20 Local Fun Fall Activities for Kids

Oct 5, 2016, 13:49 PM by Krista Olson

Summer may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up the family outdoor fun! The coming crisp fall days are the perfect time to gather up the kids and make some fun memories.

This time of year is one of my favorite seasons, the weather is almost perfect and there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy from sunup-till-sundown. Here are 20 local fun kid friendly events to consider this year.

1 Visit A Pumpkin Patch

Here is a list of Places you can pick Pumpkins in the Area

Mulberry Lane Farm

We go to this Farm every year and the kids have a blast here so I highly recommend it and it is definitely worth the drive.

Pick-your-own pumpkins, petting farm, ride a pony, milk a cow, hayrides to the pumpkin patch. Admission is $13 per person, Children under 2 are free, which includes a Free pumpkin. Location: W3190 County Road B, Hilbert, WI 54129

Sunny Acres Farm : pumpkins, animals & more
The Sunny Acres Farm, 4759 Hwy GG, Oshkosh.
Open 10am-6pm every day through October 31. Pick your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, ride the train around the farm, go through the corn maze, visit and feed animals & more.

Sprangers Orchard

Apple Picking and 4 acre Pick-your-Own pumpkin patch Location: W2100 County Trunk KK, Kaukauna, WI. For more pumpkin picking places check out the list from GoValleyKids.com http://govalleykids.com/fall-apple/

2. Apple Picking – Here is a list of Places you can go Apple picking in the Area

Star Orchard

Apple picking and orchard store that offers homemade apple cider and caramel apples. 55 acres and 20 variety of apples Location: 253 County Road CE, Kaukauna, WI 54130 Open 7 days a week through the end of October.

Sprangers Orchard

Apple Picking and 4 acre Pick-your-Own pumpkin patch Location: W2100 County Trunk KK, Kaukauna, WI

Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard

Apple and pear Picking, Cider and caramel apples available fore purchase, Corn Mazes (large and kiddie corn maze). W3964 Wedge Road, Appleton, WI

For more Apple Orchards check out the list from GoValleyKids.com http://govalleykids.com/fall-apple/

3 Go Through a Corn Maze

Hofacker’s Hillside Orchard

Apple and pear Picking, Cider and caramel apples available fore purchase, Corn Mazes (large and kiddie corn maze). W3964 Wedge Road, Appleton, WI.

Meuer Farm

Corn Maze, activity area and hayrides, pick your own pumpkin patch. Location: N2564 Highway 151, Chilton, WI

Polly’s Pumpkin Patch

2 Mazes with 2 different games, also features other activities to do with the family. Location: N4367 Hwy 57 Chilton, Wi 53014

For more Corn Mazes throughout the State of WI Check out CornMazesAmerica.com http://www.cornmazesamerica.com/directory.php?state=WI

4 Go On a Hayride

Mulberry Lane Farm

Cavanaugh's Carriages
Pumpkin patch & haunted hayrides. Location: 3910 West Fairview Road, Neenah, WI 54956. Corn Maze, activity area and hayrides, pick your own pumpkin patch. Location: N2564 Highway 151, Chilton, WI

5 Go on a Nature Walk and explore fall colors

6 Collect Acorns and Colorful Leaves

7 Pumpkin Carving or Painting

What a better way to show off your creative skills then painting or carving pumpkins. It can get messy but well worth the fun. Here are a couple sites to get ideas or printable templates for pumpkin carving/painting geared toward kids.

Disney Family Pumpkin Carving Ideas: https://family.disney.com/pumpkin-carving-ideas/

Packer Patterns: http://www.packers.com/fan-zone/pumpkin-carving-patterns.html

Better Homes and Gardens Pumpkin Ideas and Stencils: http://www.bhg.com/halloween/pumpkin-carving/

8 Rake the yard and Jump into a Pile of Leaves!

Have a Campfire or go backyard camping (for a couple hours)

It might be a little cold outside to spend the night outdoors, but you can still have some fun by pitching a tent, making some s’mores by the campfire and telling campfire stories. After you are done you can cuddle up inside in your own beds. You get the best of both worlds!

9 Go on a Scavenger/Treasure Hunt

Send your kids on a scavenger hunt for fall-like objects at a nearby park or your backyard. You could even get creative with the adventure and put together a treasure map that offers clues to where prizes are hidden. Kids will love being little detectives for the day.

