Every season has its special charms, but I think I love fall best. I’ve always been a student at heart, so the whole back to school vibe really works for me. I also am ready for it to cool down a bit. Plus, it’s fun to look ahead to the holidays. Throw in the sensational fall color we enjoy in the Midwest, and you’ve got one amazing season. I’ve put together a fun fall checklist–a cozy calendar of ideas to help you make the most of the fall season. Let’s get started!
The beauty of fall
Autumn is the season of harvest, change, and cozy rituals. Across cultures, fall has long been celebrated with festivals tied to food and agriculture. Animals stock up for winter, birds migrate south, and in some regions, Indian summer brings a few warm, sunny days even in late October or November.
One of the season’s most magical features is the changing leaves. As days shorten and temperatures drop, trees shed their leaves to conserve energy. Chlorophyll fades, revealing yellow and orange carotenoids, while red and purple anthocyanins may also appear. The result is the stunning mix of colors that makes fall unmistakable.
Fall is a time to notice the small joys of the season: crispy leaves underfoot, warm drinks in hand, and all the delicious fall flavors. I’ve grouped a bunch of ideas to help us embrace the season into several different categories. Granted, some items fit into multiple categories, but I divided them up however I wanted. 🙂
Fun fall checklist: ideas related to FOOD
Fall officially marks the beginning of soup weather! I love soups and chilis and could eat them nearly every day. The best part? Soup is basically a meal on its own. Add a baked good and maybe some fresh produce, and you’re all set. Fall flavors also shine in baking, so let’s think about those treats calling our names!
Baking
Fall baking means apples and pumpkins. Lots of cinnamon. What comes to mind for me are muffins, cakes, and cornbread. You might try this vanilla chai olive oil cake or this honeycrisp apple cake, both bursting with fall flavors. What about chewy pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies or apple pie oatmeal bars? Do you have a favorite fall treat?
I’ve pulled ideas from a few different recipes to make these raisin bran muffins: I use one cup of light cooking oil, four eggs, one and a half cups of sugar, a quart of buttermilk, five cups of flour, five teaspoons of baking soda, two teaspoons of ground cinnamon, one half teaspoon of ground nutmeg, six cups of raisin bran, one cup of dried cranberries, and two diced apples. Cream together the oil and sugar, mix in the eggs and buttermilk, and then stir in all the remaining ingredients. Cover and chill at least an hour. Then scoop (no more stirring) into a prepared muffin tin. I like to sprinkle a little dry oatmeal on top of each one. Bake at 400 degrees about fifteen minutes. This makes about four dozen standard muffins, and the batter keeps well in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Fabulous fall flavors!
Cooking
Mains
One-pan meals are perfect for fall: try cranberry rosemary chicken, chicken enchilada skillet, or a simple roasted chicken dinner. I have found that a four-pound chicken can reliably finish in one hour at 425 degrees (at least in my oven). I usually put herbs, lemon and onion wedges, and garlic in the cavity and tie the legs together. Drizzle a few tablespoons of melted butter on top and crack some black pepper over it. Surround it with herbs and root vegetables in large chunks, drizzling them with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
There are so many delicious soup options! Consider trying this autumn wild rice soup or pumpkin red lentil soup. I love chili, and I tend to make it differently each time. Please share your favorite chili recipe in the comments below! Another delicious soup option is lentil tortilla soup, which is easily customizable with various fresh chopped toppings.
Another dish I love is pulled pork. I get the largest bone-in pork shoulder I can find (that will fit in my crockpot), pour in root beer so that about two thirds of it is covered, and then cook on low for 6-8 hours. Once it’s done, remove the bone and shred it. Finally, stir in your favorite barbecue sauce. Delicious! It makes a large quantity, though, so you might want to try some pulled pork tacos with the leftovers.
Sides
Some fall side dishes I especially enjoy are these crispy smashed potatoes and apple walnut quinoa salad. Speaking of apples, fall is the perfect time to make homemade applesauce: Peel, core, and chop two or three bags of Granny Smith apples, simmer with a little water and cinnamon for an hour, then partially blend with an immersion blender. Sweeten to taste, and enjoy all week!
Fun fall checklist: ideas related to the OUTDOORS
Fall is the perfect time to host an outdoor event. It could be a barbecue, picnic, or a fun time of snacks and games. A blogger friend of mine has put together some awesome backyard bonfire party ideas worth checking out. We’ve been wanting to get a fire pit, and these ideas would be perfect for that!
One of the best things about fall is the gorgeous color. In the Midwest, I marvel each year at the stunning variety of the trees. Truly beautiful. A fall activity that is a must is a nature walk or drive to enjoy the colorful trees. Perhaps collect a few, snap pictures, or rake some and then jump into the pile! Make a note of what types of trees are in your neighborhood, and maybe go to other parts of town to see what they have to offer.
