Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year

Fall is that time of the year when everyone is getting cozy and laid back. Families and friends gather around the table or outside to create memories to last. So if you’re newlywed or had your first baby this year – are you open to start your fall family traditions? 

Family traditions are passed down to many generations, and creating one of your own for your new family is special to do. 

Whether you’re a young family or have teenage children, family traditions create family connections that go beyond years to come.

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Here are 18 Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year

Fall Family Pictures

Coordinating colors, scouting for a fall outdoor backdrop, and getting everyone rounded up for smiles are great ways to spend a slow afternoon. 

Taking the whole family for a great picture taken during this fall season is one memory to last you can always look at down the line.

Grab some props if you’re all for the all-out photoshoot, or be there with your warm sweaters and strappy boots with your gorgeous smiles. Here are some cute fall outfits for your little ones.

Pumpkin Patch 

Nothing like visiting a pumpkin patch with the kids during this crisp air season can perk up your spirit. 

Get into the corn maze and make it a race – the first ones to come out. Then, walking down the pumpkin patch with a camera in tow as you capture your kids’ delight.

How about those pumpkin-flavored drinks to enjoy with your spouse while watching the kids play around the hay. 

Don’t forget the famous hayride and cherish the downtime from the kids’ energy. 

Buy some pumpkins you can all carve at home—easy stencils for pumpkin carving.

Exchange Thanksgiving Homemade Fall Gifts

What better way to express your gratitude to each other is to create unique Homemade Gifts to give to your extended family and close friends. 

These gifts can range from fall-themed candles, fall wreaths, unique home-cooked fall recipes, or even photo collections of the families and friends throughout the year.

Bake a Pie (Apple or Pumpkin)

Never forget the PIES! Oh, delicious pie recipes to your heart’s content are all on the internet for grabs and try with the whole family.

Pick a theme: Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie. Then, save these recipes and store them in your favorite recipe boxes.

Check out these fall-themed pies from Homemade Apple Pie With Eikorn Crust by Farmhouse on Boone, Mini Pumpkin Pies by Preppy Kitchen, Vegan Apple Pie by Ela Vegan.

Fall Donation Drive

Giving your gently worn or most loved things from the house to donate. 

Pick a charity or shelter to drop them off. 

You and your kids can also donate your time to help the organization with whatever fall festivities they have planned for this year.

Extending a helping hand can also show your kids that helping others is the right thing to do.

Family Camping as part of your Fall Traditions

Ever tried building a tent and setting camp during fall? Well, this year may be a great one for you.

Outdoor activities like fall camping can help you get out of the same routine centered around the house.

When packing your bags, tent, and sleeping bags: be sure to grab your insect repellant, matches, S’mores kit, and all essentials you’ll need for a great family camping trip!

Fall Hiking

This activity may go hand in hand with camping; however, you can do this separately with the family.

Search your local state park or even national park near your area and inquire about their open hours. Some parks may be free for entering, or there may be a small fee involved. 

Plan it out. Hiking and going outdoors for the whole family are other great fall traditions to start. Teenagers may enjoy this fall activity to reconnect with you. Take this unique opportunity to forge a closer relationship with your kids.

Host a Halloween Party

No fall traditions without having or hosting a family Halloween party, right?

Time to bust out those scary costumes or comical gear up. Pick your theme if you plan to take pictures. It’s great to have coordinated Halloween outfits for you and your kids.

Be creative as well; you can create your homemade costumes to show off. 

With the party comes Halloween-themed games. Check out these Halloween games you can play with the whole family and friends. Of course, there’s no party without Festive Fall appetizers by number-2 Pencil or Halloween food ideas by The Dating Divas.

FAMILY POST: Halloween Costumes for the Whole Family

Trick or treating with Kids

This fall tradition never goes away – ANY KID would want to participate in the neighborhood’s trick or treating activity.

While you’re in your Halloween costumes, grab your goody bags and go door to door around the neighborhood.

Last year, our family didn’t participate in trick or treating because of Covid-19 restrictions. So instead, we did a Halloween Scavenger Hunt (pdf download) in our backyard.

