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Fall Bucket List Fun at Long Island Farms

1. Pick a Peck

Kick the season off with an apple-picking adventure, and don't forget to stock up on sweet apple cider donuts.

2. Have Some Seasonal Fun

Climb the straw pyramid, play mini-golf, and hop on a hayride at F&W Schmitt's Family Farm Fall Festival.

RELATED: Fall Day Trips for Long Island Families

Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins at Harbes Family Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

3. Scour the Pumpkin Patch

While away an afternoon picking the perfect pumpkin.

4. Try Not to Get Lost

Challenge yourself to make it through a local corn maze.

5. Pack a Breath Mint

Enjoy garlicky local eats, garlic-inspired crafts, family-friendly music, and take-home garlic plants at the Long Island Garlic Festival at Garden of Eve in Riverhead.

6. Get a Glimpse of Long Island Life 

Visit Hallockville Farm and check out the Family Treasures With Tales to Tell exhibit, where artifacts dating back to the 1800s are on display. 

7. Enjoy One Last Pony Ride or Goat Cuddle

Visit Long Island's petting zoos before they close for the winter.

Take a fall family hay ride and pick apples and pumpkins too. Photo by Kristen Markel

8. Tour the Farm In Style

Climb aboard a seasonal hayride.

Outdoor Fall Bucket List Activities on Long Island

9. Hang on to Summer

Hop on the ferry to Fire Island, where ocean waters are swimmable into fall.

10. Strap on Your Sneakers

Once swimmers clear the sands, explore one of these beach walks.

11. Get Out and Play

Scope out the best playgrounds on Long Island before it gets too cold for outdoor adventures.

RELATED: The Best Fall Fairs and Festivals for Long Island Families

Explore LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton and take in its larger-than-life sculptures. Photo by Diana Kim

12. Inspire Your Budding Artist

Visit a local outdoor sculpture garden.

13. Take in the Splendor of Changing Leaves

Enjoy a fall foliage hike or explore the East End on one of these nature trails.

14. See the Natural Beauty of New York

Visit one of these Long Island state parks that offer all-season fun.

15. Celebrate Our Four-Legged Friends

Register for DogFest Long Island's 2022 walk, benefiting Canine Companions.

16. Dine Alfresco

Throw on a sweater and enjoy a relaxing dinner at one of these great family-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze returns to Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Photo courtesy of the event

Halloween Fall Bucket List Activities on Long Island

17. See Pumpkins That Light Up the Night

Check out the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze when it returns to Old Bethpage Village Restoration in late September.

18. Have a Spooky Good Time

Take a walk through the woods of Tanglewood Preserve during CSTL's Spooky Fest. Choose from a haunted walk (for brave big kids) or a not-so-spooky walk (for younger children).

19. Get Your Hands Dirty 

Carve a locally grown pumpkin into a spooky jack-o-lantern with one of our free stencils.

20. Check Out a Carnival

Take the family to one of these fall festivals and fairs for Long Island families.

RELATED: Nature Walks on Long Island to View Fall Foliage

Climb the Eye Opener, the new play structure at the Long Island Aquarium. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

More Fun Things To Do This Fall on Long Island

21. Play in a Tree House

Scale the Eye Opener — a recently opened 60-foot tall outdoor exhibit at the Long Island Aquarium.

22. Watch a Movie Under the Stars

Stock up on snacks, grab blankets and get cozy while watching a drive-in movie.

23. Take a Road Trip

Hop in the car for one of these day trips for Long Island families.

RELATED: 21 Kid-Friendly Ghost Stories and Spooky Stories for Kids

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization’s Annual Scarecrow Competition is back for its 32nd edition. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Village

24. Choose Your Favorite Scarecrow

Visit charming Stony Brook Village and cast your vote in its 32nd annual Scarecrow Competition.

25. Listen to Classic Tales

Take your little one to Story + Art, Long Island Children's Museum weekly program.

26. Support Local Businesses

Shop your way through Long Island's most walkable main streets.

27. Decorate For the Season

Find some fun, seasonal decor and hang out with Otto the Ghost at the Fall Festival at Hicks Nurseries.

28. Sip and Dine Among the Vines

Enjoy one last sunset with a sip of wine at a family-friendly, East End vineyard.

29. Learn About Local History

Plan a visit to the Long Island Museum.

30. Plot a Getaway

If you must leave Long Island, these destinations are beautiful in the fall and perfect for a weekend away.

Catch some thrills at Adventureland. Photo by Kristen Markel

31. Get Your Heart Pumping

Ride a roller coaster at Adventureland one last time before it closes for the season in late October.

32. Go Back in Time

Watch a Revolutionary War re-enactment at the Raynham Hall Museum. The event is free, but bring some cash for the 18th-century donuts they will be cooking.

33. Soar To New Heights

Zip above the beach at WildPlay Jones Beach, which is open until November. 

34. Putter Around

Gather your favorite foursome and play a round of mini golf on one of the many Long Island courses.

35. Pack a Lunch

Grab your favorite fall foods and enjoy one of these great spots for a family picnic. 

Originally published in September 2020. Kristen Markel contributed additional reporting.