Living in the Midwest, another fun activity we have often enjoyed, especially when our kids were small, was visiting a pumpkin patch and corn maze. Do they have corn mazes where you live? There are all different kinds of them here: some feature trivia, some end with a hayride, and some are even “haunted.” We took our kids one year to a farm that had a corn maze, pumpkin patch, snack stand, gift shop, and petting zoo. A perfect day! Even if there isn’t a corn maze in your area, it would be fun to check for a farmers’ market or orchard.
Fun fall checklist: ideas related to WARMTH
Sip on hot cocoa, spiced chai, or a steaming cup of tea. Pair it with scones or homemade biscotti for an instant cozy vibe. (Bonus idea: Have you ever made your cocoa into a float? Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Amazing!) Wrap up in a soft sweater, toss on a pretty scarf, and grab your warmest blanket.
Movie night? Yes, please. A stack of fall favorites makes the perfect excuse to stay in. And don’t forget the joy of reading a good book while tucked near a window, watching the leaves drift down outside.
Five cozy movies perfect for fall
- You’ve Got Mail – Romance, bookstores, and autumn in New York.
- When Harry Met Sally – Friendship, love, and Central Park in the fall.
- Dan in Real Life – A funny, heartwarming family story set in New England.
- Julie & Julia – Cozy kitchens, comfort food, and plenty of laughter.
- Father of the Bride – Family, weddings, and feel-good charm.
Fun fall checklist: ideas related to BEAUTY
Fall invites us to notice the beauty all around. Collecting colorful leaves, capturing golden sunsets in photos, and arranging seasonal decorations or fall crafts (or something simple: carve a pumpkin!) can turn your home into a warm, inviting space. Candles flicker softly as the days grow shorter, adding both light and a comforting scent.
This season also offers a chance to slow down and reflect. Whether you’re crafting with loved ones, taking a quiet walk to admire autumn’s colors, or pausing to consider what you’re thankful for, these small practices help you notice and celebrate the richness of life. Fall reminds us that beauty can be found in the ordinary.
Fun fall checklist: BINGO version
Wouldn’t it be fun to try this in BINGO format? I’ve created a printable card for you. Simply print it out, enjoy some fall activities, and mark them off as you go. Once you complete a row, column, or diagonal, then treat yourself to your favorite fall drink and goodies. If you complete the entire card, then your reward is an engaging and memorable fall season!
Click the image below to grab your free printable and play along.
Putting our checklist all together:
FOOD 🍎
☐ Try a warm fall soup or chili.
☐ Bake muffins, cake, or cornbread.
☐ Make homemade applesauce.
☐ Roast a chicken with herbs and root vegetables.
☐ Slow-cook pulled pork for dinner or tacos.
OUTDOORS 🍂
☐ Take a nature walk or drive to admire fall colors
☐ Collect leaves or snap autumn photos
☐ Visit a pumpkin patch or corn maze
☐ Host an outdoor barbecue, picnic, or bonfire
☐ Rake leaves and jump in the pile
WARMTH ☕
☐ Sip hot cocoa, spiced chai, or tea.
☐ Pair drinks with scones or biscotti.
☐ Wrap up in a soft sweater or cozy blanket.
☐ Wear a favorite scarf.
☐ Curl up with a good book or movie.
BEAUTY ️🕯️
☐ Try a fun fall craft.
☐ Decorate your home with seasonal accents.
☐ Light candles for cozy ambiance.
☐ Pause to notice the small joys of the season.
☐ Reflect on what you’re thankful for.
BONUS FUN 🎉
☐ Use the printable BINGO card for a playful twist on fall activities.
Fun facts and quotes
No cozy calendar would be complete without a little autumn trivia and inspiration. 🙂
Fun facts:
- Day and night are roughly equal in length through much of the fall, thanks to the equinox.
- The word “harvest” was once the common English word for this season; “fall” came from the phrase “fall of the leaf.”
- Many animals grow thicker coats in autumn to prepare for winter.
- Pumpkins are technically fruits, and the largest pumpkin ever recorded weighed over 2,700 pounds!
- Leaves change color because chlorophyll breaks down, revealing pigments that were always there.
Quotes about Fall:
- “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” – Unknown
- “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald (from The Great Gatsby)
- “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop
- “Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” – Often attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche, but it doesn’t appear in any of his published works.
- “And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde
What do you like about the fall?
Comment below with your favorite fall traditions. I’d love to hear about it! Looking over what I’ve presented here, I seem to be a bit long on the FOOD ideas. 🙂 Is that the case for you as well?
Other posts you may like:
- Proverbs 31: shared flourishing
- cultivate presence: start on the porch
- author Christina Dudley: delightful historical romance
- examen prayer: guidance and growth
- authors Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair: romance magic that’s sweet, swoony, and laugh-out-loud
- visio divina: a practice of sacred seeing
- orange ricotta cake with olive oil and cardamom
Fondly,
Crysti
