October Bucket List To Make Your Fall Unforgettable

Here’s the ultimate October bucket list with all kinds of cozy, outdoor, and fun ideas to celebrate this fall-coded month. Take a look!

I can’t believe it’s October already!

The weather’s started changing on my side of the world, and I am loving the slight chill in the air during my evening walks.

While I prepared a fall bucket list way ahead of time (I basically live for this season), I know that October demands its own personal bucket list.

The changing weather makes it a very happening and exciting month, because you can do loads of things both indoors and outdoors.

Not to forget, we have our precious Halloween at the end, and that calls for some spooky and fun adventure too.

All in all, October is a month worth celebrating because it’s proof that change can be beautiful.

So, if you want to take it up a notch (or several notches), then this post is for you.

But first, pin to save the post to read later!

We’re going to look at 24 October bucket list ideas, which I’ve divided into five categories for your ease: fall, indoor, outdoor, self-care, social, and creative.

Pick the ones you love, leave the ones you don’t, and definitely try the ones that you are curious about.

Let’s dive right in!

Classic Fall October Ideas

1. Get lost in a corn maze

Find a real corn maze in your local area.

And not those sad little ones at the grocery store parking lot, okay? The kind where you genuinely think you might need to be airlifted out.

Try to at dusk when everything gets a little creepy so that you can pretend you’re in a horror movie.

The confusion is half the fun; the rest can be make-believe, which is what October is all about.

2. Visit an apple orchard and pick apples

Sure, you could just buy apples at the store like a reasonable person, but where’s the fun in that?

Visiting an apple orchard is the classiest fall thing you can do in October.

Just imagine the crunch of leaves under your feet, the smell of cider donuts, and pretending you know which apples are the good ones while you just grab whatever looks shiny (or at least, that’s what I do).

You’ll get to go home with loads of fresh apples and turn them into pies, apple sauce, and apple crisp.

You can also just eat them as they are and feel great about your fruit intake.

3. Drink something pumpkin spice without shame

October is the month to fully lean into pumpkin things, not pretend like we’re too cool for them.

It’s a basic fall pleasure, and you shall not deny yourself.

Get the pumpkin spiced latte, try the pumpkin cream cold brew, experiment with pumpkin spice syrup in your morning coffee, and Instagram it with falling leaf emojis if you want.

October is a judgment-free month, so give yourself full permission to enjoy something purely because it’s seasonal and it makes you happy.

4. Have a Bonfire

Every year you think about having a bonfire, and every year it either rains or everyone flakes and you just… don’t.

Not this time, though. Set a date, get the firewood, and sit outside with a blanket and terrible ghost stories.

If you don’t have a fire pit, then find a park where you can reserve one.

If you don’t have an outdoor space at all, then fine, I’ll concede. You can light candles and a fireplace video on your TV with the lights off (creates basically the same vibe).

Just like with every other thing in fall, it’s about the atmosphere, not perfection.

OCTOBER INDOOR Activities

5. Read a spooky book by flashlight

When’s the last time you read a scary story at night with just a flashlight? Probably middle school, right?

This October, bring it back. Try something deeply unsettling, like:

• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
• Some Edgar Allan Poe
• Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson (it’s a good ghost story collection)

The best time to read would, of course, be late at night when everyone else is asleep and you’re imagining weird creaking sounds.

I mean, go all in, right? It’s October!

6. Watch the scary movie you’re too chicken to watch

You know the one. That movie everyone says is traumatizing that you’ve been avoiding for years, but secretly want to watch.

Maybe it’s Hereditary, The Shining, The Exorcist, or whatever’s been sitting in your watchlist with a warning label.

Pick something that’ll make you regret your choices but also feel accomplished, and face your fears, even if they’re fictional!

7. Build the ultimate cozy corner

You know that one spot in your home that could be perfect for reading, napping, or just existing peacefully?

October is the month to finally turn it into your ultimate cozy corner.

