Author Victoria Erikson once wrote: “If a year was tucked inside a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.”
We agree, and wanted to give you plenty of ideas to find your family fun this fall ... even with the pandemic continuing to affect our everyday lives and our normal holiday traditions.
So here are 10 ideas for socially distanced fun this fall:
1. Host a soup swap
Invite neighbors to make their favorite soup, package in a to-go container, and host an afternoon on your deck or in your yard when neighbors can stop by to swap soups and recipes.
2. Make a fall wreath
This is a great project for little kids -- collect freshly fallen autumn leaves, then cut a hole in the center of a paper plate, and glue leaves, in an overlapping pattern, to the plate to create a beautiful fall wreath. Add a ribbon to make it extra special. Can't find many fall leaves on the ground in Tucson? You can find artificial autumn leaves at many craft stores.
3. Organize a fall fun scavenger hunt
This can be done with your family or invite neighborhood friends to take part too! You can give kids a list of items to find — like a jack-o-lantern, a leaf, a cat, a puddle, and more. Or hide objects around your neighborhood or in your yard like painted rocks, tiny pumpkins, fake spiders, and whatever else you can find to fit your theme, then let kids find them!
4. Let the kids decorate!
I don't know about your kids, but mine LOVE decorating for Halloween and fall. Encourage them to make homemade decorations for extra cheer. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
Halloween:
- 6 Easy Halloween Crafts & Activities
- Recycled Plastic Bag Ghosts
- 4 No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas Your Kids Can Do
Fall:
5. Start a book club
Start one for yourself, or help your kids start one! As the weather gets cold, a book club is a great way for kids (and adults!) to socialize online, or even at a safe distance outdoors during the cooler weather months.
6. Visit — or build — a little free library
Little free libraries are popping up all over! Don't have one near you? Make one for your neighborhood and let your kids decorate it! It's a great way to share books — and clean out your own family's collection of books. Find plans to build a little free library along with a map of registered little free libraries in each state at LittleFreeLibrary.org.
7. Host an outdoor movie night
Set up a projector to show a movie on your garage or the side of your home and let your neighbors or friends know when it will start so they can bring lawn chairs and enjoy the show too.
8. Visit a pumpkin patch or corn maze
Pumpkin patches are a great source of fresh air, family fun, and always fantastic pictures! Find local pumpkin patches in our Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Guide. You can pick out a perfect pumpkin for carving, or find some to use in a pumpkin recipe, like this one for roasted pumpkin.
9. Run or walk in a local virtual fall 5K
Many nonprofits rely on the money they make in races or walks as part of their major fundraising campaigns each year. With the pandemic, many of those organizations are holding events virtually instead. Sign up to support a nonprofit your family loves — you can feel good about giving back and staying active with your family!
10. Take a hike!
Fall is one of the best times to hike in Southern Arizona. Find some kid-friendly hikes near Tucson HERE.
Thanks to Alicia Marshall, publisher of Macaroni Kid Scranton, Pa.
