Fall Activities in South Florida: Broward County and Fort Lauderdale Family Activities You'll Love
When you live in South Florida, fall looks a little different. We may not have changing leaves or chilly mornings, but that doesn't mean families have to miss out on all the fun of the season!
September, October, and November are a wonderful time to get outside, explore local farms and parks, attend fall festivals, visit pumpkin patches, and enjoy family-friendly events throughout Broward County and Fort Lauderdale.
From pumpkin painting and fall festivals to farms, outdoor adventures, Halloween celebrations, and seasonal family activities, there are plenty of ways to create memories with your children this fall.
Here are some of our favorite fall activities in South Florida for families in Broward County and Fort Lauderdale.
🍂 Enjoy a Fall Festival
One of the easiest ways to get into the autumn spirit in South Florida is to attend a local fall festival.
Riverwalk Fall Festival – Fort Lauderdale
The 10th Annual Riverwalk Fall Festival takes place Saturday, October 17, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. at Esplanade Park in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
This free family-friendly event features pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling, sand art, themed games, entertainment, food trucks, seasonal vendors, and other activities for children.
It's a great opportunity to spend an afternoon enjoying the beautiful New River while letting the kids participate in some traditional fall fun.
Las Olas Autumn Festival
If you're looking for something new to try this year, the inaugural Las Olas Autumn Festival takes place October 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Families can enjoy local vendors, live music, food, a fall photo opportunity, and a kids' area with games and activities.
It's a fun way to experience a little bit of autumn while enjoying one of Fort Lauderdale's most recognizable neighborhoods.
Founding Families Fall Festival
On September 25, 2026, Historic Stranahan House will host its Founding Families Fall Festival from 5 to 8 p.m.
The event includes food trucks, games, live music, and family-friendly activities, with children admitted free and adults priced at $5.
🎃 Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Of course, no fall bucket list would be complete without a pumpkin patch!
While South Florida may be surrounded by palm trees, local farms and nurseries do a wonderful job creating a festive fall atmosphere with pumpkins, hay bales, fall decorations, photo opportunities, and seasonal activities.
Flamingo Road Nursery – Davie
Flamingo Road Nursery in Davie is one of the local favorites for experiencing the fall season.
The large nursery transforms into a festive fall destination with pumpkins, cornstalks, hay bales, seasonal decorations, fall photo opportunities, and family activities.
It's also a great place to take those adorable family photos you've been meaning to update!
Marando Farms & Ranch – Davie
For a more farm-style experience, head to Marando Farms & Ranch in Davie.
Families can visit the farm, explore the farmers market, see animals, and enjoy seasonal activities. Their fall and pumpkin experiences make it a fun choice for families who want something that feels a little different from a traditional festival.
Both Flamingo Road Nursery and Marando Farms & Ranch have been highlighted as fall destinations in Greater Fort Lauderdale's seasonal guides.
🌽 Explore a Fall Harvest Festival
Fall harvest festivals are another great option for families.
The Broward County area has several community events featuring activities such as petting zoos, train rides, bounce houses, food trucks, vendors, crafts, and other children's activities.
For example, the Sunrise Fall Harvest Festival is scheduled for September 26, 2026, at the Sunrise Amphitheater. The event includes a petting zoo, train rides, food trucks, artisan vendors, bounce houses, and a corn maze.
Redstone Ranches is October 3rd & 4th in Coconut Creek has a pumpkin match and a petting zoo.
These types of events are perfect for families with younger children because there is usually something for every age.
The City of Plantation has a festival Saturday, October 17 | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Volunteer Park | $5 lots of activities for the family! This event is sponsored by the City of Plantation and the Greater Plantation Chamber of Commerce..
