Are you looking for fun fall activities you can enjoy with the family? Here are 35 Budget-Friendly Fall Activities you can enjoy all season long.
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There is no better time than fall to get outside and enjoy time as a family. The weather is perfect and the warm colors of the leaves are breathtaking.
Soon, we will be saving and planning for the holidays so making an effort to spend some quality time together before the hectic holiday season rushes in is so important.
These budget-friendly fall activities are the perfect way to not only be able to spend time with the family soaking up all the beauty of the season but create some amazing memories in the process.
Looking for more ways to save money this fall?
- 13 Things to Stop Buying Today to Save Money
- 30 Frugal Living Ideas for Beginners
- 15 Simple Ways to Save Money Every Month
35 Budget-Friendly Fall Activities
1. Visit a pumpkin patch
Who can resist a pumpkin patch during the fall? Finding the best pumpkin to make the perfect jack o’ lantern is a day well spent.
2. Have a bonfire
Get the family together and have a bonfire. Enjoy spending some time together talking, laughing, and roasting marshmallows.
3. Go apple picking
If you are lucky enough to have an apple orchard nearby, how about going apple picking? Picking apples is one of the best fun and frugal fall activities.
Gather the whole family and make an afternoon of it. Enjoy the apples on their own or head home and make some delicious apple dessert.
4. Carve pumpkins
Have a pumpkin carving night. Look for patterns on Pinterest to print out or create your own designs. Make it a contest to see who is the most creative.
5. Make fall crafts
Decorating for fall can be such a fun activity and DIY fall crafts are an inexpensive way to add a little fall decor to your home. Here are a few cheap fall crafts that you can make this year:
- Fall Leaf Lanterns (Happiness is Homemade)
- Easy Burlap Pumpkins (Confessions of a Plate Addict)
- DIY Sisal Twine Pumpkins ( Navage Patch)
- Burlap Fall Banner (The Savvy Sparrow)
6. Make homemade applesauce
Homemade applesauce is so simple to make and tastes so much better than store-bought applesauce. Trust me, once you try it you will wonder why you haven’t been making it all along. (recipe- The Forked Spoon)
7. Read fall-themed books to your kids
Get some fall-themed books to read to your child at bedtime. These are a few of my favorites:
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
- There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
8. Enjoy some apple cider donuts
We are lucky enough to have an orchard nearby that sells warm apple cider donuts every weekend during the fall. They are so yummy and we look forward to them every year.
Plan to visit an apple orchard this year to see if they sell any homemade baked goods. If not, then give this delicious recipe a try-Baked Apple Cider Donuts (Sally’s Baking Addiction)
9. Go for a hike
Enjoy the crisp fall air and head out with the family for an afternoon hike.
10. Go for a drive to look at the leaves changing colors
October is the best time to see the fall foliage, plan a drive to see nature’s beauty at its finest.
11. Try a new apple or pumpkin dessert recipe
Baking for fall can be such a treat. Try these Caramel Apple Crisp Muffins for a delicious way to start your mornings this fall.
You may also like:
12. Jump in a pile of leaves
Make the chore of raking leaves more fun by jumping in when you are finished. Of course, that means, you will have to rake the leaves back in a pile when you are finished…but trust me it’s worth it.
13. Drink some hot apple cider
Grab a cozy blanket, turn on a movie, or grab a good book and enjoy a nice cup of hot apple cider.
14. Go to a corn maze
Visiting a corn maze is a very popular fall activity which is completely understandable because it’s a ton of fun.
A few years ago, we discovered a pumpkin patch that has a large corn maze. We try and visit it every fall and make a game out of it. We divide into teams to see who can find their way out first.
15. Make caramel apples
Who can resist the gooey goodness of a caramel apple? All you need is skewers, apples (we love Macintosh, Cortland and Granny Smith), and a package of caramels (melted) for the perfect fall sweet treat.
16. Go on hayride
A cheap fall activity that your family is sure to enjoy is a hayride. If you have a pumpkin patch near you, check to see if they offer hayrides too. They are usually inexpensive and a fun way to spend a fall afternoon.
