With her ivory fisherman sweater, galvanized bucket of fall branches, and signature chili simmering over the campfire, it’s easy to assume Debbie Harpe is a lifelong New Englander, not a Southern California native. After a fateful anniversary trip to the East Coast, Debbie, her husband, Dave, and their three kids eventually relocated to rural New Hampshire, where she now runs a lifestyle blog and online store, Wonderful Life Farm. “It’s glorious here in the fall, with millions of leaves all turning at once,” says Debbie.
That includes the foliage on the couple’s own wooded acreage, where they frequently entertain. “Autumn entertaining really speaks to my heart,” she says.
In addition to a menu of fall recipes, including cider, cornbread, and chili, the harvest party includes a plethora of fall activities, such as bobbing for apples, bowling with butternut squash, and eating donuts off a string, which gets hilariously competitive with the adults.
“It’s a convivial time of year, sandwiched between the carefree days of summer and the hibernation of winter. People are eager to gather.”
See below for easy ideas to host your own fall harvest party—recipes and games included!
Decorate With Fall Foliage
Debbie forages in her own backyard for loads of colorful maple and oak leaves to use on the table and buffet. For areas like a buffet or bar, a grouping of colorful branches simply placed in a galvanized bucket is all the decoration needed.
RELATED: The Best Fall Decorating Ideas to Turn Your Home Into a Seasonal Escape
Create a Cozy Setting
With the bar at one end and the firepit at the other, guests have no shortage of ways to get cozy and get a drink quickly! Draped over the dining chairs, wool blankets —each scored for less than $20—are tokens from antiquing excursions. “I love rambling down the back roads of New England, searching the shops for treasures,” says Debbie. As the sun goes down the flicker from candlelight and string lights plus the fragrance of woodsmoke add to the ambience.
Set the Table with Antique Flatware
Debbie uses vintage Bakelite flatware, in fall hues of course, at each place setting. Green enamelware camp mugs add additional color to the table and make for a more casual soup “bowl.”
Greet Them With a Seasonal Drink
In the fall, when apple cider is in abundance, Debbie loves to use it to make cocktails for adult party goers (skip the vodka and kids can partake, too!). Flavored with ginger and lemon zest this Cider Mule makes for easy sipping all night long.
Get the recipe for Cider Mule.
RELATED: 35+ Fall Cocktails to Toast the Best Season of the Year
Set Out Pre-Dinner Snacks
Pretzels, nut, and chips will keep party goes from getting peckish while they play games and wait for dinner. On one end of the buffet, an apple basket set on its side serves up a load of freshly popped popcorn. A metal scoop and printed gingham paper bags allow guests to help themselves to scoopfuls.
Bring on the Apples
Everyone loves a party game and the classic bobbing for apples is a hit with kids and adults alike. In addition to bobbing for apples, pint-size party guests (including Corinna, Debbie’s granddaughter) can have a go at coating them in caramel.
RELATED: How to Make the Best Caramel Apples
Provide Fun Games For the Kids
Put that seasonal produce to good use off the table with additional party games. Wooden embroidery hoops or rings and tall-stemmed pumpkins combine for a nostalgic ring toss game, while butternut squashes numbered and set up in a triangle make for fun yard bowling.
RELATED: DIY Outdoor Games That Both Kids and Adults Will Enjoy
Serve Up Seasonal Mainstays
What says fall more than a chili and cornbread? Even better, both can be made ahead of time to make sure you are free to enjoy the party yourself. Pair the warm chili with a colorful salad full of the season’s best ingredients like apples and squash.
RELATED: Dozens More Fall Dinner Party Menu Ideas to Delight All Your Guests
Offer a Hearty Mug of Chili
A grab-and-go mug of two-beef chili will satisfy guests craving while continuing to allow them to mingle. Provide a buffet of help yourself toppings for extra party flourish.
Get the recipe for Two-Beef Chili.
RELATED: More hearty chili recipes that incorporate everything from pumpkin to bourbon.
Make Sure Everyone Gets Their Greens
When abundance of fall fruits and vegetable like kale, apples, delicata squash, and pomegranate seeds get tossed with rich a creamy goat cheese and tangy apple cider vinaigrette everyone will be coming back for seconds.
Get the recipe for Fall Greens Salad with Pickled Pomegranate Seeds.
Pair With a Savory Side
Everyone loves cornbread (especially when you get to dip it in chili) and when it’s filled and topped with Cheddar cheese it’s guaranteed to be even more of a crowd pleaser.
Get the recipe for Cheddar Cornbread.
Don’t Forget Cookies!
Dipped in chocolate and pecans, acorn-shaped shortbread cookies will delight both children and adults. Plus, they double as fittingly seasonal party favors!
Get the recipe for Pecan Acorn Cookies.
