Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Rebecca Lake
Need some fun and low-cost ideas to add to a frugal fall bucket list?
Fall is my favorite season. The cooler weather is perfect for knocking out my fall cleaning checklist and spending more time outdoors as a family. And of course, I’m a sucker for pumpkin spice anything!
Planning your ultimate autumn bucket list as a family is a fun way to enjoy the changing season. And when you’re trying to save money, you might be looking for some frugal autumn activities you can enjoy on a budget.
If so, this post is just for you. Today, I’m sharing:
- What are some good fall activities
- How to plan a fall bucket list that lets you have fun on a budget
- What to include in your list of fall activities for maximum fun!
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Table of Contents
50 Fun and Frugal Fall Bucket List Ideas
Having fun in full doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money. We’ve done lots of activities as a family over the years that have cost little to nothing.
This fall bucket list includes some of my favorite ways to enjoy the season when you’re on a tight budget.
1. Rake leaf piles
…then jump in them!
2. Make apple stamp prints
I used to love this when my kids were smaller. You slice an apple in half, dip it in a little washable paint, and let them stamp away!
This is a simple and fun fall activity for toddlers but older kids will enjoy it too!
3. Try leaf rubbings or paintings
Leaf rubbings and paintings are another fun fall craft for kids.
For the rubbings, you just need some leaves, white drawing paper, and crayons or pastels. You can also use the leaves as paintbrushes to make fall art.
4. Paint a pumpkin
Some years we carve pumpkins but other years we paint them. We drag all out the odds and ends from our craft closet–googly eyes, pom-pom balls, glitter, you name it–and let the creativity fly.
The great thing about painting instead of carving is that the pumpkins seem don’t spoil as quickly so we can enjoy them longer. And you can pick up pumpkins pretty cheaply at your local grocery store.
5. Create a nature journal
A nature journal is really simple to make.
You can use a notebook, sketchbook, or construction paper. Kids can explore the backyard and fill up the pages with leaf rubbings or nature drawings.
6. Bake apple and pumpkin treats
One of the best fall bucket list ideas for families is baking lots of delicious autumn treats. And chances are you probably have most of what you need in your pantry already, so you don’t have to spend extra on groceries.
If you need some ideas, here are 50 yummy pumpkin and apple recipes to get you baking!
7. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows in the backyard
This is a simple way to spend an evening and make some memories as a family when the nights get cooler.
Hot dogs and marshmallows don’t cost much but the time you spend together around a backyard bonfire is priceless.
8. Star-gaze and look for fall constellations
While you’re roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, check out the night skies and see if you can spot some fall constellations.
9. Make popcorn on the cob
Popcorn on the cob? Say whaaaat?
This is a fun fall experiment for kids that doesn’t cost a lot of money at all. And if you think it can’t be done, here’s how to make it.
10. Plan a fall-themed scavenger hunt
Setting up a scavenger hunt at home or in the backyard is a great way to keep kids busy and have some fall fun.
Here are some autumn-themed scavenger hunt ideas to try!
11. Make homemade fall decorations
Buying fall decorations can get expensive, so why not make them instead? You don’t have to go any further than the backyard to find leaves, pine cones, and acorns, all of which can be turned into fall decor.
And if there’s just something you have to buy, my go-to choice for saving money is Dollar Tree–they even offer free shipping to your local store!
12. Plant flowers to get ready for spring
Spring is still months off but you can get a jump on gardening by planting some spring-blooming bulbs with the kids.
Here’s a rundown of which bulbs to plant in the fall.
13. Make fair food at home
I love going to the annual fair each year just for the food. But I hate how much they charge for it. $12 for a corn dog? No thanks.
If you love fair food, too but you don’t love the costs you can always try making your own fair treats at home.
14. Make fall or Halloween cards
Making fall or Halloween cards is a great frugal activity to keep little hands busy. You can give them away to family members, friends, neighbors–even drop them off at a local nursing home to brighten an older person’s day.
Kids can use cardstock, construction paper, markers, and whatever stickers you have on hand. And if you’re running low on fall cardmaking supplies, you can pick them up at Dollar Tree for a almost nothing.