17. Roast pumpkin seeds
Don’t forget to save those pumpkin seeds for roasting when you are done carving your pumpkins. Here is a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds. (Jessica Gavin)
You may like:
18. Play Hide and Seek in the Dark
Take the kids outside, hand out some flashlights (especially if you are playing with younger kids) Have one person count while the others go and hide. It’s a fun and exciting way to enjoy a fall night.
19. Go for a walk
Take a walk around the neighborhood or venture out to a nearby forest to appreciate all the sights and sounds of fall.
Between the crunching leaves and the beauty of the changing colors, it’s a lovely way to spend an autumn day (or a perfect date night idea).
More date ideas to enjoy this fall:
20. Have a family game night
Family game nights are always a great time. Gather everyone up for a little friendly competition. We are loving this game lately (it’s a fun twist on the classic game, scattergories–which we also enjoy).
21. Bake an apple pie or an apple crisp
There is nothing like the smell of apple pie wafting through the house on a cool fall day. Baking an apple treat is an ideal way to use up some of those apples you have picked.
22. Make easy 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins
I discovered these delicious muffins a few years ago and fell in love. All they require is a box of spice cake and a 15 ounce can of pumpkin.
Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Muffins (The Seasoned Mom)
23. Have a fall scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is the perfect cheap fall activity for the whole family to partake in. Instead of hiding items for your kids to find. Walk outside and write down a list of items for them to search for such as an orange leaf, or something red.
Once your list is completed, send them outside and have them take a picture of each item to show they found it. You can have them work together or make it a friendly competition to see who can find all their items first.
24. Go on a picnic
Grab the family and head out on a fall picnic. The weather is cooler and you can enjoy all the beautiful leaves changing colors.
25. Take fall family pictures
Pack up the family and search out the perfect location for fall family pictures. It’s so nice to look back year after year to see how the kids have grown and everyone has changed.
26. Start a puzzle
Puzzles are an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a little quality time together as a family.
27. Make a scarecrow
There is something about scarecrows that kids absolutely love. The best part is that they are so inexpensive to make.
Rake up a pile of leaves and stuff an old flannel shirt and pair of pants, use rubber bands to keep the leaves in on the sleeves and pant legs. Decorate a face on a pumpkin to use for the head and display on your porch.
28. Decorate your home for fall
Besides baking, decorating is one of very favorite things to do in the fall. I love finding inexpensive ways to add simple fall touches to my home.
Start with your front door, or porch and add an array of different size pumpkins, cornstalks, and a bale of hay.
You can also visit Pinterest for simple and cheap ways to decorate for the season. In the meantime, you can print out my Free Farmhouse Style Fall Printable to celebrate all the reasons to love fall.
29. Make caramel popcorn
Looking for an easy homemade caramel corn recipe to enjoy this fall? This caramel corn recipe from Two Sisters, won’t disappoint.
30. Have a movie night
Gather everyone for a family movie night. Try out some new fall treats, make some popcorn balls and settle in for a night of family-friendly scares.
Check out these fall movies not to be missed this season:
31. Bob for apples
Remember those apples you picked? Make sure to save a few to bob for apples. My boys loved doing this when they were younger.
32. Enjoy a warm and cozy bowl of soup
There is something so comforting about a bowl of soup on a chilly fall evening. Here are a few soup recipes to enjoy this fall- 30 Cozy and Delicious Fall Soup Recipes
33. Go Camping
Camping can be so much fun in the fall and…more peaceful. You can enjoy the changing leaves during the day, cuddling up by the campfire, and relaxing under the stars at night.
You may like: Ultimate Guide to Family Camping on a Budget
34. Paint mini pumpkins
Have you noticed those cute mini pumpkins displayed at the store this time of year? Let your creativity run wild by painting them in different colors and then display them on your front porch to enjoy all season long.
35. Roast marshmallows and make s’ mores
This is one of those summertime treats that can extend right into fall and who doesn’t love a good s’ more roasted over a bonfire.
Hopefully, these cheap and fun ideas will inspire your family to start making memories this fall.
Are you looking for more fun and frugal kid’s activities?
- 60 Indoor Activities at Home for Kids, Tweens, and Teens
- 60 Budget-Friendly Summer Activities for Kids
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