Add some throw pillows, get a chunky blanket, put a small side table for your tea or cocoa, and string up some warm fairy lights.

This will serve as your hibernation station for the next few months. Invest in it now, reap the benefits all winter.

8. Make soup from scratch on a rainy day

Soup has become my rainy day comfort, mainly because it’s impossible to mess up.

If it’s too bland, I just add some salt, and if it’s too thick, I can just add water.

It somehow tastes good and satisfying every time, and I love curling up next to the window, sipping it while watching the rain.

So, if you witness a rainy day in October, then try a simple soup recipe that makes your whole place smell good, and enjoy it to the sound of rain.

Outdoor October Activities

9. Actually carve a pumpkin

We’re all guilty of buying pumpkins with the best intentions and then watching them go bad on the porch. But this year, commit to the mess.

Scoop out the insides, get the seeds everywhere, and light it up.

Even if the result is more sad than scary, you’ll love ticking off this October activity.

And yes, do not throw away those pumpkin seeds. You can toss them in olive oil and salt and then roast.

Pumpkin seeds weirdly addictive and will also stop you from wasting food.

10. Take a long walk

I am not talking about a hike with a destination or a walk for exercise.

Just wander outside for an hour or two when the leaves are doing their thing (all those oranges and reds that don’t look real).

Keep your phone on silent so you don’t get disturbed, and just look at the beauty of fall.

It’ll do something genuinely good for your soul, trust me.

Recommended post: Simple Fall Morning Routine That Will Make Your Day Cozy

11. Go on a fall foliage drive

Find a scenic route near you and just drive.

Roll the windows down even if it’s cold, and play music that matches the vibe— something like ‘The Lumineers’ or ‘Bon Iver’ or whatever makes you feel autumny.

Stop at random spots, take pictures if you want (or don’t), and buy something pumpkin-flavored from a farm stand.

12. Stay up for a meteor shower

The Orionids peak in late October, and you should actually see them instead of just reading about them the next day.

Yes, that means staying up way too late, probably getting cold, and definitely questioning your life choices around 2am.

But it also means seeing something beautiful that you’ll remember, so why not?

Bring blankets and hot chocolate in a thermos, and maybe invite a friend or just go alone (because you can).

Let your eyes adjust to the darkness and wait while listening to music or enjoying the quiet.

Some of the best things require patience, and this one will be worth your time.

October Self-Care Ideas

13. Watch Gilmore Girls

Okay, I simply couldn’t resist adding this one, because at this point in my life, Gilmore Girls is a personality trait for me, and I love it!

Most of this show is set in autumn, and I swear there is no other show yet that depicts fall better.

You get to see a coffee-addicted mother-daughter duo living in a cozy, small knit community of Stars Hollow, and you feel like you’re there with them.

Highly recommended you watch if you haven’t already, and if you have, then rewatch in October (because trust me, you should).

14. Unplug for a full day

Pick one day this month where your phone stays off. I am not talking about putting it on silent or even in another room.

You need to turn it off, and then spend the day reading, walking, cooking, creating, napping, and just existing.

You’ll notice how different time feels when you’re not checking it every five minutes, and how your brain just settles.

It’ll be uncomfortable at first and then oddly liberating, and you’ll get to practice slow living in the best way possible.

15. Have one perfect evening

Whenever you can make it happen during the month, plan a night where everything just clicks.

Have good food, good company (or good solitude), light some candles, play the right music, watch the right movie or show, and read something that feels like October.

Just be completely present in the moment, and don’t think about what you should be doing or what’s next.

You can’t force perfection, I know, but you can create the conditions for it.

Clear your schedule, set the mood, be intentional, and see what happens. You’d want to add this to your October bucket list, trust me.

Might help: The Ultimate Fall Night Routine To Wind Down Before Bed

16. Do something spontaneous

October is short, and novelty makes time feel fuller. So, break your routine and surprise yourself.

