10 Ways for Grandparents to Create Special Fall Memories with Their Grandkids

1. Go to the Pumpkin Patch

Take your grandkids to the pumpkin patch and let them pick out a pumpkin or two—one for carving and one for making some goodies, like pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, or pumpkin whoopie pies. Some pumpkin patches have hay rides, pumpkin bowling, farm animals, corn hole, etc. Do some research in your area and see what your local patch offers.

Showing your grandkids all the things you can do with a pumpkin is a great way to make memories. Things like gutting it, roasting the seeds, making desserts out of it, and finally carving it and displaying it. They will have a blast doing these things.

2. Visit the Apple Orchard

Go to the apple orchard and let your grandkids pick out some apples. Some orchards let you pick your own, and some don't. Most orchards have other things to do as well.

For example, when we lived in Illinois, we used to go to Tanner's Orchard in Speer, Illinois. It was the perfect place for the whole family. They had apple picking, farm animals, a corn maze, pony rides, a bakery, family activities, and more. I loved going there as an adult, and there were always families there on the weekends. Going to the apple orchard has always been one of my favorite things to do in the fall.

Depending on what your local orchard offers, your grandkids will love it. Don't forget to pick up some apples to make some goodies with. This is something you can discuss on the way home with them.

3. Make a Homemade Halloween Costume

If your grandkids celebrate Halloween, make their Halloween costume instead of buying one in the store. This will be especially easy if you are creative or know how to sew. The possibilities are endless, so start thinking now about what you want to make and then come up with something fantastic.

4. Bake Together

Take an entire weekend and bake with your grandkids. Choose one time-consuming treat and several easy treats to whip up. Something complex could be a homemade two layer caramel apple cake decorated with fall leaves, pumpkins, and vines. Easier projects could be no-bake cookies, Rice Krispie treats (traditional scotcheroos or birthday sprinkles), or something semi-homemade.

Who cares how the complex project turns out? Have fun and enjoy your grandkids. When you finish making all of those goodies, pack them up and deliver them to friends and family.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/hobo_018

5. Go to a Corn Maze

Get up early on a Saturday morning and go out for breakfast together and then go to a corn maze. Spend the day walking through the corn maze trying to figure out how to get out. If you find it easy to find your way out, chances are the kids will want to do this several times in a row. This will be a great way to get a conversation started while enjoying the crisp fall weather.

Corn mazes are neat in that they can be pretty simple or very complex. I saw a story about a farmer who made a very complex Taylor Swift corn maze and it looked amazing. Lots of people are planning to go to Ohio to see it.

6. Movie/Candy Night

Get together on Fridays for a movie and candy night and let the kids sleep over. Have a simple dinner, and then you can cozy up in your warmest pajamas and watch a movie or two. Younger kids will love cartoons or cartoon/live-action films while older kids will love movies with superheros, romantic comedies and movies aimed at their age. (Always double check with parents to see which kinds of movies they allow and which they do not.)

Pick up some of their favorite candy to snack on and enjoy. If you have several grandkids, you can always pick up "movie boxes" of candy from Walmart or the grocery store so they each have their own. This will be much more cost effective than going to the movies and if you need to pause the movie, no one will miss anything important.

7. Have a Sleepover

Have the grandkids over for a sleepover. You can keep it simple by ordering takeout or making one of their favorite homemade meals. You could even make a special dessert that they love.

Spend the evening playing games or watching your favorite movies, TV shows (age-appropriate), or even sports. Make sure you know what the ground rules are with their parents beforehand, like not staying up late, only one serving of dessert, etc. Then, look forward to having a great time.

I recently saw that this is becoming a trend with adult grandchildren having sleepovers with their grandparents, and I think this is so cool. So often, we get caught up in life and don't spend enough time with our older relatives until they are gone one day.

8. Play in the Leaves

This is one of those ideas I recommend if you can afford it. Rake up all the leaves in your yard into piles, and then have your grandkids come over, jump in them, and play until their hearts are content. You will love hearing them screaming with delight. Then, hire a professional to come out, rake them back up, and remove them.

If you don't want them to play in the leaves in your yard, take them to the park and let them play in them there. They will have a blast burning off some energy.

9. Go to the Farm

Round the kids up and take them to visit a farm. You can see and learn about all kinds of animals and pet them. Some farms allow you to feed the goats if they have them. Some you have to pick your own produce, retail stores, corn mazes, and other fall events. Other farms even have all kinds of outdoor play equipment that kids can use.

Farms can have all kinds of fun events during the autumn season, including family fun festivals, fall markets, and craft fairs. Being out in the fresh air and walking around will also be beneficial to everyone. Take some time to look up the farms in your area and start planning a visit.

10. Attend a Fall Festival or Fair

Fall is the season for festivals. Correction 1: With all the delicious flavors of the season, you are bound to find a festival that you and your grandkids will love. Common themes include pumpkin, apple, and chili festivals this time of year.

We lived about half an hour away from Morton, Illinois, the pumpkin capital of the world. Every September, they have the pumpkin festival, a four-day event with all kinds of things going on.

There is a pumpkin princess pageant, carnival rides and games on the midway, entertainment, a pumpkin weigh-off competition, a parade, etc. As for the food, you can get all kinds of things with pumpkin like donuts, pie, pancakes, and even chili! They also have non-pumpkin foods as well. If you love pumpkin, this is the place to be.

The fair is another idea to take your grandkids to if there is one near you in the fall. Growing up in Pennsylvania, our big state fair was in the fall in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. We would go every year and look around, eat amazing food, and usually take in a show or two in the grandstand during the week. The Bloomsburg fair is enormous, and there is so much to see, like craft vendors, farm animals, other vendors, carnival rides, games, etc. They also have an impressive lineup of entertainment every year as well. If you live in Pennsylvania or get to visit during the fall, go to the fair and check it out. Also, if you have a fair going on near you, take your grandkids and go. Neither of you will be bored.

The fair is a great place to go in the fall because it's not as hot as it is in the summer. The most you will have to worry about is maybe some rain, but other than that, it's worth it.

There are all kinds of fun activities you can do to make special fall memories with your grandkids. Whether it's a day at the pumpkin patch or a cozy sleepover, your grandkids will love it as long as they are with you. Of course, you will love it too, especially if you aren't able to see them all that often. Are they coming to visit soon? Sit down with this list and plan your next outing before they arrive. You will be glad you did.

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