77 Fall Bucket List Ideas for the Best Fall Ever
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After this last week, it’s official. Fall is definitely on it’s way. Between the slowly changing fall leaves to the crisp mornings that make me grab a sweatshirt on my way out for a walk, fall is just a mere weeks away.
As we look forward to a new school year, our family also starts to list all of the adventures we can’t wait to have this fall. From apple picking, pie making and Oktoberfest celebrating, fall is one of my most favorite seasons of the year.
Are you ready for fall? One of the best ways to get excited about a new season is to make a bucket list. We love our Summer Bucket List and it helps guarantee that we do everything that we love that season.
What is a Bucket List?
The term bucket list was popularized in the 2007 movie featuring the same name. Although it’s origin might be more sinister – originally it referred to “kicking the bucket” – a bucket list is a great way to organize ideas.
When we write our family bucket lists, not to worry. Death is not on the mind. Instead, our bucket lists focus on the things that are important to us during that season. And most importantly, not to miss traditions that we all love.
How to Use a Bucket List
One of my favorite things about making a bucket list is using it. We print out this Free Printable Fall Bucket List and post it on our refrigerator. Then, I use it when planning our fall fun. It’s a great tool to make sure that you set aside time to do the things that are really important.
77 Fall Bucket List Ideas
Fall is the season that I return to the kitchen for baking, spend time outside without the oppressive summer heat and start our learning year. We play sports, cheer on late season baseball games and make s’mores around the campfire. Honestly, what’s not to love.
Here are my top favorite fall bucket list ideas. (affiliates)
Outdoor Fall Adventures
Go apple picking at a local orchard.
Attend a fall festival.
Pick sunflowers. (Or this year we are getting our photos taken with the sunflowers.)
Go leaf peeping on a scenic drive.
Visit a Civil War battlefield.
Take a hayride.
Visit a pumpkin patch.
Challenge yourself in a corn maze.
Visit a local botanical garden to enjoy fall blooms.
Take a nature hike to enjoy the changing leaves.
Go on a pumpkin scavenger hunt around the neighborhood.
Horseback ride through the autumn leaves.
Explore fall colors with a color scavenger hunt.
Visit a local farm for some fall fun and produce.
Go to an antique car show.
Visit a chocolate factory or other treat making place. We’ve seen how pretzels, fudge, and potato chips are made.
Collect acorns on a fall walk.
Enjoy Cozy Food and Drinks
Bake apple pies and other fun apple goodies.
Eat apple cider donuts. (This is tied into apple picking because our local orchard makes that BEST donuts.)
Roast marshmallows over a fire pit.
Try a new fall soup like butternut squash or corn chowder.
Host a chili cook-off.
Bake a pumpkin pie.
Roast pumpkin seeds from carved pumpkins.
Bake pumpkin bread or muffins.
Brew a steaming cup of apple cider.
Make caramel apples or dessert bar.
Eat pumpkin ice cream.
Bake leaf shaped cookies and decorate with fall sanding sugar.
Go to a local café for a fall coffee drink.
Make fall flavored pancakes for breakfast (pumpkin or apple). Add whipped cream, fresh maple syrup and chocolate chips.
Create your own trail mix station as a fun fall snack.
Make caramel popcorn balls with fall sprinkles.
Indulge in fistfuls of candy corn.
Have a family pizza night. Make a pizza with fall flavors including butternut squash, mushrooms and pumpkin.
At Home Fun
Jump in a leaf pile.
Make nature leaf crafts.
Watch classic Halloween movies such as It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Hocus Pocus.
Burn a fall scented candle.
Play board games by the fireplace.
Build a blanket fort.
Have an indoor picnic featuring a fall themed charcuterie board.
Read a book under a cozy blanket.
Tell ghost stories by candlelight.
Wear cozy socks.
Make fall themed family handprint art like these fall handprint turkeys.
Have a family talent show or karaoke night.
Design group costumes for Halloween and make matching accessories.
Creative Fall Crafts
Press leaves and make scenes with them.
Candle making with fall scents.
Build a scarecrow.
Watercolor fall themed postcards.
Make pinecone bird feeders.
Decorate no carve pumpkins. Try these rainbow melted crayon pumpkins or spider pumpkins.
Paint a decorative door hanger.
Make unique nature solar prints.
Create goofy play dough monsters.
Make leaf, acorn and twig crafts.
Craft a fall junk journal page for your scrapbook.
Complete a photo-a-day fall challenge.
Crochet or knit a scarf.
Make leaf prints with paint or leaf crayon rubbings.
Create a fall wreath for your front door.
Design bookmarks with fall patterns.
Craft a fall suncatchers to spread the autumn colors.
Build Community
Donate warm clothes to the local shelter.
Volunteer to serve a meal at the soup kitchen.
Rake your neighbors leaves.
Write letters to family and friends.
Organize a fall baking competition.
Send a fall themed gift basket to a friend.
Host a fall trivia night.
Complete a 30 day kindness challenge.
Catch a hometown football game.
Go star gazing on a crisp clear evening.
Host a Halloween dance party.
Looking for a Fall Bucket List printable?
I’m excited to add this Free Printable Fall Bucket List to our blog design collection this season. There are two versions – one with the activities listed and one blank. Choose the version that works best for your family. You can find the Free Printable Fall Bucket List here.
I tried to choose the most popular fall bucket list activities. And it’s okay if you don’t have time to accomplish them all. Life is short. We always have our fall must dos – like apple picking. But every season, I try to add one or two new adventures that we can try.
Love these ideas and want to save them for later? Be sure to pin it below.
Happy Celebrating,
Natalie