Fall is an exciting time filled with festive opportunities to connect and celebrate. As the weather cools, life enrichment teams can spark joy through cozy, themed activities that engage residents physically, cognitively, and socially—even while indoors.
Planning calendars full of Halloween and Thanksgiving events across multiple months can feel daunting. To help, we’ve compiled festive, easy-to-implement activity ideas for all accessibility levels to make your fall programming both fun and meaningful.
Consider resident preferences
The holidays are deeply personal. When life enrichment teams tailor activities to residents’ cultural and religious backgrounds, it not only shows respect but also strengthens belonging and supports overall well-being.
An integrated resident onboarding and activity calendar solution can help staff personalize holiday activities. By gathering details about residents’ traditions, observances, and preferences during onboarding, staff can create detailed profiles and biographies that inform meaningful engagement programming. For example, since some residents may not observe Halloween for religious reasons, communities can plan alternate autumn activities to ensure everyone feels included.
Fall holiday activity ideas
Here are creative, accessible fall holiday activity ideas designed to promote engagement, connection, and whole-person well-being.
Halloween activity ideas
- Pumpkin painting & cider party: Offer mini pumpkins, paint, glitter, and stickers so residents can decorate their own—no carving needed. Serve warm cider and fall cookies for a cozy atmosphere.
- Costume parade & contest: Host a community-wide costume event with categories like “Most Creative,” “Best Duo,” and “Spookiest.” Encourage staff and residents to participate, and invite families to watch or join in.
- Trick-or-treat open house: Invite local children or grandchildren to visit in costume and trick-or-treat room-to-room. Residents can hand out candy or stickers and enjoy the intergenerational connection.
- Haunted photo booth: Set up a spooky-themed backdrop with props like witches’ hats and masks. Snap and print photos for residents and their families to take home or display.
- Halloween-themed bingo: Use bingo cards with Halloween icons like bats, ghosts, and pumpkins instead of numbers. Offer themed prizes like fuzzy socks, festive mugs, or snacks.
- Spooky cupcake decorating: Provide baked cupcakes and toppings like orange frosting, candy eyes, and sprinkles.
- Monster trivia & creepy classics matinee: Host a monster-themed trivia session followed by a screening of a classic Halloween film like Hocus Pocus, Casper, or Arsenic and Old Lace.
- Halloween lantern craft: Use mason jars, tissue paper, and LED tealights to create spooky lanterns with silhouettes of cats, witches, or pumpkins. Display them around the community.
- Ghost story & cocoa night: Read classic or resident-submitted ghost stories in a group setting. Offer warm cocoa, popcorn, and cozy blankets to set the mood.
For non-Halloween-observing residents, check out our fall activity ideas blog post for festive, autumnal activity ideas.
Thanksgiving activity ideas
- Gratitude tree craft: Cut paper leaves in autumn colors and have residents write what they’re thankful for. Hang them on a decorative branch display in the common area or dining room to create a growing “tree of thanks.”
- Pie tasting & social: Offer mini slices of assorted pies—pumpkin, pecan, apple—and invite residents to vote for their favorite. Pair with coffee, cider, and light conversation for a cozy afternoon activity.
- Family recipe swap: Encourage residents to share favorite recipes from their families. Display them in a communal recipe book or digital slideshow that can be printed and shared with families for the holidays.
- Harvest centerpiece workshop: Use gourds, pinecones, faux leaves, and candles to create festive table arrangements. Residents can decorate dining tables or gift their creations to others.
- Thank-you card making: Provide seasonal stationery so residents can write notes of gratitude to staff, volunteers, or loved ones. Consider delivering them with a warm beverage cart.
- Thanksgiving trivia & memories: Host a lighthearted trivia game featuring Thanksgiving facts and traditions. Between questions, invite residents to share their favorite past holiday memories.
- Photo wall of thanks: Set up a festive backdrop with fall leaves and a “We’re thankful for…” banner. Take photos of residents holding signs sharing what they appreciate most this season.
- Community service project: Partner with a local shelter or food bank to collect non-perishable items or handmade blankets. Residents can help assemble care packages, fostering purpose and contribution.
- Thanksgiving story circle: Gather in a cozy room with apple cider and have residents share favorite family stories or traditions. Record the session for families to enjoy later.
Bring warmth and joy to your community this fall
Imagine your community buzzing with warmth, laughter, and connection this fall. A thoughtfully planned, inclusive activity calendar can make that vision real. When engagement programming honors residents’ individuality and fosters togetherness, the fall holidays become more than a season—they become a time for sparking true joy.
