Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities

Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities
Slide Nr 1
From the bright colours of the pumpkin patches to the flavour of fresh-baked apples or the crunch of fallen leaves under your feet, autumn has something to offer to each of the senses – and that’s where the magic of a fall festival lies. But if you’re not quite ready for a crowded event, or if you can’t find an autumnal event close to home, you don’t have to miss out entirely: why not plan your very own festival instead? Cook up some classic fall foods, plan a night of spooky fun, and try out some creative crafts. We’ve got a full list of fun fall activity ideas that will have everyone in the autumn spirit, zero miles away from home.

By María Elisa Gómez Sosa

0/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 2
Set Up A Caramel Apple Bar – You haven’t been to a fall festival if you haven’t tried a caramel apple, so why not bring this iconic sweet home? For a different and very simple take on the classic caramel apple, set up an apple bar: You’ll need apple slices on sticks, along with caramel and other dips such as white chocolate, Nutella or peanut butter, plus lots of toppings – from crushed nuts and pretzels to chocolate chips, mini marshmallows and shredded coconut. Everyone gets to eat their apples how they like them, and kids will have fun coming up with creative combinations.

1/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 3
Host A Murder Mystery Party – Sure, costume and themed parties are fun and all, but why not turn the event into a really thrilling night? All you have to do is pick a theme, create a storyline along with description cards for each character, invite all the suspects, and see who solves the murder first. If you want to skip the legwork and simply play the game, it’s possible to buy a murder mystery kit or find free scripts to use, and there’s even an online alternative if social gatherings are still restricted in your area.

2/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 4
Smash Some Pumpkins – No, not the band. We’re talking about literally smashing pumpkins, because we could all do with a bit of harmless destruction every once in a while. Instead of (or in addition to) going trick-or-treating this year, give the ‘treat’ part a twist by making a pumpkin piñata following this easy tutorial. You can make one for the kids, filling it with their favourite candy and party favours, and/or one for adults filled with coupons, tea bags, travel-sized goodies and mini plastic bottles of liquor. It’s not only fun, but it can be therapeutic, too.

3/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 5
Build A Pine Cone Bird Feeder – If you’re looking for an incredibly easy, mess-free and nature-friendly activity that’s equally fun for kids and adults, this might be just the one. This four-step DIY craft results in a feeding station that invites birds to visit your garden or terrace. All you need to do is gather pine cones – which can be a fun fall activity by itself – spread some peanut butter onto each layer of the pine cone, dip it into a bowl of birdseed, and hang it in a tree by a string. Next thing you know, you’ll have a hungry flock feeding from your garden, and what’s not to love about that?

4/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 6
Hold A Pie Bake-Off – Let’s be honest: Pie-eating contests, while iconic of such festivals, can be messy and hard on the contestants’ stomachs, not to mention a waste of food. So opt instead for hosting a pie bake-off. Your baking enthusiast guests can bring their favourite recipes, while any non-baking guests will definitely enjoy getting to taste (and judge) each of the entries. Prizes can be divided by category, such as fruit and non-fruit, or just a general award for the best pie. Either way, having a pie buffet at home can never be a bad idea…

5/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 7
Throw A Scarecrow Parade – Celebrate harvest season with those responsible for the harvest! First, create a build-a-bear-inspired station, fall edition, where everyone gets to build their own scarecrow however they like. They can be easily made with old clothes hung on broomsticks, or more elaborate with stuffed bags and garden stakes. In any case, there’s something for everyone. When ready, take the creators and their scarecrows on a parade around the neighbourhood, or turn it into a contest to pick the scariest design – after all, a scarecrow has to be, well, scary!

6/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 8
Create Foliage Art – Planning a traditional leaf-peeping session? While you’re there, gather a bunch of beautiful leaves and give them new life with the hundreds of leaf-centric craft ideas for all ages, levels of difficulty and styles. From centrepieces to wreaths, garlands and placemats, you can DIY yourself some seasonal décor, or make leaf puppets, crowns, lanterns and stamps with the little ones. Whatever you choose, we promise you won’t run out of ideas anytime soon.

7/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 9
Have An At-Home Oktoberfest – Or as we like to call it, beer tasting on the couch. This is something you can do completely by yourself (why not? You deserve it!) or with whoever wants to tag along. With all-time classics brews, craft beers or these beer alternatives, you can have your own customised Oktoberfest far from Munich, and keep the tradition alive. Gather your favourite suds or try DIY beer brewing, deck the table with some homemade Brezen (German pretzels) and German-style sausages, put on an Oktoberfest playlist, your favourite mug, and a white-and-blue checkered tablecloth. Prost to you!

8/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 10
Host A Halloween Game Night – Game nights are always a fun idea for all ages. Add Halloween into the mix, and get ready for an evening of laughter and chills, in equal parts. From Halloween-inspired charades to truth-or-scare with hard (but safe!) physical challenges, a haunted scavenger hunt or this fun sensory mystery box to have players feel ‘eyeballs’, ‘guts’ and ‘fingers’ (gross…), the options are endless for your next spooky game night.

