Like every human with a beating heart, I love autumn. It’s a gorgeous moment of transition, for me and the trees both.
The colors, smells, the crisp air that isn’t too hot or too cold, the vibes. It’s incredible.
Like anything good, this season has been leveraged to separate us from our hard-earned cash through adorable products like pumpkin candles, plush throws, burnt-orange sweaters, and everything else. And those things are all SO cute and fun. They tempt me, they really do.
But once you’ve decided to live minimally or consume intentionally, those little sales become quicksand.
So you want to cherish and savor this brief and beautiful season, but you don’t want to break the bank and bring a bunch of new clutter into your house? Heard!
Here’s my list of free and/or sustainable activities that I love to do when the leaves start to turn and things feel spooky.
20 fun minimalist fall activities
1. Simmer pots
I love simmer pots. They’re so simple and low-effort, but they have such a transformative effect on your home. I do these during the cold months to warm up the kitchen, get a little humidity in the drier season, and fill my home with the most DELICIOUS smells.
All you do is put a little water in a pot on the stove, then fill it with whatever you’ve got on hand. Here are some of my favorite simmer pot ingredients:
- Sliced citrus like oranges or lemons
- Apple
- Cranberries
- A bay leaf
- Cinnamon sticks
- Capful of vanilla extract
- Herbs like rosemary and lavender
- Nutmeg
- Chai spice
- Ginger
- Black pepper
No need to run out to the store! Just use what you have. Even a floral tea bag and a grind of black pepper with some leftover lemon rinds can make a wonderful simmer pot. Here’s my simmer pot from this morning with cranberries, lemons, apples, cinnamon sticks, lavender from the garden, vanilla, and black pepper:
My whole house smells amazing right now. I’m literally smiling while I type this.
2. Grow your own pumpkins
Pumpkins make great decor—some varieties can be stored at room temperature for many months before consumption.
And you can eat them!
And you can carve them!
They’re cute while they’re growing in the yard, then they’re cute on the shelf inside, then they’re cute in a soup pot, then they’re cute in my tummy.
And they’re not too hard to grow! I recommend freeheirloomseeds.org if you’re looking for quality seeds at a great price (that price being free).
It’s probably too late to start your pumpkin harvest at the time you’re reading this, but keep it in mind for next year!
Here are a few scallop squashes I grew this season. I actually just ate a bowl full of them roasted right before I started writing this post! They were delicious, if you were wondering:
3. Natural crafts
Using natural materials to craft is a PEAK autumn activity. Spend time outside in the wonderful weather collecting the goods, then have a cozy evening inside crafting.
You can make leaf art, wreaths, garlands… Challenge your imagination by making something new!
4. Spooky movie nights
A classic, free activity is to get the gals n pals together for a movie night! Here are some of my suggestions. Leave yours in a comment!
Cozy movies:
- Over The Garden Wall (miniseries)
- Twilight
- Matilda
- Knives Out
- Hocus Pocus
- You’ve Got Mail
- The Goonies
- E.T.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Monster House
- Warm Bodies
- Practical Magic
Spooky movies (fun):
- Coraline
- Sleepy Hollow
- Jennifer’s Body
- Beetlejuice
- The Village
- Ghost Busters
- The Addams Family
- Corpse Bride
- Shaun of the Dead
- Zombieland
Spooky movies (scary):
- Midsommar
- Hereditary
- The Conjuring
- Talk To Me
- A Quiet Place
- Lights Out
- The Babadook
- Terrifier
- Us
- A Nightmare On Elm Street
- The VVitch
- Crimson Peak
5. Oh—THE APPLE ORCHARD?
Many apple orchards allow you (for a small fee) to pick as many apples as you’d like! It’s a fun activity and an affordable way to stock up for pies, ciders, and other delicious autumnal treats.
6. Local fall festivals
While you’re searching around for apple orchards, check for fall festivals! Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, apple bobbing, spooky story time, all the good stuff. And they’re usually free or affordable to enter.
7. Build your own scarecrow
Here’s an activity that doubles as cute fall decor and will protect your corn crops—build your own scarecrow!
You can do it with stuff around your house, too. Old flannel shirt and jeans, a hat if you’ve got one, some PVC pipe or sticks you found in the yard, a lil twine, and you’re cooking with scarecrow juice, baby.
I like figuring stuff out myself (and messing it up, undoing it, redoing, repeat), but if you’re an instructions kind of person, here’s how to DIY a scarecrow: Scarecrow tutorial from Burlap Kitchen.