Fall Picnic

For an easy, laid-back fall activity – grab your picnic basket and blanket, then visit your favorite park. 

Prepare some simple snacks (sandwiches or fresh fruits) for the entire family and bring unexpected fall-themed drinks to enjoy.

Let the kids run around and cozy up with your spouse while watching them.

Capture these rare moments with your kids.

FAMILY POST: How to Start a Family Game Night Tradition that Everyone can Enjoy

Explore a New City with Beautiful Fall Views

Your country may restrict travel to where you are right now; you can travel anywhere by plane, car, or however, you intend to travel in the US.

Planning this memorable fall trip needs plenty of time and coordinating itineraries. Involve your kids in the planning and packing for this trip. 

You can even plan this trip out way earlier in the spring or summer that way – it’s something for the whole family to look forward to in the fall. Check out these places to see fall foliage for your family to visit this fall.

Shop at a Farmer’s Market

Where are my farmer’s market shoppers at? Yes!

Grab your crossbody bag, get the whole family ready in minutes and visit your local farmer’s market shops.

Prepare to purchase pumpkins, apples, and fall vegetables. In addition, some markets will include fall-themed decors, accessories, and even sweets.

Let this activity be a yearly tradition for the family. Get your needed ingredients for those fall pies you are planning to make with your kids.

Fall Movie Weekend

Pick spooky, family-friendly Halloween movies for you to enjoy the whole weekend. It can be a routine family activity every weekend for the entire fall season. 

Pick a movie per night and grab those cozy, fuzzy blankets.

Don’t forget to prepare some delicious movie treats and drinks for the family to enjoy.

Decorate the house with Fall Outside Elements

If you like to decorate the house on October 1 for fall, this tradition is a must.

The challenge is to use outside elements like fall leaves, pinecones, and twigs to decorate some parts of your house.

Ask your kids to pitch in by helping you gather the exterior materials. It’ll be fun for them, and you’ll be surprised what they’ve gotten outside to bring in.

Grab some dried pampas outside, large wheat, or even hay bale. Don’t forget fresh Mums that can add splashes of colors to any corner in your home.

Read your Thank You Jar Notes

Have you ever heard of Thank You Jar? 

Some families will create a Thank You Jar every Thanksgiving Day. 

These thank you notes are written by everyone in the family for a whole year. So you can drop in a quick note anytime you want to thank somebody in the family.

At the Thanksgiving Dinner, you will open the Thank You Jar, and each one can read a note from it. 

A big thanks for a whole year of love, blessings, and friendships.

Create Fall Arts and Crafts

Here are another fun-filled family fall traditions you can start with the little ones.

Grab some paint, watercolor, sketchpad, paint canvas, and other art materials for these activities.

Ask your kids to create art that reminds them of your family or a simple portrait of everyone (their version).

You can also try out this unique Halloween candle-making kit with your kids or create DIY turkey crafts for everyone.

After all, have been crafted, display them in your living room or the server area in your dining room.

Make a Thanksgiving Wreath

This fall tradition may be done once (artificial) or every year (fresh) with the whole family. 

You can choose a theme of fall wreaths to make this year.

Examples are below – check them out. 

• Modern Fall Wreath by The Festive Mommy
• 20 Simple Fall Wreaths by Frugal Family Times

You can place the wreath in your dining area or the front door, or anywhere you think the wreath can delight anyone looking at it. 

Send a Family Thank Your Card 

Either homemade or ready-made cards; it’s a great way to start giving out these thank you cards each year.

You can give them to a fire station, police station, library, hospital, or notable organizations that made a difference in your family or others. 

A simple note of gratitude will brighten up anyone’s day and make for a great remembrance of extending kindness outside the home.

Are you going to start your very own family fall traditions?

Let this year be a new season in your family life to start a new family tradition. 

Pick one or more to try, and who knows; you will love them and continue to do them for every fall season that comes. 

Please share in the comment if your family has a particular annual fall tradition you observed. Happy Fall, y’all!