10 Social-Distanced Activities for Fall 2020
Hello, Lovelies!
I hope you are doing well! It's finally here again… the most wonderful Time of the year: AUTUMN!!! Yes… I am a sucker for all things pumpkin, cozy, leafy and halloween-y. What can I say?! It's just so magical!!
I know things are a little different this year with Covid-19 BUT the great thing about Autumn is that most of the fun activities that we LOVE this time of year are outdoors and therefore OPEN!!! I thought it would be useful to highlight some of the amazing festive activities that you and your loved ones can do together in a safe and social distanced way!!*
*Disclaimer: I live in Toronto, ON so I will list some specific locations for people in this area to explore BUT you can find most of these lovely options all over the place so just look up what is available nearest you!
Here we gooooooo!
1 -Apple Picking
Apple orchards are such a great way to get into the fall spirit while social-distancing! Gather a small group of your loved ones together to make some delicious fall memories at your local orchard. Pick some apples, take some photos, and after, bake some delicious pie with your day’s pickings! Who said quarantine had to be boring?! You can still have a magical fall, in a safe and distanced way!
2 - Wine Tasting
Here in the GTA, we have access to so many breathtaking vineyards. The best part about these gorgeous estates - they are accommodating outdoor tasting tours for small groups! One of my personal favorite spots is Archibald Orchards! Not only do they have the most delicious apple wines and ciders, but they have set up a great, social-distance-approved outdoor tasting station so you can sample their delicious varieties safely! Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and they are family owned and run which creates the most lovely, cozy environment!
3 - Pumpkin Picking
I know this one is self-explanatory but COME ON!? What better way to get into the fall spirit than with pumpkins!? Most pumpkin farms in the area are open and ready for business this season, with extensive sanitary precautions in place to make your visit safe and exciting! One of my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE farms to go to is Chudleigh’s in Halton Hills (just outside of Toronto). Not only do they have the most incredibly diverse selection of pumpkins, but they also have an incredible petting zoo, live music, and a massive market to fulfill all of your farm-fresh produce dreams! 11/10 recommend checking it out with your inner circle this season!
4 - Pumpkin Carving Contest - Outdoors or Virtual
How could we mention visiting a pumpkin patch without having a super-epic-socially-distanced-pumpkin-carving-contest!? If you are keeping up regular in-person visits, then host a small pumpkin carving contest for your friends and family in your back yard! Make up some yummy festive snacks and make an afternoon out of it! Not feeling comfortable enough to host a gathering just yet?! NO WORRIES! Take advantage of video services such as FaceTime, Zoom, Google Duo, Skype, What’s App, etc., and have a virtual group carving sesh!
5 - Brewery/ Cider House Outing
I don’t know about you, but a whole afternoon of sampling various brews sounds like a pretty good time! I may not be the most social human around, but these socially distanced tours with your inner circle are always fun! Summer cider is underrated if you ask me… a nice crisp cider on a cool autumn day is where it's at!! Sip some sweetness and distance-snuggle your loved ones this fall while enjoying some delicious outdoor festivities.
6 - VIRTUAL Autumn Baking Party
Let's be honest okay… fall baked goods are THE BEST baked goods! Pumpkin pie, snickerdoodles, apple crisp, and everything in between! YUM. During this cozy season, many people like to gather around with friends and family to bake the day away, and share a meal. This year things are a wee bit different, though. Instead, why not opt for a virtual gathering of festive fall Baking! It can be just as cozy and give you a comforting sense of normality.
7 - Autumn Hike
The crisp breeze and the crunch of colourful leaves under your feet as you stroll along. There is nothing that quite compares to an autumn hike. You don't have to go crazy or anything, even a short stroll down a winding road will suffice. As you breathe in the fresh fall air, you will be consumed with contentment and clarity. It is the perfect way to spend a few hours of free time, getting out of the house, while staying safe!
8 - Autumn Book Club
Another great way to get into the spirit of the most cozy season of all is to dive into a good book (or 10)! It doesn’t have to be a lone activity though! Organize some of your friends and make a list of books that you all want to read before the year is up and have weekly virtual check-ins to discuss your latest reads! It is a fun, safe way to socially engage with your loved ones, while relaxing and getting cozy!
9 - Spooky Movie Marathon
Don’t get me wrong… I am a big ol’ WIMP when it comes to scary movies! YET I still watch them for some crazy reason. Especially this time of year when Halloween is right around the corner. I like to treat October like one big spooky-movie-marathon so I can cram in as many creepy/monster/horror/thriller/halloween-themed flicks as possible (including the childhood classic’s The Addam’s Family, Halloween Town, Scooby-Doo and Twitches of course)!!! What to are your favourite spooky flicks? Check out this post from last year for some ideas add to your must-watch list this season: October Movie Marathon!
10 - Home Office Decorating Contest
Who doesn’t love a good contest, am I right? This year, we may be starting to miss our fun office festivities BUT FEAR NOT! You can still have all of the office fun from a distance! Get a group of your co-workers to each choose a theme for a haunted house/Halloween-themed décor challenge. Each of you will transform your home office space into a magical, spooky scene and on Halloween, reveal the final results to each other on a video call! You can even go in on a little prize for the winner!!
Sure, times are quite different right now. but with a little creativity you can stay safe and still make magical memories with loved ones.
Yours, happily,
Kristyn xo