how to host a fall harvest party

Hosting a Fun Fall Harvest Party

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It’s fall ya’ll! Farmers are busy harvesting their fall crops and it’s a perfect time to host a fall harvest party.

Thanksgiving tends to get all the credit but it’s a busy weekend! Trying to go to all the family Thanksgivings and Friendsgivings can become overwhelming instead of fun.

Instead, have your loved ones over earlier for a fun fall harvest party filled with food, fun decor, and games!

Warm and comforting, here are some fall crops to keep an eye out for to include in the fall harvest party:

  • apples
  • pumpkins and other squash
  • beets
  • turnips
  • zucchini
  • eggplant
  • corn
  • celery
  • cranberries
  • grapes
  • pears
  • pomegranates
  • sweet potatoes
  • broccoli
  • brussels sprouts
  • cauliflower
  • Swiss chard
  • dates
  • pecans
  • chestnuts
  • walnuts

Here you will find all the cozy fall recipes to include at your party, plus fall harvest party decorations and games!

Let’s get started.

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full disclosure for further information.*

Fall Harvest Party Drinks

Fresh Apple Cider

If you can manage it, I highly recommend getting an apple press for fresh apple cider. Apple cider just screams fall and is perfect for a fall harvest party.

I went to an apple cider pressing party when I was a kid and I still have great memories of it. The crisp fall air filled with the scent of apple cinnamon was a highlight. Of course, it’s fun to watch the machines work, too!

You will need to get a fruit crusher and a press.

Make sure to chop up the apples after washing them if you do decide to go the apple cider way.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a great guide on how to make apple cider at home.

Fall Harvest Juices

Not everyone wants to drink hot drinks in the fall (me!) A fun option for the fall harvest party is to juice your fresh produce. You can create juice blends or serve them individually pressed.

Some great fall juice ideas are made with:

  • apple
  • pear
  • cranberry
  • grape
  • pomegranate
  • beet
  • celery

Alcoholic Beverages

Hard cider is a popular drink choice this time of year. While you won’t be brewing up a batch of hard cider with your apples you picked this morning, you can serve these ready-made drinks and no one will think anything of it.

If you don’t want to buy premade drinks but would rather whip up your own fall harvest party inspired cocktails, here are some great ones to try!

When we think of margaritas, we tend to think of hot summer days. However, Dinners Done Quick has a delicious spiced pear margarita your party guests will love.

spiced pear margarita
Image via Dinners Done Quick

For the bourbon fans, this fall bourbon cocktail by Aleka’s Get-Together features pumpkin puree, brown sugar simple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice.

fall bourbon cocktail
Image via Aleka’s Get-Together

This festive Moscow Mule by The Virtual Caterer features fun fall flavors like cinnamon, pumpkin spice seasoning, fresh rosemary, and cranberry.

fall Moscow mule
Image via The Virtual Caterer

What’s more fall than pumpkin pie? Life’s Ambrosia has a delicious pumpkin pie martini complete with a graham cracker rim.

pumpkin pie martini
Image via Life’s Ambrosia

Sangria is the perfect party drink. The Salty Marshmallow has a delicious fall inspired sangria with chai and freshly harvested apples and pears.

fall sangria for a fall harvest party
Image via The Salty Marshmallow

I love an espresso martini and Chenée Today has an espresso martini with pumpkin spice syrup, soo good!

pumpkin spice espresso
Image via Chenée Today

Combine Good Flavors has a simple yet impressive fall twist on the Old Fashioned which makes for an easy party cocktail.

maple old fashioned for a fall harvest party drink
Image via Combine Good Flavors

Cooking with Curls has a fun and easy autumn cocktail featuring prosecco, apple cider, and cognac you’ll love.

sparkling cocktail for a fall harvest party
Image via Cooking with Curls

This fall apple pie à la mode cocktail by xoxoBella feels like a real treat with all the delicious flavors of apple pie.

apple pie a la mode cocktail
Image via xoxoBella

A classic gin and tonic gets a fall makeover with this spiced gin and tonic by The Jam Jar.

fall gin and tonic
Image via The Jam Jar

How to Make Homemade Canned Pumpkin Puree

Many fall recipes online use premade pumpkin puree. This is great for convenience for sure. But, since this is a fall harvest party, you may want to use your own pumpkins!

At Oh The Things We’ll Make, you can find any easy to follow tutorial for making your own version of canned pumpkin.

You’ll be able to harvest your pumpkins and turn them into something that is easily transferrable to many fall pumpkin recipes.

