The Fall Months: Best Ways to Enjoy Each Month of Autumn

Welcome to autumn!

The fall months see a new school season, the leaves changing color, and some of the best holidays of the year.

Here’s everything you need to enjoy each autumn month to its fullest.

What are the Fall Months?

Autumn starts at the autumn equinox around September 21 and fades into winter on the solstice around December 21.

Therefore, September, October, November, and December are all technically fall months. We often think of the start of September as the beginning of fall (even though the season doesn’t officially start until 2/3 into the month!) and December as the start of winter (though most of the month is actually in the fall!).

October and November are the quintessential fall months.

The Best Things to Do in the Fall Months

In early fall, it’s still warm outside, but by the end of the season, the world turns into frost. The change in temperature during autumn means that each month holds unique wonders.

Make the most of your season by enjoying the best of each fall month.

September

September is a cusp month. Some days will feel like summer, but you’ll know winter is on its way as the cool breeze moves in.

These September activities will help you enjoy the transition.

Say Goodbye to Summer

Why not kick-start your fall with an end-of-summer BBQ? Though Labor Day Weekend is technically in the summer, it’s the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to warm-weather activities and welcome in the coming cold.

Visit the Pumpkin Patch

Visiting a pumpkin patch should be on everyone’s fall bucket list, and the end of September is the perfect time to go. The weather is still warm enough for a fun outdoor stroll, and you’ll avoid the October crowds.

Pumpkin patches abound with the best fall activities. Many feature corn mazes, hayrides, barn animals, and delicious fall treats. It’s the best family activity for the early fall months.

Break out the Crock Pot

Fall is crockpot season!

September is the perfect time to dust off your crockpot and start making delicious fall stews. Make homemade chili, chicken noodle soup, and beef stew for those cool fall nights.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest may have “October” in the name, but the German fall celebration typically takes place in September.

Enjoy craft beers, tasty bratwursts, and get your chicken dance on at your local Oktoberfest, and add the original in Munich to your bucket list.

Make a Scarecrow

For a creative way to enjoy September, why not make a home-made scarecrow? Grab some jeans and an old flannel and stuff them with straw. Use paper mâché to make a scary face.

When I was a kid, I tried making a scarecrow with fall leaves instead of hay. Though it was fun, the leaves were too small, so I struggled to connect the torso to the legs.

Straw or hay is a better choice if it’s available.

October

October is the quintessential fall month. As the days get colder, the leaves burst into brilliant color, showcasing the peak of their glory.

It’s my favorite month of the year, and here’s how I celebrate.

Decorate the House

My favorite month hosts my favorite holiday: Halloween. I love getting my home ready for the season with spider webs, witchy cauldrons, ghostly apparitions, and all the other festive drippings of the season.

While you’re at it, why not carve the pumpkin you bought at the patch last month into a scary or jolly jack-o-lantern?

Watch Scary Movies

October is the creepiest month of the year. Embrace the ambiance with a horror fest.

Grab your favorite people and favorite movies and snuggle in for a terrifying night of murder, mayhem, and spooky fun.

Not sure what to watch? Check out our list of the best Halloween movies!

Leaf Peeping

Although it varies depending on where you live, October is typically the best month to watch the leaves change color.

In most places, the autumn leaves will find their peak brilliance in October, making it the best time to watch nature’s most stunning show. Visit a forest and bask in nature’s beauty this October.

Connect with your Ancestors

They say the veil between our world and the spiritual plane is thinnest around Halloween. That makes it the perfect time of year to connect with those who came before.

Spend time sharing memories of departed loved ones, exploring your ancestry, and connecting with your heritage.

Some cultures celebrate their ancestors on the Día de (los) Muertos in early November instead of October, so this activity can span the fall months.

Celebrate Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. Of course, I love all things spooky, but I also love that you give something to anyone who comes to your door. To me, that’s the true spirit of giving.

Spend time celebrating Halloween this fall. Go to costume parties, dress up, take your kids trick-or-treating, or stay home and hand out candy. Visit one of America’s most haunted places, or book a stay at a haunted hotel.

Make the most of the holiday.

November

November represents the harvest. After all the sowing, it’s time to reap nature’s bounty.

Here’s how to make the most of your November.

Harvest Your Garden

If you haven’t yet, now is the time to reap what you sow. Harvest your vegetable garden, and prep the ground for the winter.

Enjoy the bounties of the things you planted in the summer. You can even do some canning and freezing so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor during the cold winter.

Enjoy Pumpkin Spice

Fall is pumpkin season, so embrace it! Sip on a pumpkin spice latte. Eat a pumpkin pie. Make pumpkin bread.

Shamelessly enjoy the best fall flavor!

Pick Apples at an Orchard

Apples get ripe in the fall, making early November the best time to head out to an orchard for end-of-the-season apple picking.

Many apple orchards open to the public, allowing people to come in and pick their own bushels of perfectly ripe apples. No apple will taste so sweet as the one you picked yourself.

Give Thanks

November marks the beginning of the holiday season, as we all gather together and give thanks for another year.

Make the most of your Thanksgiving. Cook a turkey with all the fixings, and spend the day showing gratitude for all the wonderful things in your life.

Don’t limit your thankfulness to the holiday. The entire month is a great time to reflect and count your blessings.

Spend Time with Loved Ones

Everyone gathers with their loved ones on Thanksgiving, but make time to show your love outside the holiday as well.

Have a friend’s date. Visit your elderly relatives who can’t get out much. Call someone who lives far away. Make it a point to spend time and energy on the people you love this month.

December

Most of December takes place in the autumn, though we wouldn’t know it from the short days and bitter cold moving in.

Despite the challenges, there’s a lot to enjoy during this transitional month.

All the Christmas Activities

Christmas occurs just after fall turns to winter, which makes sense because it originated as a Pagan holiday to celebrate the solstice. But that means all our favorite Christmas activities, which we usually associate with winter, actually take place in the fall.

Decorate your house for the holiday, enjoy peppermint, visit Santa, and see a Christmas light show. Enjoy the magic of the season.

Prep for Winter

Although it’s usually cold in December, there are usually a handful of warm days. Use one of them to prep your home for the coming winter.

Clean all the fallen leaves from the gutter. Winterize your sprinkler system. Insulate your home against the coming cold to save money during the winter.

Get Crafty

December days grow cold, and it’s often best to stay inside than to venture out. Why not spend those days indoors doing something crafty?

The days leading up to Christmas are perfect for winter crafts with the kids. Make Christmas tree decorations or cut snowflakes.

Those without kids can spend time knitting a winter scarf or perfecting their favorite indoor creative hobby.

Snuggle with a Good Book

Cold Winter nights are perfect for a date with your library. Grab a blanket and your favorite book and start nesting for the winter.

Make it even better by brewing a warm cup of your favorite herbal tea and lighting the fireplace. If you don’t have a fireplace, a scented candle will work too.

How Will You Spend Your Autumn?

Autumn is the season of change. Make the most of it by enjoying the unique things you can only do in the fall.

But also, spend all the fall months reflecting on your life. Consider how you grew this past year, and look forward to what wonders might await in the future.

Enjoy your fall in all its glory!