The best fall traditions for families are simple outings you can repeat every year: picking pumpkins together, taking the same photo in the same spot, racing through a corn maze, and sharing a favorite seasonal treat. Fall traditions don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. A few activities you genuinely enjoy, repeated year after year, give your family something to anticipate and plenty of memories to share.

At Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, just southwest of Des Moines, families from Ankeny, Johnston and Norwalk come back each fall for the same photo signs and the same corn maze. In Episode 17 of Howell’s Farm Experience, Erin Conner, Director of Family Fun, told host Mike Downer why so many visits to the farm’s fall pumpkin patch and corn maze turn into traditions.

Why Do Fall Traditions Matter to Families?

Fall traditions matter because a familiar outing repeated each year gives children something to look forward to and gives the whole family a way to see how everyone has grown.

Ask someone about a favorite childhood autumn memory, and they might describe a chilly afternoon at a pumpkin patch or a kitchen filled with the smell of apple crisp. It’s often the little details that stay with us.

Returning to a familiar activity gives children something predictable to look forward to. They recognize the place and remember last year’s visit. Grandparents get to share stories, while parents see familiar experiences through their children’s eyes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages every family to have activities they enjoy together as a regular, predictable part of family life, because those rituals can help bond a family together.

Erin sees the same pattern at Howell’s every fall. “It’s common to see grandparents, parents, and kids all come together,” she said. “Everyone plans this outing.”

One year, a child might need help carrying a pumpkin. A few seasons later, that same child may be leading everyone through a corn maze. A familiar activity helps families notice those changes.

What Fall Traditions Can Families Start at a Pumpkin Patch?

Start with traditions that give every age a part to play: picking pumpkins, posing for the same photo, racing the corn maze, playing in the corn pool, and choosing the same treat on every visit.

Make Pumpkin Picking an Annual Outing

Picking a pumpkin feels different when you get to search for one yourself. Children can compare colors, inspect unusual shapes, and decide whether the biggest pumpkin is actually the best one. Adults can join the search, too.

Take the Same Photo in the Same Spot

Try taking a photograph in the same spot each year. Over time, those pictures show new faces and taller kids, and even the occasional grumpy toddler photo might become a favorite.

Howell’s keeps a “How tall this fall?” sign in its playground the same every year for exactly this reason. “Their kids get taller and taller on the ‘How tall this fall?’ sign,” Erin said. “It’s a tradition.” Some families have taken their family picture under the same sign for 10 or 15 years, and Erin’s other favorite spot is in front of the pumpkin wagons.

Get Lost Together in a Corn Maze

A corn maze adds a little adventure to an ordinary afternoon. Someone insists they know the route, someone else spots a shortcut, and everyone has an opinion about which turn to take.

As children grow, the maze grows with them. “The corn maze is fun for little kids to run through, but as teenagers, you want to have a competition to see who can do all the stations, do the game, and finish the game the fastest,” Erin said.

Bury Someone in the Corn Pool

Little kids love simply playing in a corn pool, which some farms call a corn pit, and older kids find a new game in the same spot. Erin described teenagers burying a brother or sister until only a head sticks out of the corn, then taking the picture.

Mike has years of those photos of his own sons, who are now six foot and six foot three, and he wants to bring them back to recreate the shots. “There’s room for everybody in the corn pool,” Erin said, because it is a lot bigger than it used to be.

Enjoy the Foods That Taste Like Fall

Caramel apples, kettle corn, warm baked goods, and cider can turn a pleasant outing into an experience everyone remembers. Maybe you choose the same treat after every visit.

You can carry that experience home by making a favorite recipe together. A seasonal snack may seem small, but it creates another reason to gather around the table and talk about the day.

What Fall Traditions Can Families Keep at Home?

At-home fall traditions can be as simple as decorating pumpkins, baking one recipe every autumn, and keeping a small collection of the year’s photos and notes.

Decorate Pumpkins as a Family

Give everyone a pumpkin and let their personalities show. Younger children might prefer washable paint or stickers, while older kids can draw designs for an adult to carve. Place the finished creations on the porch and invite everyone to explain their masterpiece.

