Pumpkin spice is only one of the ways to get pumped up this fall the season is practically begging for moments of memories. Crisp air, amber leaves, and cozy layers set the stage for moments that are both timeless and Instagram-worthy. And when celebrity parents share their own fall must-haves, it’s like having a VIP pass to the best seasonal advice out there.
From Emma Roberts’ Disneyland adventures to Channing Tatum’s foray into Salem’s dark history, celebrities are showing that fall entertainment can be both enchanting and enriching. These excursions are not the sole domain of the stars they’re easy to adapt to any family desiring to maximize sweater weather. Follow these tips on how to inject a touch of Hollywood magic into your fall days.
1. Thrills at an Amusement Park
Fall turns theme parks into immersive seasonal fantasies. With spooky house decor, seasonal bites, and special events, parks such as Disney World, Universal Studios, and Six Flags are even more enchanting. Emma Roberts stopped by Disneyland with son Rhodes in October 2024, capturing carousel moments and citing the park’s famous entrance plaque: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.” For families, warmer temperatures mean shorter wait times and cozy walks between rides. Several parks offer Halloween parades, trick-or-treat routes, and costume-themed shows, making it easy to spend the day surrounded by holiday cheer.
2. Step Into Salem’s Haunted History
Salem, Massachusetts, isn’t just for Halloween addicts it’s a living colonial history museum with a dark twist. Renowned for the 1692–1693 Witch Trials, the city offers guided tours, hands-on exhibits, and seasonal festivals. Channing Tatum spent a day with his daughter Everly in August 2024 visiting Salem’s historic sites and overnight at Hawthorne Hotel, said to be haunted, proceeding to comment, “She loved it so much they really lean into the history of it.” Families can combine spine-tingling entertainment with knowledge stops, and Salem is a good blend of entertainment and learning.
3. Conquer a Corn Maze
Corn mazes are an autumn tradition, with difficulty and personality. Gwen Stefani gave a peek into her own family tradition in October 2024, taking sons Apollo and Zuma through massive stalks. For the thrill-seekers, farms such as Davis Mega Maze in Massachusetts design intricate puzzles that require hours to solve. Whether you choose a simple design for younger kids or a complex maze with games along the way, mazes encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and plenty of laughs.
4. Take a Haunted Hayride
Hayrides are as innocuous or as frightening as you want them to be. Kristen Bell admitted in 2022 that she and her husband, Dax Shepard, create their own local hayride, taking weeks to plan ahead to scare neighborhood families. Across the country, farms and festivals have spin-offs ranging from family-oriented to full-on fright nights, like the picturesque rides at Farmer’s Hayrides in Connecticut or pumpkin patch tours at Fletcher Family Farm in Massachusetts. For a DIY twist, decorate a wagon or trailer, add blankets, and invite friends over for a snuggle-up night ride under the stars.
5. Save Pumpkin Patch Magic
Pumpkin patches are the popular fall photo setting. Kylie Jenner’s 2023 family vacation with her children Aire and Stormi included tractor rides, while Nick Cannon took five of his kids in coordinating orange onesies for an evening visit. Many patches also include petting zoos, hayrides, and snack stands. For extra pizzazz, coordinate clothing or bring along props like plaid blankets and baskets. Beyond the photos, choosing pumpkins together is a convenient way to get a jump on carving or baking activities.
6. Sip Something Warm
There’s nothing more autumnal than wrapping cold hands around a hot mug. Country singer Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins shared a warm hot chocolate moment with their kids, proving that the best things in life are the littlest. Swap apple cider, chai lattes, or pumpkin-spiced drinks for something different. Garnish with a seasonal treat Donna Kelce bakes with her granddaughter Wyatt, swaping recipes like apple muffins and Taylor Swift’s chai sugar cookies for a tasty family tradition.
7. Sing Karaoke
Music provides an energy boost to any party, and karaoke is an easy means for personalities to come through. Pink and Willow shocked audiences at the 2024 DNC, but you don’t need to be in front of a stage to create magic. Home is where you can select fall songs or soundtracks from movies, and open up to duets or solos. It’s a kid’s self-esteem booster and a guarantee mood lifter for adults, turning every night into a mini concert.
8. Pick Apples at the Orchard
Apple picking is bringing outdoor fun together with farm-to-table freshness. Brittany Mahomes shared her September 2024 orchard adventure with her children, captioning, “Love them with all my heart and love days like these with all my heart.” Farmers say pick between September and late October, starting from the outer branches where fruit first ripens. Many orchards also provide hayrides, cider pressing, and petting zoos, so it is easy to spend the day out enjoying nature’s riches.
9. Take a Family Hike
Warmer weather and vivid fall colors make a hike impossible to pass up. Priyanka Chopra referred to her February 2024 hike with daughter Malti as “the magic of nature,” where she splashed in puddles and ran unencumbered. Trails span easy loops to more challenging climbs, so there’s something for everyone regardless of age or ability. Stock snacks, water, and a camera to capture unposed photos the air and family time are second to none.
10. Have a Cozy Movie Night
Joanna and Chip Gaines showed us how simple: plop everyone in bed, grab a family-friendly Halloween movie, and get cozy. For extra fun, take cue from Neil Patrick Harris’ elaborate costume ideas or Ashley Tisdale’s Wizard of Oz family costumes. Add in popcorn, blankets, and darkened lights to make your living room a comfortable private cinema, perfect for unwinding after a busy fall day.
Autumn’s magic lies in the juxtaposition of oldness and newness a time to revive old customs and explore something new. The celebrity moms reap the publicity, but their holiday traditions affirm that memories are forged in the moments of communal experience. Taking a sip of cider, wandering through a corn maze, or snuggling up for a movie, these activities tempt families to slow down the season’s pace and build memories that will be told for years to come.