9/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 11
Make Jack-No-Lanterns – Instead of traditional pumpkin carving this year, try no-carve decorating ideas instead. From splashing them in painted designs to decking them out with confetti and glitter, or even creating a knitted covering, no-carve designs give you a lot more options, and come with an extra dose of entertainment for the entire family – no knives necessary. So go pumpkin picking, get your arts and crafts box ready, and let everyone bring their own unique Halloween spirit to life.

10/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 12
Create A Coffee Lab – Along with the caramel apples and pecan pies, a mug of pumpkin spice latte is a seasonal must. But instead of going to the coffee shop to get your regular order, turn into a fun experiment where you get to be your own barista. Gather all the autumn ingredients, from spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, to maple or hazelnut syrup, salted caramel and fresh vanilla, then grab your favourite coffee beans or grounds, and turn the machine on. The rest? It’s up to you – mix and try as many combinations as you like, maybe even plan a coffee tasting with your family and friends, and find yourself a new favourite fall drink.

11/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 13
Try Candlemaking – Who thinks that fall-scented candles are the best? If you raised your hand, then it’s time to make your own autumnal candles. From taper to oil and crayon candles, there are tons of easy candle-making projects you can try at home, and lots of scent combinations to choose from – apple cider aroma, anyone? Some are kid-friendly to keep the little ones busy and entertained for hours, and some are the perfect de-stressing activity for you after a long, chilly day. The result? Cute and creative nightlights for your at-home spa or upcoming Thanksgiving dinner.

12/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 14
Initiate A Fall Photo Challenge – The foliage, the crisp textures, the soft golden light… autumn is definitely the best season for taking some snaps. Make it even more fun by doing a 30-day fall photography challenge. You can take a daily photo of the same transitioning tree, or perhaps 30 sunsets, 30 portraits, etc. Or, have someone at home cook 30 autumn meals throughout the month, and take shots of the meal prep process to turn it into a seasonal recipe book. The ideas are endless, and you can set your own challenge rules. The only requirement? Open the lens and have fun!

13/14
Events
Fall Festival At Home: 14 Fun Autumn Activities.
Slide Nr 15
Plan An Outdoor Movie Night – Autumn calls for either a night in, watching horror film classics with a bowl of caramel popcorn, or a backyard campfire with a glass of mulled wine in hand. Why not get the best of both worlds, and plan an outdoor movie night? You can easily build your own outdoor cinema and have the whole family cosy up in front of the screen while still enjoying the brisk autumn weather under the starry sky. Not sure which film to show? These are the best and scariest movie picks, in our humble opinion.

14/14
Editor's Choice
Oh My Gourd! 9 Unusual Pumpkin & Squash Varieties To Know (And Cook)
They're not ugly, they're gourd-geous! We round up 10 squashes and pumpkins that shouldn't just be the centrepiece of your table – they should be the highlight of your meal

Cool Crafts: 10 DIY Décor Projects for Autumn
When the weather gets chilly, we get crafty. These are the easy, eye-catching autumn décor projects to try now

No Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Let It Snow: Our Guide To Winter Picnics

Think summer has dibs on picnicking? Think again! We ask foodies and picnic aficionados for their tips on enjoying al fresco dining well into the wintry season

Pizza Party: Chef Dan Richer On Making Restaurant-Quality Pizza At Home

It's cold out and the kids are antsy? Fire up the oven. Pizza expert Dan Richer reveals how to make professional-level pizza right at home – and with the whole family

Back Again (Hopefully!): 2022 Music & Arts Festivals To Keep On Your Radar

We're entering 2022 with fresh hope for the return of some of our favourite festivals around the world. Join us in crossing our fingers and updating our bucket list...

The Essentials: Top Cultural Highlights In January

Bake a flaky French pastry cake, attend an inspiring literary festival or relive the magic of Hogwarts – we round up the many ways you can start off 2022 right

The Essentials: December

Family time got you needing a time out? Escape into these captivating new books, films, shows, music and more this month

Art (Re)Opened: 15 Art Exhibitions To Visit This Winter

Ring out 2021 with these inspiring art events, exhibitions and museum (re)openings around the world. Simply mask up, keep your distance, and enjoy!

The Essentials: November

What do ABBA, Harry Potter, experimental jazz and random acts of kindness have in common? Not a lot, generally, with the exception of this month's top cultural highlights

5 Minutes With… Japanese Artist ob

Known for her delicate, atmospheric paintings, Japanese artist ob embarks on her first solo exhibition in New York City. We ask the artist about her work and inspirations

Quiz: Winter Festivals To Know... And Add To Your Bucket List

From ancient solstice customs to modern winter festivals, how much do you know about the celebrations and traditions that light up the darkest months of the year?

The Essentials: October

From Halloween treats to cosy fashion trends and some reading inspiration for those darkening autumn evenings, here's what to see, do and experience this October

Quiz: Could You Survive A Zombie Apocalypse?

Are you zombie-savvy… or a zombie snack? See if you’ve got what it takes to survive an onslaught of the living dead