I love fall.
Something about this time of year makes me feel so cozy. With the crisp air, vibrant colors, & delicious smells, I feel my happiest even when the skies are filled with more clouds than usual.
Maybe it’s my Danish roots coming through in search of hygge?
Wanting to share my love of the season with my own twin toddlers, I was on the hunt for fun outdoor fall activities I could turn into family traditions. I needed low-cost, high-impact fun we could continue to enjoy as they grew.
Understanding what it’s like to be on a tight budget, I put together this list of fun outdoor fall activities you can do with your toddler that won’t drain your bank account.
#1: check out YOUR LOCAL FALL FESTIVAL, STREET FAIR, OR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
If you live near a small town then it’s pretty likely they’re putting on an annual autumn celebration. It might be a one-and-done kickoff of the season, a weekly event, or a year-round business that updates its wares and activities based on the time of year.
These experiences are usually free to attend, toddler friendly, and run all day. Local small businesses typically sponsor these events, so there is a wide range of pricing on food and goods. You can also find free or inexpensive activities like petting zoos, live music, photo ops, games, etc.
If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, an all-day, all-inclusive destination is going to tick all your boxes for outdoor fall activities for twin toddlers.
#2: go Apple/berry picking
Any harvesting is going to meet a toddler’s needs on multiple levels.
Outdoors? Check. Ability to do themselves? Check. Taste safe? Check. Full sensory experience? Check.
You could probably fit this fun activity around nap time which is always an extra win for me because nap time is sacred.
If you’re not restricted by a nap(s), you could extend the experience by having a picnic or baking delicious apple/berry pastries together.
#3: visit a pumpkin patch
There might not be anything cuter than watching a toddler try and lift a giant pumpkin. Their determination to lift such a heavy load is admirable.
Most pumpkin patches offer more than just pumpkin picking so this is also a big bang for your buck option. Small games, petting zoos, arts and crafts, tractor hay rides, and food are traditionally offered and can turn the adventure from a quick grab-and-go to an extended visit.
#4 carve/decorate a pumpkin
If you’ve visited a pumpkin patch, you probably brought home a pumpkin. If not, you can pick one up at your local grocery store or farmer’s market at a decent price.
There are two main options when it comes to what to do with them. You can gut em’ to carve some jack-o-lanterns OR bust out your art supplies to decorate the outside to avoid the ick.
We found an awesome alternative to toddlers wielding blades if you’re wanting to go the jack-o-lantern route. You can read all about our fantastic discovery in this post.
#5 do a hay/corn maze
Mazes are a fun way to let your toddlers take the reins and have a little freedom. A little power reversal goes a long way.
Follow their lead and let them choose which way to go. Even if you know they’re going the wrong way let them problem solve their way out.
Caveat, some mazes embrace the spooky of the season and could be a bit frightening. Make sure to find out beforehand if your little one doesn’t do well with jump scares and macabre decor.
#6 have a mini photo shoot
If the thought of wrangling your littles for a posed photo makes you cringe, breathe easy mama that’s not what I’m after here.
Pumpkin patches are great backdrops, even for the amateur mom photog (*ahem* me). They usually have some fun props handy, like an old tractor or wooden cut outs, specifically for photo opportunities.
Let your littles loose and get snapping!
You can also check out your local parks for colorful trees. Catching candid shots while your tot plays is a win-win.
#7 participate in your school/church harvest festival
If your kiddo doesn’t attend school or your family a church, most churches don’t discriminate against non-parishioners and use fall celebrations to reach the community.
I highly recommend these events if you are less about celebrating the spooky side of Halloween.
You can typically find arts & crafts, toddler-oriented games and activities, delicious homemade food, and handmade items for purchase.
Costumes are usually restricted to non-scary/non-offensive, sometimes even limited to kiddos only so little ones aren’t frightened.
#8 go trick(or trunk)-or-treating
Want to know a secret? You don’t have to give your toddlers their trick-or-treating haul if you don’t want to. (insert mind-blown emoji here)
They have no idea what is even being placed in their buckets. They just love the idea of collecting treasures. Younger toddlers aren’t even going to remember they had a bucket full of goodies the following day, especially if they can’t see it.
Another bonus of toddler trick-or-treating is they have no clue how long it’s supposed to last. One house or twenty-one, it’s all the same to them.
Take them just to their grandparents or a close friend’s. Visit the few neighbors you actually talk to and head home for pizza and your regularly scheduled bedtime.
Trunk-or-treats and local small businesses make for good, safe options too.
#9 check out a local brewery
Unlike their winery counterparts, they tend to be more family friendly (as a sweeping generalization). A lot of breweries have lawn games and activities like cornhole or at least large open areas to move around.
Most have picnic tables where you can bring your own snacks to enjoy and some offer small bites or food trucks.
Grown ups can sip delicious beer while the littles play.
#10 just get outside!
The changing seasons make for a great time to take things outdoors and explore. Everything is a new experience with the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground.
Places you’ve been feel new again.
Puddle jumping, leaf collecting, mud pies, and more are all waiting to be discovered. Yes, mess and laundry are par for the course but SO worth it!
Let your toddlers lead a walkabout. Seeing the world through their eyes brings new discoveries. I never knew acorn tops could be such amazing treasures.
Bonus points for collecting fall foliage and turning them into crafts!
