Fall festivals bring families together for seasonal traditions, outdoor fun, and community bonding. From pumpkin games to hayrides, these events create lasting memories while keeping kids engaged and entertained. Whether you're planning a school carnival, church fair, or neighborhood celebration, the right mix of activities ensures every child finds something they love.
FreshTix makes managing your fall festival simple with tools for ticket sales, mobile check-in, and real-time attendance tracking. Focus on creating unforgettable experiences while our platform handles the logistics. In this article, you'll discover 55 fall festival activities organized by type, from classic games and hands-on crafts to outdoor adventures and quiet corners that appeal to kids of all ages and energy levels.
Classic Fall Festival Games
Traditional games bring nostalgia to your festival while giving kids plenty of chances to win prizes and compete with friends.
1. Pumpkin Bowling
Set up small pumpkins as bowling pins and let kids roll a larger pumpkin to knock them down. This game works for all ages and adds a seasonal twist to a familiar favorite while requiring minimal setup or equipment for organizers.
2. Apple Bobbing Alternative
Try apple fishing instead of traditional bobbing. Kids use sticks with magnets to "catch" apples floating in water, avoiding the mess while keeping the fun. This safer version works better for younger children and maintains sanitation standards throughout your event.
3. Ring Toss with Mini Pumpkins
Stack small pumpkins of different sizes and challenge kids to toss rings over them. Adjust the distance based on age to keep it fair for everyone. Paint the pumpkins in bright colors to make them more visible and appealing to participants.
4. Sack Races
Give kids burlap sacks and let them hop to the finish line. This simple race gets everyone laughing and works perfectly for groups. Create multiple heats to accommodate large crowds and award ribbons to winners in different age categories for added excitement.
5. Cornhole with Autumn Designs
Paint cornhole boards with fall leaves, pumpkins, or scarecrows. Kids love the bright colors, and the game keeps them busy for hours. Set up multiple boards to reduce wait times and allow for friendly tournaments throughout your festival day.
6. Bean Bag Toss into Hay Bales
Stack hay bales with holes cut at different heights. Kids aim for the openings, and each hole can have a different point value. This activity combines skill development with competition while using simple materials that fit your autumn theme perfectly.
7. Scarecrow Dress-Up Relay
Divide kids into teams and set up bins of oversized clothes, hats, and accessories. The first team to dress their "scarecrow" wins. This hilarious race encourages teamwork and creativity while providing entertainment for spectators watching the chaotic costume changes unfold.
8. Three-Legged Race
Partner kids up and tie their ankles together for a wobbly race to the finish. This game teaches teamwork and always gets big laughs. Pair children of similar heights to make the challenge fair and create a safe, grassy area for inevitable tumbles.
9. Pin the Leaf on the Tree
Blindfold players and have them try to stick a paper leaf onto a tree poster. It's a fall version of pin the tail on the donkey. Create a large, colorful tree backdrop and use different colored leaves to track each player's attempt.
10. Candy Corn Guessing Game
Fill a large jar with candy corn and let kids guess how many pieces are inside. The closest guess wins the jar. This simple activity requires no staffing once set up and engages kids who prefer quieter competitions over physical games.
Hands-On Craft Stations
Craft stations let kids take home something they made while giving them a creative break from running around.
11. Pumpkin Painting
Skip the mess of carving and set out paint, brushes, and small pumpkins. Kids can create designs without sharp tools, making it safe and fun. Provide smocks to protect clothing and set up drying stations where finished pumpkins can sit while families explore other activities.
12. Leaf Rubbing Art
Place real leaves under paper and show kids how to rub crayons over them to reveal the patterns. Simple supplies create beautiful results. Collect a variety of leaf shapes and sizes beforehand to give children different textures and designs to discover through this classic technique.
13. DIY Fall Wreaths
Provide foam wreath forms, fake leaves, ribbons, and glue. Kids assemble their own wreaths to hang at home. Pre-cut ribbon lengths and organize supplies in stations to streamline the process and reduce frustration for younger participants who need structured guidance.
14. Pinecone Bird Feeders
Coat pinecones in peanut butter, roll them in birdseed, and tie on string. Kids make treats for backyard birds while learning about nature. Check for peanut allergies beforehand and offer sunflower seed butter as an alternative to ensure all children can participate safely.
