Autumn is a beautiful time of year to get your community together for an outdoor event. The crisp weather and changing trees provide a perfect setting for your festive get-together.
From craft shows to pumpkin carving, we’ve collected 16 different ideas to take advantage of the changing weather. Whether you’re interested in something for kids to enjoy or you want to plan a fun evening for adults, there is an autumn-inspired activity for everyone.
Fun community events can help you make the most of this year’s fall season. Consider these family-friendly fall activities for parks:
If you are looking for an exciting and laid-back way to celebrate the season, consider hosting an autumn-themed bake-off. You can ask members of your community to sign up for the competition and bake delicious fall treats with ingredients like apple and pumpkin.
On the day of the bake-off, your community can come together and mingle while trying the seasonal pies, cookies and cakes. Create a panel of judges to choose the best dessert at the end of the event!
Pumpkin carving is a playful activity that both kids and adults can enjoy. To host this event, you’ll need the following supplies:
Set up at your park’s picnic area and invite the community. Kids will love scooping out the pumpkin guts and picking out the pumpkin seeds — you can provide bags or containers so they can take them home to roast later. Have the adults do the carving and give a prize to the best pumpkin creation at the end.
If you don’t want to deal with the mess of carving pumpkins, allow your community to showcase their artistic abilities with a painting contest instead. You can have a competition for adults and a separate one for kids to encourage them to get creative.
You can provide festive drinks and snacks too. Spectators and painters will have fun at this event. Plus, everyone will be able to enjoy seeing the pumpkins on local doorsteps afterward.
Community walks make excellent charity fundraising events. If the event is close to Halloween, you can add an exciting holiday-themed twist by having everyone show up in their best getup. You can also distribute awards for the funniest, spookiest and most creative costumes.
Hayrides are a classic and beloved fall activity for people of all ages. Whether a spooky hayride for Halloween or a traditional autumn foliage tour, this activity is bound to get participants in the seasonal spirit. You can also offer hayrides as part of a community festival or all-day event, pairing them with other activities on this list.
There’s something magical about an outdoor concert in the park, especially as the weather starts to cool down. If you’re seeking a delightful autumn activity that brings people together in a harmonious setting, look no further than hosting a concert in the park.
What better way to take in all the exquisite fall foliage than by soaring over the trees in a hot air balloon? This event is sure to be a crowd-pleaser that entices community members to visit your park.
If your budget allows, you can rent a few balloons and pilots from a private company and have participants take turns enjoying a stunning, colorful ride up in the air. Keep in mind that most hot air balloon companies require passengers to be at least 5 years old, so toddlers and young kids likely can’t participate in this activity.
If you’re located near a large corn farm, you can collaborate with the owner to provide a fun, challenging corn maze experience for guests. You might even opt for a spooky corn maze, depending on the event’s proximity to Halloween. Guests of all ages can participate in this exciting adventure.
Invite your community to a fall craft show. Participants can sign up and showcase their homemade pieces, such as:
If you want to make the event feel more seasonal, ask crafters to share their autumn-inspired work. Be sure to promote the event and encourage visitors to bring their wallets.
A treasure hunt can make another exciting fall event idea. Give it a Halloween or Thanksgiving theme, and choose treasures to align with the holiday.
Halloween is the perfect time for a mysterious and spooky hunt in the park. Scatter cryptic clues around and let your participants compete to find the treasure first. A treasure hunt is a great opportunity for families to come together and work as a team.
Trick-or-treating is one of the highlights of the fall season. Consider hosting an event where kids can dress up in their Halloween costumes and collect candy without going door-to-door.
You can also incorporate other games and activities like bobbing for apples or guessing how many pieces of candy are in a jar. Have the adults set up stations around the park and allow the kids to visit each stand like they would visit each house during traditional trick-or-treating.
If you are looking for fall festival ideas for school, consider hosting a storytelling event. Hosts can read autumnal children’s books or tell festive tales from memory, share spooky stories or something heartwarming. The fall weather is perfect for kids to gather together and sit on blankets.
You could also host a storytelling contest for the community and have participants share their own seasonal stories. For this type of event, consider setting up snack and drink stations. And at the end, you can crown a winner for the best or scariest story.
Hosting a fall game day is a great way to engage your community and get the kids excited. You can set up multiple fall-inspired activities, such as:
If you want to host a lowkey fall event this year, consider pressing leaves. Plan to hold the event when the park’s leaves are at their most vibrant autumn colors. You can use a foliage prediction map to see when your local community’s leaves will be at their brightest.
This event is a great way to learn about the local environment and teach kids about the different trees in their community.
If you’re looking for fall festival activities for adults, consider hosting an Oktoberfest celebration. Since its origins in 1810 in Munich, Germany, this folk festival has inspired countless celebrations. Set up stands with pretzels, bratwurst and strudel and fill the park with the sounds of a folk or polka band. You can even invite your neighbors to dress up in traditional German outfits!
While an Oktoberfest celebration can be fun for all ages, responsibility is vital if you plan on serving alcohol. Be sure to check in with local alcohol regulations and consider setting up a separate biergarten for those 21 and over. Remember that you don’t have to go all out on your Oktoberfest event to have lots of fun!
A costume contest is a great way to engage your community and encourage them to get together for a fun and exciting seasonal event.
Consider giving out prizes for the best-dressed participants and pairing the contest with other fun fall snacks and activities.
A park is a special place for communities to come together for special seasonal events. Upgrading your park’s playground or designing a new recreation area is a great way to inspire families and neighbors to spend quality time together and enjoy each other’s company all year long.
Playworld has high-quality commercial playground equipment for kids of all ages and abilities. Request a quote or contact us to learn more today!