fall treats like caramel apples and kettle corn. Maybe one day we will get the chance to attend the O.G. Oktoberfest in Germany… but until then our local Oktoberfest will do ! 🙂
- Outdoor Movie Nights: Set up a backyard movie night with a projector, blankets, and popcorn. Cozy up under the stars while watching classic fall-themed movies like “Hocus Pocus” or “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” ….P.S yes a “movie night” will be on every single list of holiday or seasonal traditions that I make 😜 LOL
- DIY Fall Decorations: Get creative with DIY fall crafts and decorations. Make wreaths, centerpieces, and garlands using items like pinecones, acorns, and dried leaves… don’t forget to use those awesome nature collages your kids made!
- Baking Days: Spend a rainy fall day baking together in the kitchen. Whip up batches of pumpkin bread, cinnamon rolls, and apple crisps to enjoy as a family or share with friends and neighbors. I think having seasonal treats on hand at any given time is such a simple way to make the season feel special for your littles.. (and bigs too 😉). One of my favorite ways to do this is display some seasonal baked goods in a clear cookie dish on the counter, it doubles as decoration and it feels so magical to children to have a full cookies jar on display!
- Campfire Cookouts: Build a backyard bonfire and gather around for a cozy evening of roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, and sharing stories. My husband bought us a really awesome fire pit for our backyard.. which is a great option if your space is smaller and you can’t do a bonfire (or are worried about the fire getting too big or out of control)!
- Cornucopia or Pumpkin of Gratitude: Create a “cornucopia of gratitude” by decorating a cornucopia basket and filling it with notes of thanks and appreciation from each family member. Display it as a centerpiece throughout the fall season. I have also seen this same concept done by using a large pumpkin (real or fake), have every family member write what they are grateful for this year!
- Pumpkin Carving: The most obvious and probably one of the favorite Fall traditions of all is pumpkin carving! We like to make a whole night out of this, set the mood with candles and your Fall decor, make some chili and cornbread (order some pizza if you can’t be bothered, turn on a Halloween classic (our fav is Hocus Pocus) and carve away!
- Nature Scavenger Hunts: Organize fall-themed scavenger hunts in your backyard or local park. Create a list of items to find, such as acorns, pinecones, and different colored leaves. This is such a great activity for older toddlers to practice their independence.. and don’t forget to bring a basket.. they love to hold it themselves!
- Fall Photo Sessions: Schedule annual fall photo sessions with a professional photographer or take DIY family photos in scenic outdoor locations. Capture the beauty of the season and your family’s special moments. Fall is my personal favorite time of the year to get family pictures done.. it has some of the best backgrounds options of all seasons and it leaves just the perfect amount of time to get out holiday cards!
- Soup Nights: Start a weekly tradition of soup nights where each family member takes turns choosing and preparing their favorite soup recipe. Enjoy a comforting meal together as you savor the flavors of fall. I love this as a mama because it simplifies the weekly meal plan even more.. every Monday make soup, every Tuesday is Mexican… so on and so forth. No need at all to be all creative with a new 5 course meal every week… unless that’s your thing.. then cook away! 🙂
- Go on a Fall Vacation: Going on a vacation in the Fall is the absolute best, the weather is mild and the crowds are low due to it being “off” season. This can be so many things, a Disney trip when all the Fall decorations are up, a trip to New England to see the most beautiful Fall foliage in the country, or just a simple day trip out of town to an apple picking farm. Getting out of town and experiences new things and places is the best way to bond and make memories with your kids.. they’ll remember this stuff forever !
- DIY Halloween Costumes: Get creative and make homemade Halloween costumes together as a family. Raid your closets and craft supplies to design unique and memorable costumes. In a world full of $100 store bought basic costumes, bring back the 90’s Halloween vibes!
- Fall Gardening: Plant bulbs and perennials in your garden to prepare for next year’s blooms. Involve your children in the gardening process and teach them about plant care and seasonal changes.
- Fall Sports and Activities: Get active and get outdoors by playing fall sports like football, soccer, or frisbee. Go for hikes, bike rides, or nature walks to explore the beauty of autumn. If playing or hiking isn’t your thing, watching Fall football and making a cozy day out of it with seasonal snacks on the couch with the fam is the way to go!
- Family Game Nights: Cozy up indoors on chilly fall evenings with family game nights. Play board games, card games, or puzzles while enjoying hot cider or cocoa. Making this a regular thing is a sure fire way to create family culture and long lasting memories.
- Thanksgiving Traditions: Start Thanksgiving traditions such as volunteering at a local food bank, hosting a Friendsgiving dinner, or creating a gratitude jar to fill with thankful moments throughout the month. We personally love to decorate for Thanksgiving (with the tree already up of course!). Don’t skip out on Thanksgiving, make it a big deal in your family and really take it as an opportunity to teach gratitude to your little ones.. this is one of the few major holidays that doesn’t revolve around gift giving!
- Giving Back to the Community: Give back to your community by participating in fall charity events, food drives, or fundraising activities. Instill the value of generosity and compassion in your children while making a positive impact on those in need. Soup kitchens are the perfect place to do this as a family, they welcome young volunteers 🙂
Fall is a magical time of year filled with warmth, beauty, and cherished traditions. By embracing these 21 fall traditions to start with your family, you can create meaningful experiences and build lasting memories together. From apple picking to pumpkin carving, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during this festive season. So gather your loved ones, embrace the spirit of fall, and make the most of this special time together.
xoxo Grace 🍂🍁