100 Things to Do in Memphis Over Fall (Break)

It’s fall y’all!
Here’s a list of things to do in and around our city during Fall Break and through the month of October:

1. Is your kid literally climbing the walls at your house this fall break? Consider taking them to Highpoint Climbing! The kids’ area is AMAZING, and who knows, they may just end up on a climbing team!

2. Kids and adults LOVE to party! For this Fall Break Rave there is a Halloween twist – so kids can come in their favorite costumes or party attire ! (Yes, superheroes, princesses, and baby sharks are all welcome!) October 14 from 11 am-2 pm at the Memphis Brooks Museum.

3. At the lower barn of the Agricenter, you’ll find their annual Harvest Festival on October 11th, from 9am-2pm.

4. On October 25, Memphis Moms is hosting Story Time + a Craft at Belltower Coffeehouse at Shelby Farms Park. This month we’ll be reading “Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin” at 10:30am. All ages welcome, but intended for the 5 and under crowd.

5. The Greenline is celebrating 15 years! The celebrations — a series of festive fun and community powered events that honor the trail’s impact — will culminate with a birthday bash on October 25th featuring live music, food trucks, a beer garden, kids’ activities, and los of good vibes!

6. Have your kids paint their own treat bag at Casey’s Art Box! Kid can create their own “Candy Collecting Loot Tote” for just $15. All supplies provided. Click here for more info on this drop-in activity!

7. Rent a bike for exploring the city from Explore Bike Share! Learn more here.

8. Parents: the 13th annual Cooper Young Beerfest is on October 18th! Cheers!

9. Take in dinner and a movie at Ridgeway Malco Theatre. This theatre is a hidden gem with large leather seats that fully recline! (Grown-ups : they serve wine!)

10. Chucalissa is hosting International Archaeology Day on Saturday, October 18 from 10am-3pm. Activities that day include flintknapping, ataltl contest, a musical storytime, birds of Prey program, pine doll craft–make your own pine doll with a Native American artist, artifact exploring, and garbology. Free popcorn and hot dogs while supplies last.

11. Billy Hardwick’s Bowling is the perfect family date!

12. Another fun event happening on October 25th is Whitehaven Library’s 5th Annual Harvest Festival from 11am-1pm. There will be music, games and prizes, snacks, and more.

13. Try to climb the rope on the campus of the University of Memphis.

14. Can’t climb the rope? That’s ok! Run around the track instead! Right below the track is the community garden. It’s free to the public and you’re free to pick any ripe produce or herbs. Try finding the spearmint patch and the lemon leaves!

15. Needing some mom time? Join us as we break a sweat with a HIIT class! Totally free to join, you just need to register here. Enjoy complimentary light refreshments as a reward afterwards!

16. From October 10-16th, Monster Market is back! Monster Market is a creepy annual pop-up shop featuring weird art, strange apparel, and bizarre home decor. This year it is at the Medicine Factory downtown. (Opening night is October 11th from 6-9pm)

17. Our monthly Coffee and Conversation meet up is a bit different this month! We’re supporting one of our fave mobile coffee trailer, Byway Coffee on Friday, October 10th at 10am. New mamas, bring that stroller and feel free to walk the 1 mile loop. Toddler moms? We’ve got ‘ya. There’s a fun playground at the Sea Isle Park!

18. See a FREE concert at the Overton Park Shell. Shows are almost every weekend, but get there early to claim the perfect spot!

19. Check out a new-to-you playground! There are so many fun ones in the city!

20. It’s the perfect time of year to trek across the walking bridge to Arkansas!

21. Rent a bicycle built for two from the Wheel House at Shelby Farms Park. (Or if the weather is nice, a paddle-board.)

22. Visit Novel and buy books about Fall. Go home and snuggle up to read together!

23.Fall Break Camp @ Licterman Nature Center is October 6-10 AND 13-17 Students from Kindergarten to 6th grade are invited to join us at Lichterman for an exploration of the natural world and how people can create and use technology to mimic the processes that make our planet such a wonderful place to live. Register Here.

24. There are so many new coffee shops in Memphis! Be sure to check them all out!

25. Visit your local library and sign up for a library card. You can take up to 10 books home on each card!

26. Get lost in the MidSouth Corn Maze at the Agricenter! This maze has been around for more than 20 years! If you’re wanting a spooky-scary corn maze, head to Jone’s Orchard. There’s more than one trail to choose from too.

27. Head to Aldo’s Pizza (midtown or downtown!) and share a large, extra-cheesy pie. Did you know that Aldo’s provides dough balls for each kid to be entertained while they wait? SO FUN!

