The Ultimate Fall Bucket List for Adults: 30 Best Side Quests to Do This Autumn
This blog features 30 things to do this fall in an ultimate fall bucket list for adults!
Now that summer has passed and you’ve checked off your summer bucket list, it’s time to get into the coziness that fall brings!
Making a fall bucket list is the perfect way to make the most out of the season. So, here are some ideas to inspire you, from visiting pumpkin patches and cider mills to baking fall recipes and hosting a scary movie night!
The Ultimate Fall Bucket List for Adults
1. Visit a pumpkin patch
If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed when entering the fall season, it’s pumpkins! You’ll find pumpkins everywhere, whether it’s on someone’s front porch, at a shop front, or even your own home! But what’s more exciting is seeing where pumpkins actually grow: a pumpkin patch!
Pumpkin patches aren’t just the picture-perfect fall spot to visit (although taking a pumpkin patch photoshoot is still a must when you go); there are also many different activities to do while you’re there! You can take a tour, pick your own pumpkins, see pumpkin sculptures and displays, visit the petting zoo, and more!
One of my favorite things about pumpkin patches has to be seeing the pumpkin sculptures! When I went to Germany a few years back for the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival, I was amazed at how pumpkins can be used to make the most incredible art displays!
2. Go on a hayride
Another activity that you’ll probably find at a pumpkin patch is a hayride! There’s something so exhilarating about sitting on a load of hay, being pulled by a tractor, and seeing the scenery all around you!
If you’re up for something more spooky, there are even haunted hayrides you can take to really get into the fall and Halloween spirit!
3. Carve pumpkins
Carving pumpkins is such a fun fall bucket list activity to do, especially with your loved ones. Gather a few friends and family for a night of carving pumpkins and just enjoy spending time together! And if you’re competitive (like me), turn it into a competition where you all choose the best carved pumpkin!
4. Do a Halloween-themed photoshoot
If you were on TikTok a few years ago, you’ll probably remember the ghost photoshoot trend with the song Oh Klahoma by Jack Stauber. It’s the perfect inspiration for a Halloween-themed photoshoot!
If you’re stuck on what to do for your own Halloween-themed photoshoot, then here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Do a ghost photoshoot (just like the ghost Oh Klahoma trend on TikTok that I mentioned)
- Wear a pumpkin on your head
- Dress up as Morticia and Gomez Addams (if you’re doing a photoshoot with your partner)
- Dress up as a witch
- Skull face paint
5. Buy fall-scented candles
Fall scented candles are probably the best scented candles you could ever have. There are so many delicious fall scents that will make the rooms in your home smell luscious, such as:
- Pumpkin spice
- Cinnamon
- Apple cider
- Chai
- Gingerbread
- Pine
- Sandalwood
6. Make pumpkin pie
There’s something about the fall season that turns me into a baker. Maybe it’s the cozy vibes, maybe it’s the smell of sweet spices, but either way, fall is the best time to bake, especially to bake a pumpkin pie! It’s not too complicated to make, and it’s the perfect dessert to have in the evening!
If you’re not sure how to make a pumpkin pie, this easy recipe from Divas Can Cook gives you all the deets for making a delicious pumpkin pie in 1 hour and 10 minutes!
7. Host a spooky movie slumber party
When hosting a slumber party during the fall, the best theme you could go for is a spooky movie marathon! You could decorate your home with Halloween-themed centerpieces, bunting, and balloons, bake fall desserts, and have a roster full of spooky movies to watch throughout the night.
If you’re looking for some movies to feature, here are some ideas to get you in the spooky mood:
- Coraline
- Hocus Pocus
- Twitches
- Halloweentown
- Coco
- The Addams Family
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- The Conjuring
- Beetlejuice
- Edward Scissorhands
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
8. Have a bonfire
Bonfires are notorious for having peaceful moments, and what better season to have cozy, calm moments than during fall at a bonfire! Invite some friends to have a bonfire, whether at the beach, in your backyard, or at a lake. Gather some chairs and blankets to snuggle in and listen to music, eat s’mores, talk, and enjoy the peacefulness that the bonfire brings!
9. Visit a haunted house
If you want to tick “get spooked” off your fall bucket list, then visiting a haunted house will guarantee exactly that! Not only can you admire the amount of decor that goes into a haunted house, but you can also really immerse yourself in the spooky spirit for Halloween.
10. Make a boo basket for your partner
Boo baskets are a cute, thoughtful way to curate presents to gift your “boo,” aka, your partner. Because boo baskets are bespoke to your partner, there are so many different ideas on what to gift them!
If you’re looking for some inspiration, have a look at these boo basket for her and boo basket for him ideas!
11. Go apple picking at a local orchard
Fall means apple-picking season, so frolicking at a local orchard to pick delicious apples is a fall bucket list activity you’ve got to do! Use these apples to make yummy apple dishes or just eat them as they are!
12. Visit a cider mill
If you love cider, then visiting a cider mill is a must-do for your fall bucket list! You’ll be able to watch how cider is made and drink some of the freshest cider you’ll ever get your hands on!
13. Go on a ghost walk
There may be areas in your city or town that hold spooky tales of its past. If so, you’re likely to find that there are official ghost walking tours to explore these terrifying areas. Prepare to get spooked while learning about the history of your local area.
