Fall Bucket List Ideas for Families

Here are some fun family fall bucket list ideas that you will want to print and keep handy! Now is the perfect time to start writing down and planning all the fun fall activities you and your family will do! There’s a reason that this is one of the most favorite seasons for outdoor family fun!

While jumping into a pile of leaves or picking apples at the apple orchard and making a homemade apple pie need to be on your radar, other items could be on your autumn bucket list. Below are some of the best fall bucket list ideas for families to help you plan and prepare for fall!

The Best Fall Bucket List Ideas for Families

As with any bucket list, remember that you hold the key to adding or subtracting items from it. Remember to give yourself and your family grace when coordinating and planning a schedule that works. Take these fun ideas and make them your own.

1. Cuddle under blankets and read a book

There’s no denying that fall air is the best. The crisp and coolness of it will have you cuddling and reading by sunlight or by flashlight as well. Have everyone grab their favorite book and settle in for a real page-turner. Don’t forget your scarf, a cozy sweater, snacks, and juice boxes!

2. DO a candy taste test

Is your family a fan of sugar? Who isn’t! Line up some Halloween favorites and let everyone have a bite. Don’t forget to add candy corn to the list! Another option is to do a ‘Guess The Candy’ game where you blindfold each other to try and guess the candy you’re eating! The winner gets all the leftover candy!

3. Have an outdoor picnic

Grab a comfy blanket and a basket like this one. Then head to the local farmer’s market and get some fresh fruit and veggies to pack for your picnic. Eating local and supporting small businesses is always a good idea.

With the gorgeous fall foliage and cooler weather, you can have family photos made with your picnic as the backdrop for your Christmas card.

4. GO on a hayride

Hayrides are so much fun! Is there anything better than sitting on a hay bale and enjoying the beautiful sights and cool breeze? Don’t forget to grab a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and put your directional capabilities to the test in the corn maze. If your local pumpkin patch doesn’t offer hayrides, some apple farms offer hay rides and apple picking.

Bonus Idea: When you carve jack-o-lanterns, set the seeds aside. When you are done carving, roast pumpkin seeds for a fun treat. You could also keep one pumpkin and bake pumpkin bread from your fresh pumpkin puree.

5. Choose or make Halloween costumes

DIY Halloween costumes turn out to be some of the cutest ideas ever! Search on Pinterest for some fun costume ideas! If you can think up a fun family theme, even better.

6. Have a bonfire and roast marshmallows

S’mores, anyone? Having a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and telling kid-friendly ghost stories is a great way to wind down an evening. Plus, the warm fire will warm the kiddos right up! Don’t forget your marshmallow roasting sticks!

7. Make Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are such a perfect fall tradition. They’re meant to be messy and gooey, so have fun! Here’s an easy recipe!

8. Watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”

Have this movie playing in the background while you start your fall decorating. It is great for the kids to watch and will help them get into the fall groove! You can always stream it from Amazon Prime if you miss it on TV.

9. Make pumpkin cookies

Once fall arrives, it’s time to eat everything pumpkin flavored! You can start with homemade cookies. Then experiment with cupcakes, muffins, and more!

10. Make a plate of treats and leave them on a neighbor’s doorstep

Spreading kindness and food is the perfect item for your family bucket list. It will teach your children how important it is to give while you are spending quality time together. Maybe hand out those pumpkin cookies you made earlier? Or, check out this list of over 40 best fall cookies.

11. Decorate your porch for Fall

Make a list of fun decorating ideas with your favorite fall decor items, such as pumpkins, scarecrows, hay bales, a fall wreath, and more, and then make it happen. It’s as simple as that!

While at it, grab cinnamon candles or other fall candle scents you enjoy and light them inside your house. I love burning fall candles and using essential oils around my house.

12. Look at pictures of Halloween past

Do you remember what you dressed up as two years ago? Pull out those old photo albums when you and your spouse were kids, and show your kids what YOU dressed up as when you were a child! Or another idea would be to hook up your phone or computer to a projector or the TV and display old photos or videos trick-or-treating with some hot apple cider for the entire family to see!

13. Enjoy hot apple cider

Making your hot apple cider is a skill set that everyone needs to have! It’s even better if they’re apples you picked from the local apple orchard on your hayride the other day! A pumpkin spice latte makes a fabulous fall drink as well.

14. Go to a fall festival

Hit up the local towns and attend as many fun fall festivals as possible. Don’t forget to try the funnel cake! Bonus if it’s pumpkin flavored!

15. Invite friends over and have a contest for the best chili

What a hearty and delicious bucket list item to have a chili cook-off! Spending time with family and loved ones in the kitchen is always memorable and fun! Add a DIY chili toppings bar for everyone to add whatever they’d like. Here is my favorite low-carb chili recipe. If you aren’t eating low-carb, add beans to this recipe.

16. Gather leaves and make leaf pictures

Channel your inner creativity and let nature be your subject. If your kids are anything like mine, they will LOVE collecting leaves of all colors! Then have an arts and crafts session when you get home and have your kids help! You can even use your creations as homemade fall decor when done. This leaf art is impressive but easy enough to do with the family!

17. Make pumpkin pie Playdough

What a fun treat this is! Making your pumpkin pie playdough is a fun activity for the entire family. The dough is 100% safe and edible, so even the youngest kiddos will love this! Cut out some leaves or pumpkins using these fall cookie cutters!

18. Go on a drive to look at The Leaves

How many leaf colors can you see? Pick up a pumpkin latte or chai tea, and let the road guide you! Don’t forget to drive at different times of the day because that matters!

19. Go on a neighborhood pumpkin hunt; guess how many you’ll count

Check on stairs, in windows, and don’t forget to peek at the porches! The kids will love the competition of who will find one first! Plus, the entire family will get some fresh air and exercise!

20. Have a pumpkin carving party

Create categories like spooky pumpkins, silly pumpkins, or even themed pumpkins, too. Here is the perfect pumpkin carving kit for you to use.

As you can see, this bucket list of fun fall activities is something everyone in the family can enjoy, regardless of age! But if you need just a few other ideas for younger tots, here are some quick ideas to try!

Fall Activities for Young Kids

Make a sensory bin with the pumpkin seeds and guts (they’ll love that squishy feeling)
Assign them as the official apple cleaner (this is a big job as no one wants to deal with dirty apples!)
Let them decorate their pumpkins instead of carving them! You can use paint OR these fun stickers!

Here are a few more ideas:

Volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen.
Sit down and share everyone’s favorite fall foods, like turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, etc and make your Thanksgiving menu.
Have a fall craft night. Have everyone share their favorite craft ideas, then choose one or two and make them together as a family.

See how easy it can be to incorporate fun fall activities for everyone in the family? Just keep adding to your family fall bucket list as you go!

To start, print off this FREE Fall Bucket List Printable below! You can use it to keep track and mark off your items as they’re completed. I suggest adding a set date next to each item, so you can have a timeline of things you want to accomplish before winter!

Get your fall bucket list printable below!