15. Paper Plate Scarecrows
Give out paper plates, construction paper, markers, and glue. Kids design scarecrow faces to display proudly. Pre-cut basic shapes like triangles for noses and circles for cheeks to help younger children complete their projects successfully without becoming frustrated or discouraged.
16. Beaded Friendship Bracelets in Fall Colors
String orange, yellow, red, and brown beads onto elastic cord. This quiet activity works well for kids who need a calm moment. Set up this station in a shaded area with seating where children can take breaks from more active games while still participating.
17. Decorate Your Own Trick-or-Treat Bag
Hand out plain canvas bags with fabric markers. Kids personalize their bags for Halloween candy collecting. These practical crafts serve double duty as both festival activities and useful items families will actually use, making them popular choices for parents and organizers alike.
18. Handprint Turkeys
Trace hands on construction paper, cut them out, and glue them into turkey shapes. Add googly eyes and a beak to finish. This simple craft works perfectly for toddlers and preschoolers who may struggle with more complex projects requiring fine motor skills or extended attention spans.
19. Acorn Painting
Drop acorns into paint, place them in a box with paper, and shake. The rolling acorns create unique abstract art. This messy but exciting technique captivates young children who love movement-based activities and produces one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for refrigerator display at home.
20. Fall Festival Crown
Cut paper strips and staple them into headbands. Kids decorate with paper leaves, glitter, and stickers to make wearable art. Children proudly wear their finished crowns throughout the festival, creating photo opportunities for families and adding to the festive atmosphere everyone enjoys.
Food & Treat Activities
Food stations do more than feed hungry kids. They turn eating into an interactive experience that engages creativity and choice.
21. Caramel Apple Dipping Station
Set out apple slices, caramel sauce, and toppings like crushed cookies, sprinkles, and mini chocolate chips. Kids build their perfect bite. Pre-slice apples and soak them in lemon water to prevent browning, ensuring fresh-looking treats throughout your event hours.
22. S'mores-Making Pit
Use a controlled fire pit or tabletop burners for roasting marshmallows. Provide graham crackers and chocolate for classic s'mores assembly. Assign adult supervision to this station at all times and establish clear safety rules that children must follow before participating in roasting activities.
23. Popcorn Ball Decorating
Make popcorn balls ahead of time and let kids roll them in colored sugar, candies, or edible glitter. Prepare extra balls to account for enthusiastic decorating that may damage some pieces, and provide small bags for kids to take their finished creations home safely.
24. Hot Cocoa Bar
Offer hot chocolate with a selection of toppings: whipped cream, marshmallows, caramel drizzle, and peppermint sticks. Use insulated dispensers to keep cocoa warm without requiring constant attention from volunteers, and provide both regular and dairy-free options for children with dietary restrictions.
25. Pumpkin Cookie Decorating
Bake pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies and set out frosting, sprinkles, and candy eyes. Kids decorate their treats before eating. Use royal icing in squeeze bottles for easier application and less mess, and cover tables with disposable tablecloths to simplify cleanup after eager decorators finish.
26. Candy Apple Wrapping
Pre-make candy apples and let kids wrap them in cellophane tied with fall-colored ribbons to take home. This activity teaches fine motor skills while giving children ownership over presentation, and the wrapped apples make beautiful displays that enhance your festival's visual appeal.
27. DIY Trail Mix Bags
Lay out bowls of cereal, pretzels, dried fruit, chocolate chips, and nuts. Kids scoop their favorite combinations into take-home bags. Post allergen warnings clearly and offer nut-free stations for children with allergies, ensuring safe participation for everyone who wants to create custom snack mixes.
28. Apple Cider Sampling
Serve warm apple cider in small cups. For variety, offer both spiced and plain versions so kids can taste the difference. Set this station near seating areas where families can rest while children sip their drinks and recharge before heading back to more active festival attractions.
Outdoor Adventures & Attractions
These larger activities create the centerpiece moments that families remember most about your fall festival experience. Explore our guide to outdoor event planning for more tips on creating memorable experiences.
29. Hayrides
Load families onto a tractor-pulled wagon for a loop around the festival grounds or nearby fields. Add bales of hay for seating. Schedule rides at regular intervals throughout the day and consider adding a narrator to point out interesting sights or share seasonal stories during trips.