28. Head to Fayette County and explore the area for the day! Click the link for to-dos!

29. Mempho Music Festival is October 3rd through 5th this year!

30. There’s an Arts and Crafts Festival on October 25th from 10am-3pm in Lakeland. There’s also later in the evening a (free) live concert at the Harvester Managerial Park featuring Thumpdaddy. Bring your own chairs and blankets for a fun family evening!

31. Paint a pumpkin.

32. Get dressed up and visit the Peabody Hotel for the twice daily duck walk.

33. Farmer’s Markets are in their prime season — load up the family for a fun Saturday morning at either the Downtown Farmer’s Market (Front Street) or the Cooper Young Farmer’s Market (First Congo parking lot). Fresh veggies, fresh meat/seafood, fresh flowers, and fresh coffee.

34. With so much to see at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, you could spend a fun, rainy day here. Every Saturday from 10am-2pm the museum is free.

35. Top Golf is the perfect place for tweens and teens (or a fun date night option, too!)

36. Already ready for Halloween? Streetwide Trick or Treat is happening on Broad Ave. on October 11th from 2-5 pm.

37. Drink hot apple cider! (Add caramel vodka for an AMAZING adult beverage!)

38. Try your hand at Belltower’s Pottery classes!

39. Head downtown for the River Arts Fest, October 18-19th.

40. Try your hand at fishing! The Catch ‘Em Lake is open at the Agricenter on weekends from 8am until 6pm!

41. Get your Pinterest on and make a DIY, homemade bird feeder! There are a million ways to do them, and your neighborhood birds will thank you!

42. Take a family picture at a pumpkin patch. Check out our guide to area patches here!

43. Where the Wild Things Are is showing on Saturday, October 25th at 11:00am at the Pink Palace Giant Screen Theater. Come watch the 2009 film adaptation of the beloved classic picture book, and get in touch with the wild things inside you. Come in costume for a discount on concessions.

44. Looking for something more relaxing to do? Mind Body Haus is hosting Yoga in the Park every Wednesday in the month of October, 8:15-9:15am at Overton Park.

45. Get some new fall plants! The Fall Plant Sale at the Memphis Botanic Garden is October 9-11th.

46. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra is playing SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE on October 25th and 26th at the Cannon Center.

47. Ride the carousel at CMOM.

48. Buy a plate wall from Heirloom House.

49. Make Rice Krispy treats!

50. Catch a movie in Chimes Courtyard in Overton Square on Thursday nights!

51. The annual Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival is Saturday, November 1st at the Brooks Art Museum.

52. Make a recipe with pumpkin. Tis the season!

53. Or be a pumpkin spice hater.

54. Gather the neighborhood kids and play an “old fashioned” game of Red Rover!

55. Build a bonfire! Have a tiny backyard? We recommend purchasing a fire pit!

56. … now you can roast weenies!

57. … or make s’mores. So.Many.Options. Peanut Butter Cup, Choc Cherry Cheesecake, Mint peppermint patty, or even salted caramel. S’more! S’more! S’more!

58. Speaking of FOOD (gah, now we’re hungry!) — did you know there’s a new FOOD TRUCK PARK at Shelby Farms Park? Head to the intersection of Farm Rd. and Say Cheese and El Mero Taco will always been on site, with other trucks rotating in each week!

59. Try your hand at skateboarding!

60. October 18th from 11am until 3pm is Family Fun Day at the Metal Museum! There’s nothing like watching blacksmiths move steel as easily as clay or watching a foundry crew melt down and pour more than a ton of iron. At Family Fun Day, aspiring metal smiths of all ages and skill levels can try their hand at various processes. Admission is FREE on that day!

61. Bust out that vintage hacky-sac.

62. Go Tigers Go! Memphis plays Tulsa on Saturday, October 4th and South Florida on October 25th.

63. Roller skating at Cordova Skating Rink is always a popular thing to do with the kids! Grab your spouse and couple-skate all.night.long.

64. Learn to play chess at the bests place in town, Memphis Chess Club.

65. Give your kiddos pumpkin to talk about this Halloween! Take a hike through the Garden for some not-so-spooky fun at the Memphis Boo-tanic Garden. No bones about it, you’ll shriek for joy at this fun, safe, daytime alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Fall for fun with hands-on activities, not-so-spooky characters, and treats (no tricks here)! October 18 from 9:30-2 pm (last entry 1 pm). Get tickets here.