Harvest Party Main Dishes

The Littlest Crumb has a pizza loaded with fall harvest crops that will delight your party guests in appearance and taste.

pear and walnut fall harvest party pizza
Image via The Littlest Crumb

This cranberry chicken by Cinnamon and Sage Co smells divine cooking in the kitchen with fresh rosemary and tart cranberries.

cranberry chicken recipe
Image via Cinnamon and Sage Co

A sweet and spicy fall entree for your fall harvest party are these cranberry serrano glazed meatballs by Cooking With Wine Blog.

cranberry glazed meatballs
Image via Cooking With Wine Blog

This fall harvest salad by The Virtual Caterer is not only beautiful but delicious with toasted pecans, in-season grapes, and a maple vinaigrette.

fall harvest salad for a fall harvest party appetizer
Image via The Virtual Caterer

Topped with golden beets, this beet and leek pizza by Strength and Sunshine is a fun way to eat your root veggies.

beet pizza
Image via Strength and Sunshine

Enchiladas are already warm and comforting but when you add the fall flavor of butternut squash like My Pure Plants’ does in their butternut squash enchiladas, you have a winning harvest party dish.

butternut squash enchiladas
Image via My Pure Plants

Chili just screams fall and this fall chili by Maple Vine Kitchen is loaded with fall harvest crops.

fall harvest party chili recipe
Image via Maple Vine Kitchen

Taking advantage of brussels sprouts season, this sweet and sour salmon with brussels sprouts by Champagne Tastes is a wonderful addition to a fall harvest party.

sweet and sour salmon for the fall
Image via Champagne Tastes

Filled with Italian sausage and butternut squash, this fall soup by Get Inspired Everyday is the perfect fall soup for the party.

fall butternut squash soup
Image via Get Inspired Everyday

Cranberry sauce goes so well with turkey and On My Kid’s Plate has a slow cooker turkey breast with cranberry sauce recipe your party guests will love smelling and eating!

turkey breast with cranberry sauce
Image via On My Kid’s Plate

Fall Harvest Party Side Dishes & Appetizers

Fans of scalloped potatoes will have to try this scalloped turnips recipe from Like Hot Keto. It’s covered in Gruyere and parmesan cheese and has warm fall flavors like thyme and nutmeg.

scalloped turnips
Image via Like Hot Keto

Roasted brussels sprouts are always my go to and Simple and Fraiche has a delicious roasted maple bacon brussels sprouts dish that is perfect for a fall harvest party.

fall roasted brussels sprouts
Image via Simple and Fraiche

Party guests will love this cozy fall harvest casserole by Haute and Healthy Living featuring butternut squash, apple, cranberry, and a maple cinnamon glaze.

fall harvest party casserole
Image via Haute and Healthy Living

A delicious way to eat your freshly harvest Swiss chard is to make this sauteed Swiss chard recipe with bacon and thyme by Masala Herb.

swiss chard recipe for a fall harvest party appetizer
Image via Masala Herb

What is more comforting than stuffing? Chew Out Loud has a delicious apple, cranberry, and sausage stuffing your guests will love.

apple stuffing for a fall harvest party
Image via Chew Out Loud

This dish by 100 Days of Real Food and Pinch of Yum combines both squash and corn for the perfect roasted corn and quinoa stuffed squash recipe.

roasted corn stuffed squash
Image via 100 Days of Real Food and Pinch of Yum

A lovely crockpot dish, these herbed sweet potatoes with bacon by The Happier Homemaker makes serving food at the harvest party super easy.

sweet potato casserole
Image via The Happier Homemaker

Not only is this fall harvest salad by I Heart Eating a beautiful party dish, it features all the fall flavors you love: apples, pecans, brussels sprouts, cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and maple syrup.

fall harvest salad for a fall harvest party
Image via I Heart Eating

Pomegranates tend to shine in the winter season but they start their harvest in the fall. Joyful Balance has a cozy pomegranate wild rice salad perfect for a fall harvest party.

pomegranate wild rice salad
Image via Joyful Balance

Tossed with toasted maple pecans, this kabocha squash recipe by The Heirloom Pantry will be a favorite among your harvest party guests.

maple roasted kabocha squash recipe for a fall harvest party
Image via The Heirloom Pantry

One of my favorite fall recipes is a cozy pumpkin macaroni and cheese. Recipes From a Pantry has an instant pot version of my favorite, making it easy to prepare for party day.

pumpkin mac and cheese
Image via Recipes From a Pantry

Pomegranates in a salad is one of my favorite toppings so this beetroot salad with pomegranate by Love Incredible Recipes is right up my alley and perfect for a fall harvest party.

