Prepare to *Fall* in Love With These Awesome Autumn Date Ideas
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Fall is easily overlooked when it comes to romance. Just take a look at popular culture and see the huge amount of attention the summer season and a certain late winter holiday receives. While Danny and Sandy may have had a lot to sing about summer lovin’ in Grease, and February steals the rest of the attention with Valentine’s Day, the true hero of dating season is fall.
Seriously, fall dates and romantic nights are unsung heros! And whether you’re in a new relationship or have been with your beau for more years than you can count, all couples can benefit from a fantastic list of fall date ideas to infuse a bit of new energy and memories to your union. What could be sweeter than cozying up with a cup of apple cider while watching the leaves turn from vibrant green to warm auburn hues?
From romantic movies and scrumptious pumpkin recipes that are great for stay-at-home fall dates to free and cheap fall date ideas such as browsing through a farmer’s market, walking along the charming streets of a quirky small town, or renting a scary Halloween movie to enjoy with a homemade meal! This list is full of ideas that go beyond apple picking (though of course we cover that, too). And because Halloween is a favorite fall holiday, we’ve compiled plenty of off-the-beaten path ways for you and your boo (see what we did there?) to enjoy the occasion together as well.
So if you’re been googling “fall date ideas near me” with no luck, you can officially step away from the keyboard. You can also stop asking “What should we do this weekend?” and instead prepare to *fall* in love with this stellar roster of autumn date ideas. Now get out there and celebrate the season—and don't forget to pair your social media posts with the perfect fall Instagram captions.
Grab some coffee.
This becomes a free fall date idea if you bring your java in a thermos from home! Link up in a nearby park and enjoy the fresh air while you sip.
Head to a small town.
Adventure makes the heart grow fonder (that's how the saying goes, right?), and there's nothing more charming than strolling the streets of a new-to-you small town—especially a small town that's known for leaf peeping.
Hit up a hot air balloon festival.
Fall is prime time for this totally romantic (and, okay, splurge-worthy) bucket list date idea, as hot air balloon festivals are happening in Mississippi, Tennessee, and more.
Roast a chicken.
If your relationship is ready to head to the next level it might just be time to cook up an "engagement chicken." (You know, what Meghan was roasting the night Harry proposed.) Want to put your own spin on the dish? Try one of our best chicken dinner recipes.
Book a cabin weekend.
Get off the grid and really reconnect with a low-key cabin weekend in the woods. Cook leisurely breakfasts, play board games, and just hang out!
RELATED: Charming Cabin Rentals in the U.S.
Peep some leaves.
Are you fortunate enough to live in a place where the leaves change color? Check out a fall foliage map to figure out when the trees in your area will be looking their most vibrant, then plan a romantic drive or foliage train ride to peep those leaves.
Cheer your hearts out at a football game.
From college games to professional ones, football games are always a thrill to watch, whether you do so from a bar, a stadium, or your living room. Make your game day date even more fun by making your best tailgate food recipes.
Make your own apple cider donuts.
It may be easier to just buy apple cider donuts, but it's way more fun (and satisfying) to make them yourself. Apple cider donuts are one of the best parts of fall, and there are plenty of apple cider donut recipes to help you and your date make some incredible treats of your own.
Ride bikes.
Autumn may just be the best time of year to go bike riding, and even if you don't own a bike, you can rent one pretty inexpensively from a local store. Use TrailLink to find the best bike trail near you and get pedaling!
Sip seasonal brews at a fall beer festival.
Craft beer season really peaks in the fall, and you can check out BeerFests.com to find a beer festival in your area. If you're feeling creative, you and your date can even create a craft beer crawl of your own to taste a variety of seasonal brews.
Visit a cidery.
If you and your date are more into hard cider than beer, then you should spend the day tasting different flavors at a cidery. Use CiderScene to find a cidery or cider bar near you and get ready to get your sip on.
Get spooked at a haunted house.
Whether you scare easily or not, a haunted house is still sure to get your heart racing. You can check out Fright Find to find the scariest haunted houses by state or simply visit one of the most haunted places in America, but make sure you and your date know what you're getting yourselves into before you step inside.
Play a round of Frisbee golf.
Unlike regular golf, Frisbee golf requires little skill and far less walking around, and there's no better time of year to do it than the fall. Visit Disc Golf Course Review to see where you and boo can test out your aim.
Sit through a scary double feature.
Nothing gets the heart pumping quite like a horror movie double feature. Look at drive-in and old-school theaters in your area to see who's offering a deal on back-to-back scary movies (and be sure to offer your date your hand if they get too freaked).
Have a scary movie marathon at home.
To save money (and to have the option of stopping the movie if it gets too scary), have a scary movie viewing party from the comfort of home. Check out all the scariest movies available on Netflix right now for a chilling night in.
Check out an open mic night.
Nothing's cozier on a chilly fall night than an open mic night at a bookstore or coffee shop. Find nearby events with the help of Eventbrite, and if you're feeling bold, you can even serenade your date with a song or a reading.
Go Halloween costume shopping.
Whether you and your date are planning a couples costume or doing your own thing, it's always more fun to get the job done together. Check out a thrift shop and add a competitive element by seeing who can put together the best costume for the least amount of money.
