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

Fall in Indianapolis leaves plenty of room for both kinds of family outings: the full afternoon at a pumpkin patch and the quick playground stop before dinner. There are apples to pick, corn mazes to work through, trails to explore and Halloween events for kids who love a scare and kids who would rather stick to the candy.

Use this list to find something for a free afternoon, plan a fall break outing or choose a seasonal event worth putting on the calendar.

Fall Activities to Try Around Indianapolis

1. Go apple picking. Check the orchard’s picking update before leaving home, since available varieties change throughout the season.
2. Spend a day at a fall festival. Start with the food, music or activities your family will enjoy most.
3. Visit an outdoor farmers market before its season wraps up.
4. Find your way through a corn maze. Let the kids take a turn choosing the route.
5. Pick a pumpkin from a local patch. Leave time for the hayride, play areas and whatever else catches the kids’ attention.
   
6. Plan an outing around Indiana’s fall foliage. Choose a park or scenic drive and make the changing leaves part of the trip.

   

7. Explore the Nature Adventure Playground at Jill Perelman Pavilion in Carmel.
8. Visit a local nature center and pair the indoor exhibits with a walk outside.
9. Make a stop for apple cider doughnuts. This can absolutely be the whole outing.
10. Take an Indiana fall day trip. Pick a destination outside your usual weekend rotation.
11. Pedal a railbike with Nickel Plate Railbikes in Noblesville. Check available excursions and reserve a departure before heading out.
12. Put together a “You’ve Been Booed” basket and let the kids help make a surprise delivery to a neighbor.
13. Book an animal encounter for a closer look at a favorite creature.
14. Share pizza at Daniel’s Vineyard. The McCordsville winery welcomes families and serves pizza, salads and other food. Outside food and drinks are not permitted; check its calendar before visiting.
15. Take a fall train ride. Look for a pumpkin outing, themed excursion or ride through the changing leaves.
    
16. Visit Fishers AgriPark for an outing that combines a public park with a working urban farm.
17. Keep the Sullivan Express to PumpkinTown on your fall list.
18. Play in the FarmYard at Tuttle Orchards. Kids can explore the combine, wooden tractors, giant slide and corn crib. The FarmYard is open Mondays through Saturdays through Oct. 31; the orchard is closed Sundays.

    

19. Try a playground your family hasn’t visited. A different slide or climbing structure can be enough to make an ordinary afternoon feel new.
20. Learn about the Strawtown Enclosure on a guided tour of the Native American village site. Check the Taylor Center of Natural History’s program calendar for tour dates and registration.
21. Save an indoor playground for a rainy day. Fall weather doesn’t always cooperate with outdoor plans.
22. Spend time at a local farm and learn more about the animals, crops and work behind it.
    
23. Book an overnight farm stay if your family would rather make a weekend of it.
24. Explore downtown Indianapolis with the kids. Choose a few stops within walking distance and leave room for a snack break.

25. Walk the trails at Marian University’s EcoLab. Its wetlands and wooded paths are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
26. Take a hike that fits your kids’ stamina. A short trail with time to stop and look around still counts.

    

27. Try a restaurant with something extra for kids. Make lunch or dinner part of a fall outing.
28. Explore the Children’s Garden at Coxhall Gardens and bring a picnic for a mild fall day.
29. Spend an afternoon at Central Library. Browse the children’s books and let everyone choose something to take home.
30. Choose a local farm’s harvest festival for a day of seasonal activities in one place.
31. Catch a free movie at Midtown Plaza. Regular screenings run through Sept. 24, with movies at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and noon and 6 p.m. Thursdays. A Halloween showing of Coco is also scheduled for Oct. 31.
    
32. Plan a zip line outing for kids who want a bigger adventure. Check the course’s age, height and weight requirements before booking.
33. Visit Nehemiah Ranch for Fall Harvest Days. The Avon ranch hosts hayrides, games, a fire pit and pumpkin patch visits from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 3, 10 and 17. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person.
34. Spend an afternoon in Carmel’s Midtown Plaza. Combine some time outside with a nearby meal or treat.
35. Plan a family camping trip near Indianapolis. Check campsite availability and seasonal amenities before reserving.
36. Climb the Treetop Outpost at Conner Prairie. The four-story treehouse gives kids room to explore, with nature play and building activities nearby.

    

37. Explore the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers, then follow the trails for a closer look at the woods.
38. Visit a haunted house or scare park with older kids who enjoy being scared. Choose the attraction and session to match their comfort level.
39. Enjoy a warm fall afternoon at Cool Creek Park or Flowing Well Park. Take a woodland walk, with creek stomping at Flowing Well when conditions allow.
40. Combine history and outdoor play at Prather Park. Explore the playground and historical exhibit along the White River.
41. Try geocaching with the kids. Give your next walk a treasure-hunt mission.
42. Play a round of disc golf around Indy. Keep it casual while everyone gets the hang of throwing.

