Fall Festival Party Ideas

Having a birthday party during the autumn season gives you the opportunity to use several seasonal decorations and themes for your child's party, instead of having the basic cake and ice cream birthday. My nephew turned 5 years old on October 6, and I wanted to share some party ideas with you that are inexpensive and take advantage of the season.

Idea #1: Buy several small pumpkins, in various shapes, and set them out with markers or paint, and allow each child to paint their own pumpkin to later take home. It's an inexpensive party favor, plus the children are able to be creative. This activity will likely take at least 15 minutes, which will give you an opportunity to plan for the cake cutting, serving food to the adults, etc. We've done this the past three years at his party, and the kids have loved it!

Idea #2: Face-painting. Have any friends that are creative? Set up a face-painting booth, with specific ideas of what is available. Make a poster for the kids to see and give them options of what they'd like to have done. Last year, many of the boys were pirates. This year, the theme was cowboys and cowgirls. Each child had their own cowboy hat, along with mustaches and beards for the boys! This allows each child to choose their character, and have fun being dressed up for the rest of the party.

Idea #3: Have caramel apples. Caramel and candy apples are a true fall staple as far as foods go, and are easier to make than you might think. While the kids are busy getting their faces painted or painting their pumpkins, you can melt caramel chips or squares in a heavy pan (you will need 1 bag of caramel bits/squares per 5 children), and set out small bowls of toppings such as chopped nuts, cookie crumbs, candy corn, and sprinkles. Each child can take their freshly dipped apple and add their own toppings, therefore creating another treat to take home from the party or eat then. It's fun for the adults, too!

Idea #4: If you live in a small town or in a county setting like my sister does, hayrides can make the party feel that much more like a fall festival! We've had hayrides the past few years at my nephew's parties, and they've always been a hit among both the kids and the adults! It only takes a few bales of hay in the back of someone's truck (if that's all you have), but the kids will love it just the same.

By adding some or all of these ideas into your party plans along with the cake and ice cream, your kids will likely have a memorable party that will also help make the most of the season.