15. Play hide and seek after dark
Glow sticks are another great dollar store find for having fall fun.
We use them during hurricane season for lights when the power goes out. (Sounds silly, but it works!) And they’re also great for playing tag or hide and seek in the backyard once the sun goes down.
16. Bob for apples
Apple-bobbing is one of those fun fall activities that everyone should try at least once.
Until you’ve done it, you don’t realize just how hard it is (or how much your kids will laugh at you while watching you try it.)
17. Host a Halloween-themed movie night
One of my favorite things about fall is watching Halloween and fall movies. Having a fall movie night at home is a great addition to a frugal autumn bucket list.
Need some fall movie ideas? Try these family favorites:
- Hocus Pocus
- Harry Potter collection
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
- Coraline
- Beetlejuice
- Monster House
- Spooky Buddies
- The Addams Family
- Corpse Bride
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
A lot of these movies are available on Disney+ and Hulu so you can watch and rewatch them as many times as you like!
18. Schedule a fall-themed storytime
Reading fall books is just as much fun as watching fall movies.
If you have smaller kids, you might try “Ten Apples Up on Top” or “Leaf Man” to kick off. Older kids might like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, “Dracula”, “Frankenstein” or some of Edgar Allan Poe’s spooky stories.
19. Make soup
Soup is great for cold days and there are plenty of options that are easy to make with kids. You could try soup-making a change from fall baking.
Getting kids to eat soup might be the hard part so take a look at these kid-friendly soup recipes.
20. Toast pumpkin seeds
Toasted pumpkin seeds are tasty and easy to make. You can pop them in the oven, then read a fall book aloud, or work on a fun craft while they toast.
21. Dip caramel apples
Making caramel apples belongs on your list of fun fall activities to try if you’ve got a sweet tooth.
We’ve made standard caramel apples and mini caramel apple pops and you can trick out yours by adding fun toppings.
22. Try pumpkin bowling
Pumpkin bowling is more or less what it sounds like.
You line up your pins, then let the pumpkins roll to see who can knock the most down. (And if you don’t have any plastic bowling pins lying around, you can always use toilet paper rolls.)
23. Make fall-themed slime
My son loves making slime. Every time we go to the store he wants to get a bottle of glue to mix some up.
If your kids love slime too, you’ll want to give some of these fall slime ideas a try!
24. Visit a farm
If you live in a rural area where farms abound you might be able to schedule a free tour during the fall. You can see some animals, get outdoors, and let the kids get a little dirty without spending a dime.
Our local farm sponsors special harvest days a well that offer food vendors, pig racing (yes, pigs) and tractor pulls. Those kinds of events are lots of fun as well, you just have to be prepared to spend a little money.
25. Start planning DIY Halloween costumes
If you want to save a few bucks on Halloween, look around the house to see what cool costumes you can make for the kids and what supplies you already have on hand.
You’d be surprised at what kind of homemade costumes you can come up with for little to no money.
26. Make placemats for Thanksgiving
Whether you plan to have company at Thanksgiving or not, having kids make placemats is a fun autumn bucket list idea.
They can use the same materials from their fall cardmaking efforts. And once they’re done with the placemats, you can explore other Thanksgiving crafts kids can make.
27. Make a thankful tree
The thankful tree is something we made up but I’ve seen other variations of it online. Here’s how we do it.
I cut out a bunch of leaf shapes from red, green, orange, and yellow construction paper. Then starting November 1st, we each pick a leaf and write something we’re thankful for. Then we tape it to our pantry door where we can see it.
It’s a cheap and easy autumn activity for kids and a great reminder to count up all the good things in our lives.
28. Mix up fall-themed oobleck
Oobleck isn’t slime and it isn’t Play-Doh. It’s somewhere in between.
But it’s a quick and cheap craft kids can make, and then make a mess with. We’ve made cranberry oobleck before with cranberry sauce but you can also try it out with applesauce.
29. Make a cornhusk doll
Cornhusk dolls are a part of Native American history.
