Fall Bucket List for Things to Do with Kids in Connecticut

It’s the FALL 0f 2023! The official Season of Apple Fritters and Pumpkin Spice, of Fun on the Farm and Fairs. Fall is my favorite season in Connecticut (I know, three months ago I said Summer was the best season. I can have 4 favorite seasons. It is my blog post. I’ll make my own rules ? )

Anyway, we have been HARD AT WORK on our Fall Bucket List. We’ve been writing up our calendars (shoutout to ByAvanly for giving us an amazing calendar to work with– if you’re in need of ideas, definitely go grab one on Etsy)

The full list is below, but some that we’re MOST excited for:

Anyway, the full list is below (click here for the printable)– let us know if we missed anything in the comments!

Fall Fair or Festival

Fall Fairs and Festivals are a big Connecticut tradition. Whether you want to go to a traditional Agricultural Festival, head to a Harvest Festival, celebrate Pumpkins, or see hot air Balloons, there is something for everyone.

Just a few of our favorites (in addition to the Renaissance Faire!)

September 1-4: Haddam Neck Fair
September 7-10: Hebron Harvest Fair:
September 14-17: Four Town Fair:
September 17: Seymour Pumpkin Festival:
September 23-24: Connecticut Barkfest:
October 6-8: Portland Fair
October 6-8: Orange Country Fair:
October 6-8: Harwington Fair:
October 13-15: Glastonbury Apple Harvest Festival:

Photo Credit: Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts

See a Show- Like Daniel Tiger!

Did you hear the news? Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is coming to town. We can’t wait to watch this grr-ific musical for little tigers and grown-ups alike! The beloved characters come alive on stage with new songs to sing along to and SURPRISE guests along the way!

PS- Stay tuned for a fun challenge and ticket contest.

There are also lots of other shows coming to town- be sure to watch our events calendar for more details! We’ll also have a full Theater guide coming your way soon- and we’ll link it here as soon as it’s done.

Photo Credit: CT Faire

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire

This is one of our favorite fall events- and for good reason!

Step back in time to a 16th-century harvest festival at Connecticut Renaissance Faire’s 25th anniversary celebration! Shop in New England’s largest Medieval Marketplace, feast on juicy turkey legs and craft beers, and enjoy hilarious comedy and thrilling acrobatics on ten stages. For all ages. Costumes encouraged but not required.

Want to go for free? Keep your eyes peeled on our RIDDLE QUEST.

See the Leaves

Connecticut has some BEAUTIFUL leaf peeping opportunities. Our Fall Foliage is unmatched. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk among the trees at Northwest Park and Nature Center in Windsor, a climb up Mt. Misery, a fun fall drive, or a cool train ride, there is something for everyone.

We rounded up a list of our Top 10 spots here.

Photo Credit: Fair Weather Growers, Castle Hill Farms

Spend a Day on the Farm:

Connecticut farms are WILD. There are just so many different things going on: Apple Picking, Hay Rides, Revolutionary War Reenactments, Full on Amusement Parks…the list goes on and on.

We are working on a full round up, but here are some of our favorites:

Fair Weather Growers, Rocky Hill: Open the middle of September right thru the end of October you will now see the fields filled with families on Friday, Saturday and Sunday along with Columbus Day. This is a full on farm playground, and tons of fun for all ages.
Foster Hill Farm South Windsor: Jump and hide in our haystacks and enjoy our huge sandbox! Try out our tractor and train playscapes! Climb aboard our Pirate ship, Monster Truck and Fire Engine! Don’t forget to jump behind the wheel of one of our pedal carts. Also, enjoy our new corn pit and jump pad! *JUMP PAD OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY*
Samual Smith Farmstand: Step back in time to 1685. Head over on September 30th for Revolutionary War Day, or October 14 for End of Harvest and Farmstand Open House.
Castle Hill Farms, Newtown: Fun activities include: Pumpkin Chucking, farm animals, and more!

Photo Credit: Lyman Orchards

Go Apple Picking

Apple picking is a time honored New England tradition- and for good reason! Everyone seems to have their favorite variety (I’m pretty sure it’s a part of the Kindergarten curriculum), and there is an orchard to cater to every taste imaginable.

A list of our favorites is here. Some of the highlights:

Glastonbury- Belltown Hill Orchards
Southington- Rogers Orchards
Bethlehem: March Farm
Middlefield: Lyman Orchards
Ashford: Horse Listeners Orchard

Photo Credit: Preston Farms, Castle Hill Farms

Explore a Corn Maze

We have some EPIC Corn Mazes in Connecticut- acres and acres of mazes featuring incredible designs and so many opportunities for family fun. Some of our favorites:

Photo Credit: Dinosaur Place at Nature’s Art Village

Do Something Spooky

Halloween fun is all around us this time of year. Check out some super fun events:

There are also some super spooky events:

Don’t forget Trick or Treating too!

Enjoy Cider, Donuts, and Fritters

Because these are THE BEST in the fall.

Some of our favorite fritters/Donuts:

Go Scarecrow Spotting

We Nutmeggers do love a good Scarecrow- they’re just so much fun! Businesses and groups around the state sponsor them and they’re displayed at local businesses:

See the Stars/Eclipse

Did you know that there is a Solar Eclipse on October 14?

