Fall Trivia Questions — 55 Autumn Q&A for All Ages

Decreasing daylight and cooler temperatures. As days shorten, trees stop producing chlorophyll (green pigment), revealing yellow and orange pigments already in the leaves. Red and purple colors are produced fresh from sugars trapped in the leaves.

Red and purple. These vivid colors are created by anthocyanins, produced from sugars trapped in leaves after the tree seals off the leaf stem.

Abscission. Trees form an abscission layer at the base of each leaf stem, eventually cutting off nutrients until the leaf falls.

Vermont. Vermont's mix of sugar maples, birch, and beech trees creates some of the most vibrant fall foliage in North America.

Caching. Squirrels and other animals cache food — hiding it in multiple locations to use during winter when food is scarce.

They enter hyperphagia (excessive eating) in fall, gaining up to 3–4 pounds per day before entering their winter den.

Migration. Many bird species migrate thousands of miles to warmer climates each fall, following food availability and daylight cues.

Leaf litter (or duff). Decomposing leaf litter returns nutrients to the soil and provides habitat for insects and small animals.

Day and night are approximately equal — about 12 hours each. After the equinox, nights grow longer than days.

Around September 22–23. This marks the official start of astronomical fall (autumn).

Oak trees. Acorns are the nuts of oak trees and are an important food source for squirrels, deer, and many birds in fall.

Increased geomagnetic activity around the equinoxes, combined with longer nights, makes the aurora more visible in fall and spring.

The pumpkin. Pumpkins are a fall harvest staple — great for carving, cooking, and of course pumpkin spice everything.

Pressed apples. Apple cider is the unfiltered, unfermented juice of pressed apples — a quintessential fall drink.

Traveling to see fall foliage. Leaf peeping is a major tourism activity in the northeastern U.S. and Canada each autumn.

Ireland (Celtic lands). Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year.

'Hallowed evening' or 'holy evening.' It comes from 'All Hallows' Eve' — the night before All Saints' Day (November 1).

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, according to most surveys and sales data.

A carved pumpkin (or other gourd) with a candle or light inside. The tradition originated in Ireland with carved turnips and spread to the Americas with Irish immigrants.

Orange and black. Orange represents the harvest and autumn; black represents darkness and death.

About $10–12 billion. It is the second-highest consumer spending holiday after Christmas.

Day of the Dead. This Mexican holiday (November 1–2) honors deceased loved ones and overlaps with Halloween. It is a celebration of life, not fear.

1978. Directed by John Carpenter and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, it became one of the most influential horror films ever made.

A magical brew (or cauldron). They chant 'Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble' as they add strange ingredients.

Witches — consistently the most popular adult Halloween costume, followed by vampires and zombies.

Illinois. Illinois produces about 80% of all pumpkins grown in the United States.

Over 2,700 pounds. The world record giant pumpkin was grown in Belgium in 2023, weighing 2,749 pounds.

The Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash. These companion plants support each other's growth — corn provides a pole for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen, squash shades the ground.

The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. The harvest moon rises around sunset for several nights, providing extra light that farmers historically used to harvest crops.

A traditional harvest/Halloween game where apples float in a tub of water and players try to grab one with their teeth (no hands allowed).

A maze carved through a cornfield. Corn mazes are popular fall attractions — some cover dozens of acres and take hours to navigate.

The autumn collection of crops. Fall is harvest time for corn, soybeans, pumpkins, apples, and many other crops across North America.

September and October. Apple orchards reach peak picking season in early-to-mid fall.

The process of crushing apples and squeezing out their juice to make fresh apple cider. Many farms offer cider pressing experiences in fall.

Pumpkin. Pumpkins are carved for Halloween and used for pumpkin pie, bread, soup, and lattes all fall long.

Canadian Thanksgiving. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October, earlier than the U.S., reflecting a shorter growing season.

Veterans Day. November 11 commemorates the end of World War I (Armistice Day) and honors all U.S. military veterans.

All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows' Day). It honors all the saints, known and unknown.

Yom Kippur. It is considered the holiest day in Judaism — a day of fasting and prayer.

The Hindu Festival of Lights, celebrated in October or November. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Clocks are set back one hour ('fall back'). In the U.S., this happens on the first Sunday of November, giving people an extra hour of sleep.

The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Federal elections (including presidential elections every 4 years) are held on this date.

A British celebration on November 5 with fireworks and bonfires, commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

An ancient Celtic harvest festival, celebrated around November 1, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is considered a precursor to modern Halloween.

September 1. Meteorological fall runs September, October, November — aligned with the calendar rather than astronomical events.

The Detroit Lions. They've hosted a Thanksgiving game almost every year since the tradition began.

A long, desperate forward pass thrown toward the end zone at the end of a half or game, typically with little chance of success.

The NFL championship game, held in February between the winners of the NFC and AFC conferences.

Bowl season. College football's bowl games (including the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and College Football Playoff) run from late December through early January.

The area from the opposing 20-yard line to the goal line. Teams in the red zone are in scoring position.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). First introduced in 2003, it has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and spawned an entire 'pumpkin spice' food trend.

Folklore (2020). Its woodsy, indie-folk aesthetic and autumn themes made it a cultural touchstone for fall listeners.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). The animated special airs every fall and is a beloved Halloween tradition.

Gilmore Girls. The show's fall episodes are particularly beloved for their New England autumn atmosphere.

Apple picking (or u-pick). Apple orchards across the country offer self-pick experiences from late August through October.