If you’re looking for a fall bucket list idea that will get kids making something–and learning something–give this one a try. You can learn how to make cornhusk dolls and more about their history here.
30. Make popcorn balls or kettle corn
Popcorn balls are great at Christmas and through the fall months. Kettle corn is great too if you like your popcorn with a little sweetness.
The best thing about having popcorn in the fall is that it doesn’t cost much and you can change it up with different seasonings or add-ins to suit your taste.
31. Make bird-feeders
While you’re enjoying fall with kids, birds and squirrels are getting ready for winter. So give them a hand by making some DIY bird and squirrel feeders as a family.
32. Volunteer
If you’re able to volunteer as a family, this is a good thing to consider adding to your bucket list for fall.
You don’t necessarily have to do something super hands-on either.
For example, if you and your kids have been busy baking fall muffins you could drop off a batch at your local police department. Or you could go through your kids’ books and donate the ones they don’t read to your local library along with a fall-scented candle or another small gift for the librarian.
These are small things but they can go a long way toward teaching kids the value of good works.
33. Go trunk-or-treating
If your kids trick or treat but you don’t want to (or can’t) go door to door, there’s another option. You can do a drive-thru trunk or treat instead.
Where we live, local churches and the sheriff’s department offer trunk or treat events at Halloween. So those are a couple of options for finding them where you live as well.
34. Take a family bike ride
Fall is a great time for a family bike ride.
Even if it’s just to the end of your street and back, you can get your kids outdoors and enjoy the fall sunshine.
35. Go for a scenic drive
If all else fails and you’re looking for something to do on a weekend afternoon, you could pile in the car for a family drive.
You can check out the changing leaves as you go or play a game of fall-themed I Spy.
36. Try a simple fall science experiment
A genius fall bucket list idea for kids involves doing simple experiments at home, like making a pumpkin-cano.
You can also check out the fall and seasonal videos from Mystery Science. Doug and his weekly mini-lessons can be a perfect addition to your homeschool routine or just a fun way to keep kids occupied while indoors.
37. Visit an arboretum or botanical garden
An arboretum or botanical garden visit could be a frugal addition to your fall activities list if you have one nearby.
My kids and I have one locally and our last fall visit yielded lots of fun facts about native plants and how they change with the season. And depending on who runs yours, admission may be free.
38. Make homemade hot chocolate or apple cider
Hot chocolate and apple cider are go-to drinks when the weather gets cool.
Hate all the mess of making hot cocoa? Here’s a simple hack for how to make it in a crockpot from scratch. It’s the perfect thing to have on hand for chilly days!
39. Make pumpkin spice play-doh
Some moms love Play-Doh, others hate it. If you’re the “love it” type, then take a look at this pumpkin spice Play-Doh recipe that’s just in time for fall.
40. Fly a kite
Where we live, the first week of November is always earmarked for our local kite festival. If you don’t have a festival nearby, you can improvise by flying a kite at home or the park.
41. Check out a holiday craft fair
Our local farmer’s market does a holiday craft fair in November and it’s a great way to spend a Saturday outdoors.
The trick is setting a budget first, or better yet, committing to window shopping only.
42. Finger paint Indian corn
This is a simple but fun craft you can add to your autumn bucket list for kids. All you need is construction paper, a little finger paint, and a dash of creativity!
This is another great fun fall activity for toddlers or littles!
43. Start putting together blessing bags to hand out during the holidays
Blessing bags are another way to volunteer as a family in the fall.
For example, you might be able to make blessing bags for your local hospital if they’re accepting them. Or you might simply make a few to keep in your car to give to people who appear to be in need.
If you’re looking for some great low-cost blessing bag ideas, check out these posts:
How to Pack a Blessing Bag – Thrifty Northwest Mom
Blessing Bags – I Can Teach My Child!
Blessing Bag Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness – Wonder Mom Wannabe
44. Learn to knit
Knitting can be a relaxing way to spend chilly fall afternoons at home.
If you have smaller kids, you can start them off with finger-knitting. And older kids can follow along with a YouTube tutorial on how to knit.
