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 that will help you make the most of the season together.

1. Go Apple Picking With the Family

Apple orchards are a classic fall destination. Kids love racing down the rows of trees to find the juiciest apples to pick. Before you go, check out your local orchard’s website—most post weekly updates on which apple varieties are ready for picking. That way, you can plan your trip around your family’s favorites and make the most of the season.

With all the apples you bring home, the fun doesn’t stop at the orchard. In our house, we bake everything from apple bread and apple muffins to apple butter that lasts us well into the season. It’s a couple months of apple-flavored goodies that make the whole house smell like fall!

Many orchards also offer extras like hayrides, cider donuts, and petting zoos, which makes the trip even more memorable for kids.

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!

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.

Grab a warm apple cider, wander the booths, and soak up the festive atmosphere—it’s a great way to spend a weekend outdoors as a family.

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. Rake up the yard (or head to a safe park area) and let your kids toss, jump, and roll around in the leaves. It’s a free, easy way to enjoy the season while creating memories and snapping some adorable fall photos.

Once you’re done playing, bring a few leaves inside for arts and crafts time. Kids can paint them, make leaf rubbings, or use them for fun seasonal projects. It’s a simple way to extend the outdoor fun and bring a bit of autumn color indoors.

4. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin picking is a must-do fall activity with kids. Whether you’re searching for the biggest pumpkin to carve, a few smaller ones for decorating, or the perfect porch display, pumpkin patches are full of charm.

Take your time walking through the patch and let the kids explore the rows. Be sure to turn each pumpkin around and check all sides before you choose—it’s the best way to make sure you’ve found a good one! Many patches also offer wagon rides, corn mazes, and family photo spots to make the day extra special.

Once you bring your pumpkins home, extend the fun with carving, painting, or roasting pumpkin seeds.

5. Cozy Up Around a Campfire

Cool fall evenings call for gathering around a fire pit. Roast marshmallows, make s’mores, and share stories under the stars. If you don’t have a big backyard, a small portable fire pit works just as well. It’s a simple way to bring the family together while enjoying the crisp night air.

✨ 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!

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