8. Petting zoos
Petting zoos are always fun, but they’re even MORE fun when it’s not peak summer and the donkey poop isn’t cooking in the sun. 🙂 That makes it a great autumn activity!
They’re usually either donation-based or just a few dollars for entry. Feed and pet the animals and have a great time while supporting your local animal sanctuaries. If you have kids, this makes a perfect afternoon, but it’s also fun to do with your grown-up friends! Go feed a goat some corn!
9. Library activities
Is there anything cozier than a library in October? Bring your kiddos (or the neighbor’s kiddos) out to your town’s library to enjoy crafts, story-time, and all kinds of fun activities that libraries offer for free!
10. Haunted houses
Haunted houses are a MUST for me. They’re an affordable activity and SO fun. I love seeing the actors with their costumes and appreciating the artistry and creativity that goes into displays and sets.
Now, I’m from Louisiana, and 13th Gate set my expectations for haunted houses HIGH. But I’ve tried them out in several cities, and I always have fun! Even the lower budget ones are a blast. Grab a couple friends and go get spooky!
11. Leaf walks
Another annual tradition I have with a friend is when we grab a couple Lime scooters and zip around downtown to see all of the leaves changing.
Scooters optional—taking the time to enjoy nature while the trees prepare for winter is such a joy. So take a hike or a ride and enjoy those fall colors!
12. Bonfires
Bonfires are my favorite! Everything is my favorite! What a fabulous time of year!!!
Okay, Mia, get it together. 🧘♀️
If your town doesn’t put on public bonfires, maybe you can do your own! Check your local ordinances for backyard fires (and the fire warnings, if you live in a dry area) before making plans. But all you need is some pals, something to burn, and a couple bags of marshmallows for a fantastic night.
13. Cook some soups
Try out a new soup recipe! My favorite right now is chicken pot pie soup. It’s just carrots, celery, onions, peas, corn, chicken, herbs’n’spices, then I drop in some dumpling dough right at the end. Delicious!
14. Apple cider
I have to make apple cider every year, else, did October even happen? I love to bottle it up and pass it out to my friends, too. My recipe is simple:
- chop about a dozen mixed apples (some tart, some sweet—I usually do honey crisp and granny smith, but whatever you have on hand is perfect!)
- slice up 1 or 2 oranges (or lemons—just a little acidity)
- add a few cinnamon sticks
- toss in some allspice, pumpkin spice, and/or cloves, if I’ve got them
- put it all in a pot, cover with water, and simmer for about an hour
- strain and squeeze through cheesecloth
- stir in about 1/2 cup of brown sugar (to taste)
- enjoy and share with your besties!
15. Decor tour
You don’t have to spend a ton of money on decorations (or even decorate your own yard, if you don’t want to!) to enjoy the holiday decor. Take a walk or ride through the wealthier neighborhoods in your town to enjoy (or roast) their displays! Honestly a ton of fun with a friend, and it’s free.
16. Read by an open window
This is as simple and enjoyable as it gets! Grab a book you’ve been meaning to read (or an old favorite) and curl up with a blanket by an open window. Enjoy the fall air and have a quiet hour or two to yourself.
17. Warm baths
When the weather gets cold, so does my booty. So I drop that thang in a warm bath. I encourage you not to buy any new bath stuff! If you have some bubbles or salt or a bath bomb, use ’em up! Light candles you already own. Turn off the big light. Enjoy the quiet, bring in the speaker and bump some spooky lofi, or grab a laptop to watch one of the movies on our list!
18. Seasonal declutter
Transitional moments like autumn are an excellent way to strategize decluttering. If you swap out seasonal wardrobes, cut out the pieces you don’t wear. Take this time to clear out your baking dishes, soup bowls, and other items you’ll be using regularly. If you’re not sure if you want to declutter that one pot, this is a great opportunity to challenge yourself to use it before the season is over—if you don’t use it during soup season, you probably never will!
In fact, grab this free pre-holiday declutter guide if you’d like some help:
19. Farmer’s market
If you have local farmer’s markets, now’s a great time to stock up on seasonal goodies like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, honey, carrots, cranberries, figs, and preserves.
Get some fresh produce, support local businesses, and have a fun autumn morning browsing the stalls.
20. Write poetry
“I’m not a poet,” you protest.
Who cares! This is such a romantic time of year where the veil between normal people and tortured poets is at its thinnest, so poke your toe into the water. Write some bad poetry and have a blast!
Here are 15 Fall Poetry Writing Prompts you can check out if you’re having a bit of writer’s block.
What are your favorite simple autumn activities? Share your ideas in a comment! 🍁