45. Make your favorite fall comfort foods
Some foods just taste better in the fall. So if you’ve got a lazy weekend ahead with the kids, you could try making some of your favorite autumn comfort meals.
If you need some inspiration, check out this list of cozy fall comfort food recipes.
46. Head to a corn maze
If you’ve never been to a corn maze with your kids, this is one of the best autumn activities to try!
We’ve been to our local corn maze the last few years in a row and it’s always fun trying to find our way through. And they also have other fun fall activities plus lots of farm animals for kids to meet!
47. Check out the farmer’s market
If you have a local farmer’s market, it may be winding down in the fall. But you still have time to take the kids out for a farmer’s market trip.
Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a great way for kids to learn more about where food comes from and what role farming plays in your local community.
48. Try a fall festival
Fall festivals are always a fun time for families and some of them don’t cost much to visit.
Look for fall festivals near you, then load up the kids for a day of fall fun!
49. Go to a football game (or watch one on TV)
Watching a high school football game together as a family can be a fun way to enjoy fall.
If you can’t get to a local game, you can always enjoy one at home. Have the kids make a blanket fort and whip up some fall gameday snacks, then cheer on your favorite team together!
50. Visit the library
Your local library can be a treasure trove of fall fun if they have a kids’ reading program.
For example, they might sponsor a fall-themed storytime, a fall crafts meet up or even fall reading challenges.
Check out your local library to see what kind of free autumn activities for kids they have scheduled!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a fall bucket list?
A fall bucket list is simply a list of fun autumn activities you want to try as a family during the fall months.
Making a bucket list for fall is the same as making any other type of bucket list. The only difference is that you’re focusing on finding fun things to do in the autumn season.
If you’ve ever made a summer bucket list for kids, then you already know how to make a fall-themed bucket list. You just need some fun fall activities to go on it!
What should I put on my frugal fall bucket list?
What you choose for fall bucket list ideas can depend on several things, including:
- How many kids you have
- Your kids’ ages and interest
- When you can plan to do your fall bucket list ideas as a family (i.e. fall break, weekends, etc.)
- How much you can afford to budget for an autumn bucket list
You might want to break down your fall bucket list by month to keep things organized. For example, you might make a September bucket list, an October bucket list, and a November bucket list.
This could be a good tip to try if you’re not sure you can fit everything in time-wise or budget-wise. You can look at your monthly fall bucket list breakdown and prioritize the most important autumn activities.
Taking all of those things into account can help you decide what to include and how many fall activities you can realistically do.
And of course, you also have to decide what sounds FUN to you and your kids!
What are some good fall activities that don’t cost a lot of money?
Since the fall months bring cooler weather and shorter days, you might have to be creative when thinking about what to include in your fall bucket list ideas.
Some of the best fall activities for kids include:
- Nature-themed fall bucket list ideas
- Doing autumn crafts as a family
- Baking fall treats
- Doing things you can only do in the fall (i.e. heading to a pumpkin patch or collecting fall leaves)
- Making fall-themed art
- Reading books about fall
These are all examples of fun fall activities I did with my kids when they were smaller. So I know firsthand that these are: A) things kids might enjoy doing in the fall and B) fall activities that don’t cost a lot of money.
How do you make the most out of fall?
Making the most out of fall as a family isn’t just about checking off items on an autumn bucket list.
It’s also about spending quality time together as a family and creating fun memories. And you don’t need to spend money to do that.
Creating the fall mood at home could be as simple as diffusing some autumn-scented essential oils or making homemade pumpkin bread.
Taking nature walks after the kids are done with school for the day or just sharing what you love best about the autumn season are some of the best (and most frugal) ways to enjoy fall as a family.
Final Thoughts: Plan Your Frugal Fall Adventures Now!
Coming up with frugal autumn bucket list ideas that are also fun can be a little challenging. Because you have to be creative about how you spend both your time and your money.
But it’s possible to plan an autumn bucket list on a budget and still make the most of the fall months. This list is designed to offer inspiration to get the ideas flowing! And if you found it helpful, don’t forget to share it!
