I like to appreciate aspects of every season – the crisp mornings of winter, and the first blooms of spring, then the long, warm evenings of summer – but, like a lot of us, autumn has always had an extra soft spot in my heart. Getting out my cosy jumpers, the colours of the leaves turning, and obviously finally being able to bake without the kitchen turning into a sauna.
To get into the autumnal spirit, I wanted to put together a few challenges that hopefully others will find fun too! The aim is to get at least one from every group, and once that’s been achieved, just try to complete as many as possible! I’ve seen a lot of ‘Fall Bingo’ and ‘Autumn Activities’ posts on Pinterest, and I just fell in love with the idea, so had to make one of my own.
Naturally, the challenges are more geared towards activities that I would enjoy the most, and so they are more inclined to the introverts among us – although, there’s still some for the extroverts too 🙂 Hopefully, there’s something for everyone!
So, without further ado, let the autumn challenge commence <3
The Maple Leaf Group
1. Style an outfit using the colours of autumn leaves
Put together an outfit inspired by the rich colours of changing leaves — think burnt orange, rust, burgundy, mustard yellow, deep red, caramel and warm brown. You could incorporate the colours through your clothing, shoes, accessories or even your makeup! If the weather allows, a layered outfit would be especially adorable.
2. Make your own spiced syrup
Make a homemade syrup to add a little autumnal magic to drinks and desserts! Try flavours such as cinnamon, maple, vanilla, ginger, apple, or pumpkin spice. It just so happens that I have a post on how to make spiced syrups here if you’d like to give this challenge a go. Use whatever you make in coffees, hot chocolates, cocktails, pancakes, porridge, or anything else you can think of!
3. Press autumn leaves
Collect some particularly beautiful fallen leaves and press them between heavy books or using a flower press. Once they’re completely dry, use them for autumn crafts, decorations, greeting cards, bookmarks, a framed botanical artwork, anything! I love to use them in scrapbooking the most.
4. Create a fallen leaf bouquet
Gather an assortment of gorgeous autumn leaves and arrange them into a bouquet. You could combine them with dried flowers, twigs, berries or grasses and display the finished arrangement in a vase – along with a few live flowers too if you want!
5. Go for a golden hour walk
Head outside in the late afternoon when the autumn sunlight is at its warmest and prettiest. Take a leisurely walk somewhere with plenty of trees and enjoy the changing colours, falling leaves and golden light. I’d suggest taking a warm drink in a travel mug with you, and maybe find a few fallen leaves for crafts!
6. Bake something maple-flavoured
Make an autumnal bake featuring maple as the star ingredient. Think maple cookies, maple cake, maple pecan muffins, maple blondies, maple cinnamon rolls or even a maple cheesecake!
The Apple Group
1. Visit an apple orchard
Visiting an apple orchard during apple-picking season is PEAK autumn vibes! If you’re allowed to pick your own, choose some apples to take home and use them for baking, cooking or homemade drinks!
2. Paint or photograph an apple-holding portrait
I know it sounds like I’m looking for meaning where there isn’t any, but the apple is a really important fruit in the art world, especially when looking at classical art. The apple is often a reference to the bible, referencing the original sin or even salvation when painted in the hand of the baby Jesus. In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, the apple is often linked to Aphrodite or Venus as a symbol of beauty and desire. Create your own piece of art using this iconic fruit, and see where your creativity takes you!
3. Host an autumn afternoon tea
Gather some of your favourite people and host a cosy autumn afternoon tea! Serve little sandwiches, maybe some scones, and obviously, some of your own delicious autumnal bakes from the other challenges on this list! Make sure to serve a pot of tea or hot chocolate alongside your sweet treats, and decorate your dining table with all the trappings of the season.
4. Add an apple-red accent to your outfit
Red is such a vibrant, eye-catching colour that I think it works perfectly as a little accent to an otherwise fairly muted outfit. Think about a red lip, earrings, a handbag, tights, a belt – any little accent you can think of! I especially love a pop of red with an all black outfit – total siren vibes.
5. Bake an apple dessert
The apple absolutely SHINES in autumnal bakes, all thanks to its best friend – cinnamon. There are a plethora of options here! The classic apple pie, the classy tarte tartin, or a cosy apple turnover is the perfect sweet treat for a crisp autumn day.
6. Watch a film with ‘Apple’ in the title
An autumn film night can be the cosiest night of the week: blankets, fluffy socks, scented candles, and all your apple based sweet treats! Here are a few ideas for films with the word ‘Apple’ in the title:
- Bad Apples (2026) – Only just released in theatres, so a trip to the cinema can be justified!
- The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) – An old Disney western comedy, family friendly and super cosy!
- Pineapple Express (2008) – I’m cheating a little with this one, but it’s probably the most widely known.
The Acorn Group
1. Collect fallen acorns in the woods
Take a woodland walk and collect fallen acorns that you find along the way. Look for interesting shapes, colours and sizes, while leaving plenty behind for wildlife!
2. Create acorn people
Turn your collected acorns into tiny woodland characters! Add little faces, hats, clothes or accessories using craft materials to create your own miniature acorn family.