Now that it’s getting darker a little earlier, it’s a great time to dust off the telescope (Don’t have one? Many Libraries do! Check our list here) and watch the stars.

September 26: NASA Ambassador Series: The Solar Eclipse Experience at Newtown’s CH Booth Library
October 6: Eclipse Exploration at Richmond Library, Marlborough
October 8: Solar Eclipse Super Science at Branford’s Blackstone Library
October 14: Solar Eclipse at the Van Vleck Observatory- Russell Library, Middletown
Space Tourism Guide recommends:

Photo Credit: Perkatory, Trader Joe’s

Eat Pumpkin Spice Anything

Pumpkin Spice becomes a way of life in the fall. Whether it’s your favorite coffee shop, a good cocktail (or mocktail!), or a delicious dessert, there are some great choices:

Photo Credit: Beardsley Zoo

Pumpkin Trails and Glow Festivals

Christmas lights are amazing, but Halloween Glow events are pretty awesome too. Some of our Favorites;

Photo Credit: Florence Griswold Museum

Hang with the Fairies

Fall is Fairy Season- and our friends at the Florence Griswold Museum have the most spectacular display set up!

Other fun places to see some Fairy Magic:

Family Day at the Library

There are hundreds of special events happening at libraries this Fall! Want to make FrankenSlime? Newington Public Library has the project for you! How about a Halloween Parade? North Haven’s Memorial Library has one! What about a Bluey Party? Windsor Public Library will dance the day away with you.

Some others:

Essex Library: September 9: STEAM Saturdays: Fidget Slime Experiment
October 6: Eclipse Exploration at Richmond Library, Marlborough.
October 14: Halloween Magic at Ellington’s Hall Memorial Library
November 4: Pre-Diwali Celebration at Rocky Hill’s Cora J Belden Library.

Step Back in Time at a Museum

There’s just something about fall that makes you crave the New England Traditions of a by-gone era.

We’re currently obsessed with Mystic Seaport, where you can see how Colonial Sea Villages got ready for Fall. Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry also offers a look into the past-and there’s even a Fall Harvest Event at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. Samual Smith Farmstand is also offering Revolutionary War Day AND End of Harvest!

More of our Favorites:

Go Trick or Treating

Official Trick-or-Treat is on October 31, but there are so many fun Trick or Treat Events happening around the state!

The plan is to keep a running list throughout the season, but here are some of our favorite early listers:

Go for a Nature Walk

There are so many GORGEOUS places to take a hike in the fall. We’ll have a full roundup on this soon, but in the meantime:

Some of our Top Favorites:

Bigelow Hollow, Union
Bolton Notch, Bolton
Case Mountain, Manchester
Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam
Enders Falls, Granby
Gay City State Park, Hebron
Gilette Castle, East Haddam
Hopeville Pond, Griswold
Hubbard Park, Meriden
Kent Falls State Park, Kent
Mansfield Hollow Dam, Mansfield
Northwest Park, Windsor
Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown
Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury
Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury
Valley Falls Park, Vernon
Wadsworth Falls, Middletown

Spend Some Time on the Playground

Before it gets cold and wet out, take the opportunity to spend some time outside. We’ve been exploring playgrounds around the state (and even came up with a playground trail!) Plus, there’s lots of information on our TikTok and Youtube Pages.

Some of our Favorites so far:

Discover a New Museum

We have SO MANY Museums in our State- and they are so pretty to explore in the Fall!

Whether you head over to the Connecticut Science Center, see the Fairies at the Florence Griswold Museum, or unleash your imagination at a Children’s Museum, there are TONS of options:

Some of our Favorite Children’s Museums:

Museums where you can see Animals:

Art Museums:

Photo Credit: Shoreline Trolley Museum, Connecticut Trolley Museum

Take a Train (or Trolley!) Ride

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Yes, that’s another Daniel Tiger Reference. We. Are. OBSESSED.)

Trains and Trolleys are an incredible way to check on the fall colors. Some of our favorite spots:

Cook Something Delicious

Fall is the season of cooking (Winter is the season of Baking), and we have so many incredible local food bloggers out there (Tastefully Grace springs to mind!) We’ll have a round up on those plus a round up on some incredible cooking classes here soon, so stay tuned!)

Tailgate at the Game

Fall Sports are here- Football and Soccer (or, if you’re from most of the rest of the world, also football) are just a couple!

Check out a UCONN Game– we especially love watching Soccer!
Hartford Athletic has some great games coming up too.

I’m going to work on adding ideas to this too- here’s hoping we come up with a full sports round up by the end of this (feel free to help with this one)

What’s your favorite game day food?

Spend Time with Your Family

I mean, that’s really what this is all about, isn’t it? Take the kids on an afterschool (or for you fellow homeschoolers, afternoon) adventure, have a family game night, and most importantly- have fun together!

As always, lots of effort goes into making these lists- but it’s always best to call ahead and do your own research since things can (and do!) change at the drop of a hat.

Did I miss something? Let me know! Drop a comment below or email Kate@Kidtivity.com 🙂

Fall Bucket List for Things to Do with Kids in Connecticut

Fall Fair or Festival

See a Show- Like Daniel Tiger!

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire