Fall Bucket List for Kids: Top Things To Do in Atlanta This Fall

1. Apple Picking

Head north to Ellijay for the sweetest apple picking in Georgia. Enjoy an apple festival, take home apples, and even bake an apple pie. 

2. Atlanta Parks & Playgrounds

Soak up that crisp fall weather at one of our favorite Atlanta parks and playgrounds. 

3. Atlanta Falcons 

Nothing says fall in the South like football! Cheer on the Atlanta Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium; kids love to see the mascot, Freddie Falcon, and his protege, Lil Fred, dance at the games. See #33 below for more ideas for football fans.

Your family will NOT be thirsty after visiting World of Coca-Cola.

4. Atlanta Attractions

Taste delicious and weird soda flavors at World of Coca-Cola; see sharks and dolphins at the Georgia Aquarium; or visit one of Atlanta's many other attractions (we have 23 more options here). 

5. Corn Mazes

Play hide-and-seek at the Buford Corn Maze, escape the maze at Warbington Farms in Cumming, or look for another corn maze near you. 

6. Helen, Georgia 

Fall is the best time to visit Helen, GA! Check out the fall foliage, ride the Georgia Mountain Coaster, and celebrate Oktoberfest in this quaint Bavarian town. 

7. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

The historic Blue Ridge Scenic Railway offers seasonal rides (including wonderful holiday rides). For fall, we like the Fall Foliage Express because it's a two-hour trip, perfect for kids. 

Don't eat too much candy before boarding the roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia!

8. Six Flags Over Georgia 

Older kids (13 and up) may want to hit the park at night for the always terrifying Fright Fest; younger kids should opt for the daytime event, Boo Fest. 

9. Arts and Crafts 

We have the cutest ideas for Thanksgiving crafts (50 of them)! Some standouts include painting with corn on the cob and making toilet-paper pumpkins. 

10. Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG)

We are big fans of ABG during the fall —families enjoy Shows for Seedlings on Friday mornings during September and Scarecrows in the Garden during October. 

11. Day Trips From Atlanta

Fall is a great time to take a vacay, just for the day. Need inspiration? See our list of 14 Fabulous Fall Day Trips From Atlanta. 

12. Harvest and Fall Festivals 

Atlanta is full of fall festivals and fairs, like the Georgia State Fair, Georgia Apple Festival, and Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival, just to name a few. 

13. Not-So-Scary Movies

Have a family movie night with one of these Halloween-themed movies.  

14. State Parks

You don't have to go far to see fall foliage— hike and make family memories at one of these state parks near Atlanta. 

There's nothing that says "fall" more than pumpkin picking at a local pumpkin patch.

15. Pumpkin Patches

Head to a local pumpkin patch like Southern Belle Farms in McDonough or Burt's Farm in Dawsonville to select pumpkins, go on hay rides, and take cute pics. 

16. Camping 

There is no better time for a family camping trip than fall in Georgia. Escape to a family-friendly campgrounds, which range from basic tent sites to glam cabins.

17. Ghost Tour

Get brave and go on a ghost tour of Historic Oakland Cemetery (ages 6+), take a spooky Roswell Ghost Tour (tweens/teens), or learn about paranormal activity during Decatur Ghost Tours (tweens/teens). 

18. Pumpkin Recipes

Bake pumpkin pancakes, make pumpkin parfaits, cook pumpkin pasta, and do even more in the kitchen with pumpkins! Our list of easy pumpkin recipes goes beyond pumpkin bread (but we like that, too)! 

19. Atlanta Hikes 

Even non-hikers (like my kids) enjoy hiking in Atlanta during fall. Enjoy the vibrant colors of the trees or play one of these hiking games during your trek. 

20. Zoo Atlanta

The animals at Zoo Atlanta are out and about in the fall. Plan to visit the last two weekends in October for Boo at the Zoo. 

21. Drive-in Movies

Yes, drive-in movies still exist and fall is an excellent season for taking the family to a drive-in theater. Or create your own drive-in theater experience at your own house! 

22. Pumpkin Carving

No need to be intimidated by this messy project that involves sharp objects. We have free links to easy, cool pumpkin carving stencils and tips for how to make this fall activity fun and safe. 

23. Center for Puppetry Arts 

Since Atlanta is home to the Center for Puppetry Arts, kids get to see adorable puppet shows this fall, like Brother Coyote and Sister Fox and The Rainbow Fish. 

24. High Museum of Art

The High Museum is not just for grown-ups —this cultural institution has kids' programming like Second Sundays at the High (also FREE), as well as activities during Toddler Thursdays. 

The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area is home to kid-friendly attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities.

25. Weekend Vacations

 Some of our favorite weekend getaways in the fall include nearby beaches, Greenville, SC, and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, TN. 

26. Fox Theatre 

The fall lineup at the Fox features two new sing-along events: Encanto and Peppa Pig. Both shows run for one night only in November so get tickets ASAP!

27. LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta

Everything is awesome at LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta, which just experienced a huge makeover. Fall is a great time to check out the new interactive rides, exhibits, and play areas. 

Cheer on the hometown soccer team, Atlanta United. 

28. Atlanta United 

If you haven't been to an Atlanta United game, definitely go and take the kids this fall (soccer season runs through late October). It's an electriying environment and the tickets are typically affordable. 

29. Free Play

Some of our favorite free playtimes, like Discovery Day Kids Club (Wednesday mornings at Halcyon) and Little Acorns at Avalon (every other Tuesday), feature seasonal songs, books, and crafts during fall. 

30. Indoor Play Spaces

On especially crisp fall days in Atlanta, get the wiggles out at our favorite indoor play spaces. 

Look for creative scarecrows in Alpharetta, usually designed by local residents and organizations. 

31. Find Silly Scarecrows 

Lots of Atlanta neighborhoods boast amazing and funny scarecrows in the fall. Good spots to find these silly scarescrows include Alpharetta, Roswell, Marietta, Woodstock, Kennesaw, and Acworth. 

32. Outdoor Picnic 

Dust off that picnic blanket and head to one of Atlanta's beautiful parks for a fun fall picnic. 

33. College Football

Take your little football fan to the home of all things college football at this College Football Hall of Fame. Watch games with your kids on Saturdays; you can even take them to these kid-friendly bars and restaurants. 

34.  Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC)

Head to the Chattahoochee Nature Center to canoe as a family, see some wildlife, or take a Halloween hike. 

Take a walk on the supernatural side at the Woodland Spirit Exhibit at Fernbank Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

35. Fernbank Museum

Fall at Fernbank Museum means the Woodland Spirits exhibit. Explore 10 acres of Fernbank's WildWoods and find spooky sculptures, ghostly figures, and a monster garden. 

36. Sleep in a Tree 

Here are some super cool treehouses your kids will love to spend a night in. 

Come out for the Roswell Youth Day Parade on October 14, 2023.

37. Fall Parades

Kids love a good parade. Our favorite parades in the fall include Roswell Youth Day, Little Five Points Halloween Parade, and Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega. 

38.  Dine al Fresco 

After surviving a hot summer, families can comfortably opt for outside dining at these Atlanta restaurants with great patios. 

39. Ride Bikes

Enjoy the fall weather and colors by biking on one of Atlanta's family-friendly bike paths. Our favorite? The amazing Atlanta BeltLine with so much for kids to do along the way. 

40. Jump into a Pile of Leaves 

If you don't do this rakeing the leaves, have you even experienced fall?! 

Unless otherwise noted, photo by author