Fall into Autumn: Fun Family Activities

Yellow autumn leaves

Autumn Leaves by Koshyk (CC BY 2.0)

Most people think of California as only having two seasons: hot and less hot, and that the year is spent alternating between the two. Contrary to popular belief California has all four seasons. Autumn is one of the most fruitful. Autumn is the time of year when all of those crops get harvested. If you’re looking for something to do this fall, we’ve got the scoop on all the autumn amusement. Whether you’re enjoying the quiet hum of the outdoors in Northern California, or reveling in the hustle and bustle of the city in Southern California, you can start this autumn off in style.

Autumn’s in the Air: Time to get pickin’

Veggie Delight
Harvest by OakleyOriginals (CC BY 2.0)

Maybe you don’t have the time, space, or resources to grow your own produce. Not to worry! You can always head to your local famer’s market. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous this autumn you can do the picking yourself and bring the whole family along. The Underwood Family Farm located in Moorpark, California hosts a “pick your own crop” event all year long. You can check out one of their presentations, participate in an animal feeding, and even send the kids on an educational tour where they can learn all about sustainable living. Suddenly a day at the farm is transformed into an autumn extravaganza! Autumn offers the greatest variety of crops.

These are some of the crops you’ll find at UFF this fall:

  • Blue Lake Beans
  • Cilantro
  • Eggplant
  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lemons
  • Okra
  • Squash
  • Zinnias

For a full list of crops available this autumn check out their Pick Your Own Crop Calendar.

Harvest the Fun this Fall

Autumn Harvest
pumpkin patch by Muffet (CC BY 2.0)

Leaf your worries behind this autumn and visit the Forneris Farms Fall Harvest Festival that takes place in Mission Hills. There’s plenty to do, whether you want to take a relaxing stroll through LA’s “most beautiful” pumpkin patch, or get lost in the corn maze. Forneris Farms offers many attractions such as, a farm frolic area for kids, pony rides, a petting zoo and live entertainment. One of my favorite things about the changing autumn leaves is decorating my home to match. This autumn instead of going to a store and purchasing decorations that were made who knows where, you can support regional artistry and pick up great locally made decorations at the Foneris Farm Market.

Get your Swag On! DIY Autumn Projects

Autumn Decor
Pinecones and stones by buckle1535 (CC BY 2.0)

Take a leaf out of my book and take fall decorating one step further. Make a project out of it and get the whole family involved. Making your own wreath or putting together an Indian Summer Swag is a great way to get in touch with nature and embrace all the colors of autumn. You can host a scavenger hunt for items such as leaves, pinecones, nuts, and twigs. With a little bit of glue, glitter, and love, suddenly these ordinary items are transformed into extraordinary autumn ornaments. Take a look at some of these DIY pointers on how to make your house the most festive pumpkin in the patch this autumn!

What are some of your favorite things to do during autumn? Tell me about the bushels of fun you’ll be having this autumn in the comments section below!