In the real world, the changing of the seasons is a gradual process, but, in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, seasons change at the drop of a hat. Fall arrived in-game for those in the Northern Hemisphere on September 1st, and it lasts until November 25th, granting players plenty of time to make the most of the change.
The season brings with it all the visual changes associated with autumn time, with island trees gradually changing their color, but also a range of season-specific activities spread throughout the fall to give players more to come back to as the months progress.
Grow A Pumpkin Patch
Just one of many reasons to return to Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the new season is the ability to grow a quintessential autumnal food, the pumpkin. Pumpkin starts are available to purchase from Leif, and also via the cabinet in Nook's Cranny starting in October. They grow into four different colors; orange, yellow, white, and green.
Planting pumpkins in a patch and sprucing up the area with fencing and other decorations can help to make an island look more in touch with the season, while the pumpkins themselves are useful for certain DIY recipes.
Craft Seasonal Items
There are three miniature 'seasons' of crafts made available during the fall. First of all, acorns and pine cones arrive, which can be shaken from trees from September 1st to December 10th. Next, pumpkin DIYs are made available, and recipes that use the pumpkins players grow can be found in balloons or by talking to villagers. After Halloween, mushroom season arrives in New Horizons, and, throughout November, different kinds of mushroom can be found growing at the base of trees.
With recipes made from acorns, pine cones, pumpkins, and mushrooms to choose from, there are plenty of aspects of fall that can be replicated in New Horizons. What's more, foraging for the materials feels like a very seasonal activity itself.
Try Out Halloween Costumes
Animal Crossing gives players a wide range of clothing choices that are available via the Able Sister's year-round, and fall brings with it the chance to get more creative with a character's look, specifically when it comes to Halloween costumes.
Although there are a lot of ready-made costumes available for purchase, there's also the option to craft something from scratch using the Custom Designs app to recreate that homemade feeling. Furthermore, a player's appearance can be changed via a mirror to accentuate the look, with choices like blue and green skin providing more spooky options for appearance.
Catch New Fish And Bugs
The change of seasons also brings to Animal Crossing islands a whole host of new critters, fish, and sea creatures. The start of September introduces catches like the cherry salmon and the golden trout to island waters, the latter of which can be sold for a huge 15,000 Bells.
Butterflies are also amongst those which return to islands in this season, with all of these additions giving players the chance to further fill out their Critterpedia, and also donate new findings to Blathers at the museum.
Visit Brewster
A much-anticipated return to the series, Brewster was announced to be joining New Horizons this November during the most recent Nintendo Direct presentation. With more details to follow in October, Brewster will be back this season alongside his museum-based cafe The Roost.
As one of the best Animal Crossing characters, Brewster's distinctive personality will be a welcome addition to the game, and his cafe is sure to provide a cozy fall atmosphere for players upon its arrival.
Decorate House Exterior
An element of island decoration that sometimes gets forgotten about is the ability to decorate the exterior of a player's home. This change provides another great way to get into the fall mood. With options to either lean into a cozy vibe or imitate the look of a haunted house, there are choices to suit everyone.
Not only does changing up a house's look help refresh part of a player's island, but it can also become a perfect centerpiece for larger themed displays.
Celebrate Halloween
Making his presence known at the start of October when he sends players a portrait of himself, the pumpkin-headed embodiment of Halloween, Jack, comes to spread the festivities on Halloween itself, appearing October 31st from 5 pm to midnight.
During the celebrations, players can Trick-or-Treat and gain candy and lollipops, which, when given to Jack, will provide them with certain rewards. Beware, though; if Jack doesn't receive any candy, he may just play a trick on the player.
Make Outdoor Space For Areas Dedicated To Fall
With many new DIY recipes available to craft across the fall season, it's only natural that players will require places to put them. Setting out a dedicated space on the island for these can provide a fun area that really represents the spirit of the season.
There are a lot of ways to do this, from setting up an orchard to an autumn market or a bonfire which can hopefully attract the perfect Animal Crossing villagers to go camping with. Whatever the scenario, the creativity of building up a fall display is definitely rewarding.
Take Part In Turkey Day
At the very end of Animal Crossing's fall season comes the Turkey Day event, inspired by the USA's own Thanksgiving. Known as Harvest Festival prior to New Horizons, this day is all about the food. A banquet table appears in the market square, and turkey chef Franklin makes an appearance.
Players must help Franklin gather all the ingredients necessary to pull off his magnificent feast and will be rewarded with a Turkey Day-themed item for each course. The task of gathering ingredients, whether through fishing or the help of island residents, provides a wholesome communal experience.
Buy Seasonal Items Via Nook Shopping
Aside from the many seasonal items that are available through DIY, players can access even more limited-time goods by looking at the special items section of Nook Shopping, available either via the app on a player's NookPhone or accessed via the kiosk in Resident Services.
Throughout the month of September, a cute grape harvest basket is available to purchase in celebration of the Grape Harvest Festival, and, with other season-specific items appearing now and then, it's always worth keeping an eye on Nook Shopping.