35 Thrifty Fall Activities for Families

Fall signals the start of apple picking season, so choose a sunny afternoon and head out to your local orchard. It's a fantastic way to gather fresh apples for pies and other goodies, and support local farmers.

Whether you call it a family bonfire or weenie roast, there's no doubt that this fall tradition is a great way to gather as a family. Plus, any excuse to make s'mores is a perfect activity in our book!

Corn mazes are a super fun way to spend an autumn afternoon! If you're close to our hometown of Chicago, you can find some awesome corn mazes in this article from Red Tricycle.

Nothing embodies fall more than the sight of a pumpkin patch. Find your local pumpkin patch and choose the perfect pumpkin to carve for Halloween!

Can't afford to make it to a pro game? Support your high school football team instead! It's a great way to support your local school district and show off your hometown pride.

If bonfires aren't your style, throw a Sunday afternoon cook-out before cold weather hits. It's a wonderful family activity and everyone can bring their own dish to share.

The arrival of fall signals the start of festival season for small towns. Whether you're searching for a day filled with cool crafts and delicious food (like the annual Parke County Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana) or an evening spent at your local fairgrounds, be sure to check out the dates of your county's fall festival.

Even if you don't live on a farm, you and your family can still have fun building a scarecrow for the backyard! All you need is some straw, old clothes, and garden stakes.

Have we mentioned how fall is our favorite season? Fall is the perfect time to pick persimmons for pies, cookies, and more. Fun Fact: According to my aunt, you can predict upcoming winter weather by looking at the inside of a persimmon. Learn more about this persimmon folklore in this article from The Old Farmer's Almanac.

If you're looking for a thrifty fall hobby to keep yourselves and the kids busy, give knitting a try! Yarn is a super affordable craft material and it's a great activity for sunny afternoons sitting on your front porch or for rainy days. Our editor Toby even wrote a free online knitting class for beginners.

Is there anything that symbolizes fall more than carving pumpkins for Halloween? This is a delightful and timeless fall family activity that never goes out of style. You can even download a free eBook of pumpkin carving stencils from our sister site, AllFreeHolidayCrafts!

Clean up your yard (and have an awesome time doing it) with this free family activity. Even the youngest of kids can enjoy jumping in leaf piles.

As Thanksgiving approaches, it's always wonderful to give back to your community in any way possible. Find your local homeless shelter or soup kitchen and help others who need it!

Having a fun afternoon out doesn't have to be expensive! Pack a lunch and explore your local state or national park with the kids. Not only does it support your state and national park services, but it's a great way to take in the natural beauty around you.

Okay, full confession: I was raised in a small town and my grandparents lived out in the country, so going on a tp (toilet paper) raid was no big deal. This might not be the best idea for city dwellers but this is a super fun activity that country kids will love.

Can't make the hike to your local state park? Take your kids on a scavenger hunt in their own backyard. You can print out a free outdoor scavenger hunt sheet here!

Sick of stepping on pine cones in your yard? Turn them into fun crafts for kids! Our sister site, FaveCrafts, has a list of pinecone crafts that are great for children of all ages.

If you're wondering how to keep the kids entertained after Thanksgiving dinner, why not play a fun game of flag football in the backyard? It's a classic American activity for the whole family.

Choosing your yearly Halloween costume is one of the best parts of being a kid! Don't spend money on expensive costumes and use your own creativity to DIY your Halloween costumes this year. AllFreeSewing has a great selection of DIY Halloween costumes for kids!

A safer alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating is throwing your own neighborhood trunk-or-treat! It's an organized and safe way to celebrate Halloween and you can even have a car decorating competition.

A super fun weekend activity? Creating your own Halloween decorations! From pumpkin carving to making fake headstones for the yard, save money and make some thrifty DIY decorations.

Kick off Halloween season by making this classic fall treat. You can use this easy candy apple recipe and top your candy apples with chopped nuts, candy corn, or sprinkles.

Don't want to spend time or money driving to a haunted house. Turn your garage or backyard into a spooky haunted house for the neighborhood. All you need is your creativity and a spooky soundtrack.

Even if you don't make your own decorations, you can still raid your attic or basement for all of your Halloween decorations that have been gathering dust since last year. Have fun with what you find! Those old sheets = DIY ghosts! Grandma's old porcelain dolls? They're perfect for super creepy decorations.

Most grade schools and middle schools throw annual Halloween carnivals or fall festivals. Volunteer to help out by running game booths or baking yummy Halloween treats.

Halloween doesn't have to mean gory horror movies. Spend a weeknight in by watching family-friendly Halloween movies like Casper, Halloweentown, or The Addams Family. Our office favorite? Hocus Pocus!

Gather leaves on warm fall afternoons and spend rainy days inside making fall leaf rubbings. All you need is some paper, leaves, and crayons!

Stuck inside because of bad weather? Break out your Christmas decorations and stage your family Christmas card. You can check it off your to-do list early!

Rainy weather doesn't mean you have to stay indoors at home. Head out to your local bowling alley and spend a fun night with the kids.

When's the last time you broke out the Monopoly board? Spend weeknights in by throwing a fun family game night after supper.

If you're looking for a free activity for rainy afternoons, head to your local library and let the kids find a new favorite book! You can also check out any upcoming events your library is hosting.

The good thing about rainy weather is that it's a great time to drink some hot chocolate. Setting up a hot chocolate bar lets you lay out lots of fun toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles. These 4 hot chocolate recipes from AllFreeHolidayCrafts are perfect for nights in.

Spending a stormy night in? Light the fireplace and gather around it with some blankets and flashlights and have each person tell their favorite story. Want some more kid-friendly ghost stories? Check out these spooky tales from KOA Camping Blog.

Not sure what to do after Halloween ends? Get a head start on some Thanksgiving decorations! You can never go wrong with an old-school hand turkey drawing.

The cheapest way to spend a day indoors? Gather as many blankets, pillows, and sheets as you can to make your own blanket fort. See if you can get it to stretch all the way across the house!