3. Watch Over the Garden Wall
It is an absolute non-negotiable in my household (meaning, myself) that we rewatch Over the Garden Wall every autumn. I honestly do not think there is a single piece of media out there that more perfectly encapsulates the season! Set aside an evening to watch the whole thing, which takes about 1 hour 45mins – making it perfect for a movie night.
4. Style some handmade acorn jewellery
Create (or buy) a piece of jewellery using your collected acorns! You could make an acorn necklace, earrings, bracelet or charm, or simply style an existing nature-inspired piece with an autumn outfit.
5. Make fairy furniture
Create tiny furniture for an imaginary woodland fairy home. Use twigs, bark, leaves, acorns, moss and other natural materials to make miniature chairs, tables, beds or little houses.
6. Have a woodland picnic
Pack an autumnal picnic and take it somewhere surrounded by trees. Bring cosy blankets and seasonal food such as sandwiches, pastries, apples, cake, thermos flasks of tea and hot chocolate. Make sure to wrap up warm!
The Bonfire Group
1. Wear a bonfire-inspired makeup look
Create a makeup look inspired by the colours of a bonfire. Think fiery oranges, copper, gold, bronze, burgundy and deep brown. You could make it subtle with a warm smoky eye or go all-out with glitter and metallics.
2. Go to a bonfire or firework night
Go along to a local Bonfire Night or fireworks event and enjoy the atmosphere, lights and fireworks. Wrap up warmly and make an evening of it with seasonal treats and a hot drink.
3. Make paper lanterns
Craft your own paper lanterns to decorate your home, garden or autumn gathering. Experiment with different shapes, cut-out patterns and warm autumnal colours.
4. Make s’mores by the fire
Toast marshmallows over a fire and sandwich them between biscuits with chocolate to make classic s’mores. You could experiment with different chocolate bars, biscuits or flavoured marshmallows.
5. Take an evening walk with a hot drink
Make yourself a comforting hot drink, pop it into a travel mug and head out for an evening stroll. Look at the autumn leaves, lights and evening sky while enjoying your drink.
6. Make a Bonfire Night treat
Bake or make something specifically inspired by Bonfire Night. Try bonfire cupcakes, chocolate sparklers, toffee apples, parkin, chocolate apples, treacle toffee or a cake decorated like a bonfire.
The Mushroom Group
1. Style an outfit inspired by a particular mushroom
Choose a mushroom species and use its colours and appearance as outfit inspiration. A fly agaric could inspire red, white and whimsical styling, while a woodland mushroom might inspire earthy browns, creams and mossy greens.
2. Craft something mushroom-inspired
Make a piece of art or craft inspired by mushrooms. You could paint mushrooms, make clay mushroom decorations, embroider mushroom motifs, create a mushroom ornament or make a tiny fairy mushroom house.
3. Go mushroom spotting
Take a woodland walk and look for different varieties of mushrooms and fungi. Photograph the ones you find and see how many different shapes, colours and textures you can spot.
4. Cook a dish with mushrooms
Make a delicious savoury dish where mushrooms are the star. Mushroom risotto, creamy mushroom pasta, mushroom soup, mushroom pie or a mushroom and cheese tart would all make lovely autumn meals.
5. Bake mushroom-shaped cookies
Make cookies shaped like little mushrooms. Decorate them with icing, chocolate or sprinkles, or make them resemble particular varieties of woodland fungi.
6. Decorate with mushroom motifs
Bring a little woodland magic into your home by decorating with mushroom-inspired pieces. Think mushroom candles, ceramics, prints, cushions, ornaments, artwork, textiles or even tiny mushroom lights.
The Pumpkin Group
1. PYO pumpkin at a pumpkin patch
Visit a pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin! Take your time choosing one with an interesting shape, colour or size, and make a day of the experience with autumn drinks, photographs and seasonal treats.
2. Watch a film with ‘Pumpkin’ in the title
Choose a film with ‘Pumpkin’ somewhere in its title and have a cosy autumn movie night. Pair it with pumpkin-flavoured snacks or a pumpkin-spiced drink. Here are a couple films I’d recommend:
- Pumpkinhead (1988) – Perfect ‘ for closer to Halloween!
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) – A family friendly animated classic.
3. Bake something pumpkin-spiced
‘Tis the season of pumpkin spice! Your options are absolutely endless here – pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice cookies, or maybe even a pumpkin spice cheesecake!
4. Host a pumpkin carving party
Invite your favourite people over for a pumpkin-carving evening! Provide pumpkins, carving tools and plenty of candles, then turn it into a little competition or simply admire everyone’s creations afterwards 🙂 Making a whole day of it by starting at the pumpkin patch would be super fun!
5. Decorate with pumpkin motifs
Add pumpkin-inspired decorations to your home for the season. Look for pumpkins in different colours, fabrics and materials, or decorate with pumpkin-patterned crockery, candles, artwork, cushions and textiles.
6. Style a pumpkin-coloured outfit
Put together an outfit inspired by the warm orange tones of pumpkins. Try pumpkin orange with cream, brown, burgundy, olive green, camel or gold for a particularly autumnal look.
In Conclusion
Autumn is a lot of people’s favourite season for very good reason – we start getting cosier, baking more, and spending more time with those we love the most. Sometimes, we forget about the simple pleasures of going apple-picking, a movie night, or being creative with our favourite people. I hope this challenge changes that for a few of you out there!