Fall Entertaining Ideas

As the hustle and bustle of your busy summer schedule slows down, many of us suddenly find ourselves wishing for a longer season and looking for ways to extend it. What better way then to schedule a fun and memorable fall celebration?

If you’d like to get in a few more get-togethers before everyone gets busy with the holidays and nestles in for the winter, here are some great ideas from our party planning experts at American Greetings.

Closing ceremony: Invite the family over for one last cookout before you pack away the grill for the season. To keep things easy and inexpensive, ask each family to bring a covered side dish to share. Enjoy the best of both worlds—the wonderful summer scent of barbeque and a festive autumn atmosphere.

Host a Clambake: You don’t have to be a New Englander to enjoy this fantastic end-of-summer tradition. Pull together some nautical décor, set a fun menu of shellfish, potatoes, and corn on the cob, and light a fire in the fire pit. Add some festive lighting and a group of friends and you’ve got your own personal Cape Cod in your backyard.

Autumn Fest: Embrace the beauty of fall by hosting your own harvest party. Serve warm and hearty favorites like apple cider, roasted pumpkin seeds, and a gourmet chili bar. Retro games like bobbing for apples, pin the nose on the pumpkin, and guessing how many candies are in a jar are easy games that people of all ages can enjoy together.

Hit the park: An afternoon get-together is another great way to enjoy what’s left of the nice weather. Call up extended family you don’t get to see regularly and have them meet you at local park for some light snacks and some favorite lawn games such as croquet, bocce, and badminton.

Cookie baking party: If the weather won’t cooperate, now is the perfect time to spend the day trying out some new pastry recipes with friends. Each participant brings enough batter (or ingredients) to give 1/2 dozen to each guest attending. After all of the cookies are baked, everyone receives a great assortment. You might even find some new favorites to make again for the holidays, so don’t forget to bring copies of your recipe!

The most important ingredients to enjoying the fall season is getting outside to enjoy the magnificent weather and spending time with friends and family. No matter how you choose to celebrate, when winter rolls around and we all head inside, you’ll be glad you did!