15 Fall Festival Ideas to Connect with Community

During all seasons, Autumn is definitely the best season to host any outdoor activities. People are more willing to go outside to enjoy the cool, pleasant weather. And the harvest vibe also makes it a good time to host a fall festival to strengthen community connections. 

However, to host a fun fall party, you need to be creative and make thoughtful preparations. In this post, we've gathered a variety of inspiring fall festival ideas. From fun games for both kids and adults, to booth setup tips, to ideas for church and school events, we'll get you covered. Read on and use these ideas to create the best autumn festival ever!

Fall Festival Game Ideas for Kids and Adults

Kids are not the only ones who love fall outdoor gatherings. So when planning your event, also remember to include the adults. Here are some autumn games that both kids and adults will enjoy together:

Ring Toss

Ring toss is a super fun and easy game that everyone can enjoy. To match the fall festival vibe, you can replace the usual bottles with autumn harvest items like pumpkins, corn stalks, or hay bales. When players successfully ring these items, they can take them home. This can make everyone truly experience the joy of the harvest. 

But don't limit it to just crops. If you want to make the game more exciting, prepare a mix of prizes for both kids and adults. For example, small toys, stickers, or candy for children, and scented candles, mini decorations, or local handmade goods for grown-ups.

Pumpkin Bowling

A bowling competition is easy to organize. It doesn't require specific skills or age limits, so it is perfect for bringing families and friends together during a fall festival. The key to making it full of laughter is all about fitting the fall theme. That is, try creating a pumpkin bowling setup. 

Prepare some small, round pumpkins, remove their stems, clean them in advance, and then use them as bowling balls. If you want it to be more authentic, carve three small holes on each one for fingers. As for the pins, empty plastic bottles or hay bales are good options. You can go further to decorate them with fun fall designs, such as colorful leaves, scarecrows, or cute, creative stickers.

Scavenger Hunting

Scavenger hunting is one of the most exciting fall festival ideas for kids. Children really like adventure and exploration. You'll need to prepare some small items such as pinecones, mini pumpkins, colorful leaves, or candy bags, and hide them around the festival area. Then hand out checklists to the players. 

The rules can be set as: the person who finds all the items first or collects the most within a set time wins. Be sure to prepare some small prizes, too. Cute stickers, keychains, or small toys are good. This activity keeps everyone moving and engaged, so as to liven up the entire event.

Candy Corn Guessing

Candy corn guessing is also fun for everyone. All you need are some clear jars and plenty of candy corn. Fill the jars with different amounts of candy and have players guess how many pieces are inside. 

The person who guesses the closest number, or the fastest and most accurate, will win a prize. You can give the game a theme, such as "Guess the Harvest Jar" or "Pumpkin Patch Mystery," to make it sound more festive. 

Bobbing for Apples

Bobbing for apples is a classic fall game that you should never miss out on. Here's how it works: prepare a large tub or bucket and fill it with clean water, then add several apples and wait until they float on the surface.

Ask players to keep their hands behind their backs and try to grab an apple using only their mouths. Whoever gets one the fastest wins! 
It may look a bit silly, but this will definitely become one of the most entertaining and laughter-filled activities at your fall festival.

Fall Festival Booth Ideas 

The fall party is often held outdoors, so you have to pay special attention to the weather conditions. Any sudden changes will ruin this fun experience. That's why we suggest that you prepare a reliable festival tent to work as a safe shelter for both guests and items. 

Usually, for most outdoor activities, the frame tent from Sheltent is always the best choice. It is made of two parts, a frame and a fabric cover. Such a simple structure allows you to set it up and take it down quickly. It is also highly weatherproof. The cover can resist rain and strong sunlight, while the aluminum alloy frame ensures it remains stable even in strong winds. 

More importantly, it is very easy to customize a unique tent to make your fall festival booth stand out. You can choose the specific color or size and decide whether to print some creative logos or patterns on it. And such a custom tent can also be adaptable to any fall festival decoration ideas.

For example, you can hang string lights or paper lanterns around the edges to create a warm autumn glow. Meanwhile, the garlands made of dried leaves, pumpkins, and corn stalks are also great party tent decorations to enhance the harvest vibe. And the hay bales or wooden barrels can be placed near the entrance.

Apart from your tent, also focus on some fall festival food ideas to create a truly enjoyable experience for everyone. Here's what you should do:

Caramel Apples Station

A caramel apple station is simple to set up, and most importantly, it's also fun to make. Fresh, sweet apples are surely the star of your apple bar, so make sure you prepare plenty of them. However, don't slice all the apples in advance, or they'll quickly oxidize and lose freshness. Instead, leave that part to anyone who wants to DIY their own treat.  

Also, be sure to prepare a wide range of toppings. Peanut butter, M&Ms, mini chocolate chips, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, crushed Oreo cookies, pretzels - the more options you offer, the more fun your guests will have!

