Fall is my second favourite season (I just love summer and the beach too much!) and there are so many things I love about this season. Cooler weather but still warm enough to spend hours outside, beautiful changing leaves, fall hikes, apple picking, pumpkin everything, sweater weather…I could go on. This year, the autumnal equinox falls on September 23rd. At this point, the nights become longer than the days as the North Pole moves away from the sun. This is a special time in the Northern Hemisphere, as we move from hot, long days to shorter, cooler days and from a lot of light to a lot less light. Fall is also a wonderful time to celebrate nature and all it has to offer, including delicious local produce. This is one of the best times of the year for farmer’s markets. Here are some fun ways to celebrate the Fall/Autumnal Equinox.
- Read stories about the upcoming season. There’s nothing better than reading with your little ones and this is an excellent way to teach them about the changing leaves, animals getting ready to hibernate and the fun activities you can do in the Fall/Autumn season. Check out our absolute favourite Fall books that we enjoy reading together.
- Go apple picking. One of annual family traditions is to go apple picking together. Adam and I have been doing this for so many years, before we even had little ones, and we enjoy it even more now that we have the kids to bring along with us. We have our regular local family farm where we pick apples, drinks cider and go on hayrides. Rhythms of Play has a great post on everything apple picking related.
Go on a bike ride. This is one of my favourite things to do during most seasons, especially summer and fall. Get the family together and explore a new neighbourhood, park or local bike path, pointing out the different types of trees and changing leaves.- Get out and hike. Another family favourite of ours is to pack up a lunch or some snacks and get out of the city by going for a hike. There are a few local trails we like to explore and fall is the perfect time to notice all the changes going on around us: the leaves turning different colours and falling off, animals stocking up for the cold weather, squirrels and chipmunks scurrying around, and the brisk Autumn air.
Get crafty and creative. There are so many fun fall crafts you can create. One of our latest are these cute and easy nature and felt campfires. More great ideas can be found on How Wee Learn, Fireflies and Mudpies and Rhythms of Play.- Make a lantern to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. We like to make lanterns for each season, but especially so in Autumn. The lantern light symbolizes the light which will carry us through the darkness of the season. These simple recycled Fall lanterns are easy enough for toddlers to make and we display ours on our nature table or at the dinner table all through the season.
Gather together for a potluck and campfire. Herd up a group of friends or family members (or both!) for a big potluck. If you’re lucky, it will still be warm enough to have this outside. You can each bring an Autumnal dish and then end the potluck with a fun little campfire. This is the perfect get-together idea for families with kids both little and big, or even those without kids!- Play in leaves. There’s nothing like jumping into a huge piles of freshly raked leaves, especially for kids. Honestly, I still love doing this!
- Lay in the grass. Before the cold and snow take over, enjoy some time just laying in the grass. As a child, my friends and I used to love lying down looking up at the sky, trying to make objects and scenes out of the clouds. To this day, I still find this relaxing and love to lie in the grass with K.
- Head to a local fall country fair or festival. Many small towns host fun Fall festivals, which are a great time for people of all ages, especially kids. Check out your city or nearby towns for events.
- Set up a nature table. We change up our table every season (you can see inspiration on my Instagram). Use found items from nature, like pinecones, acorns and beautiful leaves. Rhythms of Play has a gorgeous Autumn nature table and The Magic Onion also has some amazing inspiration for beautiful Fall nature tables.
- Turn Inward. Fall is the perfect time to turn inward and focus on rejuvenation and restoring balance, both in your home as well as your mind. Fall can also be a time of darkness for many with the shorter days and colder weather, so bringing light into the home can be crucial. Beeswax candles, salt lamps, homemade lanterns and other good lights can create a positive energy. De-clutter inside as well. Focus on your health, incorporating more exercise, whole foods and other health regimens into your daily routine.
Read about other ways to celebrate this Fall/Autumn season with:
Rain or Shine Mamma’s Tips on Celebrating the Autumn Equinox
Rhythm of Play’s 11 Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox
Om Livin’s Fall Equinox and Your Health
Images:
Apples: famveldman/Dollar Photo Club
Father and Son Hiking: Syda Productions/Dollar Photo Club
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Wonderful suggestions! I absolutely love Fall. I really want to go apple picking with my son. I’m totally craving apples this pregnancy. Pinned.
We always go for drives this time of year into the mountains to hike and harvest the berries,fruits, and roots of the season while enjoying the leaves. It is my favorite time of the year!