Festive Activities to Enjoy This Fall

With an amber glow to the autumn days and a nip in the evening air, you might feel a frisson of anticipation. It’s time to snuggle into warm sweaters, sip hot beverages and connect with family and friends. If you’re looking for festive ways to enjoy autumn’s gifts, our list of fun fall activities for seniors offers some ideas you can enjoy with the whole family or with a group of friends.

Celebrate the Season’s Harvest

It’s time to enjoy the fruits of the season. Apples, pumpkins, and other varieties of winter squash make for good eating and festive decorations. Pick your own at a local orchard or farm, or shop for your favorite varieties at a nearby farmer’s market. Once you get your bounty home, the fun has just begun. Here are some festive ideas for enjoying your harvest:

• Make apple treats. There are so many ways to eat apples! When you’ve had your fill of delicious — and healthy — fresh apples, try making baked apples, applesauce, apple fritters, apple crisp and, of course, the traditional favorite, apple pie.
• Create seasonal décor. Pumpkins arranged outside your front door are a time-honored tradition, but there are other ways you can use seasonal produce to create a cozy, autumnal feel in your home. Try making a pumpkin centerpiece or an apple wreath.
• Paint your pumpkins. You don’t have to bring out the carving tools to turn your pumpkin into a festive decoration. With acrylic paints, paint pens and other embellishments, kids, older adults and everyone in between can take a creative approach to making silly, spooky, stunning — even sequined — pumpkins.
• Enjoy the flavors of autumn. Pumpkin is a traditional autumn favorite, but other winter squashes can make for delicious, satisfying meals. Gather friends and family for a potluck meal featuring the flavors of fall.

Enjoy the Fall Foliage

Whether you go out for an afternoon walk in your neighborhood, visit a local park or arboretum, or take a scenic drive, leaf-peeping excursions are the perfect way to delight in nature’s display of autumn colors. If you make an extended tour of fall foliage, use this handy map to schedule your trip when the colors are at their peak.

Throw a Tailgating Party

To sports fans’ great delight, cooler weather heralds the beginning of football season. It’s time to break out your favorite team sweatshirt, fire up the grill and invite friends and family to a tailgating party. For maximum comfort and minimum fuss, have the party at your house and ask guests to bring snacks to share. Supply pom poms, foam fingers and face paints, so your guests can cheer on their team with gusto. To keep everyone’s head in the game, play football-themed bingo, awarding prizes, like football trading cards, logo stickers or team-themed office supplies.

Host a Friendsgiving Get-Together

Considered an invention of millennials, Friendsgiving celebrations have no age barrier and are another perfect fall activity for seniors. In fact, you may have been enjoying them for years without giving them a name. Casual, with no traditions to uphold, Friendsgiving gives you an opportunity to gather with friends for a laid-back, potluck-style meal where you enjoy food and togetherness. Keep it low stress and serve foods that aren’t typically on the Thanksgiving table, especially if you’re going to be celebrating a more traditional Thanksgiving with family, as well. Have activities that guests can engage in together — jigsaw puzzles, adult coloring books or board games. Or make a gratitude wall, taping a poster board to the wall and letting guests list what they’re thankful for.

Fall Activity for Seniors at Santa Marta

Here’s one more autumn activity to add to your list: Santa Marta is hosting a Fall Food, Facts and Fun luncheon! Join us for a complimentary lunch and learn about luxury senior living here at Santa Marta. You’ll get to experience our chef-prepared dining and learn about the advantages of Life Care. Register for the event, or contact us to learn more about senior living community in Olathe at Santa Marta.