30. Corn Maze Treasure Hunt
Create a corn maze with hidden items throughout. Give kids lists of things to find, turning navigation into a game. Position volunteers at key points to assist lost participants and ensure safety while maintaining the challenge that makes mazes exciting for adventurous children.
31. Leaf Pile Jumping Zone
Rake leaves into supervised piles specifically for jumping. Kids burn energy while enjoying a simple fall tradition. Check piles regularly for hidden sticks or debris that could cause injuries, and refresh them throughout the day as enthusiastic jumpers scatter leaves across the designated area.
32. Petting Zoo
Bring in gentle animals like goats, rabbits, and chickens. Supervise interactions and provide hand-washing stations nearby. Partner with reputable providers who maintain animal health and safety standards, and create clear rules about gentle touching that protect both children and animals during interactions.
33. Pony Rides
Hire professionals to offer short pony rides around a fenced area. Kids love the chance to sit on a real horse. Establish weight and height limits clearly, and create a queuing system that manages wait times while giving families realistic expectations about when their turn will arrive.
34. Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt
Hide items or clues throughout a pumpkin display. Kids search for treasures while exploring the patch. Create age-appropriate difficulty levels with different colored clue cards, allowing toddlers and older children to participate simultaneously without frustration from tasks that don't match their skill levels.
35. Obstacle Course with Hay Bales
Stack hay bales to create tunnels, walls to climb over, and pathways to navigate. Change the layout each year to keep it fresh. Ensure stable stacking that won't collapse when children climb and crawl through, and position volunteers to spot kids attempting more challenging sections.
36. Tractor "Train" Ride for Kids
Connect wagons behind a slow-moving tractor for a gentle ride. Decorate the wagons with fall themes. This attraction works especially well for younger children who find full hayrides overwhelming and prefer shorter, simpler experiences that still feel special and festival-appropriate.
37. Nature Walk Bingo
Create bingo cards with items like pinecones, acorns, yellow leaves, and birds. Kids check them off as they explore. Designate a specific walking path that keeps participants within festival boundaries while offering enough variety for successful bingo completion within reasonable timeframes.
38. Giant Bubble Station
Mix bubble solution and provide wands in different sizes. Kids chase bubbles across the grass on a sunny fall day. Position this station away from food areas to prevent bubble solution contamination, and provide seating for parents watching younger children who become mesmerized by floating bubbles.
Stage & Group Activities
Scheduled performances and group events bring everyone together at specific times for shared experiences throughout your festival day.
39. Costume Parade
Invite kids to wear costumes and march around the festival. Award prizes for categories like most creative, funniest, and best homemade. Announce parade times clearly throughout the day so families can plan accordingly and find good viewing spots before the procession begins. For more costume ideas, check out our Halloween theme ideas.
40. Fall-Themed Storytime
Set up a cozy corner with blankets and pillows. Read seasonal books about pumpkins, leaves, and harvest traditions at scheduled times. Choose energetic readers who engage children with voices and gestures, and keep sessions short enough to hold attention without losing younger audience members.
41. Puppet Shows
Create simple puppet shows with fall characters. Kids sit on the ground to watch short performances. Schedule multiple showings throughout the day to accommodate crowds and prevent disappointment when seating fills up, and keep performances under fifteen minutes for optimal attention spans.
42. Magic Show with Seasonal Tricks
Hire a magician who can incorporate pumpkins, autumn leaves, and harvest themes into their act. Professional performers understand how to engage children of various ages simultaneously and can adjust their material based on audience reactions, ensuring entertainment value for your diverse festival attendees.
43. Dance Party with Fall Playlist
Set up speakers and create a playlist of kid-friendly songs. Add in some line dances everyone can follow. Consider scheduling this activity during slower festival periods to maintain energy and crowd engagement throughout the entire event rather than experiencing lulls between major attractions.
44. Karaoke Stage
Let brave kids sing their favorite songs in front of a crowd. Keep a selection of popular children's music ready. Provide lyric displays so young performers can follow along without memorizing words, and ensure sound equipment quality prevents feedback that might discourage nervous first-time singers.