Plan a picnic.
Fall weather is fabulous for al fresco dining. Pack a blanket, a bottle of wine, and lots of cheeses and bread, and you and your date can spend a leisurely afternoon snacking and chilling in a park.
Attend a jack-o'-lantern festival.
Pumpkin patches are fun and all, but if you really want to impress your date, then you should take them to a jack-o'-lantern festival. If you can find an annual festival in your area (like New York's Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze), you and your date can marvel at tons of intricately carved pumpkins together.
Hang out on a hayride.
Who said hayrides are just for kids? You're never too old to go for a hayride around a farm, and for a spooky Halloween twist, you can search for the best haunted hayrides available near you.
Browse through a farmers market.
Farmers markets tend to pop up everywhere in the fall, and there's no cuter way to spend an autumn afternoon than by perusing fresh produce and local art with your date.
Have a blast at an amusement park.
Are you and your date thrill-seekers? Whether you visit a giant park like Six Flags or a small local park, amusement parks are a great place to spend a fall date—especially because many parks offer special Halloween-themed events.
Make candles together.
Open a bottle of your favorite autumn cider or wine and make candles at home. Explore easy-to-follow online candle making classes offered by Paddywax Candle Making Workshops. You can customize your session and have a kit shipped with all of the tools you'll need to create a spread of candles together.
Go geocaching.
Geocaching is similar to a treasure hunt, where you use navigational techniques to hunt down hidden containers—called "geocaches" or "caches"—at locations marked by coordinates. If you're looking to plan an adventurous fall date, then check out Geocaching.com and learn how to get started.
Do a Halloween pub crawl.
Why wait until Halloween to show off your costume? In some areas, Halloween-themed bar events take place nearly every weekend in October (and even into November!), and you can visit PubCrawl.com to find Halloween bar crawls available in cities through the country.
Dip your own candy apples.
Few things are more tantalizing than a candy apple, especially if you make it yourself. Whether you and your date decide to go with caramel or try a new candy apple recipe, you can't go wrong with this delicious date idea.
Ride horses.
Even if you're never saddled up before, you and your date are sure to have fun horsing around on a dude ranch. Visit TripAdvisor.com to find a horse ranch offering horseback riding in your area.
Bake a pie.
From apple to pumpkin, there are endless fall pie recipes out there, and after visiting an orchard or farm (or simply buying supplies at a grocery store), there's no better way to put your goods to use than by baking a fresh pie alongside your date.
Visit a renaissance festival.
Fall is the season of renaissance faires and festivals, and if you and your date are looking for an afternoon of medieval garb and mead, then be sure to visit Faire Finder for a major blast from the past.
Go on a scavenger hunt.
Take advantage of beautiful autumn weather with a challenging scavenger hunt. Whether you create your own or take advantage of a service like Let's Roam, scavenger hunts are an awesome way to either explore a new city or town or better familiarize yourself with your own.
Go to an antiques fair or roadshow.
If you and your love are aficionados of Old-World charm and vintage wares, get lost together at a local or regional antiques show. Put on a cozy outfit (it's sweater weather season!), bring your best haggling skills, and hop in the truck (you're going to need space for your big haul) for a day of unexpected finds and adventure.
Related: Go Antiquing Like a Pro With These Designer Tips
Take a hike.
Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors, either with a leisurely stroll or an intense trek. You can check out the American Hiking Society website to find the best hiking trails in your area, depending on how ambitious you and your date are feeling.
Visit a fortune teller.
If you prefer the mystical side of Halloween to the spooky side, then take your date to see a fortune teller or psychic medium for a reading. You may be able to learn what the future holds for you two.
Pick some apples.
What could make for a cuter date than an afternoon spent in an apple orchard? Check out the best apple picking farms and orchards across the country and get ready to compete with your date over who can find the best looking fruit.
Explore a corn maze.
Corn mazes definitely aren't just for little kids, and you can visit Corn Mazes America for a list of corn mazes by state, including moonlight mazes or haunted mazes for Halloween-themed experiences.
Learn some history on a ghost tour.
Similar to haunted houses, ghost tours allow you to learn a little history and get a little creeped out, and even if you don't believe in ghosts, a tour may just change your mind. Visit Fright Find to search for ghost tours near you.
Laugh it up at a comedy show.
From major comedy troupes like The Second City to local comedy clubs, comedy shows are offered just about everywhere, and they make for a hilariously fun fall date night idea. Try browsing your local events directories to find the best comedy events near you.
Get creative with a paint-and-sip night.
Want to create while you imbibe? Paint-and-sip classes combine a group painting lesson with wine drinking, and if that sounds like your cup of tea, then you can find a lesson near you and spend a cozy fall night sipping and painting alongside your better half.
Make autumn angels.
Pack a simple lunch (don't forget a cozy blanket and basket) and head to your favorite park with an abundance of pretty falling leaves. Enjoy your meal and make time to create a pair of angels among the leaves with partner before heading home.
Carve pumpkins.
Whether you pick up pumpkins at your local grocery store or find a pumpkin farm to choose your own, carving is always the next step. Check out some pumpkin carving ideas for inspiration and see who can create the best design.
You Might Also Like