14. Get lost in a corn maze
Corn mazes are exciting to explore. There are rows and rows of corn growing in the fields, which means it’s actually the perfect (and just a little bit scary place to get lost in. Navigate your way through it, play some quiz trails (if your local corn maze offers it), and climb up the viewing towers for a bird’s eye view of the area!
15. Host a friendsgiving dinner
Thanksgiving is a holiday all about gratitude. Of course, Thanksgiving dinner is the time to see family, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a Thanksgiving dinner with friends too! Host a friendsgiving dinner where you and all your friends get together and have a good time while eating amazing food!
Food is one of the best parts about Thanksgiving (in my opinion), which is why I love the idea of having each friend bring something to the dinner. One friend can make the turkey, another can bring drinks, another can make the casserole, etc. It’s a nice way for everyone to contribute to a lovely, cozy dinner!
You may like: How to Throw a Friendsgiving Dinner Party That All Your Friends Will Adore
16. Spend a weekend at a cabin
If you’re looking to add some peace and quiet to your fall bucket list, then spending a weekend at a cabin is a perfect idea! Enjoy the birds chirping in the morning, the fresh, country air, the cozy fireplace, and the relaxing jacuzzi!
17. Make caramel apples
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then you’ll love making caramel apples! They’re the perfect sweet treat for the fall, and as someone who loves caramel, I’m always tempted to make them all year round!
18. Host a murder mystery party
To get into the spooky spirit that fall (more specifically, Halloween) brings, host a murder mystery party with your friends. Choose a board game, put your detective hat on, and solve the mystery!
If you want to go all out for your murder mystery party, you could even dress up to really get immersed in it!
19. Bake an apple pie
Apple pies are another delicious fall recipe to have a go at making! Apple pies are one of my favorite desserts, especially when the crust has that extra crunch!
If you’re not sure how to bake an apple pie, then this recipe from Chenée Today is a great guide on how to make a yummy deep-dish caramel apple pie!
20. Give your home a cozy, fall makeover
Have your home match the fall vibes by giving it a cozy fall makeover. There are many ways you can do this, including fall bedroom decorating and fall mantel decorating, to decorating your front porch with pumpkins and scarecrows!
21. Throw a Halloween party
The best thing about Halloween as an adult is being able to host your own Halloween parties! Invite your friends around to dress up, play beer pong, watch spooky movies, play card games and board games, do Halloween trivia, and so much more fun Halloween party activities!
22. Host a cozy board games night
Fall is all about relaxed, cozy vibes, so hosting a board game night is a way to have a chill evening with your friends and/or family. Get your favorite board games and have fun being competitive!
23. Pick out a Halloween costume
I’m a firm believer that dressing up for Halloween isn’t just for kids! Choosing a Halloween costume to wear for a Halloween party is so much fun as an adult!
You could do your own solo Halloween costume, duo Halloween costumes with your bestie, or have Halloween costumes as a whole group!
24. Make cinnamon rolls
One of my favorite desserts is cinnamon rolls, and nothing beats cinnamon rolls that are homemade! They’re perfect to make during the fall, and if you don’t know where to bake them, here’s a yummy cinnamon roll recipe from Sweet Tea and Thyme!
25. Play apple bobbing
Apple bobbing is a wet, messy game to play for Halloween, but so worth it because it’s fun to play with friends at a Halloween party! Get a large tub or basin filled with water, place some apples inside, and take turns to grab the apples only using your teeth!
26. Take a scenic nature hike
The fall season means the color palette of nature changes from bright greens to deep browns, oranges, and reds. Taking a scenic nature hike is a lovely, peaceful fall bucket list activity to do if you want to see these changes. Plus, being surrounded by nature is the best way to admire it.
27. Roast marshmallows
Marshmallows are yummy, but roasted marshmallows are even better! You can do this snuggled up at a campfire, fireplace, grill, or even a stove top!
28. Eat candy corn
Candy corn is the staple candy of fall, so eating it is a must-do for your fall bucket list! They’re yummy and they’re the perfect candy to have for a Halloween party or to give out to kids when they’re trick-or-treating!
29. Clear out your closet and sort out your winter clothes for next season
As you’re heading into the fall season, it’s always a good idea to declutter, and this includes your closet. Clear out the items you know you don’t want, put your summer clothes away (in a suitcase or in storage), then put your winter clothes in your closet. This way, you’re prepared for wearing clothes suitable for the drop in temperature during the fall and winter seasons!
30. Watch a football game
The NFL season starts in the fall, so it only makes sense to watch a football game during this time! Whether you get tickets to see it in person or watch it on TV, it’s a fun way to get into the sporty spirit during the fall season!
This post showed you the ultimate fall bucket list for adults to have the best autumn ever!
Enjoyed this article? Here’s some more inspiration for planning the perfect fall:
- 30 Cozy and Romantic Fall Date Ideas for Couples
- 30+ Halloween Nail Designs to Get Into the Spooky Season
- 50 Fun & Cozy Solo Date Ideas to Romanticize Your Life and Spend Quality Time With Yourself
- 30 Brown Fall Nail Designs You’ll Fall In Love With This Autumn