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Find Your Fall Family Fun with Our ABC Fall Bucket List!

26 ideas for fall traditions and fun for the whole family

By Danielle Brogan, publisher of Mac KID West Volusia - Deltona, FL; Jennifer Hill, publisher of Macaroni Kid Fremont, Calif. September 1, 2022

Fall tends to be a great time of year many of us love because of the cooler weather, the changing trees, and the multitude of fall events that keep our weekends packed with fun.

What are your family traditions in the fall? If you're on the search for ideas to make this season special for your family, we have an alphabet of ideas for you!

Here's our ABC fall bucket list:

Apple treat. Apple pie is a great place to start!!

Bonefire. Gather around a firepit with some friends or a loved one during the cooler days.

Camp. Fall is the perfect time of year for camping. Spend your day hiking under beautiful gold and red trees. 

Drive. Take a scenic fall drive through River of Lakes Heritage Corridor Scenic Highway. 

Explore a local museum. A cold or rainy fall day is the perfect time to finally explore that museum you've been meaning to take the family to see.

Fall festivals. Because they're so much fun!

Ghost stories. Pull up chairs around a backyard campfire for some spooky Halloween stories.

Haunted house. Boo!

Invite friends over for a soup or chili potluck. Everyone brings their family's favorite for sharing!
Jump under your blankets. Put on some warm jammies and enjoy some apple cider.
Kite flying. Blustery fall days are the perfect time to get out the kite.

Long trail walks. Because walking is perfect activity to relax.
Make your own Halloween costumes! And let your kids do your makeup.
Neighborhood movie night. Pull a white sheet from the closet and hand it between two trees then pull out the projector.

Oktoberfest! Prost!
Pumpkins! Carve them. Cook them. Bake with them. Love them.
Quench your thirst. OK, we had to stretch a little bit on this one... pull up that pumpkin smoothie recipe and enjoy!

Roast marshmallows over a bonfire on a chilly night.

Scarecrow. Fun and easy family project: Take some old clothes and stuff them with hay or newspapers to make a family scarecrow as part of your Halloween decorations.

Tailgate. Hanging out with friends before the big football game is always a good time.
Unplug for the day. Turn off the electronics, ignore the TV, and leave the phone behind to spend a beautiful fall day completely tuned in to your family.
Visit a National Park. We've got more than a few.
Wreath. Have your kids help you collect pinecones and other treasures from around your neighborhood to create your own wreath.

marks the spot! Create a fall treasure hunt for your kids with a Halloween surprise at the end!

Yawn... spend a lazy foul-weather Saturday at home cuddling on the couch, watching movies, and maybe even curling up in bed for a lovely mid-day nap.

Zoo! A fall visit to the zoo is always a treat!

Hope this list helps you find your family's ABCs of fall fun! 

Jennifer Hill is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Fremont, Calif.