Fall Activities in Indiana for Individuals with Autism

By Haley Spalding, MA

Are you looking to make some boo-tiful memories with your kiddos this fall season? We have put together a list of places offering autumn themed activities close to each of our locations, as well as some activities you can do safely at home!

Local Events

PumpkinFest

Cost: Free
Location: St. Michael the Archangel
3354 W 30th St,
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Date: 10/2/2021 3:00-9:00 PM
Offers: Hayride, magic show, food, vendors, and pumpkins for sale.

ZooBoo

Cost: Free for Zoo members
Location: Indianapolis Zoo
1200 W Washington St,
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Dates: 10/6/2021-10/31/2021
Offers: Halloween activities such as a trick or treat trail, spooktacular train rides, carousel rides, viewing of animals, hands-free activities and a mystery maze.

The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House

Cost: $9.00
Location: Indianapolis Children’s Museum
3000 N Meridian St,
Indianapolis, IN 46208

Dates: 10/9/2021-10/31/2021
Offers: This includes fun, upbeat music with all lights turned up, and will showcase some scary objects that could be frightening for some children. Additionally, friendly-faced greeters without masks are in each room of the house passing out treats to visitors similar to trick-or-treating. Children can play seek-and-find with pictures of the annual Haunted House mascot as they move through the rooms of the house to help play up the fun of each room. Each room also features a Halloween-related fun fact to ask your child such as “how many bones are in the human body?” (A: 206!).

Waterman’s Family Farm Fall Harvest Festival

Cost: N/A
Location:
1100 N. State Road 37
Greenwood, Indiana 46143

Dates: 10/1/2021-10/31/2021
Offers: From the last weekend in September through the end of October, visitors can come to the farm Tuesday through Sunday for the Fall Harvest Festival. They can experience hayrides, a straw bale playground, miniature train rides, farm animals, a straw fort, a little farmer experience, a pumpkin patch and more.

Exploration Acres

Dates: Thursday (Oct. Only), Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Location:
6042 Newcastle Rd,
Lafayette, IN 47905
Cost: Adult: $13 (13 and up)
Child: $9 (6-12)
Children 5 and under free
Location: 6042 Newcastle Rd.
Lafayette, IN 47905
Dates: 10/1/2021-10/31/2021
Offers: Exploration Acres features a corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, playset, straw mound, tractor train and trike track.

Nehemiah Ranch Fall Harvest Days

Cost: Donation- $5.00 suggested per person
Location:
1420 N CR 600 E
Avon, IN 46123
Dates: 10/2/2021-10/16/2021
Offers: Fall Harvest Days Festival offers hayrides, pumpkin patch, firepit, food/hot chocolate, smores, and live music. It is advertised as a family friendly event for people of all ages.

At Home Activities

Make glow in the dark slime!

Ah, slime! Slime making is such a fun activity for our clients and allows them to enjoy sensory play while also using their fine motor skills! Listed below are the ingredients you will need for this activity:
1/4 cup water
2 oz glow acrylic paint (1 small bottle)
1/4 cup corn syrup (we used light corn syrup)
1/4 cup white school glue
1 tsp Borax powder

Follow the steps listed here and enjoy your spooky glow in the dark slime!

Create a fall sensory bin!

Create a fall themed sensory bin by using items around your house or in your backyard! One of the best parts of fall is the weather, so get outside and take a walk or look around your backyard for a variety of colored leaves, acorns or small rocks. Afterwards, head inside and open your pantry to get some dry pasta shells, candy corn, beans or anything else you think of that may be a fa-boo-lous addition to your DIY sensory bin! Lastly, grab a shallow container, bowl or pan to pour all of the items in.

Design your own bat!

Here are the items you’ll need to make this craft:
Coffee filter
Water
Paintbrush
Clothes pin
Optional: Googly eyes, glitter, and glue!

Make this spooky craft by simply coloring a coffee filter black, purple, or blue, dipping a paintbrush in water and painting your colored coffee filter with your damp paintbrush. Once your coffee filter is wet, fold it into a triangle and cut the triangle to make a wing-like effect. Once you have the wings, place a clothes pin in the middle and well-ah, you have a bat! Feel free to add some googly eyes, fangs or whatever else you may like!

To watch a how-to video, click here.

Create leaf rubbings!

For this activity you’ll need:
Real leaves
Paper (light weight paper or wax paper is recommended)
Crayons or oil pastels
Follow the directions listed here and enjoy watching your child discover the textures and colors of fall!

Whether you are venturing out to one of the fall festivals or staying at home, we hope this guide helps give you some ideas to make this fall season even more skele-fun for everyone!

Last updated by Morgan McClellan at November 23, 2021.