When you think of fall, do bonfires, hoodies, and pumpkin spice ever come to mind? Do you live for fall festivals, apple picking, and Halloween? If fall is your favorite season, you probably like to celebrate with family and friends, planning activities made for the crisp days and cool evenings. Whether your family is the crafty type or prefers outdoor adventures, you’ll find something on our list of fall festive activities for everyone, even while maintaining social distancing.
- Take Advantage of Fall Foliage With a Family Photo Shoot –Fall foliage makes a gorgeous backdrop for family pictures. Dress everyone in casual fall-themed clothing for comfort, let loose, and have fun to allow the photographer to capture the most natural pictures. Pro tip: Despite COVID-19 restrictions, you can still have a family photoshoot! Consider doing a “porch session” where your family poses on your front porch or patio, while your photographer stays a safe distance away. Another option is to utilize the self-timer feature on your phone or camera to take your own family photo. Regardless of how you do it, take advantage of the beautiful colors of fall!
- Make Apple Chips –Homemade apple chips have no preservatives like the ones you may find in store-bought brands. They’re healthy, delicious, and easy to make. You can use a food dehydrator or simply bake sliced apples, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, in a 225-degree F oven for about one hour. This is a fun and different treat to enjoy at home with the whole family.
- Collect Leaves and Press Them Into a Photo Album – Combine several fun fall activities into one! Take a nature walk through the woods, and let your kiddos collect their favorite, brightly colored leaves. When you get home, press the leaves into a photo album or scrapbook. You can use the book to chronicle all your family’s fall adventures during COVID-19.
- Hop on a Haunted Hayride – If it’s safe to, combine the fun of a haunted house with the old tradition of an autumn hayride. Some hayrides are mildly scary during the day for children and turn into a true outdoor house of horrors at night. Pro tip: If this isn’t a safe option in your local area, try and recreate the experience at home! Decorate a wagon or stroller with foliage and pumpkins to get a hayride experience in your own backyard.
- Plan a Family Get-Together at a Local Park – Fall brings the perfect weather to gather family members of all ages for a reunion. Make sure to have tons of outdoor activities planned, like cornhole and frisbee. Depending on your event budget, consider customizing event T-shirts or wine glasses— or both. Pro tip: During times of COVID, you can still reconnect with family! Simply separate out your picnic blankets to keep a safe social distance, and skip high-contact games like frisbee or tag.
- Attend a Pro Football Game and Tailgate – Local sporting events are fun, but splurge on a trip to a pro football game to soak up the atmosphere and support your favorite team if they are playing for fans. Pack a cooler for tailgating, and don’t forget your football for a pick-up game in the parking lot. If your team isn’t allowing fans, bring the party to your backyard or driveway! Set up a TV outside or simply listen to the game on the radio and grill up some food just like you would at the stadium.
- Visit the Vineyards for a Wine Tasting – Whether you’re a day trip away from Napa Valley or a few hours from Long Island’s North Fork, the vineyards are known for fun fall activities for the whole family. If you don’t have any wineries near you or it isn’t safe to visit a winery in your area, host your own (adults-only) tasting at home! Purchase a few different bottles of wine and taste each one, making notes about what aspects you like and dislike.
- Decorate Prize-Winning Pumpkins – Many families make jack-o-lanterns as part of their regular fall activities, so why not enter your masterpieces in a contest or a jack-o-lantern float? If you can’t find an event near you or there isn’t one being held due to COVID-19, call up some friends and neighbors and have your own socially-distant jack-o-lantern contest. Have everyone do the pumpkin carving at home and then bring the pumpkins to an outdoor, central location to admire them all and to vote for your favorite jack-o-lantern!
- Donate Food to a Homeless Shelter or Food Bank – The fall can be especially tough on those who are homeless or who don’t have enough food to eat. To help them out this season, grab a few extra non-perishable food items at the grocery store to donate to this cause.
- Appreciate It All With a Gratitude Jar – There’s so much to be grateful for when fall rolls around. Write down your blessings, and place them in a mason jar. Then read them aloud on Thanksgiving or throughout the year whenever you need a pick-me-up. This is an especially good activity to do with kids during COVID – remind them that although things have changed drastically, they still have many things to be thankful for.
Slow Down to Enjoy Fall Activities at Your Own Pace
Perfect fall weather can leave people trying to capture as many picture-worthy memories as possible. We don’t blame you. But remember, fun fall activities don’t have to be pricey or complicated. A walk in the woods can bring as much joy as a weekend getaway.
You also don’t have to over-schedule those precious fall weekends. Make sure to leave time for spontaneity, jumping in leaf piles, and leisurely virtual latte dates with friends — pumpkin spice is optional.
Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.