45. Talent Show
Give kids a chance to show off their skills, from singing to magic tricks to comedy routines. Keep each act short to maintain energy. Accept sign-ups in advance to create a structured schedule, and assign a charismatic host who keeps transitions smooth between performers of varying skill levels.
Quiet Corner Activities
Not every kid wants constant action. These calmer options give children spaces to recharge between high-energy festival attractions.
46. Coloring Station with Fall Templates
Print coloring pages of pumpkins, leaves, and autumn scenes. Set out crayons, markers, and colored pencils. Position this station in a shaded area with tables and chairs where children can sit comfortably, and provide folders so kids can protect finished artwork while continuing festival exploration.
47. Sensory Bins
Fill large containers with corn kernels, dried beans, acorns, or artificial leaves. Hide small toys inside for kids to discover. These bins captivate young children for extended periods, providing parents with breaks while toddlers develop fine motor skills through exploration and tactile discovery activities.
48. Storybook Nook with Autumn Reads
Create a reading area with cushions and a selection of seasonal picture books. Let kids browse and read at their own pace. This quiet space offers introverts and overwhelmed children a refuge from festival crowds while still participating in event activities that match their comfort levels.
49. Puzzle Station with Fall Images
Provide puzzles featuring autumn landscapes, harvest scenes, and woodland animals. Offer different difficulty levels for various ages. Set up individual trays or mats so multiple children can work on separate puzzles simultaneously without pieces mixing together and creating frustration.
50. Sticker Boards
Give kids large poster boards and sheets of fall stickers. They create scenes without the mess of glue or paint. This simple activity requires minimal supervision once set up and produces take-home artwork that dries instantly, avoiding the complications of wet crafts during transportation.
School & Community Friendly Ideas
These activities work especially well for school events, church fairs, and neighborhood gatherings focused on community building. Consider incorporating Halloween fundraising ideas to support your cause.
51. Pie-Eating Contest
Use mini pies for safety and portion control. Kids race to finish without using their hands while spectators cheer. Create different age divisions to ensure fair competition, and have towels ready for messy faces that emerge triumphant or defeated from this hilarious challenge.
52. Fall Bingo
Create bingo cards with autumn images instead of numbers. Call out items like "scarecrow," "apple," and "hay bale" as kids mark their cards. Print multiple card variations to prevent too many simultaneous winners, and offer small prizes that encourage continued participation throughout multiple game rounds.
53. Community Art Mural
Hang a large paper banner where kids add leaves, handprints, or pumpkins throughout the day. Display the finished collaborative artwork. This project creates a visual record of your festival that can be photographed and shared on social media, promoting next year's event through tangible memories.
54. Thankful Tree
Set up a bare tree branch in a pot. Kids write what they're grateful for on paper leaves and hang them on the branches. This meaningful activity encourages reflection and creates touching displays that remind families about gratitude and community values beyond just entertainment and games.
55. Charity Pumpkin Auction
Let kids decorate pumpkins to auction off. Proceeds can support a local cause, teaching generosity while having fun. Display decorated pumpkins throughout the festival to build excitement, and hold the auction during peak attendance hours to maximize participation and fundraising success.
Bringing It All Together
A successful fall festival balances different types of activities to keep kids engaged from start to finish. Mix physical games like sack races with creative stations like pumpkin painting, and include both high-energy attractions and quiet corners where kids can take breaks. Plan activities for different age groups so everyone finds something enjoyable.
Classic traditions create the familiar fall feeling families love, while fresh ideas add modern appeal. After your festival wraps up, review our event cleaning checklist to streamline teardown. Already thinking ahead? Ready to get started? Schedule a demo today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best low-cost fall festival activities for kids?
Pumpkin bowling, leaf rubbing art, pinecone bird feeders, costume parades, relay races, and sensory bins require minimal spending while delivering maximum fun.
How can I make a fall festival fun for toddlers?
Sensory bins, gentle pony rides, handprint turkeys, safe leaf piles, bean bag toss, and storybook nooks work perfectly for little ones.
What indoor fall festival activities work for rainy days?
Pumpkin painting, craft stations, cookie decorating, fall bingo, costume parades, talent shows, puppet performances, and hot cocoa bars adapt perfectly indoors.
How many activities should a fall festival include?
Plan 15 to 20 activities mixing games, crafts, food stations, and performances for a three-hour festival to keep everyone engaged.
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