Fall Bucket List for Kids: Top Things To Do in Atlanta This Fall

1. Pick Apples

Head north to Ellijay for the sweetest apple picking in Georgia. Enjoy an apple festival, take home apples, and bake an apple pie. 

2. Play Outside

Soak up that crisp fall weather at one of our favorite Atlanta parks and playgrounds. 

3. Cheer on our Atlanta Falcons 

Nothing says fall in the South like football! Buy tickets and watch the Atlanta Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Tip: Join the Atlanta Falcons Kids Club for perks and discounted tickets.) 

Your family will not be thirsty after visiting an Atlanta attraction like World of Coca-Cola.

4. Visit an Atlanta Attraction

Taste delicious and weird soda flavors at World of Coca-Cola; see sharks and dolphins at the Georgia Aquarium; or visit one of Atlanta's many other attractions (we have 23 more options here). 

5. Explore Corn Mazes

Play hide-and-seek at the Buford Corn Maze, escape the maze at Warbington Farms in Cumming, or look for another corn maze near you. 

6. Drive to Helen, Georgia 

Fall is the best time to visit Helen, Georgia. Check out the fall foliage, ride the Georgia Mountain Coaster, and celebrate Oktoberfest in this quaint Bavarian town. 

7. Ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

The historic Blue Ridge Scenic Railway offers seasonal rides (including wonderful holiday rides). For fall, we like the Fall Foliage Express because it's a two-hour trip, perfect for kids. 

Don't eat too much candy before boarding the roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia!

8. Get Spooked at Six Flags Over Georgia 

Older kids (13 and up) may want to hit the park by night for the always terrifying Fright Fest; younger kids should opt for the daytime event, called Boo Fest. 

9. Craft for Fall 

We have the cutest ideas for Thanksgiving Crafts (50 of them)! Some standouts include painting with corn on the cob and making toilet-paper pumpkins. 

10. Tour Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG)

We are big fans of ABG during the fall —families enjoy Shows for Seedlings on Friday mornings during September and Scarecrows in the Garden during October. 

11. Take a Day Trip

Fall is a great time to take a vacay, just for the day. Need inspiration? See our list of 14 Fabulous Fall Day Trips From Atlanta. 

12. Visit Fall Festivals 

Atlanta is full of fall festivals and fairs, like the Georgia State Fair, Georgia Apple Festival, and Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival, just to name a few. 

13. Watch a Not-So-Scary Movie 

Have a family movie night with one of these Halloween-themed movies.  

14. Explore a State Park

You don't have to go far to see fall foliage— hike and make family memories at one of these state parks near Atlanta. 

There's nothing that says "fall" more than pumpkin picking at a local pumpkin patch.

15. Pick Pumpkins 

Head to a local pumpkin patch like Southern Belle Farms in McDonough or Burt's Farm in Dawsonville to select pumpkins, go on hay rides, and take lots of cute pics. 

16. Camp 

There is no better time for a family camping trip than fall in Georgia. Escape to one of these family-friendly campgrounds, which range from basic tent sites to glam cabins.

17. Take a Ghost Tour

Get brave and go on a ghost tour of Historic Oakland Cemetery (ages 6+), take a Roswell Ghost Tour (tweens/teens), or tour the oldest city in metro Atlanta with Lawrenceville Ghost Tours (tweens/teens). 

18. Bake with Pumpkin

Bake pumpkin pancakes, make pumpkin parfaits, cook pumpkin pasta, and do even more in the kitchen with pumpkins! Our list of easy pumpkin recipes goes beyond pumpkin bread (but we like that too)! 

19. Hike 

Even non-hikers (like my kids) enjoy hiking in Atlanta during fall. Enjoy the vibrant colors of the trees or play one of these hiking games during your trek. 

20. See Animals

The animals at Zoo Atlanta are out and about in the fall. Plan to visit the last two weekends in October for Boo at the Zoo. 

21. Head to the Drive-in 

Yes, drive-in movies still exist and fall is an excellent season for taking the family to one of these drive-in theaters around Georgia. 

22. Carve Pumpkins

No need to be intimidated by this messy project that involves sharp objects. We have free links to easy, cool pumpkin carving stencils and tips for how to make this fall activity fun and safe. 

23. Watch a Puppet Show 

Since Atlanta is home to the Center for Puppetry Arts, kids get to see adorable puppet shows this fall like How to Snag a Sea Monster and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. 

24. Visit the High Museum

The High Museum of Art is not just for grown-ups —this cultural institution has kids' programming on Second Sundays at the High (also FREE), as well as young activities during Toddler Thursdays. 

The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area is home to endless kid-friendly attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities.

25. Take a Weekend Vacation

 Some of our favorite places to visit in the fall are beaches within driving distance of Atlanta, Greenville, SC, and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. 

26. See a Show at the Fox Theatre 

The fall lineup at the Fox features family-friendly shows like CoComelon and Spy Ninjas. We are especially giddy about Disney Jr. Live Costume Palooza happening the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

27. Experience Stranger Things 

Teens who are fans of the Netflix phenomenon (filmed right here in Georgia!) will want to get tickets to The Stranger Things Experience, coming in October. 

28. Visit Babyland General 

If your family hasn't made the pilgrimage to Babyland General, to see where Cabbage Patch Kids are born, fall is a great time to do it. You'll spot beautiful fall leaves and rolling hills on your drive to Cleveland, Georgia. 

29. Play for Free 

Some of our favorite free playtimes, like Discovery Day Kids Club (Wednesday mornings at Halcyon) and Avenue Kids (last Tuesday of the month at Avenue East Cobb), feature seasonal songs, books, and crafts during fall. 

30. Climb Indoors 

On especially crisp fall days in Atlanta, get the wiggles out at one of these indoor play spaces. 

Look for creative scarecrows in Alpharetta, usually designed by local residents and organizations. 

31. Find Silly Scarecrows 

Lots of areas of Atlanta boast amazing and funny scarecrows in the fall like Alpharetta, Roswell, Marietta, Woodstock, Kennesaw, and Acworth. 

32. Pack a Picnic 

Dust off that picnic blanket and head to one of Atlanta's beautiful parks for a fun fall picnic. 

33. Visit the College Football Hall of Fame 

Take your little football fan to the home of all things college football at this sports-lover's museum. It is football season after all!

34.  Get Your Nature On 

Head to the Chattahoochee Nature Center for a family canoe trip, see some wildlife, or take a Halloween hike. 

Take a walk on the supernatural side at the Woodland Spirit Exhibit at Fernbank Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

35. Walk in the Woods 

Fall at Fernbank Museum means the Woodland Spirits exhibit. Explore 10 acres of Fernbank's WildWoods and find spooky sculptures, ghostly figures, and a monster garden. 

36. Sleep in a Tree 

A treehouse, that is. Here are some super cool treehouses your kids will love. 

Come out for the Youth Day Parade.

37. Watch a Parade

Kids love a good parade. Our favorite parades in the fall include Roswell Youth Day, Little Five Points Monsterfest and Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega. 

38.  Dine al Fresco 

After surviving a hot summer, families can comfortably opt for outside dining at one of these Atlanta restaurants with great patios. 

39. Ride Bikes

Enjoy the fall weather and colors biking one of Atlanta's family-friendly bike paths. 

40. Jump into a Pile of Leaves 

If you don't do this after your parent rakes the leaves, have you even experienced fall?! 

Unless otherwise noted, photo by author.