Can you feel it?! Sweater weather is upon us! 🍁

‘Tis the cozy season, and it’s my absolute favorite!

There’s something about the weather cooling down and the leaves starting to change that feels like a warm hug from autumn.

Add in spending quality time with your friends, and it’s easily one of the best times of the year.

Now that summer vacations are coming to an end and calendars have more availability, it’s the perfect opportunity to plan a cozy friend date.

This blog post will help you and your friends make the most out of the season with these 11 fun fall activities!

11 Things To Do With Friends This Fall

1| Start a cookbook club

I saw this idea on social media and thought it was so unique!

We know how much fun a book club can be, but a cookbook club allows your friend group to create and try something new together.

There are two ways you can do this:

Option 1.

Pick a recipe from a cookbook that you and your friends can make together.

Option 2.

You and your friends come up with your own recipes, experiment, and create your own menu.

In both instances, jazz it up by creating a scrapbook (digital or physical) to go with it. Take pictures of your food, write your recipes, and capture group photos to save the memories.

2| Have a soup-off

When it starts to cool down, we always hear about chili competitions, but I am a soup girlie.

I feel like you can get a lot more creative with a soup-off and have more variety; there is literally something for everybody.

You and your friends each make your soups at home, bring them over in crockpots, and let the odds ever be in your favor!

You can handle the voting in two ways:

Option 1.

Have one person act as host and assign each soup a number so everyone votes blindly without knowing who made which soup.

Option 2.

Simply rely on the honor system and trust everyone to vote fairly, still casting their votes into a bucket.

In the end, the soup with the most votes wins, and that friend who made it gets a prize!

If you really want to bring the fall vibes, visit a farmers’ market together for fresh ingredients before doing your individual cooking.

3| Visit a fall/harvest festival

This is a classic autumn activity, but it’s timeless for a reason.

Fall festivals are filled with the best local treats, corn mazes, hayrides, handmade craft vendors, pumpkin patches, contests, and tons of fun games that will easily get you into the seasonal spirit.

4| Go to a theme park/haunted house

Theme parks aren’t just for the summer; many of them stay open until the end of October (or close and reopen). I actually prefer going during the fall because of the cooler temperatures and shorter lines.

And for those who love spooky season, going to a haunted house will feed those thrill-seeking needs and create memories you won’t ever forget.

Some theme parks combine the two by having Halloween nights. Friends who enjoy scary stuff, such as haunted houses, get their fix, while others can simply enjoy the rides.

5| Throw a Halloween Party

A Halloween party is a great way to spend time with a bunch of friends at once. It can be a classic scary theme or something more unique.

This blog post, Not Your Basic Halloween Party, is an awesome guide for event planning. It provides theme ideas, menu options, adult goody bags, decorating tips, and engaging activities to do that will make your Halloween party a success!

6| Host a crochet/knitting party

This is for the crafty friend groups!

Get together with friends to work on your own projects, or start something new together.

Set up a table stocked with colorful yarn, craft supplies like knitting needles, stitch markers, row counters, and scissors, along with fun accessories to personalize your creations.

Have everyone wear comfy clothes, bring their favorite snacks, and don’t forget some good ole topics for girl talk.

7| Have a scary movie-thon

For my spooky folks again, this movie-thon is for you!

Each friend gets to pick their favorite scary movie, and spend the day watching them all together.

If you want to add a cozy fall touch, swap the usual popcorn and candy bar for seasonal treats.

Think pies, homemade donuts, cinnamon rolls, and fruit turnovers.

Have each friend bring their favorite dessert, and set up a comfort sweets buffet!

8| Host a paint night (Fall-inspired)

We love to paint all year long, but we switch it up and match the season by picking designs inspired by autumn or Halloween.

Instead of painting canvases, paint unique items like doormats, wooden signs, tote bags, mugs, or pumpkins.

If you do decide to carve pumpkins, you can paint them afterward.

9| Attend a football or basketball game

This is perfect for the friends who look forward to the return of America’s favorite fall sports.

Attending a game in person can be both exciting and comforting.

Watching your team win (or lose) while engaging in exhilarating conversations about the game together will swell your hearts with joy.

10| Try apple picking

If you’re lucky enough to live near an apple orchard, plan a visit with your friends during harvest season.

There’s something grounding about picking your own fruit, and sharing that peaceful experience together makes it even more special.

If you want to continue the fun, you all can take your apples back home and make fall desserts together or homemade cider.

11| Enjoy a cozy cabin girls weekend

We know a girls weekend is always a vibe, but having one at a cabin invites the element of nature.

Fall weather isn’t too cold or too hot, allowing you and your friends to enjoy the great outdoors more comfortably.

Some cabins are on campgrounds that offer built-in experiences like ziplining, spa services, rope courses, and wine hikes.

But if it’s more of a DIY experience (or you just want to add to the fun), try the following activities:

Go on nature walks
Make caramel apples
Do puzzles
Make candles in pumpkin containers
Go on scenic bike rides
Play outdoor games like cornhole or giant Jenga
Play indoor games like charades or Pictionary
Put together a bonfire, make s’mores, and delve into some good ole girl talk

5 Ways To Spice Up Your Fall Festivities

1| Include a fall-inspired build-your-own bar

Friends love an opportunity to create their own sweet treats; it’s fun and festive!

Popular treat bar options:

2| Make a simmer pot

Instead of using candles, grab some apples, oranges, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and any other spices that will make the space feel warm and inviting.

You could also turn this into an activity where you and your friends make simmer pot to-go kits.

3| Add your favorite fall shows and movies

If you all are hanging out indoors, let your favorite fall shows or movies play in the background to add to the vibe.

Popular fall movies:

Practical Magic
Harry Potter
Twilight
Hocus Pocus
Casper

Popular fall shows:

Gilmore Girls
Forever
Charmed
Wednesday
Pretty Little Liars

4| Create boo baskets

We already know our friends love a welcome gift, so make one that’s unique for the fall season.

Boo basket items:

Mugs with hot chocolate bombs or tea packets
Slippers
Caramel popcorn
Trail mix
Candles
Books + bookmarks
Coffee pods + creamers
Cozy socks
Bath bombs (Seasonal smells)

5| Match with your besties!

Wear identical or complementary pajamas for indoor activities.

For outdoor activities, throw on matching flannels or fluffy sweatshirts.

Take cute group photos and re-create fun social media videos that fit the occasion.

Spending time with your friends in autumn is not just fun, it’s comforting. These cozy hangouts remind you of how much your besties feel like home.

What are your favorite things to do with your friends in the fall?

FALL BUCKET LIST: 11 THINGS TO DO WITH FRIENDS