Say yes to the random invitation, take the scenic route instead of the fast one, and try the restaurant you’ve never been to.

Go somewhere you’ve never explored in your own town.

If you’re not in the mood to step out (which is understandable), then bake something spontaneously on a cozy fall afternoon. Always works like a charm for me!

Social October Bucket List

17. Host a casual dinner party

By casual, I really do mean casual. Don’t stress about it and don’t try to make it fancy.

Invite people you like, serve food that’s good enough (even if it’s partially store-bought), and host an evening where phones stay in pockets.

You can maybe light some candles (very low effort), play music in the background, and let conversations go where they will.

And if your place is small, order pizza and call it a ‘pizza party’. No one will complain, but everyone will love (because hello, it’s pizza).

18. Visit a haunted house or Halloween event

Go to a local haunted attraction, a spooky walking tour, or one of those elaborate Halloween experiences.

It doesn’t even matter if you believe in ghosts or not. Just for one night, let yourself get scared in a safe space.

Scream, laugh, and grab your friend’s arm. It’s a weird bonding experience and a good reminder that sometimes it’s fun to be uncomfortable on purpose.

19. Enjoy trick-or-treating

If you have kids or can borrow some, obviously, this is easy for you.

But even if you don’t, you can still participate in trick-or-treat as an adult.

Dress up, get into the spirit, hand out candy, and enjoy the parade of tiny superheroes and princesses.

You can also organize an adult trick-or-treat crawl where you go to different friends’ houses. It’s ridiculous, but that’s precisely the point of Halloween!

Creative October ACTIVITIES

20. Go to a thrift store and find something weird

October is the perfect month for secondhand shopping, because everything looks more interesting when it’s sweater weather.

Visit a thrift store and find random things, like an old ancestral painting, a weird Halloween decoration, a coat that nobody else would wear, or a ceramic owl that looks haunted.

The weirder it is, the better, because that’ll make it fun to create a fake story on it as you tell people about it.

21. Start a fall journal or scrapbook

If you’ve never had a fall journal before, let me tell you it’s very fun and seasonal.

You can write about what October smells like, tape in a leaf you found on your walk, and draw terrible sketches of pumpkins.

Record quotes from books you’re reading or conversations you want to remember, and make your journal entries fall-themed.

This journal will be your October time capsule. When you find it years later, you’ll be grateful you recorded this particular chapter.

22. Try a new recipe that intimidates you

That complicated French onion soup, homemade cinnamon rolls, or a pie with a lattice crust that actually looks decent.

Whatever’s been living in your ‘someday’ recipe folder, October’s the time to bring it to life in your kitchen.

It might not turn out to be perfect, but it’ll definitely be an experience.

Take pictures of your failures and successes alike, because they’re both worth documenting and celebrating.

23. Decorate for fall

Even if you think you’re not a ‘decorating person,’ every person should do some fall decor.

Keep a few mini pumpkins on your table, a fall-scented candle, a bowl of pinecones, and some branches with colorful leaves in a vase.

When your space reflects the season and month, you are able to lean into it better, which is just good for your overall wellness.

It’s a tiny luxury that makes everyday life feel more intentional. Romanticizing all the way!

Don’t miss: 14 Best Fall Organizing Tips To Gear Up For The New Season

24. Write a letter to your future self

Okay, this is the last one, and I won’t suggest you skip it.

I know, writing a letter to your future self sounds like a school activity, but the older you get, the more helpful this becomes.

Sit down with a pen and paper (yes, actual paper) and write to the person you’ll be next October.

What do you hope will be different? What do you hope stays the same? What are you grateful for right now, in this particular October?

Seal up your letter and mark it with the date of October next year. Future you will thank the present you for this cozy time capsule.

Read next: 7-Day Fall Challenge To Light Up Your Heart

So, that was all for this year’s October bucket list. What’s something missing on this list that you’re planning on doing? Let me know in the comment box, please! I’ll love to try something new too.