Fall is here, and that means the crops in the gardens are ready to be harvested. Many people decide to have a harvest party to celebrate the large harvest they have picked. If you are thinking of throwing your own fall harvest party, you have come to the right place. Today I will be going over fun games to play, yummy foods to serve, tips for picking a date, ideas for picking a location, and fun decorations. With these helpful tips, your harvest party will surely become a memorable day for all your friends, family, and neighbors. Let’s get started.
Fun Games to Play at a Harvest Party
There are so many different games you can play at an autumn harvest party. You’ll want to make sure the games have something to do with fall. For example, a pumpkin ring toss is a better option than a bottle ring toss. These games below are great for people of all ages, including younger kids. Adults can play these games too. You can decide if you want to have these games available for people the whole time the harvest party is going, or if you want to set an exact time for playing games. Here is a list of some fun games to play at your fall harvest party.
Pumpkin Ring Toss
This is one of the most popular game played at a harvest party. If you happen to have some pumpkins that you didn’t cook down or make into jack o’lanterns yet, this game is a great way to put those pumpkins to use. To play this game, you stand far back and try to throw a ring around the stem of the pumpkin. You may want to mark a line on the ground so that people know how far to stand back. If younger children will be playing, you may want to have them stand closer to the pumpkin.
Pumpkin Treasure Hunt
It doesn’t get much more fun than a treasure hunt. It keeps kids on the move, and it is also a great way for kids to develop puzzle-solving skills. Unlike regular treasure hunts though, a pumpkin treasure hunt means you tape the clues onto pumpkins. You may want to place these clues on places such as straw bales, in the garden, or in a barn. At the end, the prize should have something to do with fall. It could be Halloween candy, pumpkin desserts, or a fall craft.
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Once again, this game as to do with pumpkins. Using ropes, create a large tic-tac-toe grid. You could also spray paint a tic-tac-toe grid if you wanted to. Choose different color pumpkins to separate the teams. Play the game just like you would play tic-tac-toe on a piece of paper.
Feed the Pumpkin
Create a large pumpkin on a poster board. Cut out the mouth and color the rest of the pumpkin orange. Prop the pumpkin poster board so that it stands at an angle in such a way that things can pass through the mouth. Next, give each player three ears of corn. Have them stand a few feet away from the pumpkin. Let each player take a turn trying to “feed” the pumpkin by throwing the ears of corn towards the mouth. Each time a player throws an ear of corn into the mouth, he or she gets a point. The player with the most points wins.
Pumpkin Broom Race
This is another fun game that is most commonly played by kids, but adults can play it too. Give each player a pumpkin and a broom. Have a start and finish line marked. To play, each player must roll his or her pumpkin by using the broom. No one can use their hands to get the pumpkin back on the course. The first player to reach the finish line wins.
Treasure in the Haystack
Don’t have enough room for a treasure hunt? Don’t worry, all you need is a wheelbarrow, some hay, and some prizes. Fill the wheelbarrow with hay (straw will work too), and hide some prizes inside. Give each child a bucket and let them try to find all the prizes. If a lot of kids will be playing, you may want to give each child their own wheelbarrow filled with hay.
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Tasty Foods to Serve
Next, you must consider what foods you will serve at your harvest party. Some people choose to serve small appetizers so that people can talk while they eat, although you could serve a large dinner. If you will be serving a large dinner where everyone sits down and eats, you will want to write that in the invitations. That way your guests will know not to have a large meal before the harvest party. But that decision is up to you. Here are some delicious foods to serve at your harvest party that will make your guest’s mouths water.
Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Pretzels
These stuffed pretzels are a great food to add to the menu. Not only are they very tasty, but they also contain healthy ingredients. They are quick to make, and will surely be appreciated by all your guests. Learn the recipes at Delish by clicking here.
Image Source: Delish
Apple Chips
These apple chips make the perfect fall snack for your harvest party. They look like potato chips, but they are made from apples instead. With the cinnamon, these apple chips may taste very similar to apple pie. The recipe only requires three ingredients. You can get the recipe here.
Image Source: Delish
French Dip Crescent Ring
This recipe is going to be loved by many. With the melted cheese and delicious French dip, this crescent ring will make a great small meal for your guests. Find the recipe by clicking here.
Image Source: Delish
Bacon Wrapped Pickles
Bacon and pickles may not seem like a good combination, but this new version of pigs in a blanket is tastier than you may think. Each pickle is stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and garlic. The pickle is then wrapped in bacon. These pickles are cooked for about 15 minutes so that the bacon becomes cooked and the cheese melts. You can find the full recipe at Delish.
Image Source: Delish
Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Mushrooms
Mixed with cream cheese, cheddar, and bacon, these jalapeño popper stuffed mushrooms have a little spiciness in each bite. The mushrooms and cheese help balance out the spiciness, while the bacon adds more flavor. Learn the recipe by clicking here.
Image Source: Delish
Helpful Ideas for Picking a Location
The location of your harvest party will have a lot to do with how your party turns out. If you have a large space, you’ll be able to play more activities and games that require a lot of room. If you have a barn, you can string some lights up and maybe even have a barn dance. It would be nice if you already live on a large homestead, but if you don’t you may need to choose a different location. Here are some tips for picking a location for your harvest party.
- Find a location with plenty of space. The more space there is, the more room you have to play games and invite more people.
- Choose a location that looks like autumn. Your harvest party will look extra nice if the location resembles fall. If possible, choose a location with a barn or by a tree with changing leaves.
- Choose a location with one or two big spaces. Try to choose a location with one or two big open spaces. That way, everybody is in sight and can talk to each other. If there are too many spaces hidden behind fences and buildings, guests may end up going somewhere you don’t want them to go. (For example: They may walk into the backyard.)
- If possible, choose a location that has a fire pit. The warmth of a fire pit may be exactly what your harvest party needs to take the chill out of the air. Your guests can have fun talking by the fire, telling stories, and maybe roasting some s’mores.
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Fun Ways to Decorate
Now it is time to take a look at some fun decorations to decorate with. There are so many ways to decorate for a harvest party. Straw bales, pumpkins, blankets, and fall flowers all make great ideas. Here are some harvest party decoration ideas for you to consider.
- Fall Flowers – Choose flowers that are orange, yellow, and red. These flowers make great centerpieces for tables. Need a vase? Cut off the top of a pumpkin, take out the flesh inside, and stick your flowers in there.
- Hay Bales – Use hay bales instead of chairs for seating your guests. Throw some blankets over the hay bales so that they are soft. If you don’t have hay bales, straw bales will work too.
- Basket Of Pumpkins – A basket of pumpkins has its own unique look that would look great as a table centerpiece or on the ground as you enter the harvest party. Choose different color pumpkins to add an even more unique look.
- Jack O’ Lanterns – With Halloween approaching, now is the perfect time to decorate your home with jack o’lanterns. They will look great at your harvest party.
- Candles – Candles have a festive look and offer a nice glow to any party. You can place candles on tables just the way they are, or if you want to get a little more creative you could cut a pumpkin and put the candle inside the pumpkin.
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Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it. A complete guide on how to successfully have a harvest party. In this article on harvest party ideas I gave a fun list of games to play, tasty foods to eat, tips for picking a location for your harvest party, and ideas for decorating. With fall being here and the crops being harvested, now is the perfect time to host a harvest party. If you don’t have enough space at your home to host a harvest party, consider having a harvest party at a different location such as a barn. No matter where the harvest party is held, this event will most likely be remembered by many for years to come. The most important part is to have fun.
