Savoring the season: 11 fun fall team-building activities your employees will love

Fall is around the corner, and with a new season comes new, unique ways to engage your employees, promote team-building and just have a little fun with your team. 

As the days get shorter, it’s important to maintain employee motivation and engagement. Luckily, fall is the perfect time to harness the spirit of autumn to engage employees. Fall activities not only help to create team bonds; they can also boost morale and productivity. 

Whether your workforce is remote, hybrid or in-office, here are some fall team-building and cultural activities that your workforce will love.

Fall team-building: Not just for fun

When it comes to retaining your workforce, engagement is the name of the game. With a competitive job market and economic uncertainty, employees aren’t just looking for compensation anymore; they’re looking for connection, culture and growth.

And, if they don’t get it, employees aren’t afraid to walk out the door or become a “Disgruntled Stayer.”

That’s why capitalizing on timely engagement opportunities like fall team-building activities can help give your employees a boost in engagement, motivation and satisfaction and help breathe new life into your company culture. 

Here are 11 fall team-building activities to foster engagement and positive workplace culture – with options for remote or in-person teams.

1. Pumpkin decorating 

Pumpkin decorating doesn’t have to just mean carving; you can have team members paint pumpkins or even get some craft supplies like felt or googly eyes to make it unique. 

You can provide pumpkins, tools for carving and even hold a contest for the most creative or spooky pumpkin design. 

Make it virtual: Virtual employees don’t have to miss out on this fall team-building event: Send employees a pumpkin decorating kit with all they’ll need, or host a more laid-back version by creating a Slack channel where everyone can share their pumpkins and team members can vote on their favorite. 

2. Fall Recipe Exchange 

Create a Slack channel or email thread where employees can share their favorite fall recipes. When everyone has shared, you can compile all the recipes into one document and share it as a digital cookbook for employees. 

If your team is in-person, you can even have employees make the recipes they shared and have a tasting event.

3. Desk (or home office) decorating 

Not only is desk decorating a fun fall team-building activity, but a nicer working space can also help with motivation and productivity. Employees can adorn their workspaces with fall decor like mini pumpkins, leaves and scarecrows.

Got a competition-minded team? Turn this fall team-building activity into a contest by having employees vote on their favorite desk.

Make it virtual: Instead of desk decorating, you can send remote employees a box full of decorations and have them decorate their home office instead. 

4. Fall potluck 

Organize a Thanksgiving- or fall-themed potluck, complete with turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings – or whatever else your team likes. 

Make it virtual: Provide a stipend for employees to get their favorite fall foods and host a virtual potluck. 

5. Apple cider tasting 

Nothing says fall like seasonal treats like apple cider. Host a tasting with different flavors and apple cider treats – or send virtual employees a package with apple cider-flavored goodies.

6. Foliage walk

A foliage walk isn’t just a fun fall team-building activity – it has real benefits. Walking can increase motivation and productivity, and can even make an impact on your mood. Gather employees for a nature walk or hike to look at the fall foliage. 

Make it virtual: Just because employees aren’t in-person doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the foliage! Find a virtual foliage walk or train ride for remote employees. 

7. DIY wreath workshop 

If you have a crafty bunch, consider a DIY workshop to help employees craft their own fall wreaths.

Supply materials like wreath forms, leaves, and decorations and choose an employee or outside host to lead the workshop.

8. Costume contest 

Whether it’s for Halloween or just for a fun fall activity, you can never go wrong with a costume contest. Invite employees to wear their favorite Halloween or autumn-themed costumes.

Make it virtual: Set up a virtual event for employees to show off their costumes or set up a Slack channel for employees to share their looks in.

9. Fall-themed trivia 

Who doesn’t like trivia? Set aside after-work hours or organize a lunch event to engage employees in fall-themed trivia, like autumn traditions, movies and more.

Make it virtual: There are many virtual trivia games that your team can do via Zoom – or make your own Jeopardy-style trivia game.

10. Community service day 

Did you know the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is called “Giving Tuesday” and focuses on acts of kindness and charity? No matter what day you do it, hosting a company-wide volunteer day can be a great fall team-building activity 

Make it virtual: Find a charity opportunity that remote employees can participate in, like food drives for their respective areas or putting together care packages for those in need.

11. Haunted escape room

Escape rooms are a great fall team-building exercise – plus, there are some great virtual options too. To make it seasonal, find a spooky theme like a haunted house escape room.