Children’s Carnival • Games & Activities • Inflatables • Food • Costume Contests • Haunted House • DJ • Arts & Crafts • Police and fire exhibits • Vendors • FREE Halloween bags for kids👻 Start Getting Ready for Halloween
Pembroke Pines Fall Festival
The Pembroke Pines Carnival (Pines Carnival) is scheduled to take place starting Thursday, October 15, 2026 at the Charles F. Dodge City Center Pembroke Pines, located at 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines, FL 33025
Halloween Events in South Florida
Dara’s Bling Photography is hosting a Halloween Popup Saturday October 31st at our studio. This is a FREE EVENT, but you must be registered. Come to the studio at 8980 Taft Street, Pembroke Pines 33024 from 2:00 to 7:00 and receive FREE CANDY AND A FREE PHOTO! Bring a toy valued at $10 or more to be donated to Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital for the holidays and receive an additional free photo! Register at this link click the button!
Fall and Halloween practically go hand in hand!
Fort Lauderdale families can look forward to LauderBOO, a free family Halloween event taking place Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Snyder Park.
Children can dress in costume and enjoy trick-or-treat stations, carnival games, arts and crafts, bounce houses, music, contests, prizes, and more.
Don't forget to take pictures before you head out!
Whether your little one is dressing up as a princess, superhero, fairy, dinosaur, or their favorite character, Halloween is one of those childhood moments you'll want to remember.
🌴 Enjoy the Outdoors
One of the best things about fall in South Florida is that we can still enjoy the outdoors.
While other parts of the country are pulling out sweaters and winter coats, Broward County families can continue enjoying the beach, parks, waterways, nature trails, and outdoor attractions.
Greater Fort Lauderdale offers 24 miles of beaches along with numerous family-friendly outdoor experiences.
Consider spending a fall weekend:
Building sandcastles at the beach
Taking a family bike ride
Exploring a local park
Going for a nature walk
Visiting a farm
Taking a family boat ride
Exploring Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk
Watching the sunset together
Having a family picnic
Sometimes the simplest activities create the best memories.
🐊 Take a South Florida Adventure
Fall is also a great time to explore some of the attractions that make South Florida unique.
Families can experience everything from wildlife and nature to boating and Everglades adventures.
Greater Fort Lauderdale offers opportunities to get out on the water, explore local waterways, and even experience the Everglades.
For families with children who love animals, nature, and adventure, these experiences can turn an ordinary weekend into something they'll remember for years.
📸 Plan a Fall Family Photo Session
And of course, don't forget to document your family's fall memories!
You don't need changing leaves to create beautiful fall family portraits. South Florida gives us the opportunity to combine beautiful outdoor locations, gorgeous golden light, seasonal styling, and your family's personalities.
At Dara's Bling Photography, families can enjoy a full-service portrait experience designed to create beautiful images that can become part of your family's history.
Instead of simply taking a few digital snapshots, consider creating heirloom artwork that you can actually display in your home and pass down to your children.
Fall is a wonderful time to update your family portraits before the holidays arrive.
🍁 Create Your Own South Florida Fall Bucket List
You don't have to travel far to make fall special.
Pick a weekend, choose one family activity, put the kids in the car, and make a day of it. Visit a pumpkin patch. Attend a festival. Let the kids decorate pumpkins. Take a family walk. Go to the beach. Get ice cream afterward.
The memories don't have to be elaborate.
What matters is spending time together.
Our South Florida Fall Family Bucket List
☐ Visit a pumpkin patch
☐ Attend a fall festival
☐ Decorate pumpkins
☐ Take family photos
☐ Visit a local farm
☐ Explore a Broward County park
☐ Spend a day at the beach
☐ Attend a Halloween event
☐ Dress the kids in costumes
☐ Take a family nature walk
☐ Visit Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk
☐ Create a new family tradition
Fall in South Florida Is About Making Memories
Fall may look different here in Broward County, but that doesn't make it any less special.
There are pumpkins, festivals, farms, Halloween celebrations, outdoor adventures, and plenty of opportunities to spend quality time together.
And before you know it, the holidays will be here.
So grab the kids, make your fall bucket list, and start creating the memories you'll want to remember long after the season is over.
Looking for a South Florida family photographer?
Dara's Bling Photography specializes in luxury maternity, newborn, baby, child, and family portraits in Pembroke Pines and throughout Broward County and South Florida.
From beautifully styled studio portraits to outdoor family sessions, our goal is to create timeless artwork that becomes part of your family's legacy.
Your children won't stay little forever. Capture this season while you can.