pomegranate beetroot salad for a fall harvest party
Image via Love Incredible Recipes

Crostini is perfect for a party and The Healthful Ideas has an amazingly good butternut squash crostini with a fig glaze your guests will absolutely love.

butternut squash crostini for a fall harvest party
Image via The Healthful Ideas

Risotto can be difficult to pull off at a party, yet Budget Delicious has an easy instant pot pumpkin risotto that uses fresh or frozen pumpkin, perfect for your freshly harvested pumpkins!

pumpkin risotto
Image via Budget Delicious

A warm and comforting side dish, this butternut squash and sweet potato casserole by Seasons In The Kitchen is a must-have for your fall harvest party.

butternut squash and sweet potato casserole
Image via Seasons In The Kitchen

Made with freshly harvested pumpkins, this pumpkin soup by Simply Delicious Food is made in the instant pot for a quick fall harvest party soup.

pumpkin soup
Image via Simply Delicious Food

Cranberry sauce just screams fall and Tessie’s Table has an easy slow cooker cranberry sauce that you can use either freshly harvested or frozen cranberries.

slow cooker cranberry sauce homemade for a fall harvest party
Image via Tessie’s Table

It’s the best time of year to make creamed corn and The Benson Street has a cozy slow cooker creamed corn with bacon recipe you’ll love.

slow cooker creamed corn
Image via The Benson Street

In The Kitch has a savory pumpkin galette full of warm flavors – pumpkin, fresh thyme, goat cheese, and shallots.

fall pumpkin galette
Image via In The Kitch

This pumpkin rice by Piping Pot Curry is the coziest rice dish with fresh pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

pumpkin rice for a fall harvest party side dish
Image via Piping Pot Curry

I love a good salad, even into the cooler months. This sweet potato and beetroot salad by Through the Fibro Fog is topped with pumpkin seeds for extra fall-ness.

roasted beetroot salad
Image via Through The Fibro Fog

You will love all the fall flavors in this crostini by Chew Out Loud. It features pumpkin puree, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, toasted pecans, and maple syrup.

fall crostini for a fall harvest party appetizer
Image via Chew Out Loud

Fall Harvest Party Desserts

For the coffee lovers, this mocha walnut bundt cake by Full Kitchen Recipes is the perfect cozy fall cake for your harvest party dessert.

mocha walnut bundt cake
Image via Full Kitchen Recipes

If you want your whole house to smell absolutely amazing, make sure to bake these pumpkin cinnamon rolls topped with pecans by The Cookin’ Chicks.

pumpkin cinnamon rolls
Image via The Cookin’ Chicks

Making these pumpkin spiced glaze donuts by Emily Leary at A Mummy Too will leave you will happy party guests.

pumpkin spice glazed donuts
Image via Emily Leary at A Mummy Too

Topped with brown butter frosting, these pumpkin cupcakes by Our Home Made Easy are a fun harvest party treat to serve your guests.

brown butter pumpkin cupcakes
Image via Our Home Made Easy

Live to Sweet has an amazing pecan pie cream puff filled with bourbon vanilla whipped cream, absolutely perfect for the party.

pecan pie cream puffs
Image via Live to Sweet

With fresh apples and apple cider, this apple cider coffee cake by Home Cooking Collective is sooo good you won’t have any leftovers after the party!

apple cider coffee cake
Image via Home Cooking Collective

These pumpkin cheesecake cookies by Organically Addison are melt-in-your-mouth good, filled with warm spices and pumpkin.

pumpkin cheesecake cookies
Image via Organically Addison

You can’t go wrong with cheesecake and The Savory Cipolla has a recipe for these cute mini pumpkin cheesecakes with a buttery graham cracker crust.

mini pumpkin cheesecakes
Image via The Savory Cipolla

Fall Harvest Party Games

Party games are a fun way to entertain your guests while the food is cooking. It’s also a great way to break the ice for guests that may only know you and not each other.

Here are some fun fall harvest party games to get your creativity flowing!

Fall Harvest Party Decorations

An easy and effective way to decorate for a fall harvest party is simply to place freshly picked fall crops throughout the party room.

You can then tie in fall colored tablecloths, linens, and banners. So easy!

Here are some bestselling fall harvest party decor pieces to get you inspired.

Save the Guide for Hosting a Fun Fall Harvest Party

If you are planning a harvest party this fall, make sure to pin one of these images to your party board on Pinterest. Alternately, use any of the social sharing buttons at the top of the post to share to your favorite site.

fall harvest party games food and decor

fall harvest party recipes

fall harvest party cocktails

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