5 Fun Outdoor Fall Activities to Do With Your Kids

Fall is the perfect season to get outside with your kids and enjoy simple, family-friendly adventures. From pumpkin patches to cozy campfires, there are so many ways to celebrate the crisp air, colorful leaves, and festive traditions. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are five outdoor fall activities to add to your bucket list that will help you make the most of the season together.

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1. Go Apple Picking With the Family

Apple picking has become a top tradition in our family. As soon as September arrives, the kids start asking, “Is it apple picking time yet?” They love racing down the rows of trees to find the juiciest apples and climbing ladders to reach the ones way up high. The orchard we visit even offers a hayride out to the fields, which makes the whole experience feel extra special.

It’s true that orchard apples can sometimes cost a little more per pound than those at the grocery store—but nothing compares to the crisp, fresh taste of one picked straight from the tree. Plus, the experience itself is worth it!

A few tips: before you go, check your local orchard’s website. Most update weekly with which apple varieties are ready for picking, so you can plan your visit around your family’s favorites. We also find that going early in the morning makes the trip smoother—it avoids both the midday crowds and the strongest sun, and the kids are always happiest then.

And of course, the apple fun continues once we’re home. With all the apples we bring back, we bake everything from apple bread and muffins to homemade apple butter that lasts us well into the season. For a couple of months, our kitchen is filled with apple-flavored goodies—and the sweet smell of fall.

🍎 Need an apple corer and slicer to save you time from cutting all those apples? Check out our favorite here: PrepWorks Apple Slicer and Corer

2. Spend the Day at a Fall Festival

Local fall festivals are packed with kid-friendly fun. From hay mazes and pumpkin painting to live music and delicious seasonal treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Some farm festivals even go the extra mile with hayrides, outdoor obstacle courses, and apple slingshots that kids can’t get enough of! Even our tweens still love a good day out at a fall festival!

Since many of these activities are outdoors and hands-on, make sure your little ones (and you!) wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Between running through fields, climbing, and testing their aim at apple slingshots, kids will definitely get friendly with nature—and that’s part of the fun.

Generally we spend a few hours at the festival, so set your mind right and plan accordingly with layers as the kids and prepare for a busy day ahead!

🧥Need ideas for some fall clothing essentials to layer up at the festival? Check out jackets, boots and gloves on my Fall Clothing Essentials Page.

3. Play in the Autumn Leaves

You don’t have to go far to enjoy one of fall’s simplest joys—jumping into a big pile of leaves. Our kids actually like getting involved in the chore of raking up the yard because it leads into fun times of jumping into the big piles! As they get older, they get creative now with swinging from our tree swing into the piles or having contests of who can do the silliest jump. There’s nothing quite like the crunch underfoot and the laughter as they try to bury each other in piles of red, yellow, and orange leaves.

Once the leaf jumping (and occasional leaf flinging at siblings) is over, grab a few to bring inside for arts and crafts. Kids can paint them, make leaf rubbings, or use them in fun seasonal projects. It’s a great way to extend the outdoor fun—and let’s be honest, it’s much more fun than cleaning up every last leaf outside.

4. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Visiting the pumpkin patch is another one of those fall traditions our family looks forward to every year. I must say, this is definitely one of those “it’s for the kids” activities, and more of an opportunity for me to get some nice family pictures. The kids love testing their strength by trying to lift the biggest pumpkins they can find (and usually declaring “this one’s perfect!” even if it weighs more than they do). Meanwhile, I’m on the hunt for the quirky, lopsided pumpkins that add character to our porch—because who needs just a picture-perfect pumpkin when you can have one with personality?

When you go, take your time walking the patch. Turn each pumpkin around and check all sides to make sure it’s a good one—no soft spots or hidden blemishes. It makes the hunt feel like an adventure, and the kids love helping decide which pumpkins actually get to come home with us.

Many patches also offer extras like wagon rides, corn mazes, and spots for family photos, so plan to stay a while and soak up the atmosphere. And once you bring your pumpkins home, the fun starts all over again! Carve them into jack-o’-lanterns, paint them in fun designs, or roast the seeds for a salty snack that tastes like fall. Just be sure not to carve them too early in the season or the animals will eat them right up!

🎃Here are some of our favorite products to use for pumpkin decorating:

Paint Pens

Pumpkin Stickers

5. Cozy Up Around a Campfire

Cool fall evenings are perfect for gathering around a fire pit. Roast marshmallows, make s’mores, and share stories under the stars. Don’t have a fire pit? No worries—a tabletop stove or even your outdoor grill will do the trick! It’s a simple way to bring the family together while soaking in the night air and looking up at the stars.

And of course, who can resist a warm, ooey-gooey s’more with chocolate and marshmallow dripping everywhere - my kids can’t!? For a fun twist, try swapping the chocolate bar with a peanut butter cup, adding a drizzle of caramel, or even using cookies instead of graham crackers. The kids love experimenting with different combinations, and you’ll probably eat more than your fair share too—because, well, someone has to quality test them, right?

🔥🍡Check out Marshmallow roasting sticks here: Marshmallow roasting sticks

✨ Fall only lasts a few short months, but these outdoor family activities will help you make the most of it. From apple orchards to cozy campfires, there are endless ways to celebrate autumn with your kids. So grab your sweaters, pack a blanket, and get ready to create unforgettable fall memories together.

Need more ideas? Check out some of my other posts!

👉 Best Outdoor Equipment to Keep Older Kids Busy and Active

👉 Wheeled Fun at the Park: Our Favorite Gear to Roll, Skate, and Scoot

👉 Road Trip Essentials