Is It Too Early for Fall Puzzles?

I swear I started seeing Halloween content right after the Fourth of July this year. And for me? That is way too early!

When it’s still light outside late into the evening and people around the country are experiencing 100+ degree temperatures, it can be a little hard to get excited about pumpkins, falling leaves, and cozy sweaters. Some are just hoping for a little rain and cooler weather! 

But now that we’re getting toward the end of August, I have to admit... fall is starting to creep into my mind.

My Puzzle Table Is Still in Summer Mode

Right now, I’m still reaching for bright, vibrant, fun puzzles. Give me lots of color! Recently I did two very fun beginner friendly 1000 piece puzzles. 
Cooked by Happily and Classic Book Covers by Gibsons.  I'm always in love with fun, brightly colored bookish puzzles. You can pretty much just pick out a color and work on each book with ease. 

Cooked by Happily
Artist: Harriet Thomas-Bush

This hasn’t stopped a few fall and Halloween puzzles from slowly making their way into my collection, though. A few I’m looking forward to are Fall in Brooklyn, a 1,000-piece puzzle from eeBoo; and Happy Llama-ween, a 1,000-piece puzzle from Boardwalk Puzzle Company.

Happy Llama-ween by Boardwalk
Artist: Andy C. Ellis

I’m actually trying not to acquire too many Halloween puzzles this year. I’ll be doing quite a bit of traveling around Halloween, so realistically, there are only so many spooky puzzles I’m going to have time to complete. Whether that stops me from buying more is another question.

I’m Always Thinking One Season Ahead

Part of the problem is that I’m almost always thinking ahead. I’m already planning fall content for my own channel, and after working in retail for 20 years, thinking about the next season feels completely normal to me.

Fright Night by MasterPieces
Artwork: Chris Bigelow

In retail, the holidays start long before the actual season. We're talking about Christmas in August, thinking about fall during June, and moving on to the next season while everyone else is still enjoying the current one. So while part of my brain is saying, It’s almost fall!, another part of me is trying to soak up these last few weeks of summer. Especially because I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I know what’s coming. I’m not quite ready to trade these long summer days for our rainy season just yet.

Haunted House on the Hill By MasterPieces
Artwork: David Maclean

Apparently, I’m Not the Only One Thinking About Fall

I took a look at the most popular puzzles at Puzzle Warehouse recently, and apparently quite a few puzzlers are ready for fall. As I’m writing this, Fright Night (500 Pieces), Haunted House on the Hill (1,000-pieces) and Harvest Street Party (500-pieces) all from MasterPieces, are all in our current Top 10.

Harvest Street Party by MasterPieces
Artwork: Art Poulin

Even more surprising, Apple Tree Farm by MasterPieces is currently our top-selling 1,000-piece puzzle! (At least while I'm writing this) So maybe everyone isn’t ready to put away summer just yet, but we’re definitely starting to think about what’s next.

Apple Tree Farm by MasterPieces
Artwork: Richard Macneil

Halloween Puzzlers Are Getting Ready, Too

And if you’re someone who waits all year for spooky season, you’re definitely not alone. Fall and Halloween puzzles are some of the most popular puzzles from Vermont Christmas Company, and Spooky Night, a 1,000-piece puzzle, has been flying off the shelves.

Spooky Night by Vermont Christmas Company
Artwork: Michele Farella

It makes sense when you think about it. Seasonal puzzles have a pretty short window. If you want to have a stack ready for October, you probably don’t want to wait until October 25 to start shopping for them. Maybe the people buying Halloween puzzles in August aren’t actually puzzling them yet. They’re just prepared!

So Much Fall Newness Is Arriving

We’re also starting to see lots of new cozy, colorful, and spooky puzzles arrive at Puzzle Warehouse.

Autumnal Bliss by White Mountain
Artist: Iris Sage

Autumnal Bliss from White Mountain feels like fall without jumping straight into pumpkins and Halloween. Artist Iris Sage created a colorful countryside scene with a sunlit farmhouse, bright red barn, winding path, and plenty of changing leaves. I especially love puzzles like this for the transition into fall because you still get some bright greens and blues mixed in with all those oranges, reds, and yellows. It's a great choice if you're ready for autumn colors but aren't quite ready for spooky season.

Maplewood Farm in Fall by White Mountain
Artist: Olena S.

Maplewood Farm in Fall leans even further into that cozy fall feeling. This is the kind of puzzle that makes me think of crisp mornings, country roads, changing leaves, and spending an afternoon inside with a puzzle on the table. If your favorite part of fall is more about the scenery and coziness of the season than Halloween, this is exactly the type of puzzle I'd start adding to the fall puzzle pile.

But if you are ready for spooky season,  without the dark vibes - The Witch’s Way from Enjoy and All Hallows Eve from Cobble Hill are ready and waiting.

All Hallows Eve by Cobble Hill
Artwork: Tobe Fonseca

All Hallows' Eve from Cobble Hill is for the puzzlers who are ready to skip right past fall and head straight into Halloween. This colorful 1,000-piece puzzle by artist Tobe Fonseca is filled with ghosts, goblins, dragons, costumes, and all kinds of little spooky characters heading out for the night. I love that it gives you the fun side of Halloween rather than being overly dark or scary. There are so many different characters, colors, and little details throughout the image that it looks like it would be just as much fun to explore everything happening in the scene as it would be to put together.

The Witch's Way by Enjoy
Artist: Peggy Collins

The Witch's Way from Enjoy is for when you're ready to add a little more magic and mystery to your fall puzzle pile. The 1,000-piece image features a witch making her way through an eerie landscape filled with golden fields, bare twisted trees, and a dramatic, colorful sky. The color of ENJIOY puzzles is always so fun and the beautifully matte pieces are perfect if puzzling under a dining room light. . It still feels spooky and seasonal, but the bright colors and fantasy elements make it something a little different. This would be a fun transition puzzle when you're ready to leave the sunny summer scenes behind but aren't quite ready to go full haunted house and jack-o'-lantern.

I’m Somewhere in the Middle

So, is August too early for fall and Halloween puzzles? For me, July was definitely too early.  But now? I’m itching for a cozy evening in with an autumn puzzle scene.

I’m not ready to completely give up my bright summer puzzles yet. There are still a few more weeks of sunshine to enjoy, and I’m going to soak up as much of it as I can before the Pacific Northwest rain returns. I am leaning towards autumn puzzles, like the sunset in Sea of Love by GoodWay Puzzles.

Sea of Love by GoodWay Puzzles
Artist: Valeriane Leblond

At the same time, I can’t pretend I’m not getting a little excited when I see the new fall puzzles arriving. Maybe late August doesn’t have to be summer or fall. There can be a bright, colorful summer puzzle on the table and a stack of pumpkins, haunted houses, and autumn leaves waiting patiently on the shelf.

What about you? Are you already working on fall and Halloween puzzles, stocking up for later, or firmly holding onto summer? Check out all of our fall and halloween puzzles if you're ready to get your cozy puzzle season on!

Emilee Frost
@thecasualpuzzler