Fall Events Near Indianapolis

Beasley’s Orchard Fall Festivals and Activities

Sept. 19–Nov. 1 | Danville

Beasley’s Orchard has fall activities daily, including a corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple cannons and Barnyard Bonanza play areas. Weekends add themed festivals, including the Heartland Apple Festival on Oct. 3–4 and 10–11. Apple and pumpkin purchases cost extra.

ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo

Sept. 23–Nov. 1, Wednesdays through Sundays | 2 p.m. to closing

ZooBoo combines animal visits with trick-or-treating, a potions show, Halloween activities and seasonal decorations. Costumes are encouraged, and the event is included with regular zoo admission and membership. Sensory-friendly days are Sept. 30 and Oct. 28, with reduced music and lights beginning at 2 p.m.

Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie

Oct. 1–25, Thursdays through Sundays | 5–10 p.m. | Fishers

The Headless Horseman Festival fills Conner Prairie with seasonal shows, carnival games, rides and the Headless Horseman hayride. The hayride requires a separate timed ticket in addition to festival admission. Families with children who scare easily should choose an earlier hayride before dark.

Arts in Autumn

Oct. 17 | 2–5 p.m. | Midtown Plaza, Carmel

Arts in Autumn is a free afternoon festival with hands-on arts and crafts, face painting, balloon artists and seasonal photo opportunities. The city also lists an outdoor movie as part of the celebration.

Locally Made: Indy’s Fall Fest

Oct. 17 | Noon–5 p.m. | Indy Art Center

Locally Made: Indy’s Fall Fest brings more than 50 local and regional artists to ARTSPARK, along with art activities and food trucks. Admission and pumpkin painting are free. Some hands-on classes require separate registration and payment.

The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House: Fright Academy

Oct. 9–31, select days | The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Monsters and villains head to school at Fright Academy, where the classrooms, library and cafeteria take a creepy turn. Choose Friendly Hours for brighter lights, upbeat music and friendly greeters, or Frightening Hours for dim lighting and jump scares. Haunted House admission requires a separate ticket and does not include museum admission.

Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Harvest

Sept. 26–Nov. 1, select dates | Thorntown

Dull’s Pumpkin Harvest includes more than 45 attractions with admission, including a corn maze, giant slides, wagon rides and farm play areas. Pumpkins, food and some activities cost extra. Children ages 2 and younger enter free; everyone ages 3 and older needs admission.

The farm opens Saturdays and Sundays, with additional Thursday and Friday hours beginning Oct. 15 and a special opening on Oct. 12.

Waterman’s Family Farm Fall Festival

Sept. 26–Nov. 1, select dates | Indianapolis

The pumpkin-eating dinosaur is one reason to put Waterman’s Family Farm on the list. The fall festival also includes hayrides, a pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, rides and games. Opening weekend is Sept. 26–27, with more dates beginning Oct. 3. Check the farm’s calendar for the day you plan to visit.

Lark Ranch

Sept. 19–Nov. 1, select dates | Greenfield

The Greenfield location of Lark Ranch combines train rides, hayrides, a corn maze, bounce pillows and carnival rides. Most rides and attractions are included with admission; food, pony rides, gem mining and apple cannons cost extra. Dates and attractions differ at the Loogootee and Lanesville locations.

Kelsay Farms

Sept. 25–Oct. 25, select dates | Whiteland

Kelsay Farms has a corn maze, farm animals, a jump pad, Bale Mountain, a corn crib and Moo Choo Express rides. Save time for a milkshake or a stop at the Country Store. Fall break hours run from noon to 6 p.m. weekdays Oct. 5–16.

Russell Farms Pumpkin Patch

Sept. 26–Oct. 31, Saturdays and Sundays | Additional fall break dates Oct. 14–16 and 21–23

Russell Farms has hayrides to the pumpkin patch, scavenger-hunt corn mazes, miniature golf, a petting zoo, pedal carts and large play areas. Admission includes unlimited activities, with pumpkins and the Paint a Pumpkin craft sold separately. Children ages 2 and younger enter free; discounted admission is available for veterans, active military members and guests ages 70 and older.

Weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The additional Wednesday through Friday fall break dates run from 1 to 5 p.m.

Harvest Nights at Newfields

Sept. 25–Nov. 1, select evenings | Indianapolis

Harvest Nights is an evening walk through glowing pumpkins, fog and Halloween displays in the gardens at Newfields. Follow the Pumpkin Path of Peril, feel the Ghost Train rumble and explore Mischief Manor. Fungi Forest adds oversized mushrooms, while the interactive Boo Shoo experience lets guests help chase away ghosts.

Advance tickets are required. The event is designed to be spooky without the intensity of a haunted house, though families should expect changing lights, sounds and crowds.