66. The Mid-South Ice House is the best place to try ice skating!

67. Carve a pumpkin.

68. Make homemade pumpkin bread.

69. This year Dixon Gallery & Gardens is hosting Art on Fire on October 18th. This event offers food and drink tastings, live music, a silent auction, art sale, and more. Admission includes access to the event, beer, wine, and food. This is the Dixon’s biggest fundraising event of the season.

70. Listen to music at the Memphis Listening Lab inside Crosstown Concourse. It’s really the coolest rainy day idea! Buy a treat from Lucy J’s afterwards too.

71. The Church Health YMCA is having a School’s Out Fall Break Camp from October 13-17, for kids ages 5-12, 7:30 AM-5:30 PM. The camp will be held at Crosstown High School and Crosstown High Gymnasium. YMCA Fall Break Camp is a fun and educational way to keep kids engaged while school is out!

72. ZOO BOO! Select Nights October 10th through November 1st.

73. Since the kids are out of school, grab brunch at Eggs Up! Owned by some local mamas, this breakfast joint in Germantown is all the talk of the town.

74. The 11th annual Paint Memphis is October 11th. This one day event showcases local and regional artists. The fun takes place at Summer Ave. at National Street noon-7pm.

75. Go on a scavenger hunt for the best Memphis Mural. Have you seen this one?

76. Or go on a scavenger hunt and find as many tigers as you can! Can you find this one?

77. Learn to crochet.

78. Take a trip to Trader Joe’s. Get ALL the pumpkin things! What’s your favorite?

79. Hire a babysitter, grab your friends, co workers, or family members and hire Sprock ‘n Roll — Memphis’ Best Party Bike company! They have 8 routes to choose from and many different package deals.

80. Overton Square Movie Nights are back! Join us for a free screening on Thursdays at 7:00PM in the Courtyard for a free movie night. Bring your picnic blankets and folding chairs to enjoy this free, fun, and relaxing evening of cinema under the stars: October 9 is You’ve Got Mail, October 16 is Sinners, October 25 is Beetlejuice, and October 30 is Nosferatu!

81. Take a nature hike in Shelby Forest.

82. Head to the Bank Plus Amplitheatre in Southaven on Friday, October 10th to hear David Lee Murphy & Little Texas! Prime 90s country hitmakers! Door open at 6:30pm. Click here for tickets.

83. From 20 minute pony rides to 2 hours trail rides, Shelby Farms Stables is the perfect place to try horseback riding. They even offer lessons and private group rides!

84. Need some goat snuggles in your life this fall? This is the event for you. A special Halloween themed goat yoga is Happening at the Overton Park Shell. It’s October 26th from 2-4:30 pm. Reserve your spot here.

85.Have a fall birthday in your family? Book Donut Hutt for one of the best birthday parties around! (or pretend it’s someone’s birthday and just book a party anyway!)

86. The Grizzlies will host the Pistons on October 6th, the Celtics on October 8th, and the Hawks on October 11th in preseason action at FedExForum. PLUS, their regular season starts October 22nd when they host the Pelicans at home. They also host the Heat on October 24th and the Pacers on October 25th. Don’t forget about their new NO BAG policy! Sensory Kits available, too; just ask!

87. Create a blanket fort.

88. Snuggle under a blanket as you watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

89. Do a family STAYCATION at Canopy by Hilton! They even have adjoining rooms, perfect for larger families.

90. Check out the Pumpkin House at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Garden admission is currently free!

91. Fit4Mom has classes every Saturday morning at 9:30 at Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms. Bring your kiddos! First class is free!

92. Take the whole family and try your hand at picking apples straight from the tree! Jones Orchard, on Hwy 51 in Millington, is a must-visit. During harvest season, their farm is full of pick-your-own fruit including apples, berries, nectarines, plums and of course, farm fresh, Tennessee peaches!

93. On October 24 and 25, experience Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classes at Overton Chapel. Both dates have multiple times. Perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit!

94. Make homemade play dough! Here’s a fun recipe for dye-free pumpkin pie play dough!

95. Check out the Fire Museum of Memphis. The museum is located in the renovated Fire Engine House #1 at 118 Adams Ave, Downtown. Ages 2 and under are always free!

96. Don’t be scared to grab a sweet treat from Sugar Ghost! They’re eerily delicious.

97. Don’t forget to buy, or better yet, be creative and make your own Halloween costume!

98. Glow-in-the-dark putt-putting? Heck yes. Check out Monster Mini Golf in Cordova — the perfect theme for this month!

99. One last October 18th event (the city is going to be BUSY that day!). There’s a Harvest Moon Fall Festival from noon-6pm at Bobby Lanier Farm Park. There will be inflatables, pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, etc. Sounds like a perfect fall afternoon!

100. Take a nap! You earned it!