16 Budget-Friendly Fall Activities for Families

With the holidays right around the corner and the end of the year fast approaching, the last thing you want to do is blow your budget on fall activities.

Between fall sports, Halloween, and fall travel, the costs add up…and it’s too easy to overspend. 

If you aren’t careful, you might miss out on your 401(k) savings goal or go into debt during the holidays.

Fortunately, there are tons of budget-friendly fall activities for families to enjoy.

Here’s a big list that will bring lots of fun without financial strain.

 

#1 Go Apple Picking

If you are lucky enough to live near an apple orchard, make a point to take your family apple picking this fall.

This is one of our favorite budget-friendly fall activities.

It is seasonal fun, and you also get to go home with bushels of apples to eat!

 

#2 Bake Apple Treats

Whether you live close enough to an apple orchard or have to get some apples from the store, fall is the best time to bake apple treats.

In addition to the traditional apple pie, there are countless recipes for delicious apple treats.

Here is a recipe from Just a Taste for Crescent Roll Apple Dumplings.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 (8-oz.) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
• 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the butter, apple juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until the butter is melted and the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set the mixture aside.
3. Tear apart the crescent rolls and arrange the triangular-shaped pieces of dough on your work surface.
4. Cut each of the apples into 8 wedges. Place an apple wedge on the widest side of the triangle then roll the apple up with the dough. Arrange the dumplings in the greased pan then pour the apple juice mixture on top of and around the dumplings.
5. Bake the dumplings for 25 to 30 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and they are golden brown. Remove the dumplings from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 to 10 minutes in the pan before serving.
6. NOTE – These apple dumplings are great served straight from the pan, but for added indulgence, top them off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipping cream.

#3 Head to a Fall Festival

Fall is festival season, and thankfully, most fall festivals are budget-friendly.

Look in your community or nearby towns for fall festivals that feature food, craft vendors, kids’ activities, and entertainment.

Many won’t have a fee to enter, so just make sure you don’t overspend on candy apples!

 

#4 Get Lost in a Corn Maze

Another of our favorite budget-friendly fall activities is trekking through a corn maze. Corn mazes are inexpensive and can be enjoyed for hours on a fall day.

 

#5 Camp Out in Your Backyard

Fall is a wonderful time to go camping.

If you don’t want to pay for a campsite or travel, consider camping out in your own backyard. This is especially fun for families with little ones.

 

#6 Carve Pumpkins

You can find budget-friendly carving tools at places like the Dollar Store or use knives you already have at home.

Note – While pumpkin patches are fun to visit, you will spend less money on pumpkins if you buy them at the grocery store.

 

#7 Watch Spooky Movies

Plan a family movie night, but make it spooky-themed.

If you have elementary-aged children or grandchildren, watch classics like Casper or Hocus Pocus. For families with older kids, introduce them to old-school scary movies, like the original Halloween.

 

#8 Cheer on the Home Team

Fall means football! Instead of spending big bucks to see a college or pro football game, enjoy your local Friday night lights.

Go out and support your local high school team.

 

#9 Peek at Some Leaves

Admiring changing fall foliage is the perfect budget-friendly fall activity for families.

It costs little to no money. Drive around and observe the changing leaves, or simply walk through your neighborhood.

 

#10 Host an At-Home Tailgate

For families who like to host parties, consider hosting an at-home tailgate for the big game.

You provide the television and basic supplies. Then, ask your friends and neighbors to bring a potluck dish to share.

 

#11 Make Smores

Nowadays, you can purchase an inexpensive outdoor fire pit, which is great for keeping you warm and cooking s’mores. If you don’t want to spend on a fire pit, build a small campfire or use your fireplace.

 

#12 Roast Pumpkin Seeds

When you carve your pumpkin, make sure you save the pumpkin seeds. They are easy to roast and taste great! 

All you have to do is toss the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet with some oil and salt. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 – 20 minutes.

 

#13 Make Your Own DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

The average cost of a grande (16-ounce) pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks is $6.50. 

For a family of four, that is $26.00. 

If your family loves their pumpkin spice beverages, it is wise to purchase pumpkin spice coffee syrup.

This costs around $5.00, but it allows you to make several pumpkin spice-flavored coffees at home for much less than you’d spend at Starbucks.

 

#14 Have a Chilli Cook-Off

Another one of the well-loved budget-friendly fall activities is the classic chili cook-off. This is a great way to gather with friends. 

Ask everyone to bring a crockpot of chili, set out a bunch of small, disposable cups and spoons, and enjoy a feast.

 

#15 Stock Your Freezer

If you want to spend time with loved ones and stock your freezer, host a fall freezer party.

For this type of party, you ask each person to bring the ingredients to make a freezer meal for the number of attendees. 

For example, if six people are coming, ask guests to bring enough ingredients to make six freezer meals.

Tell everyone to also bring gallon-sized freezer bags and a cooler.

On the day of the event, everyone comes over to the host’s kitchen to cook and assemble their gallon-sized freezer meals.

At the end of the event, everyone goes home with six freezer meals and memories. 

Thriving Home has a great blog that walks you through planning a freezer meal party.

 

#16 Don’t Go Overboard on Halloween

It’s easy to overspend on Halloween. It is tempting to buy all new costumes and decorations, but you don’t have to.

Reuse decorations. Consider hosting a kid’s costume swap. Visit thrift stores.

Buy candy in bulk and give out single pieces rather than goody bags. (Trust us – the kids don’t care.)

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