Bring Everyone Into the Kitchen

Choose one recipe to make every autumn, whether that’s pumpkin muffins, apple crisp, or a family favorite passed down through generations. Children can stir ingredients, sprinkle toppings, or help set the table. You might discover that Grandma made the same dessert when she was little, only without a stand mixer.

Keep a Small Collection of Memories

Create a photo album, scrapbook, or simple folder on your phone for your family’s annual autumn pictures. Add one sentence from each person about their favorite part of the season.

Years later, those comments may be as entertaining as the photos. A note about a muddy shoe or a spectacularly lopsided pumpkin can bring the whole day back, and asking each person what they would love to repeat next year helps shape the next outing.

How Do You Plan a Fall Tradition Every Generation Can Enjoy?

Plan a day with something for every age at once, so toddlers, teenagers, parents, and grandparents can each enjoy the outing at their own pace. “You don’t ever age out of the system here at the Pumpkin Patch,” Erin said.

Give Little Kids Room to Explore

Young children usually enjoy activities they can touch, see, and try for themselves. Pumpkin picking, playgrounds, and simple farm games give them a chance to investigate at their own pace. Build in breaks for snacks, restrooms, and unexpected discoveries.

Let Older Kids Help Lead the Adventure

Teenagers may be more interested in corn mazes, obstacle courses, friendly challenges, or taking photos with friends and family. Let them help choose what comes next rather than assigning every activity in advance. When older siblings get involved, younger ones are often excited to follow along.

Make Space for Grandparents, Too

Not everyone wants to race through the maze or climb on playground equipment. Grandparents may prefer an easygoing wagon ride, a scenic view, or a chance to take family pictures.

Ask about walking distances, seating, and accessible options before visiting. At Howell’s, the wagons have electric lifts for wheelchairs, the farm has a wheelchair-accessible restroom, and guests can shop the farm market and gift shop without buying admission, though most of the grounds are gravel and sod.

How Do You Start a Fall Tradition Your Family Will Keep?

Pick one activity your family already enjoys, put it on the calendar at about the same time each year, and let it grow as the children do. Simple plans usually work best, because it’s hard to find a day when everyone is available, the weather cooperates, and nobody forgets their jacket.

Pick One Thing Worth Repeating

Instead of planning every possible seasonal activity, choose one that your family genuinely enjoys, such as selecting pumpkins, taking the same annual picture, or spending an afternoon at a nearby farm. If you want a longer list to choose from, our fall bucket list for families near Des Moines has 15 ideas.

Recreate an Old Photo

Old family photos make a ready-made tradition. Mike plans to bring printed pictures of his grown sons back to the farm and pose them the same way, even if he has to find big sweatshirts that look like the old ones. Erin’s advice for anyone doing the same: “Get your pictures in front of the pumpkin wagons.”

Let the Tradition Change With Your Family

A toddler who loves a little playground won’t necessarily want the same experience at age 14. Keep the central idea, but let the activities grow with your children. One year might be all about choosing pumpkins, and the next could include a challenging maze or more time exploring the farm.

Protect Your Time and Your Budget

Decide what you can comfortably spend before purchasing tickets or treats, and check what’s included in admission and whether pumpkins, food, or specialty activities cost extra. Free pleasures, such as a neighborhood walk or backyard leaf collecting, can balance a larger outing.

Leave Room for Imperfect Moments

Someone may get tired early. The weather might turn windy. A family photo might feature more funny faces than smiles. None of that means the day was wasted, and the unplanned moments often become the stories retold at next year’s gathering.

Why Do Families Return to the Same Farm Every Fall?

Families return to the same farm because the feeling stays the same while the farm keeps adding something new, Erin says. “What has not changed is the experience that families feel down on the farm, that back-to-your-roots kind of feeling,” she said.

