I love fall.
Something about this time of year makes me feel so cozy. With the crisp air, vibrant colors, & delicious smells, I feel my happiest even when the skies are filled with more clouds than usual.
Maybe it’s my Danish roots coming through in search of hygge?
Wanting to share my love of the season with my twin toddlers, I was on the hunt for fun outdoor fall activities I could turn into family traditions. I needed low-cost, high-impact fun we could continue to enjoy as they grew.
Understanding what it’s like to be on a tight budget, I put together this list of fun outdoor fall activities to do with toddlers that won’t drain your bank account.
#1: check out YOUR LOCAL FALL FESTIVAL, STREET FAIR, OR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
If you live near a small town (which we are smack dab in the middle of several) then it’s pretty likely they’re putting on an annual autumn celebration. It might be a one-and-done kickoff of the season, a weekly event, or a year-round business that updates its wares and activities based on the time of year.
These experiences are usually free to attend, toddler friendly, and run all day. Local small businesses typically sponsor these events, so there is a wide range of pricing on food and goods. You can also find free or inexpensive activities like petting zoos, live music, photo ops, games, etc.
We have a local agricultural community that goes all out when autumn hits. Though open year-round, it hits its stride in the fall.
With over 50 family-owned farms, you can spend an entire weekend navigating through the hills and visiting each location discovering what each has to offer. Everything you can think of can be found in those rolling hills, from handmade crafts, homemade apple/pumpkin goodies, apple picking, and pumpkin patches.
That includes wine tasting and hard cider, mamas.
If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, an all-day, all-inclusive destination is going to tick all your boxes for outdoor fall activities for twin toddlers.
Bring along the grandparents and make it a family day!
#2: go Apple/berry picking
Any harvesting is going to meet the needs of a toddler.
Outdoors? Check. Ability to do themselves? Check. Taste safe? Check. Full sensory experience? Check.
Apple and berry picking is an outdoor fall activity that you could probably fit between nap time, not an all-day thing. Though you could make it one if you wanted.
As fun fall toddler experiences go, it’s an easy win.
#3: visit a pumpkin patch
There might not be anything cuter than watching a toddler try and lift a giant pumpkin. The determination in his inability to lift such a heavy load is both heartbreaking and adorable.
Visiting a pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin is also another easy win for outdoor fall activities.
Most pumpkin patches these days offer more than just picking a pumpkin. You can typically find small games, petting zoos, arts and crafts, hay rides, and even food.
Depending on the offerings, you can turn the adventure from a quick grab-and-go to an extended visit.
Finding one that is the right size is essential. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself or your tots with acres of pumpkins to choose from. You also don’t want to worry about chasing after them when they inevitably run in different directions.
The bigger the patch, the larger the crowds too.
#4: go on a tractor/hay ride
Toddlers love tractors. Nuff said.
The pumpkin patch we visit has a 10-minute tractor ride through the backside of their property. There they have taken skeletons and set them up to perform hilarious antics. They even built a wooden pirate ship for one scene and had their Skidoos in an “accident” for another.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to find a tractor ride, but if your pumpkin patch or festival offers, I’d take advantage.
#5 carve/decorate a pumpkin
If you visited the pumpkin patch, you probably brought home a pumpkin. If you opted not to, you can usually pick one up at your local grocery store or farmer’s market at a lower price.
There are two main options when it comes to what to do with them. You can gut em’ to carve some jack-o-lanterns OR bust out your art supplies to decorate the outside and avoid the ick.
We found an awesome kit that uses metal pieces similar to cookie cutters that you pound in with a mallet. You can read all about our fantastic discovery in this post.
#6 climb a haystack or do a hay/corn maze
You might think that having a pair of young toddlers climb a multileveled hay pyramid sounds like a terrifying undertaking. Nothing satisfies a toddler more than maximum effort and accomplishing a goal.
They may not want to go all the way to the top, or you may have a pair of daredevils that you can barely keep up with. I had one of each.
Climbing is a great way to burn that toddler energy. The nerves I felt watching them climb to the top were nothing compared to what I felt seeing them so happy and proud of themselves.
Hay mazes are also a fun way to let your toddlers take the reins and have a little freedom. Just make sure they go in the same direction. Taking turns letting them pick which way to go usually works.
#7 have a mini photo shoot
If the thought of wrangling your littles for a posed photo makes you cringe, breathe easy mama that’s not what I’m after here.
I’m one hundred percent that amateur Instagram photographer mom. I try to turn every experience into a photoshoot, even if I get only one or two frameable photos.
Pumpkin patches are great backdrops. They usually have some fun props handy, like an old tractor or wooden cut outs, specifically for photo opportunities.
Let your littles loose and get snapping!
You can also check out your local parks (free ninety nine!). We have one near our house that has the most gorgeous trees. Toddlers love to wander and explore so catching candid shots while they play is a win-win.
#8 participate in your school/church harvest festival
This is one of those “if applicable” recommendations because I know not everyone’s toddlers attend school or go to daycare.
I also recognize that not everyone attends church. However, most churches don’t discriminate against non-parishioners and use fall celebrations to reach the community.
I highly recommend these events if you are less about celebrating the spooky side of Halloween.
You can typically find arts & crafts, toddler-oriented games and activities, delicious homemade food, and handmade items for purchase.
Costumes are usually restricted to non-scary or offensive and sometimes limited to kiddos only so little ones aren’t frightened.
#9 go trick(or trunk)-or-treating
Want to know a secret? You don’t have to give your toddlers their trick-or-treating haul if you don’t want to.
They have no idea what is even being placed in their buckets. They just love the idea of collecting treasures. Your younger toddlers aren’t even going to remember they had a bucket full of goodies the following day, especially if they can’t see it.
Another bonus of toddler trick-or-treating is they have no clue how long it’s supposed to last. One house or twenty-one, it’s all the same to them.
Take them just to their grandparents or a close friend’s. Visit the few neighbors you actually talk to and head home for pizza and your regularly scheduled bedtime.
Trunk-or-treats and local small businesses make for good, safe options too.
#10 just get outside!
The changing seasons make for a great time to take things outdoors and explore. Everything is a new experience with the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground.
Places you’ve been also feel new again.
Puddle jumping, leaf collecting, mud pies, and more are all waiting to be discovered. Yes, mess and laundry are par for the course here but SO worth it!
Let your toddlers lead a walkabout. Seeing the world through their eyes brings new discoveries. I never knew acorn tops could be such amazing treasures.
Bonus points for collecting leaves and turning them into crafts!
I know the thought of taking toddlers out into the world can be daunting sometimes. Especially if you’re in a multiple toddler situation like myself.
Protecting the sanctity of nap time can make options limited.
