Last night, the Northern Hemisphere said good-bye to summer and hello to fall. Here in Ontario, Canada, the Autumn Equinox took place at 9:03 pm. Although many people are sad to see the end of summer, fall is my favourite time of year for so many reasons. Today, we kick off the season with 31 ideas for fun fall activities.

Why I love fall

One of the things I love the most about living in Canada is we have four distinct seasons. Although I’m not a fan of winter, I readily admit I love the changing of seasons and the unique positives and negatives that come with each.

I don’t enjoy the hot, humid days of summer so I’m always happy to welcome fall. In recent years, our weather patterns have shifted. Spring weather has been arriving later, but we’ve enjoyed warm fall temperatures that extend well into October…and sometimes even November.

There are so many things to love about autumn. First, who doesn’t enjoy better sleep as the evenings get cooler? Then, there’s the spectacular display of colour our trees treat us to every year. Finally, Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday—and let’s not forget Halloween.

For those lamenting the end of summer, there are a variety of fun things to do in the fall, and there really is something for everyone. Let’s have a look…

31 fun fall activities

Around the home

If the cooler weather makes you want to stay close to home, here are some ideas for activities you can do without going anywhere.

• Create a fall display on your front porch, or decorate the inside of your home with fall colours.
• Sit outside on a sunny day and soak up the sun’s rays as you breathe in the cool autumn air.
• Get out your warm sweaters for those cooler evenings. Don’t forget to take the opportunity to declutter your fall and winter clothes and donate anything you don’t want to a local thrift store.
• Clean up the garden. While you’re at it, make note of this year’s successes and learnings, and start planning next year’s garden.
• Plant a tree. We’ll be doing that this year to replace a tree we removed from our front garden last year.
• Plant spring bulbs.
• Jump in a pile of freshly-raked leaves. Our kids loved doing that when they were small.
• Tell ghost stories.
• Watch a scary movie.
• Light some fall-scented candles.

Fun outings

If you’re ready to venture further afield, the fall months provide a chance to get outdoors for a fun outing before the snow flies. Here are some ideas for activities you can enjoy with the whole family.

• Visit a haunted house or fear farm in your town or city.
• Hike a local trail, take in the colours, and relish the sound of leaves crunching underfoot.
• Go for a drive and enjoy fall colours in a different area.
• Attend a fall fair.
• Explore a corn maze.

Holidays and events

Here in Canada, we celebrate two holidays in October: Thanksgiving on the second Monday of the month, and then there’s Halloween at the end of the month. You can also use this time to get a head start on other holidays.

• Plan your Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving is a big deal in Canada and the United States, although we celebrate it in different months—and Canadian Thanksgiving doesn’t involve watching football or planning the next day’s Black Friday shopping strategy. If you live in other countries, why not plan your own celebration of what you’re thankful for?
• Choose your Halloween costume. I love to dress up for Halloween—even if it’s only to hand out candy at the door. It’s never to early to start thinking about your costume.
• Carve a pumpkin and make jack-o-lanterns. One of our neighbours carves dozens of pumpkins for an amazing display every year. Here’s a sample.

• Attend Oktoberfest. Here in Waterloo Region, our community celebrates the German heritage of our settlers with a large Oktoberfest. If crowded festhalls aren’t your thing, cook up some sausage and sauerkraut at home and enjoy it with a local craft beer.
• Start your Christmas shopping. Why leave things until the last minute? Getting a jump start on your holiday shopping will lower your stress come December.

Fall foods

Autumn is definitely a time of year for comfort foods. Whether you’re craving sweet or savoury, there are so many delicious and satisfying seasonal flavours to love.

• Pick your own apples at a local orchard, or visit a pumpkin patch.
• After you carve your jack-o-lanterns, roast the pumpkin seeds. I roast mine in some melted butter with minced garlic and a little Himalayan pink salt. Yummy!
• Bake a pumpkin or apple pie. Or, if you’re not a baker, just buy one and dig in. Don’t forget the whipped cream.
• Enjoy a cup of hot apple cider on a cool evening.
• Make some homemade soup. This is an excellent time to make big batches to freeze for winter.
• Roast some fall root vegetables in the oven with a little olive oil and garlic.

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Personal growth and development

Although you might be tempted to hibernate and wait for spring, take advantage of the additional indoor time to invest in your personal growth and development. Here are some ways to do that.

• Celebrate back-to-school season by signing up for a personal interest or professional development course.
• Take up a new hobby to keep you busy during the winter months.
• Start a gratitude journal.
• Take the leap and participate in Blogtober—a blogging challenge where you put up a new blog post every day in October.
• Make a fall and winter reading list and commit to reading a book every month.

Personally, I’m happy to welcome fall and I’m hoping for another long, warm and sunny autumn season. It will make winter feel shorter!

What kind of activities do you enjoy in the fall? Tell me your ideas below.