Pumpkin Party

Pumpkin Party

Tis the Season to eat, drink, and think pumpkin. Since pumpkin is the official food of fall, make it the theme for a party. Have a pumpkin carving, painting, and decorating party with friends and family. Set out paints and markers for the kids, or help them create an animal using paints and cardstock or construction paper and glue. Tell each guest to bring a pumpkin to carve or decorate and set out a table full of pumpkin delights. Here are a few tips on how to create and have a Pumpkin Party.

Pumpkin Ginger Ice Cream Bites

Party Decorations

• Small and medium pumpkins, real or fake, on top of colored chargers (available for 2/$3 at Micheal's), with or without a fall colored pillar candle beside or in the middle of the gourds.
• Hollow out a large pumpkin and place it in the center of the dining table. Place mums in a pot inside, or fill it with lots of candy.
• Use pumpkin shaped candle holders as table decorations.
• String autumn leaf garland around the table and other areas of the house, all fall garland is on sale at craft stores, up to 70% at some, making many less than $3.50 and a great time to buy it. Plus, these can stay up ill Thanksgiving.
• Grab a fall colored Table cloth or a fall tablecloth for the table.
• Use disposable autumn colored plates, napkins, and plastic silverware (Party stores usually have these items at a good price).

Party Food

• Make or buy some pumpkin coffee or tea and have pumpkin bread, muffins, or cake along with sliced fruits with pumpkin dip (mix 1/2 cup pumpkin pie filling, 1-2 tablespoon sugar, and 12 oz. whipped cream cheese together, keep refrigerated until ready to serve).
• Have guests bring a fall favorite finger food for the gathering. Let each guest know how many people are expected and to please bring 1 finger food or dessert item, fall themed, for the party. The variety will be outstanding!
• Fall Pies. This is pie season galore. Either make 1 or 2 pecan, pumpkin, sweet potato, and apple pie, or have each guest bring one of the four choices, homemade or store bought. Have some ice cream on hand to go with it, or whipped cream.

This type of party is meant to be low stress, fun, and unique. It is a chance to get together inside or outside and just enjoy foods and the fun of autumn. If desired, here are some game ideas:

• Tell folks to bring footballs, Frisbees, baseballs and mits and take time to play some games.
• Play Fall trivia or Halloween trivia, have candy bags as a price for the winner of the kids and adults, or play as teams.
• Set up used, empty, cans and have kids throw bean bags at them or roll a ball to hit them (like bowling), offer silly fall prices for winners.
• Paint a large board, cut out some holes, and use it as a bean bag toss.
• Have face painting and tattoos-keep the face painting simple, use small stencils available at craft stores.
• Have a pumpkin painting and Carving contest. Offer a pie or $5 gift certificate for a pumpkin latte as a price.

To end the evening, have some hot cider and sit down with the kids or as a group of adults to watch a Halloween movie or just good old Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. Happy Fall Ya'll!!!