10 Ideas for Fall Gatherings

Carrie Lowrance Crosswalk Contributor
Published Aug 30, 2024

As the weather is cooling down and fall is approaching, we will do more socializing now that we are back from vacations, the kids are back in school, and life is returning to its normal pace. Once again, it will be time for cozy fall food, football games, and starry nights. It’s also time to think about having fall parties. Fall is my favorite time of year because there are so many fun things to do.

Now that life has returned to its familiar pace, this is the time to think about getting together with family and friends.

Here are some creative ideas to make your next party a hit:

1. Fall Decorating

It’s always fun to decorate our homes for fall, so why not make it a party? Invite your friends over to help you decorate the inside and outside of your house and then serve a light meal or have a potluck and have everyone bring something to share. If possible, the group you invite could rotate weekends and help everyone else decorate their houses too.

You can split your friends into two groups, one helps decorate the inside and the others help decorate the outside. If you have friends who love landscaping, they will love making your home and yard look the best it can be. It's mum and pumpkin season, after all!

2. Apple or Pumpkin Party

Apples are always a fall favorite, and there is so much you can do for an apple party. The kids can bob for apples, make caramel apples, make apple paintings, and snack on cinnamon sugar apple chips. Everyone can bring an apple dessert. You can have friends over and make homemade apple pie, dumplings, fritters, applesauce, cider donuts, etc. Buy a bunch of different apples and have an apple tasting and drink apple cider.

Pumpkins are also a favorite this time of year. There are all kinds of foods you can make that are pumpkin-themed. You could invite friends over for pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin chili, or a creamy pumpkin soup. There are all kinds of desserts you can make, like cupcakes, pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin roll, or even pumpkin dessert enchiladas.

There are all kinds of activities you can do with pumpkins too. You and your friends can try making a pumpkin roll together, you can paint pumpkins for your porch, craft a pumpkin centerpiece, or make a painting of a pumpkin to hang on the wall. Kids can play with fall-colored playdough or slime, draw with markers on a pumpkin, or even have an adult paint pumpkins on their face, or fingerpaint with fall colors.

If you're itching to get everyone outside the house, visit your local apple orchard or pumpkin patch for some festive fun!

3. Chili Cookoff

Gather your friends and have them over for a chili cookoff. Depending on how many people you have, you could have a contest and give prizes for best mild, most spicy, hottest, best vegetarian, etc. If you don’t have many people coming over, you could serve the chili in different ways. For example, over spaghetti, plain, or with toppings like cheese, jalapenos, and sour cream. Don’t forget the tortilla chips, croutons, and cornbread.

Once you’re done eating, it's time to watch some football!

4. Hayride Fun

If you have an extensive property like a farm and a tractor with a wagon you can attach to it, why not have friends over for a hayride? Take them on a drive around your property and then bring everyone back for a cookout or have light snacks. Then have everyone make their own scarecrow to take home and put in their yard or they could decorate pumpkins to put on their porch.

This time of year, everyone is looking for a fun way to stay outdoors until winter keeps everyone inside. Make the most of these beautiful crisp nights.

5. Dessert Night

Have friends over for a dessert party. Either make several desserts like a pie, cookies, and a cake/cheesecake or have friends bring their favorite desserts with recipes to share. You could also pick several different desserts for you and your friends to bake together.

6. Fall Potluck

Invite the girls over for a fall potluck of cozy food and warm desserts. Have them wear their sweats or pajamas and then settle in to watch a movie afterward. You could have a theme for your potluck like fall casseroles, fall soups, or fall chicken dishes. The same goes for dessert. You can have categories like warm, cozy desserts (like apple cobbler), creamy, cool desserts (like pumpkin pudding trifle), or chewy desserts (like Snickerdoodle cookies or pumpkin whoopie pies).

7. Cozy Soup Get Together

Invite friends over for a soup party. Have each person bring their favorite soup and two to three containers. This way, everyone can eat and take some home for lunch the next day. You could even spread different soups with your friends. For example, Stacy brings a creamy soup, Liz brings a broth-based soup, and Kelly brings her favorite chili. There are so many delicious soups to make during the fall, like a chicken tortilla, potsticker soup, stuffed pepper soup, and creamy chicken and rice. Don’t forget to buy some crackers or bakery bread to go with this delicious meal.

8. Craft Day

Have everyone over for a craft party. Pick out some fun fall crafts to make with your friends like fall colored jewelry, a fall centerpiece, or a fall craft that you can hang up and display like a wreath. If you’re not super crafty but a friend is, ask for their expertise in choosing a project and teaching everyone how to do it, like knitting or crocheting. Other options for this kind of party are scrapbooking or making a book on Shutterfly. Serve light refreshments as you have fun and learn something new together.

9. Coffee Bar

Have your friends over for a fun coffee bar that features the season favorites like homemade pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, and pumpkin pie coffee. Have everyone bring their favorite dessert to share with these yummy drinks. Who knows? You might find a way to out-do your local coffee shop's fall specials!

10. Fall Movies or Football Games

Invite friends over for a fall-themed movie party. Have everyone bring their favorite fall movie or come up with a list ahead of time and check if you can stream any of them. We are big Hallmark fans in our house, and some of our favorite fall movies are Falling for Vermont, Sweet Autumn, October Kiss, and Autumn in the Vineyard.

Do you and your pals love sports? Have a party to watch the game. Have your friends wear their team attire, and if their kids have toy pom-poms, borrow those to cheer your team on. Or, if you were a cheerleader in high school and still have those pom-poms, dig them out and have some fun. Decorate your house with opposing team decorations to make it more festive. Meanwhile, grab some cornhole boards for extra outdoor competition.

You could serve a light dinner like subs, chips, and beverages or simply serve a fall-themed trail mix, a few dips with chips, a fall-flavored dessert, and beverages. If you’re having a sports party, serve wings, dip, beverages, and a football-shaped cake or cupcakes decorated like footballs or whatever sport you are watching.

Fall is the perfect time to get together with friends. The weather is crisp, the air a perfect temperature, and everyone is excited about a new season. Tie in all kinds of activities, cozy foods, and delicious fall desserts and you are bound to have a great time.