Autumn Harvest Party

Seasonal Activities

As with any party, having entertainment planned can keep kids busy and adults socializing. An autumn party can be held at home or you can plan a “destination” party that everyone will enjoy.

Home Parties

Activities at home should be geared towards adults and kids. Adults may enjoy exchanging fall recipes at a potluck, while kids would enjoy bobbing for apples and making crafts.

Set up a craft section with supplies like leaves, acorns, nuts, and beads. Have kids glue them onto a foam wreath to take home. Another crafty fall idea is to have kids spread peanut butter onto pinecombs and cover with birdseed or crushed corn/walnuts for birds and squirrels. Kids would also love decorating their own leaf cut-out cookies.

Pumpkin carving is a great way for adults and kids to interact. Take advantage of the cool fall weather and set up an area outside for adults to carve and children to scoop out the innards. Be sure to save the seeds and toast them as a snack for later.

If you live out in the country, host a barn dance. Teenagers and adults will have a great time listening to country-western music, sitting on hay bales, and partying into the night.

Destination Parties

Get out of the house while the weather is still agreeable. Great destinations for autumn harvest parties include:

• Corn mazes
• Pumpkin farms
• Campgrounds
• Parks
• Theme parks

Discount tickets may be available for some places, especially at the end of their busy season. People in warmer climates may be able to even host a fall pool party before they drain their pools at the end of the season.

Fall Party Food Ideas

Use the bountiful harvest of fall to plan your autumn harvest party menu. Dishes using the flavors of the season include:

• Cranberry glazed pork
• Apple pie
• Pumpkin bars
• Zucchini bread
• German potato salad
• Cabbage and pear salad
• Scalloped squash
• Hot apple cider

Hosting a potluck is another popular idea for an autumn party. You can choose to theme the food around a color (such as orange) or simply make the main dish and ask everyone else to bring sides.

A soup and stew party can be perfect for cool fall days. Whether you host it as a potluck or simply make large batches yourself, these soups and stews will be a big hit:

• Beef chili
• Lamb Irish stew
• White chili
• Garden vegetable soup
• Potato soup
• Duck stew
• Minestrone
• Clam chowder
• Chicken noodle

Should the weather allow, you may even be able to host a last barbeque of the season. Make bratwurst, hamburgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs. Make a campfire at the end of the evening and roast marshmallows to make s’mores.

Autumn Harvest Party Decorations

When you host your party at home, you want to set the mood by decorating the area in which everyone will congregate. Hang up fall themed leaf wreaths and place gourds on your mantel and end tables. If you have a flag pole, put a cornshock up around it.

Carved pumpkins and a few Halloween decorations may be appropriate, just make sure they are not overtly done.

To bring your autumn harvest party decorations together, consider using any of these party supplies:

• Burnished Leaves Party Pack
• Autumn Themed Hanging Decorations
• Fall Outdoor Banners
• Maple Leaves and Berry Crescent
• Harvest Sign
• Yellow, Orange, and Red Arcade Garland
• Jointed Scarecrow
• Fall Candle Lamp

Give your guests something to remember the party by. Send them home with party favors like personalized autumn candles or scarecrow decorations. Kids can take home the crafts they made and pumpkins they carved.

Hosting an autumn harvest party is a wonderful way to lead off the string of fall and winter activities. Call friends, family, and neighbors to get the party started right. Enjoy this time before the rush of the holiday season keeps everyone too busy to gather together.