Fun Ways to Celebrate Fall

What do you use to mend a jack-o-lantern? A pumpkin patch. ~ Unknown

Fall is such a special time of year. Everything is crisp and new, from brightly-colored leaves to newly sharpened pencils to that first advertisement for pumpkin spice lattes. Though many fall-inspired activities seem cliché, there’s something comforting about them. Whether you’ve done these things every year since you can remember or these activities aren’t part of your past experience, now is a great time to celebrate life by embracing this unique season.

Here are some ideas to incorporate into your schedule this autumn:

1. Take a fall foliage drive. Changing color brings a sense of awe-inspiring calm. Type in “Fall Foliage Map” and your state to find the best routes in your area.
2. Jump into a pile of leaves. Yes, it’s something kids do. But aren’t we all kids at heart?
3. Carve a pumpkin. There are countless creative how-to videos out there. Keep the insides! Roast the seeds and use the flesh for a pie, casserole, or homemade pumpkin spice latte.
4. Go apple picking. Search for a nearby apple orchard and experience the taste of fresh-from-the-tree fruit.
5. Bake a pie from scratch. You can use the apples you picked or the flesh from the pumpkin you carved.
6. Organize or host a Friendsgiving. Most of us spend Thanksgiving Day with our relatives. Host a similar celebration on the Saturday before or after . . . or whenever is convenient for your tribe! Make it a potluck, so everyone can take part.
7. Visit a haunted house. Take your friends.
8. Take part in a costume contest. Go all out.
9. Organize or host a chili cookoff. This is the best kind of fall potluck.
10. Eat Candy Corn. You know you want to!
11. Go to a local high school football game. Check it out even if you don’t have kids there. Or find a friend with a high school student and attend one of their games.
12. Visit a local pumpkin patch or corn maze.
13. Attend a Fall Festival. Search for fall celebrations near you. You’re bound to find a few.
14. Go on a hayride. Find them at a fall festival celebration.
15. Plant fall flowers. Grow them in your yard or in pots on your porch or windowsills.
16. Decorate. Spruce up your mantel or your living and dining room with fall-themed accessories. You can even bring some fall foliage, branches, and pinecones inside for a no-cost DIY.
17. Try a new soup recipe. Fall brings perfect soup weather. You may find a new recipe that turns into an old favorite. Chicken and dumplings are a no-fail hit, every time.
18. Bake pumpkin bread. Share some with your friends or neighbors.
19. Visit a farmer’s market. You’ll find the freshest vegetables and support small businesses in the process.
20. Make a scarecrow. You don’t have to have a garden. Just prop a tall post or stake in the ground, and attach a coat hanger to it. Then add clothes, clipping and pinning them together as needed. Stuff with straw (or whatever filler you have), add a hat or cap, and secure it all to the stake with rope or twine for good measure.
21. Sip. Try some warm apple cider.
22. Hike. Visit a nearby national or state park.
23. Watch a scary (or not-so-scary) movie. Invite your friends over, and make it a party. 

These are just a few ideas to get you started—you may have your own to add. The important thing is to be present in this season and savor the good stuff. It’s easy to forget that life is made up of small moments. Use them to find joy. 

©2023 Amplified Life Network