Seasonal Snacks

Since the festival is held in the fall, it is often a great idea to serve some seasonal foods. Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy classic treats like pumpkin pies, roasted corn, baked sweet potatoes, and marshmallows. These foods help you create a unique experience that truly captures the spirit of fall. 

Meanwhile, if you're good at cooking, you can make a variety of homemade snacks using fresh crops from the season, such as apples, pumpkins, and corn. Whether it's apple muffins, pumpkin cookies, or corn fritters, these handmade treats will carry the cozy, authentic flavor of harvest time.

Hot Chocolate and Cider

The beverage also matters. During a fall festival, the outdoor weather can be a bit chilly. So never forget to offer some warm drinks. The classics are definitely hot chocolate and apple cider. You can even set up a small drink booth for guests to choose their favorite toppings like whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, or caramel drizzle. 

In addition to the food and drinks, you should also arrange some engaging activities to keep a lively atmosphere. Below are a few simple ideas to make sure every guest feels involved.

Face Painting

Face painting can add a lot of excitement, especially for kids. You can invite a professional artist to help guests paint beautiful patterns, or simply set up a DIY station where everyone can create their own favorite designs. The materials you need to prepare usually include brushes, face paints, mirrors, and wipes. 

Just make sure all products are safe, non-toxic, and suitable for sensitive skin, as poor-quality items might cause allergies, irritation, or even more serious reactions.

Fall Festival Crafts

During a fall festival, craft-making is a wonderful activity as well. It gives both kids and adults the chance to create something memorable to take home. There are plenty of fall-themed crafts to try, such as beaded bracelets, leaf garlands, pumpkin painting, creative origami, or clay modeling. 

In addition to basic materials like beads, strings, glue, scissors, paint, brushes, and colored paper, you should also prepare a craft tent to ensure everything runs smoothly. It will protect both guests and items from sudden weather changes. Plus, if all the items are arranged neatly under the tent, it will make your festival venue look more organized.

Leaf Art Station

Leaves can be used to make bookmarks, greeting cards, garlands, framed artwork, or even simple home decorations. These leaf arts are one of the most fitting items for a fall-themed festival. 

Though the preparation phrase may sound a bit tedious, it's absolutely worth it. You'll need to collect suitable leaves from outdoors. It's better to choose those that are whole, clean, and free of damage.

Then sort them into different groups and clean them carefully. When displaying the leaves at your booth, keep them in baskets or other containers to prevent the area from looking messy.

Fall Festival Ideas for Church and School

The fall festival isn't just about fun. It can also serve a greater purpose. For example, by applying fall festival ideas for school and church, you can raise funds to support important programs, community projects, or charitable causes. Here are some meaningful ways to give back while celebrating the season:

Harvest Festival

A good way to celebrate the fall season in schools and churches is to host a harvest festival. You can organize activities like a mini farmers' market during the event. Then members and students can sell homegrown produce, baked goods, or handmade crafts to raise funds. Other fun ideas include pumpkin decorating contests, pie-eating competitions, and various creative DIY stations.

Service Projects

This is one of the most meaningful outdoor event ideas for your fall festival. Common service projects include organizing a food or clothing drive, collecting donations for local shelters, or setting up a volunteer station where guests help assemble care packages. Schools can also partner with local charities to provide services such as planting community gardens or cleaning up public spaces. 

Cut-a-thon

Another meaningful activity for schools and churches is a Cut-a-Thon. Volunteers can participate by getting their hair cut, and the collected hair can be donated to create wigs for cancer patients or others in need. 

For this activity, clear signage should be prepared to encourage more participation. It should include all the details, like the date, time, purposes, etc. Meanwhile, consider inviting professional hairstylists to ensure participants can contribute to a good cause while leaving with a fresh haircut or new style.

Turkey Trot

A Turkey Trot is a fun run or walk event. It is one of the best ways to support a charity or local cause. Everyone, from kids to adults, can join it. Participants need to register for different distances, such as 1 mile, 5K, or 10K.

You can collect registration fees and set up a donation jar for participants to contribute to the cause. To make it more fun, encourage costumes like turkey hats, pilgrim outfits, or autumn-themed attire. 

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for games for all ages, tips for setting up fall festival booths, or meaningful ways to give back, the ideas for fall festivals mentioned above are all worth trying. 

During the fall party, there are often many booths to install, such as food and beverage bars, craft-making stations, and other DIY activity areas. For any of these setups, it's wise to prepare a high-quality tent. It makes your venue look neat and protects your items from damage or contamination. 

Among various tent suppliers, Sheltent stands out. With 10 years of experience in this industry, we provide durable tents and the best customizable solutions for every client.
If you need assistance or suggestions to create the most unforgettable outdoor memories, don't hesitate to contact us. Our 24/7 service ensures you receive an instant reply anytime.