Autumn and fall are some of the most bountiful times of the year. The leaves are beginning to change into hues of burnt orange, browns and burgundy reds. The smells of harvest are in the air and everyone seems to be grabbing an extra sweater and their most comfortable pair of jeans. Just before you settle in for a long winter’s night, why not host one last bash that celebrates the ending of summer and have guests leave feeling a sense of satisfaction and comfort. Hosting an outdoor fall harvest party is the perfect way to relax, mingle and share your favorite recipes and activities with your friends and family.
Generate Invitations- Gather a list of guests you would like to invite to your outdoor fall harvest party. Purchase fall themed invitations or create your own using rubber stamps, twine and scrapbooking stickers. Stick to fall themed colors of brown, red and orange. Send out your invitations up to a month in advance and request a RSVP. If your party will be a potluck, be sure to ask guests to bring a dish to pass.
Choose a location- A good location for hosting an outdoor fall harvest party would be to find an area where you can be outdoors but also be partially indoors if the weather turns too cool or it begins to rain. A large pole barn or garage is the perfect choice. Inside, you can set up tables for food and provide extra eating areas for guests also. Outdoor halogen heating lamps are a good choice to have on hand if the weather is chilly; these can be rented fairly cheap at your local rental store. Have a bonfire or campfire going throughout the party to keep guests warm also. Serve smores or roast marshmallows for the little ones who come to the party. If the weather is still warm, you could host your party on your deck or in your backyard.
Decorate the party area- After you have designated where your outdoor fall harvest party area is going to be, begin to decorate the area with popular fall decor such as corn stalks, mums, pumpkins, hay bales and colorful cabbages. Wheel barrels overflowing with leaves and pumpkins also makes a nice focal point. Create table toppers with mini gourds, candles, apples and Indian corn. Set tables with plaid tablecloths and tie tableware together with small pieces of twine. Set the mood with some party music such as casual country or easy listening; whatever you feel best suits the style and age of the guests that will be attending.
Create a meal plan- Some good food options for any fall harvest party would stem from popular fall foods such as apples, pumpkins and even corn. You can choose to host a pot luck where everyone will bring a designated dish, or you could serve a full course meal or just appetizers and drinks. For appetizers, serve warm dips that guests can indulge in such as cheese dips and tortilla chips, cream cheese based dips with fresh veggies or crackers teamed up with sharp cheddar and bacon. For a main dish you may want to serve warm comfort food such as chili or sloppy joes. Apple pies, fresh donuts and apple cobblers are essential deserts that go great with any fall themed meal party. Hot spiced apple cider can be the beverage of choice or you can add variation by having flavored coffee or hot cinnamon tea available for guests Pumpkin Spice Frosted Snack Bars are a moist and creamy bar that will go great with a mug of hot any hot beverage that you serve. Rent a kettle for making homemade kettle corn for guests to indulge in and snack on while the party is going on.
Plan activities- For both kids and adults, hosting a hayride is a great way to interact with one another while getting a chance to spend time outdoors and see the changing landscape. If the weather is cool, provide warm blankets for guests to bundle up in. You could create a scavenger hunt during the hayride so people have to get out and look for clues and objects. Burlap sack races are a fun game for the kids and they could compete for small prizes. A game of horseshoes is always fun for parties where there are couples. Dunking for apples is also a classic, fun game that can also be played for small prizes as well.
Send guests home with mums or small table arrangements; you could also use decorations for prizes if you wanted.
Keeping everything simple and enjoying your guests at your next outdoor fall harvest party is essential in the overall success of your party. Enjoy spending time with those you care about while enjoying mother nature at the same time.
