How To Throw The Best Harvest Party This Fall

The leaves are falling, and the air is turning crisp – time for a pool party? Maybe not a swimming party, but pool owners can still use the surrounding space for a year-round poolside escape. Here are some great ideas and projects to consider for your autumnal poolside gathering:

• Fall foods. Halloween is almost near, which means apples, pumpkins, nutmeg and cinnamon. Try this simple recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds: scoop out the pumpkin pulp and wash the seeds in a colander until no strands of pumpkin flesh remain. Spread them out on a cookie sheet and coat them with plenty of olive oil, salt and a little sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. They’ll be a tasty, crunchy snack as your guests linger by the pool.

• Fall games. Bobbing for apples is a classic fall game; fill a wide bucket with water and float a dozen apples in it. The winner is the person who can get an apple out of the bucket without using his or her hands. You can also hang strings from the lower branches of a nearby tree or overhang. Tie donuts to the ends of the string and have guests try to finish their donut first without using their hands.

• Fall crafts. Start simple: give everyone an unwrapped crayon or two, a piece of thin paper, and instructions to go find the prettiest leaf they can. Once the leaves are found, have guests do a leaf rubbing. Cut them out, and then hang them up as additional decorations for the rest of the party. More advanced crafters can attempt to make a leaf wreath by using the leaf stems attached one to the next.

• Keep everybody warm. Use an outdoor fireplace to give guests a place to gather and enjoy the crisp air without getting too chilly. You can also provide an array of festive blankets for people to wrap themselves in and set the mood. Encourage people to wear jackets, and use your invitations to let them know that the bulk of the party will take place outside. As a bonus, throw a few whole cinnamon sticks into the fire for a delicious, spicy aroma. Also, invite your guests to roast marshmallows for a sweet, sticky treat.

Enjoy your pool, even when it’s too cool to swim! For more ideas, be sure to check out our Pinterest boards.