15 Frugal Fall Family Activities + Free Fall Printable

Fall is truly one of my favorite times of the year. The crisp air after a long, hot summer is definitely a welcomed changed. And with the cooler temps, also comes a lot of other great changes too… and many of the fall activities are inexpensive and fun ways to entertain your family and help you keep your finances on track. Here are 15 frugal fall family activities that you are sure to be a hit with your family this autumn, plus a free fall printable for your home!

This post has been sponsored by Lexington Law. All opinions are mine alone and are honestly conveyed.

Visit a pumpkin patch

This has been a family tradition for us since our first son was just a year old. Watching him toddle around the pumpkin patch was absolutely adorable! Ever since, we take the boys every year to pick out pumpkins—and they still love it. It is actually a day of fun that we look forward to doing as a family each year. Instead of heading to a pricy market that has shipped the pumpkins in, we go to a local farm that offers a pick-your-own pumpkin option—much less expensive, and way more fun!

Go apple picking

Stop by a local orchard and pick some apples right off the trees. It may not seem like a big deal to adults, but kids love getting to walk up and down the rows of trees picking their own apples.

Tour a cider mill

While it is fun to enjoy a cup of apple cider in the fall, it is also fun to see how the cider is made! Often times, local orchards actually make their own cider on-site—and offer tours of the facility. Not only is this a fun and frugal activity for the family, but it is educational too!

Bake a “fall” treat

With fall, comes all of the delicious fall flavors… I love utilizing seasonal flavors, so baking with apples, pumpkin and maple are a must for me. Here are some of my favorite autumn recipes:

Harvest Apple Crisp

Apple Pie Pizza

Healthy Pumpkin Oat Cookies

Frosted Maple Cookies

Take a hayride

Many farms that offer pumpkin or apple picking also offer hayrides or wagon rides out to the orchard or pumpkin patch. So this may even be a part of a ticket that you are already buying. But it really is a fun experience for the kids!

Paint or carve pumpkins

Of course, it is fun to simply decorate with plain pumpkins, but sometimes it is fun to make the pumpkins even more festive. I love to paint and glitter pumpkins for a fall tablescape, but your kids will love getting their hands dirty when you carve a pumpkin… and they look really festive to light up for trick-or-treating too! Don’t forget, you can even cook the pumpkin seeds for a snack…

Enjoy a bonfire—make s’mores

This is one of my kids’ favorite fall activities. When the temperatures start to cool off, it is perfect to roast some marshmallows and make s’mores. It can also be a relaxing fall evening too for the parents too– get the radio out, and maybe even have a couple of adult beverages while sitting by the fire pit.

Go on a fall foliage tour

Perhaps your local area has a map of the beautiful foliage that you can drive and see, but if not, just take your own leisurely drive and enjoy the beauty of autumn.

Go on a nature walk/hike

Fall is a perfect time to go on a family hike. Usually, the pollen has subsided and the temperatures are a bit cooler, so much more comfortable than during the summer. Maybe even pack a little lunch and have a picnic on your outing. Lots of fun– and doesn’t cost you a dime!

Collect leaves, acorns, and pine cones

Every time we go on a walk this time of year, my kids love to pick up as many acorns, pine cones, and different leaves that they can find. So even though the kids love to play with them, I have found that they can be used as seasonal home décor. I will sprinkle acorns and pine cones on my autumn tablescape, and even paint and glitter some pine cones to use at Christmas!

Take outdoor family photos

Fall is one of my favorite times to get family pictures taken outdoors. The temperatures are starting to cool off, the colors are vibrant and beautiful in nature, and the sun shines beautifully through the trees. Hiring a professional can get pricy, but if you have a DSLR camera, or even a smartphone (I even use portrait mode on my iPhone!), you can capture some beautiful family pictures. I’m definitely not a photographer, but I think that I got some cute photos of my kids with their cousins!

Visit a local fair or festival

Growing up, one of my favorite things to do each year was go to the county fair. I always looked forward to seeing all the animals show, and of course, eating all the yummy fair food! In fact, I still enjoy going each year—and taking my kids. There are also many small town festivals to visit and enjoy this time of year as well.

Harvest your garden

If you planted a garden in the spring, you probably have been enjoying fresh veggies all summer. But fall (and even late summer) is the time to make sure none of those wonderful vegetables go to waste—so it’s time to preserve them, either by canning or freezing. While this can be quite a bit of work, it is also a lot of fun too. Nowadays, we can simply go to a grocery store and buy a can of green beans, a jar of salsa, or a bag of frozen corn, but actually going through the process yourself can truly give you an appreciation for all of the modern conveniences that we have! Additionally, preserving all of the fresh veggies and herbs from your garden can save you a lot of money over the winter by not having to buy as much at the grocery store.

Count your blessings

While we should be grateful year-round, autumn is always a great time to reflect on your blessings—and we are reminded of that each year when it gets nearer to Thanksgiving.

Participate in a food drive

As important as it is to be thankful for what you personally have, it is also important to give to those who are in need. With cold weather approaching, many food banks are stocking up for the anticipated need during the winter. Donating canned goods, or even volunteering at a soup kitchen, are great family activities for the fall.