10 Fall Traditions You Need to Start This Year
The changing leaves, the aroma of fresh baked treats, the chill in the air—Autumn is officially here. Are you building a bucket list fit for the fall season that includes friends and family? From getting lost in a maze of maize to jotting down your gratitude, adopt these 10 autumnal traditions this year.
Photography: Erin McGinn | Styling: Abby Capalbo
Pick a pumpkin Whether with friends, your family, or on a Saturday date with your new hubby, head to the pumpkin patch to pick a prized, orange gourd for carving into a masterpiece. You'll also find decorative, unique gourds, activities for the kids, and probably a festive fall treat, like farm-fresh caramel apples or homemade pumpkin bread.
P-S-L It's not fall until your favorite coffee shop's offerings include a pumpkin spice latte. There's no shame in sipping this autumnal beverage while the fallen leaves crunch beneath your favorite boots on a crisp, sunny day. Make getting the first PSL of the season a tradition with your BFF.
Peep those leaves The smell of peppery leaves, the glow of the yellow, orange, and red trees against a bluebird sky, the cool, fresh air, and maybe even a snowflake or two make for the perfect fall drive through the changing landscape. Weather permitting, take a nature hike in the hills amongst the changing leaves for an Instagram-worthy outing with your family.
Visit a vineyard It's grape harvest season, and if you love adult grape juice, there's no better time to visit a vineyard and winery. Make a special trip to Napa or Sonoma Valley for the annual harvest. Not only will the weather be pleasant, but also many wineries offer tours and events where you can witness the grapes arriving from the fields, the beginning stage of your favorite wine.
Host a harvest shindig Get your closest friends and family together to celebrate the season of thanks by hosting a harvest party. Decorate with gourds and pumpkins, vases filled with dried wheat bunches, strings of clear, glowing lights, and soft, warm linen hues on the table. Serve comforting food like homemade mac and cheese paired with a fresh garden salad. Don't forget the pie and mulled cider.
Hitch a hayride At an orchard or a u-pick farm, hitch a hayride to gather a bountiful harvest. Many orchards offer fall festivals that include hayrides to the trees for apple-picking. Make an extra special picnic to munch on in the shade of the trees before heading home with a variety of apples for baking a homemade apple pie.
Cheer on your team It doesn't matter if it's professional or college level football (or even those friday night lights), cheer on your favorite team from the stands at a game. A tradition your significant other can surely get on board with, annual tickets to a football game in the fall is the perfect surprise gift.
Lost in a labyrinth This fall, put your directional skills to the test and try to make your way through a corn maze. With intricate designs, many corn mazes offer nighttime hours with spooky surprises around each corner in the maze. But if you don't feel like partaking in a frustrating fright fest, an afternoon stroll through the corn stalks is just as fun.
C is for cookie October is National Cookie Month! Celebrate by baking a batch of your favorite cookies. We're particularly fond of any recipe that includes pumpkins and cinnamon, of course. Get the little ones involved with measuring and mixing ingredients and then chowing down on the sweet, fresh-baked treats.
Start a journal of thanks 'Tis the season to be thankful—thankful for the food on the table, your loved ones, a hot shower, a hot latte, or a night out with your friends. Jot down something you're grateful each day in a journal and return to it year after year to remind yourself of the many good things in your life. Style Me Pretty Contributor - Ali Struhs is a freelance writer, blogger, and boy mama in Denver, Colorado. When not typing away on the computer, she enjoys exploring the great outdoors, rocking out at Red Rocks, and chasing around her toddler.
