50 Things to Do This Fall Under $5

The arrival of autumn usually gets everyone in the mood to celebrate, so we’ve rounded up some free and affordable ways to get in a fall mood. Later this season, we’ll swap out some of the events on this list to keep the fun coming!

If you’re looking for more fall fun, be sure to check out our Fall Guides with links to Halloween events, pumpkin patches and more.

Editor’s Note: This list is updated throughout the season. Please check back for updates. 

1. OKC Free Fishing Days offers a chance to learn a new skill for free. Pack up your gear and kick back on a nearby shore this fall.
2. Explore downtown on a dime with these low-cost, family-fun ideas! And, be sure to hop aboard the new OKC Streetcar. Complimentary fares are offered on the third Friday through September.
3. Become a citizen scientist by creating your own mammal feeder!
4. Catch a FREE Ballet Under the Stars performance at Scissortail Park. Watch excerpts from classical ballet and modern dance performed by professional dancers and local students. Sept. 13
5. Go Plazadelic during September’s FREE LIVE on the Plaza block party. Jam to groovy tunes, explore local art and more! Sept. 13
6. Head out on a fall nature scavenger hunt and find all of the ways nature is preparing for winter.
7. Take part in a day of active fun at the FREE Move Your ScissorTAIL BLOCK PARTY. Enjoy free fitness classes, character appearances, a 3v3 basketball tournament and more. Sept. 14
8. Celebrate community at FREE Uptown Outside in the Historic Uptown 23rd District. The block-party style event features food, music art, a kids’ area, a vendor market, skate park and more. Sept. 14
9. Embrace the great outdoors by heading to one of these top spots for exploring nature in OKC.
10. Enjoy an urban adventure at a local futsal, basketball, bocce ball or bike park.
11. Kick back with OKCPHIL for a FREE concert at Scissortail Park. Sept. 15
12. Go explore a new-to-you local shopping district! Here are some of our favorites.
13. Learn about trees and their importance to our ecosystem at Can You Hear the Dogwood Bark? at Martin Park. Sept. 19
14. Use the gardens as inspiration to create a work of art during Water Coloring in the Garden Drop-In at Myriad Gardens. Sept. 21
15. Head to a local street festival! This list of neighborhood celebrations features events that usually continue through the first part of the fall as long as the weather stays warm.
16. ​Schedule a playdate! It doesn’t cost you anything to get together with friends at a public park. Here are some of our favorite spots to meet up to play.
17. Load up the car and go exploring on a fall hike.
18. Climb aboard your favorite large vehicles, including fire engines, ambulances, mobile maker spaces, tow trucks, police vehicles and more at the Pioneer Library System Touch A Truck. Sept. 28
19. Get hands-on at SMO’s FREE Tinkerfest, a celebration of curiosity and creativity. Sept. 28
20. Secure your spot for the FREE CU in the Park concert featuring  Jordan Davis, CMA Song of the Year winner. This free concert is open to the public. Sept. 28
21. Let your kids show off their skills at a local skate park.  The Oklahoma City metro offers several public-use skate parks designed for BMX, boarding and skating.
22. See cultural demonstrations, a fashion show, live music, an eating competition and more at the Asian District Night Market Festival at Military Park. Oct. 4-5
23. The Oklahoma History Museum is bringing back its FREE Folklife Festival. Cultural practitioners, diverse communities and heritage professionals will offer hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and catalyze intercultural exchange. Oct. 5
24. Fall is the ideal time to curl up with a good book. Oklahoma City has plenty of public storytimes and most are offered free of charge.
25. Celebrate the famous trail and Western history at the Chisholm Trail Festival at Mollie Spence Farm. Watch living history re-enactors, Civil War demonstrations, gunfights and other live entertainment, plus enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, the Wild West Pumpkin Patch and more. Oct. 12
26. Explore the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and enjoy fun activities for the whole family including storytime, crafts, games and more, during the museum’s Fall Y’All event. Oct. 16-18
27. Transform into a territorial Oklahoma kid! Find out what life was like when Oklahoma City was getting established in the 1890s with these fun activities.
28. The change in seasons means the family will need a whole new wardrobe. Find plenty of fall consignment sales (which are loaded with cheap clothing) happening throughout the OKC metro.
29. Ride to the light of the full moon during the Full Moon Bike Ride at Myriad Gardens. The one-hour bike ride cruises through downtown. Oct. 17
30. Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day at the FREE Red Earth FallFest at Myriad Gardens which features an arts market and a youth Powwow. Oct. 19
31. Stomp on over to the Stockyard Stampede. The historic district invites families to see a longhorn parade, sample chuckwagon fare and more! Oct. 19
32. Get the whole family moving at the FREE Let’s Get Moving 5K at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park. Oct. 20
33. Use science to craft a tasty treat, Ice Cream in a Bag!
34. Disc golf is a fun and low-cost outing for families. Public courses across the metro welcome players of all ages to enjoy some friendly competition.
35. Volunteer together! It won’t cost you anything but your time and it will enrich your community and make you feel great.
36. Explore Midtown during their FREE Fall Walkabout event. Take part in free pop-up programming including live entertainment and family-friendly activities. Oct. 26
37. Learn about all things paranormal at the Downtown Library’s FREE Paranormal Fest. Take part in a variety of activities including a movie marathon. Oct. 26
38. Can you spy some ghouls? Print off our Halloween Scavenger Hunt and see what festive finds you have hiding around your neighborhood. Amp up the fun with a twilight family walk with glow sticks!
39. Get some fresh air and exercise together on a bike ride. There are plenty of scenic trails to discover together.
40. Find some delicious treats at the annual FREE Brick or Treat in Bricktown. Take photos with roaming characters, trick-or-treat businesses and more. Oct. 28
41. Spend time stargazing. While a telescope can add to the fun, it costs nothing to explore the night sky!
42. Oklahomans are pretty fortunate that warm temperatures from summer usually hang around well into fall. Take advantage of it by checking out one of these mom-approved playgrounds in OKC!
43. From art and science to history and more, Oklahoma City offers a wealth of high-quality museums, many of which are completely FREE.
44. As long as the weather cooperates, there’s no excuse not to take your dinner outside. So go ahead and pack up that slow cooker meal and head out to one of these prime picnic spots.
45. Take in some public art! These must-see murals are scattered throughout the Downtown area and are great ways to inspire creativity and expose kids to art without spending a dime.
46. Find a new indoor play place. Several of the places on this list are low-cost and offer a new environment for play no matter the weather.
47. Host a family game night with homemade prizes for the winner. Find reader-recommended family games at metrofamilymagazine.com/family-board-games.
48. Enter our contests! It just takes a second and you could win big!
49. Explore heat and temperature with this simple science experience that uses items you are guaranteed to have around the house.
50. Celebrate the Day of the Dead at the OKC Festival of Vida Muerte at Scissortail Park. Nov. 10

This list is updated throughout the season. Please check back for updates.