A visit to a local farm offers something different from another afternoon spent indoors. Children get to see where pumpkins grow, move through an actual corn maze, and experience the sights and sounds of the countryside.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library describes agritourism as farm-based experiences that entertain or educate visitors while supporting agricultural businesses. For families, that means an outing can also spark conversations about planting, harvesting, and the work behind the food and decorations we enjoy.

Here at Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, Iowa, we are a sixth-generation family farm. Farmer Fred moved the farm into dried flowers in the 1980s and started growing pumpkins around 1995, the year Erin’s own kindergarten class took the farm’s first field trip. Since then, the gift shop, a playground obstacle course, the pumpkin cannon, and indoor restrooms have joined the big trees, the white picket fence, and the barn that returning families remember.

Visitors still tell Erin about a goat that ate a five-dollar bill decades ago, and one man recently told her he proposed to his wife in the dried flower loft. Erin has also explained why families return to the same farm year after year in an earlier episode.

How Do You Plan a Relaxed Fall Outing Near Des Moines?

Plan around your group’s energy, dress for the farm, and check what admission covers before you go:

• Choose a realistic arrival time. Think about nap schedules, driving time, and how long your group enjoys being outdoors.
• Dress for farm conditions. Iowa fall weather can shift quickly, and farm paths may include dirt, gravel, or uneven ground, so layers and sturdy shoes beat outfits designed only for photographs.
• Check admission details. At Howell’s, the corn maze and wagon rides are part of fall admission, while pumpkins, concessions, and some attractions cost extra, and guests can shop the farm market without admission.
• Match the day to your group. Ask about accessibility, consider how far younger children can walk, and plan an easier activity between more energetic ones.
• Make time for play. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity improves children’s attention and memory.
• Take pictures, then put the phone away. Capture a few moments, and ask everyone about their favorite part afterward.

Howell’s fall season runs September 12 to November 1, 2026, and the farm is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in September and October, so there is still time to start this year’s tradition. The easiest fall traditions to maintain are the ones that fit your family’s real life, so keep the plan manageable and add a new activity another year.

Make More Family Memories at Howell’s

We know how quickly the calendar fills up. Between school events, work commitments, and everyday responsibilities, it can feel difficult to find a day when everyone can simply be together. And when you finally make time, you want the outing to be worth it.

That’s what we love about welcoming families to Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch. Someone can search for a pumpkin while another tackles the corn maze, with laughter along the way. Whether this is your first visit or a place you’ve enjoyed for years, we’d love to be part of your autumn story. Check fall admission and plan your next outing before the season ends November 1.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fall Traditions

What Are Some Good Fall Traditions for Families?

Good fall traditions for families include picking pumpkins together, taking the same photo in the same spot each year, racing through a corn maze, baking one seasonal recipe, and decorating pumpkins at home.

How Do You Start an Annual Autumn Family Ritual?

Choose an activity everyone enjoys, repeat it around the same time each year, and keep it flexible. A pumpkin patch visit or annual family photo is a great place to begin.

What Are Some Budget-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Autumn?

Try leaf collecting, neighborhood walks, homemade treats, or pumpkin decorating. If you’re visiting a farm, check admission prices and additional activity costs ahead of time so spending stays comfortable.

Why Do Families Visit Pumpkin Patches Every Year?

Pumpkin patches combine fresh air, hands-on fun, and seasonal excitement, and returning to the same farm gives families a familiar place to take pictures. At Howell’s, some families have used the same photo sign for 10 or 15 years.

What Can Grandparents Do With Grandchildren in Autumn?

Grandparents can help pick pumpkins, take photos, share childhood stories, bake seasonal treats, or enjoy wagon rides where available. Choose activities that suit everyone’s comfort and mobility.

When Is the Best Time for an Autumn Outing in Iowa?

September and October are the main months for pumpkin patches and corn mazes in Iowa. Howell’s fall activities run September 12 to November 1, 2026.

Where Can Families Enjoy Seasonal Farm Activities Near Des Moines?

Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch is in Cumming, just southwest of Des Moines and 5 miles west of I-35 exit 65, near Norwalk. It offers pumpkin picking, a corn maze, wagon rides, a corn pool, and other fall attractions.