10 Go to a Haunted House

Children’s Day at the Haunted House

Youth Go Haunted house holds a lighted, child friendly tour of the haunted house with trick or treating carnival games and more. $5 to get in from Noon-4 pm on Oct 22. Neenah’s old City Garage at 333 West Cecil St, Neenah

Haunted Wisconsin is a great website for additional details on Haunted houses. Check it out at http://www.hauntedwisconsin.com/

11 Make Some Halloween Treats

Whether you decorate Halloween cookies, create apple monsters or make ghostly hot cocoa you and the kids will have just as much fun creating these delicious treats as you will eating them. Here are some fun Halloween treats kids can make from Parents.com: http://www.parents.com/recipes/holidays/halloween/halloween-treats-kids-can-make/

If you are a busy mom here are some quick and easy Halloween Recipes that require less than an hour of prep time (also from Parents.com): http://www.parents.com/recipes/holidays/halloween/easy-last-minute-halloween-recipes/

12 Get Crafty

From painting pinecones to finding a few autumn leaves to paint and press to popsicle stick Jack-0-Lanterns, there are so many creative Fall themed projects to keep your kids busy all season long. Here are 40+ Fun Fall Crafts to Make with your Kids from CountryLiving.com http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2542/fall-crafts-for-kids/

13 Cozy up indoors and read a new Fall Themed Book together

14 Watch Kid-friendly Halloween Movies

The great classic kids Halloween movies, such as Casper, Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and Ghostbusters, are always fun to watch during the season.

15 Also check out Flick or Treat! Kid Series Oct 7- 30 Fridays-Sundays at 10am at the nearest Marcus Cinema near you. Admission is only $3 and you can go watch fun family Halloween movies like Casper, Hotel Transylvania or Ghoosebumps. More info here: http://www.marcustheatres.com/marcus-specials/marcus-film-series/flick-or-treat-kids-series

16 Go Trick or Treating

City of Oshkosh is Monday Oct 31 from 5-7 pm
City of Neenah is Monday Oct 31 from 4-7 pm
City of Appleton is Monday Oct 31 from 4-8 pm

For more local city trick or treating times and dates check out haunted Wisconsin’s list http://www.hauntedwisconsin.com/things-to-do/kids-family/trick-or-treat/

17 Zooloween Boo at Menominee Park

Halloween fun for everyone at the Menominee Park Zoo in Oshkosh. Oct 15-16^th 11am-3pm. Safe trick or treat stations by local businesses, bounce houses, children’s games, crafts, fun entertainment. Adults $5 Children $3 (2-17 yrs). Location: Hazel St. and Merritt Ave Oshkosh, WI 54901 More info go to: http://www.visitoshkosh.com/venue/menominee-park-zoo/

18 Creepy Crawlies

Creepy Crawlies Halloween program put on at the Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha, includes activities for the whole family such as storytelling, hayride, Halloween crafts, live owls, little spooks trail for kids 5 and under and the fun spooky Haunted Trail.

Friday Oct 7 and Saturday Oct 8 6-9PM. You can purchase discounted tickets online in advance to guarantee your spot: http://heckrodtwetland.org/creepy-crawlies-2016

19 Zoo Boo at New Zoo in Suamico, WI

Trick or Treating around the Zoo, a Children’s Maze, giant inflatables, live Swamp Monsters, horse drawn Haunted wagon ride through ‘Freaky Forest’. Tickets are $10/person at the gate or $8 in advance at Festival foods.

Oct 14,15, Oct 21,22 and Oct 28,29 3pm-8pm

http://newzoo.org/2016/09/06/zoo-boo-tickets-on-sale-sept10

20. Boofest Shattuck Park, Neenah, WI Sponsored by WCCU

Future Neenah hosts BooFest during the final outdoor Farmer’s Market of the season. Games, Trick or Treating and costume contest. You can Trick or Treat at the Market and at some of the Downtown Neenah businesses.

October 15 9am-Noon
Event is FREE to attend
Check out the more information at http://www.neenah.org/events/boofest/

I’d love to hear about your fun ideas or events as well. Please comment below and we can add it to our list!