31 Ways To Celebrate Fall As A Family

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family with small children walking in fall trees

Autumn is my favorite season and with sudden cooler mornings here in Texas, I’m getting the itch to decorate.

Sometimes, you need a little help getting into the spirit of the holidays or season changes. Here’s a list of ideas and things you can do with your family that are sure to make memories and get you in that fall mood. 

  • DECORATE! Simple or elaborate, there is definitely something I love about rusty reds, deep golden yellows, burnt orange, rich browns, and just a hint of pale apple green dropped here and there. Try hay bales by a welcome sign or fake pumpkins up the staircase.
  • Find an orchard and go apple picking.
  • Make some recipes with those apples! I suggest these: cinnamon apples, apple crumble, candy apple slices, or even apple cookies!
  • Make hot chocolate bombs or some really awesome hot chocolate with marshmallows and WHIP CREAM, then curl up with a good book (or movie) on a cold day.
  • Make soup! I LOVE Santa Fe, vegetable, chicken and dumplings, or potato soup on rainy days.
  • Go pecan picking. Some feed and seed stores will shell them for you for a minimal charge per pound.
  • Make recipes with those pecans! No matter how you pronounce it, pecans are always delicious in fudge, cookies, brownies, pralines, pecan pie, banana nut bread, candied pecans…anyone else hungry yet? 
  • Have a bonfire (or turn on your firepit) and roast some weenies and marshmallows. Dinner AND dessert!
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  • Make s’mores! Too dry for open fires outside or don’t have a fireplace? Bake them or make s’mores nachos in the oven.
  • Grab some leaves and make leaf rubbings with the kids.
  • Rake leaves and jump in the piles. Take pictures! The memories will be beautiful explosions of color floating into the air.
  • Go to a pumpkin patch then carve or paint those pumpkins.
  • Have a movie marathon day/night with your favorite soft and cozy blanket. My boys love when I pull out the air mattress in the living room for them to lay on to watch a movie. Might I suggest…Dani’s Spooktacular Halloween Movie Fest
  • Find a local corn maze and weave your way through.

 

  • Go tailgating and watch a football game.
  • Go for a drive to look at Halloween decorations and have a scavenger list of things to find.
  • Make something pumpkin flavored. Lattes, muffins, pie, pumpkin spice cake, or whatever your heart desires. After looking through Pinterest, I’m wondering what pumpkin ice cream might taste like. 
  • Find sweaters in beautiful fall colors and take family pictures. Think of it as getting a jump on those Christmas card photos that are right around the corner. If it doesn’t happen early for us, they’re never sent!
  • Make apple cider and enjoy a family game night. 
  • Find a Fall Festival in your area.
  • Go on a hay ride! Ask around your community, sometimes local farms or pumpkin patches offer a tractor pulled trailer full of hay. 
  • Find and pose with a scarecrow! After everyone takes a picture, vote who had the most inventive or silliest pose.
  • Create your own fall wreath for your front door. I enjoy making my own wreaths, and they’re never as expensive to make as the ones already arranged and sold in stores. 

 

  • Toast pumpkin seeds. I still remember an elementary teacher doing this and bringing them for the class to try. 
  • Go to the farmer’s market. Fresh and homegrown always tastes better!
  • Find a pretty park and go on a family picnic. 
  • Teach your kids about being thankful. Donate to the local food bank or volunteer in your community. Meals on Wheels, local soup kitchens, and animal shelters are always on the lookout for good people to help out. For kids who are too little to volunteer yet, do thankful leaves. Write something they are thankful for on paper leaf cutouts and put them daily on their bedroom doors. 
  • Watch a sunset together. I love the beautiful colors that slowly change the sky from golden daylight to inky night.
  • Camp in the backyard and look at the stars. Which constellations can you find?
  • Bake goodies and deliver to neighbors and friends. Nothing says fall like cool air, scented candles, and baked good smells wafting from the oven.
  • Update your flower beds or flower pots with some gorgeous fall mums. I’m a sucker for a pretty burgundy mum.

How do you like to celebrate fall? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!