🍂 Fall Bucket List for 2025 🍂

I swear, I say this every single year: fall is my time to shine. Partially because the summer heat takes my crippled ass out- yes, I know, not everyone is allowed to use the “C” word, but as someone who is both physically and legally disabled, I feel like I have a little leeway here. Plenty of marginalized communities reclaim slurs that have been used against them for generations, so why not us? After all, it’s in my name. I am The Crippled Cryptid. Sticks and stones, my dear.

But when the leaves start changing color, when the air smells like cinnamon, apples, and woodsmoke- that’s when I come alive. Fall is my favorite season. The summer humidity isn’t making me want to melt, my joints aren’t threatening to explode, and I get to exist in hoodies, flannels, and boots.

This year, I want to do a little more. Call it wishful thinking, but fall makes me feel like adventures are possible again. Here’s my fall bucket list for 2025:

🍎 Apple Orchard Tradition

Back in 2014, my mom, little brother, and I stumbled onto Royal Oak Orchard. We’d been getting into baking, and were looking for something to do one day, and apple picking turned into the perfect fall tradition. Every year since, we’ve gone honeycrisp picking. Even after Mom passed in 2020, the tradition carried on.

This year, I’m hoping the Moss Maiden, the Yard Yeti, and I will go again. There’s nothing like baking homemade apple pies with apples you’ve picked yourself- or eating way too many while you’re still in the orchard.

🎃 Pumpkin Patch & Decorating

I’ve been telling the Moss Maiden for years about a pumpkin patch I used to go to with my grandma. I don’t think it exists anymore (it had this silly haunted school bus I’ll never forget), but I still want to pick and decorate pumpkins this year.

And decorating the house in general would be fun, especially since last year we didn’t get any trick-or-treaters. Maybe a few spooky decorations will lure them in this time.

So, we’ll definitely have to decorate the front of the house somehow. The front door- the window, maybe even the driveway. I know I still have some of my grandma’s old decorations for the trees in the yard too!

👻 Halloween Dinner & Movie Night

This year I want to plan a dorky, elaborate Halloween dinner and bully my family into eating it on the couch while watching Supernatural reruns or horror movies. Cozy chaos, spooky vibes- perfection.

🌽 Corn Maze (Maybe)

We live near the “World’s Largest Corn Maze” (their words, not mine). The theme this year is Back to the Future, which is cute, but not really my thing. Still, never say never. -the Yard Yeti worked it last year, and while he had a great time working there, I’m not sure if my body can hold up to it, or if I’ll even really want to go to it. There are a couple of little ones nearby that aren’t quite as pricey and might be more up my alley though.

🍸 The Final Girl Bar

Speaking of spooky: there’s a horror-themed bar in Kenosha called The Final Girl. I’ve seen it all over TikTok and even though I’m not a drinker, your ghoul is going. A horror bar? Try and stop me. (Actually, don’t. I’ve seen enough horror movies to know I’ll win that fight.)

🕷️ Dungeon of Doom Haunted House

This one is special. In 2012, after one of Mom’s breakups, we found Dungeon of Doom in Zion and it became our haunted house. We went every year, sometimes even dragging the Yard Yeti along. It’s where I got my voodoo dolls, and it’s one of my favorite traditions.

This year is their 29th season, which means it would be our 9th year. They’re one of the best haunts in Illinois- and if my body allows, I’m going back with the Moss Maiden and Yard Yeti.

It’ll be the Moss Maiden’s first year going too. And I, of course, will be wearing the 20 Years of Fear t-shirt I bought there 9-years ago. The Yard Yeti has his hoodie from the last time we went, and I’ll be lending the Moss Maiden mom’s old Dungeon t-shirt until we can buy her one of her own.

🏡 Porch Decorating & Scenic Drive

Because what’s fall without a cozy porch and a long drive under changing leaves?

🥧 Baking Goals

• Apple pie from orchard apples
• Homemade apple fritters for B (the Yard Yeti)
• Apple fritter focaccia bread (yes, that’s a thing and yes, I need it in my life) I saw it on TikTok, and now we need to try it.

🦁 Family Free Day at Milwaukee Zoo

October 4th is Family Free Day at Milwaukee County Zoo, and since it falls on a Saturday, you know what that means- Lightning Rods (the world’s biggest mozzarella sticks) from Alphonso’s. Yes, that is also non-negotiable. We love the Milwaukee Co. Zoo, and while we’re “technically” closer to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, I would much rather make the trek up to Wisconsin, and go to that one. It’s cleaner, the people are friendlier, and the way they keep their animals is just… pristine.

And if you know anything about this girl? One word. Penguins.

✨ Wrapping Up

It’s only the beginning of September, so who knows- this list might grow. Honestly, it probably will. But, I think it’s a hell of a start.

What’s on your fall bucket list?

-Sky, The Crippled Cryptid.

https://linktr.ee/skylanarissa