Whenever I meet up with fellow mom friends this time of year, there’s one question that always seems to come up: “Anything fun you’re doing this fall?”
That question inspired me to create a fall experience list. It's more than checking things off; it’s about creating experiences and making time for the people you love. Because honestly, time flies. The kids get bigger, schedules get busier, and it’s surprisingly easy to let an entire season pass without stopping to enjoy it.
So this fall, why not be a little more intentional? Here are 30 to get you started!
1. Host a Back-Porch S'mores Night: Put on your coziest sweaters, gather around a fire, and let the kids roast marshmallows. A chilly evening is the perfect excuse to slow down.
2. Plan a Family Movie Night: Pick a family favorite, pile onto the couch, make some popcorn, and let everyone choose a treat. Our Movie Night Box makes it even easier.
3. Unplug for a Family Game Night: Bring out the board games, cards, or whatever your family loves for a game night. No elaborate plans required… just snacks, laughter, and a little friendly competition.
4. Play Minute-to-Win-It Games: Challenge the family to quick, silly games like Face the Cookie, A Bit Dicey, Sucker, Pantyhose Bowling, Speed Eraser, and Cotton Ball Scoop.
5. Visit a Pumpkin Patch: Make an afternoon of it. Pick pumpkins, take a few pictures, let the kids explore, and maybe grab a seasonal treat while you’re there.
6. Decorate Pumpkins: Skip the pressure to make them Pinterest-perfect. Give the kids paint, stickers, markers, or whatever you have on hand and let their creativity take over.
7. Go on a Fall Nature Walk: Look for colorful leaves, acorns, pinecones, and other signs of the changing season. You could even turn it into a scavenger hunt.
8. Make a Fall Craft: Set up the kitchen table with paper, glue, leaves, paint, or other supplies and make something together.
9. Do a STEM Activity: Turn an ordinary afternoon into an experiment. Building, testing, creating, and figuring things out together can be just as memorable as any big outing. For more ideas, check out our Craft & STEM kits.
10. Make a Fall Playlist: Let every family member choose a few songs. You might end up with a very questionable playlist, but that's part of the fun.
11. Go on a Hayride: Bundle up and enjoy a classic fall activity. It’s simple, but sometimes those are the experiences kids remember most.
12. Bake Something Together: Make cookies, muffins, bread, or a favorite family recipe. Let the kids help, even if the kitchen gets a little messy.
13. Go Apple Picking: If there’s an orchard nearby, spend the day picking apples and enjoying the scenery. Then bring some home for baking!
14. Have an Ice Cream Night: Because ice cream doesn’t have to disappear just because summer does. Make sundaes together with our Ice Cream Box.
15. Host a Kid-Friendly Tea Party: Let the kids dress up, invite stuffed animals as guests, and set the table for a special afternoon tea. Our Tea Party Box can help set the scene.
16. Make a Fall Charcuterie Board: Let everyone contribute something to the spread. The Charcuterie Experience Box gives families a fun way to turn snack time into an experience.
17. Take a Scenic Drive: Grab some snacks, turn on a family playlist, and take a drive to enjoy the changing colors.
18. Have a Family Photo Day: Put everyone in their favorite fall outfits and take a few pictures somewhere outdoors.
19. Have a Cozy Reading Afternoon: Choose a few books, make warm drinks, grab blankets, and spend an afternoon reading together.
20. Make a Fall Bucket Experience List: Have each family member add one thing they want to do this season. You may be surprised by what the kids come up with!
21. Host a Friendsgiving: Invite family friends over for food, games, and conversation. Our Friendsgiving Box is a fun way to make gathering together feel even more special.
22. Have a Candy Challenge: Let the kids create their own candy combinations, sort treats by color, or make a silly candy-tasting challenge with our Candylicious Box.
23. Plan a Family Sleepover: Move the sleeping bags into the living room, build a blanket fort, tell stories, and let everyone stay up a little later than usual.
24. Jump in a Huge Pile of Raked Leaves: Rake up the yard together, throw on your favorite cozy sweaters, and take turns diving in.
25. Have a Family “Casino” Night: For families with older kids and teens, turn game night into a playful casino-themed evening.
26. Host an 80s Murder Mystery Night: Get the family or a group of friends together for an entertaining whodunit. Dress up, play your characters, follow the clues, and see who can solve the mystery.
27. Make a Fall Gratitude Jar: Put a jar somewhere everyone can reach. Throughout the season, have family members add little notes about things they’re thankful for, then read them together.
28. Go Stargazing: On a clear evening, grab blankets and head outside. See who can spot the most stars… or simply lie back and enjoy a few quiet minutes together.
29. Have a “Yes to the Kids” Afternoon: Let the kids choose the activities. Maybe it’s a fort, a board game, a walk, or baking something. Give them the afternoon to lead the fun.
30. Have a Pajama and Hot Cocoa Breakfast: Start a lazy weekend morning in cozy pajamas with extra-marshmallow hot chocolate.
Make This Fall One You Remember
You don’t have to do all 30. In fact, please don’t feel like you need to! The point of a fall experience list isn’t to create another checklist that makes you feel behind. It’s simply a little reminder to pause and ask, “What do we want to remember about this season?”
The season will move quickly anyway. Might as well enjoy some of it while it’s here.
What would you add to our fall experience list? I’d love to hear the family traditions, simple activities, or fall adventures that make this time of year special for you!
