The Ultimate Fall Fun in Indianapolis Bucket List: Kid-Approved Activities for a Fun Fall

There’s something so romantically fall about cardigan sweaters, cooler mornings and curling your fingers around a cup of hot chocolate. When swimsuits are replaced by corduroys, the sun lazily rises in the morning and the smell of fallen leaves fills the air.

Whatever makes fall one of your favorite seasons, we’re highlighting all the special things in the Indianapolis area that are perfect for fall family fun.

Indianapolis Fun Fall Activities to Try All Fall Long

1. 1. 1. Go apple picking.
      2. Attend a fall festival.
      3. Hit up an outdoor farmers market while you still can.
      4. Run through a corn maze.
      5. Head to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. 
      6. Enjoy the colors of fall at one of these top 5 spots to witness fall foliage in Indiana. Farmers’ Almanac predicts peak fall foliage dates for 2023 are October 5-21 in northern Indiana and October 12-28 in southern Indiana.

         

      7. Ride the zip line at the Nature Adventure Playground at Jill Perelman Pavilion.
      8. Explore a local nature center.
      9. Eat an apple cider donut. 
      10. Explore a new destination in Indiana on one of these 17 Indiana Day Trips Perfect for Fall.
      11. Ride the railbikes at the Nickel Plate Express.
      12. Create a “You’ve Been Booed” basket for a neighbor.
      13. Get up close with animals during an animal encounter. 
      14. Enjoy a picnic and adult beverages at the family-friendly Daniels Winery. Make sure to check the calendar too, for Daniels Winery fall events.
      15. Catch a ride on one of these 10 fall-themed train trips.
      16. Visit Fishers AgriPark for a unique park/farm experience.
      17. Ride the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown.
      18. Play on farm equipment at Tuttle Orchards Tractor Town. 

          

      19. Take your trip to the playground to a whole new level at one of the top 10 coolest playgrounds in Indianapolis.
      20. Learn something new on a tour of Strawtown Enclosure, a Native American village that was inhabited over 700 years ago. *
      21. Or if you need to burn some energy inside, check out these awesome indoor playgrounds around Indianapolis.
      22. Experience life on a working farm during a visit to one of these local farms.
      23. Take your farm visit one step further with an overnight farm stay. 
      24. Take a stroll around Downtown Indianapolis and discover something new about our city.
      25. Check out the trails at the Marian University EcoLab for a fall hike.
      26. Go on a hike and enjoy the fall colors. Here are some great hiking trails for kids.

          

      27. Enjoy a meal out with the family at one of these 10 fun Indianapolis restaurants for kids!
      28.  Visit The Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens on a beautiful fall day for a picnic.
      29. Explore downtown Central Library.
      30. Enjoy a local farms harvest festival. 
      31. Catch a free movie at Movies at Midtown every Tuesday, featuring showings at noon and 6 pm and Thursdays at 6 pm.
      32. Does your family have an adrenaline junkie?  Consider a family zip line trip.
      33. Visit Nehemiah Ranch for a free fall activity.
      34. Explore Carmel’s Midtown Plaza for an outing everyone will enjoy.
      35. Fall can be a great time for a family camping trip. Here are our favorite spots within a 90-minute drive of Indianapolis.
      36. Spend a cool morning climbing the Conner Prairie Treetop Outpost.

          

      37. Speaking of trees, play in the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers.
      38. Test your wits at a local haunted house or scare park.
      39. Get in your final creek stomping at Cool Creek Park or Flowing Well Park.
      40. Have an archaeology adventure at River Road Park.  This one-of-a-kind park includes features you’ll see nowhere else around Indy.

          

      41. Get outdoors and try out Geocaching; it’s like a scavenger hunt paired with a game of hide-and-seek.
      42. Or try a family round of disc golf. Here is a guide for all the places to play disc golf around Indy. 

Can’t Miss Fall Events near Indianapolis

Beasley’s Orchard

September 14-October 31, 2024

Celebrate the fall harvest with farm family fun at Beasley’s Orchard! Enjoy hayrides to the pumpkin patch, our 8-acre corn maze, apple cannons, the barnyard bonanza, food vendors, and more!

ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo

September 25-October 31, 2024

Head to the Zoo for super-duper Halloween activities, amazing animals and pumpkins galore! ZooBoo is always a fun family experience for itty-bitty ghouls and goblins, as well as the bigger kids.

Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie

October 3-27, 2024  (Thursdays–Sundays)

The Headless Horseman Festival is full of activities, shows and spooktacular family fun. Take an adventure on Conner Prairie’s haunted hayride where you’ll get chased down by the Headless Horseman!

The Arts in Autumn

October 12, 2024

The City of Carmel invites you to Midtown Plaza on October 12 from 2 – 6 p.m. for a fall festival stacked with local artists; trick-or-treating, sponsored by CrossRoad Engineers, PC; a movie screening and more! Stroll through the plaza to enjoy delicious food from local vendors and immerse yourself in the artistic culture of Carmel.

Locally Made: Indy’s Fall Fest

October 19, 2024

Indy’s Fall Fest will be held on Saturday, October 19, from noon to 5 pm. ARTSPARK will come alive with art activities, art, food, and more! This event features artwork, wares, and artisanal goods from 50+ local and regional artists with one-of-a-kind work. Guests will be able to participate in art activities while enjoying a sampling of local artists and artisans, food trucks, local beer and a variety of wine for purchase! This event is very family friendly so bring the whole crew and enjoy a fun-filled fall day! Admission is free and open to the public. Activities available for for all ages. Make-It-Take-Its for adults available for pre-purchase.

The Children’s Museum Guild’s 60th Annual Haunted House is the museum’s largest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds support The Museum Fund, enabling The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to ignite joy, wonder, and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults.

Non-members: $9 per person. Children under age 2 are free. Museum general admission is not required.

Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Harvest

September 21-October 27 (Thursday-Sunday)

At Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Harvest we are all about creating memorable experiences through excellent service. We are excited to have you out to the farm this fall. Admission includes access to over 45 activities here at the farm. Some of the activities include: our new Interactive Tractor Cab, Tractor Drive, Sports Shed, Ropes Range, big slides, hayride, pumpkin patch, corn maze, barrel train rides, tire mountain, farm animals, barnyard bouncers, and more!!
Ages 2 and under and 70 or over are free. Everyone else requires a paid admission.

Waterman’s Family Farm

Sept. 28 – Oct. 31

Waterman’s Family Farms invites you to join them for their yearly fall celebration. Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch in search of your perfect pumpkin, or race your friends through the corn maze, up the tire mountain, or across the track ride in their outdoor gaming area – there’s something for everyone! Their outdoor gaming area boasts three new attractions this year, they’ve created a special Toddler Town, and the hayride route promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Lark Ranch

September 21st – October 27th

Three Lark Ranch locations? Triple the fun! Admission to each of these includes access to the corn maze, pumpkin patch, treehouse village, jumping pillow, hayrides, zip lines, petting zoo, food, and more. The full-size trains at all locations are a must-see!

Kelsay Farms

September 27 – October 27, 2924

Experience the Farm! Corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, pumpkins, the Jump Pad, Straw Bale Mountain, Moo Choo Express rides, play in the corn crib, pumpkin painting, snacks, milkshakes and more!

Russell Farms Pumpkin Patch

September 23 – October 31

Enjoy hayrides, scavenger hunt corn mazes, bounce houses, 37’ slide, human pig races, new mini golf, pedal carts, huge petting zoo, huge pumpkin jump pad, playgrounds, rides, country store full of fall decor, fudge, candles and more at Russell Farms Pumpkin Patch. Bluegrass music, pork sandwich meals, concessions, mums, pump-kins everywhere and the largest, colorful gourd selection around! Lots of fun for all ages! Admission includes all activities! Children ages 2 and younger free. Discount for military members, veterans, and anyone aged 65 and older. To see a video of the festival, visit our Facebook page.

Harvest Nights Returns to Newfields

Sept. 29-October 31

Harvest Nights, the spook-tacular spectacle, returns to Newfields for the month of October. This spooky, not scary after-dark event is fit for the whole family and is sure to be a frightful and delightful evening under Indiana’s chilly harvest sky. Wander through fog-filled forests filled with glowing jack-o-lanterns galore in the Pumpkin Path of Peril, feel the Ghost Train rumble beneath your feet and witness The Three Graces come to life in the party of the century at Mischief Manor.