Can you smell the pumpkin spice in the air? As the temperature continues to drop and the knit sweaters start coming out of storage, it’s only a matter of time until you’re itching to start checking things off your fall bucket list.
Here are 21 things to do in the fall for everyone in the family that are often low-cost or totally free:
Rake the Leaves (Then Jump in Them!)
Getting your yard work done AND a fun fall activity!? Say no more. Rake, jump, and repeat to your kids’ hearts’ content. And I’m sure the neighbors wouldn’t mind their yards being tidied up next…
Watch Scary Movies
From “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” to “Beetlejuice” to “Scream”, there are plenty of Halloween movies to pick from for a cozy night in. Grab your popcorn, but get ready to vacuum after that jumpscare makes you throw it everywhere!
Bake Fall Treats
Preheat your oven – we’re baking fall treats! Because nothing smells and tastes like fall more than warm cookies, apple pies, and pumpkin bread.
Go Apple Picking
Buying apples from the grocery store is only for the other three seasons. In fall, we’re donning our coziest sweaters and becoming one with the trees that grow this delicious fruit.
Carve Pumpkins
Jack-o-lanterns: a fall decor staple and a great activity. Even picking out the pumpkins is a fun fall outing within itself, but bonus if you grow your own!
Paint Pumpkins
If the little ones aren’t quite old enough to handle knives, pumpkin painting is a great alternative – but it’s also one of our favorite fall activities for kids of all ages! Let the older kids (and adults) show off their art skills, while the tiniest fall fanatics will be happy just making a mess.
Learn to Knit or Crochet
You can never have enough hats, sweaters, or scarves, and your family will love learning a new skill together. Pick out some of your favorite yarn and find an online knitting or crocheting guide to get started – and you can save double by making homemade holiday gifts for your friends and family!
Go on a Nature Walk
Is there anything more beautiful than nature in autumn? Get a front row seat to the changing leaves by taking your whole family on a nice, slow walk through nature.
Decorate for the Holidays
Is it too early to get a head start on holiday decorations? You be the judge. But as it gets colder, the holiday bug may creep in a little early, and there’s no shame in being the first family at the local Christmas tree farm.
Go to a Festival
Nearby cities, farms, and amusement parks frequently host fall festivals complete with apple cider, haunted houses, and plenty of fall activities for adults (pumpkin beer, anyone?). Just make sure to only carry as much cash as you want to spend!
Make or Thrift Your Own Halloween Costumes
Putting together a costume the night before trick or treat? Stressful. Visiting various thrift stores over the next two months so the kids can find all the pieces they need for their costumes (with plenty of time to order online just in case)? So. Much. Better. And don’t forget to log your receipts to earn cashback!
Use Nature to Make Crafts
There are so many crafts that don’t require much more than the leaves, acorns, and pinecones you can find outside. Take the kids out to gather their supplies, then spend the rest of the night creating!
Explore a Corn Maze
Between local farms and festivals, there are plenty of corn mazes ready to get lost in. Whether you’re looking for simple fall activities for kids or complex mazes for adults, there are plenty of difficulty levels to keep everyone in your family occupied!
Host a Bonfire
Just by spending a few bucks on firewood, hotdogs, and marshmallows, you’ll have dinner, dessert, and a way to keep everyone entertained well until bedtime.
Tell Scary Stories
Maybe one of your friends is an expert in local legends, or you might already have a book full of spooky tales – either way, just a flashlight and everyone’s undivided attention will make any night feel like fall.
Go on a Fall Scavenger Hunt
How many orange leaves can you find? What about a scarecrow? Send the kids on a scavenger hunt around the backyard or take them on an excursion into nature to check everything off their lists. Winner gets the first cup of hot chocolate!
Make Soup or Chili
Pick a brand-new recipe or dig up an old favorite for this one! One person can chop the veggies, one can stir the pot, and everyone can taste test along the way.
Watch a Football Game
Whether football is already a staple in your household or you’re somewhat new to the sport, you can make an event out of it every Sunday. Put the game on the TV with snacks on the counter or head to the local high school for a live action experience! Don’t forget to bring that new chili recipe you just tried!
Make Caramel Apples
Such a simple treat that looks so elegant when it’s done. All you’ll need are apples (maybe from your orchard trip earlier?), caramels, heavy cream, and whatever nuts, sprinkles, or candies everyone wants to top them off.
Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Fall is bound to come with plenty of pumpkin-related activities – but don’t throw away the guts just yet! Roasting your pumpkin seeds makes for a delicious, salty snack even after the jack-o-lanterns are starting to wilt.
Start a Garden
It’s never too early to start planting your garden (well, for certain plants at least). Enjoy the last of the nice weather by planting your lettuce, carrots, and radishes before the ground gets too hard.
Don’t Forget to Earn Cashback on Every Purchase!
With so many fun fall activities for families to do this season, you’ll want to make every penny count. That’s why families have been using Receipt Hog to earn cashback on all their purchases since 2011!
With Receipt Hog, simply snap a photo of your receipt and upload it to our easy-to-use app. From there, you’ll start earning rewards you can exchange for gift cards or cash payouts! As an added bonus, your receipts will stay easily accessible in the app to help you budget or make any returns.
To get started earning cashback on the purchases you’re already making, download Receipt Hog from the App Store or Google Play Store today. And maybe next holiday season, you’ll be adding yourself to your list of people to buy a little something for.
