Add a new twist to harvest gatherings that bring people together in celebration.
Every year we celebrate the harvest by hosting an evening of homegrown food and games with our garden partners and friends. Fall is the perfect time for this activity, because there’s an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables begging to be picked, shared and eaten. Welcoming all ages to take part in this tradition is one of the season’s highlights for our family.
Whether you’ve grown an abundance of fresh food in raised garden beds or a small, in-ground herb garden, a harvest party allows you to celebrate your garden’s bounty while expressing gratitude with others. Here’s how to make it a memorable event.
Set the scene with harvest-themed decor.
Decorating with items from your garden is a great way to create a beautiful, natural atmosphere while embracing sustainability. Instead of buying store-bought decorations, use fresh or dried flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables from your garden to reduce waste and minimize your impact.
Harvesting items like pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers, or even leafy greens to use as centerpieces or accents brings a personal, homegrown touch to the décor. Plus, these elements can be composted after the event. Here are some other ideas to bring a harvest theme to your gathering:
- Use fairy lights, lanterns or candles to give the party a cozy evening glow.
- Add a few DIY touches like a chalkboard sign welcoming guests or plant markers that double as name cards at the dining table.
- Use burlap as table runners and earthy tones in your color scheme.
- Add some baskets filled with seasonal produce as part of your décor, or use them as prizes for games.
Serve fresh garden-to-table food.
Showcase your harvest by serving fresh dishes using vegetables, fruits and herbs from your garden. A buffet-style spread with salads, grilled vegetables and herb-infused beverages can be a hit. Incorporate preserves, pickles and jams you’ve made earlier in the season as an additional treat. Further ideas might include:
- Bruschetta station: Create a DIY garden-fresh bruschetta station where guests can top fresh bread with chopped tomatoes, basil and olive oil.
- Veggie kebabs: Serve grilled veggie kebabs using your seasonal crops, paired with homemade herb dips.
- Fresh salad greens: Toss together mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots with a homemade vinaigrette. Add edible flowers like nasturtiums for a colorful touch.
- Roasted root vegetables: Roast root vegetables like carrots, rutabagas, beets, sweet potatoes and parsnips to bring out their natural sweetness. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme.
- Compound butter: Serve warm, freshly baked bread infused with herbs from your garden, like rosemary or thyme. Pair it with herb-flavored butter for a delicious appetizer or side.
- Fruit galette: A rustic fruit galette is easier than pie but just as delicious. Use apples, pears, or stone fruits like peaches and plums. The freeform pastry makes it quick to assemble and bake.
- Pickles and preserves platter: Arrange jars of pickles, chutneys, and jams alongside assorted cheeses, cured meats, and bread. Offer a variety of spreads and toppings to mix and match.
- Stuffed harvest vegetables: Hollow out squash, bell peppers or tomatoes and stuff with herbed goat cheese or a quinoa and herb mixture.
- Apple cider or herb-infused lemonade: Simmer apple cider with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange slices for a warm drink or infuse lemonade with mint or rosemary.
Host a harvest-themed pot-luck.
If your garden isn’t large enough to feed a crowd, invite guests to bring dishes made from their own harvests or locally sourced produce. This not only reduces the pressure on the host but lets everyone contribute to the feast. The variety of flavors and recipes will make the meal even more exciting. Suggest that guests bring a dish featuring at least one homegrown or local ingredient.
Plan outdoor games and activities.
Keep the energy lively with some harvest-themed games. For a garden twist on traditional fun, consider the ideas below:
- Relay race: A “veggie relay race” where teams race to fill baskets with different crops. Add in some obstacles along the way for even more challenge.
- Zucchini cars: Race cars made from scavenged toy parts and those extra-large zucchinis that got away from you in the garden. No toy parts handy? Try lego or cardboard wheels with skewers for axles. Our neighbourhood association hosts one of these ever year and it’s always a highlight. Set up a simple ramp, line up the entries, and watch the cars fly!
- Food tasting contest: Keeping with the fruits of the season, organize a jam- or apple-tasting contest. Can guests identify the type of apple or their favorite?
- Family crafts: If kids are attending, set up a craft station where they can make seed bombs or newspaper grow-pots to take home. As an alternative, have them paint a terra cotta pot and plant a winter bulb.
Include a gratitude ritual or blessing.
Many cultures celebrate the harvest season by giving thanks for the abundance of food. Including a moment of gratitude before the meal can set the tone for your gathering. This can be a simple spoken word, a short poem, or even a group toast to the garden’s bounty. Before starting the feast, gather everyone together to share a moment of thanks. You could also invite someone to read a harvest poem or an excerpt from classic literature. The Poetry Foundation has a searchable collection of poems worthy of exploring for this and other events.
Make scarecrows.
Scarecrows have long been used to protect crops, and they’ve become a symbol of harvest season. A fun and engaging activity, scarecrow-making contest sees guests working in teams to create their own using old clothes, twine, straw, and other materials. Provide supplies like hay bales, old shirts, hats, and markers for decorating faces. Guests can vote on the most creative scarecrow, and the winning team could take home a basket of goodies shared from guests’ gardens. For inspiration, here are some resources:
- The Burlap Kitchen: DIY Scarecrow
- The Gardener’s Notebook: DIY Building a Scarecrow
Include a bonfire.
In many regions, a bonfire was lit to mark the end of the harvest season, symbolizing warmth and light as the days grew shorter. Hosting a party around a small bonfire can bring guests together to relax, share stories or roast tasty treats. If local regulations permit, set up a safe fire pit in a central location with chairs or logs arranged around it. Provide roasting sticks and whole apples or bannock to cook. Encourage guests to share their favorite harvest memories or gardening tips.
Time things for the harvest moon.
The full moon closest to the autumnal equinox is traditionally called the Harvest Moon. Many cultures celebrated under the light of the Harvest Moon, since it provided extra light for farmers to bring in their crops. If the timing is right, hosting your party on the night of a full moon can add an enchanting element. Plan an evening event with soft lighting, blankets for seating, and a fire pit for warmth. Tell autumn-themed stories or play relaxing music to set a festive tone.
If you’re hosting closer to the crescent moon and you live away from city lights, consider exploring those dark night skies using details from the weekly Sky and Telescope report. There’s always something new to discover.
Add an outdoor movie.
Cap off your garden harvest party with a cozy outdoor movie screening. Pick a film with a garden, nature, or harvest theme to match the mood of the event (such as The Secret Garden or The Fantastic Mr. Fox). Set up a projector and hang a white sheet as the screen. Provide blankets, cushions and snacks like roasted pumpkin seeds, popcorn, or apple slices for a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.
Send guests home with garden-themed favors.
Leave your guests with something to remember the day. Handmade or homegrown favors are a great way to share the bounty of your garden. Consider giving away small jars of preserves, seed packets, or mini herb plants. Better yet, collaborate with guests beforehand on a craft that families can take home with them when the evening is through. This might include a fall centerpiece made from flowers and branches contributed by all or a carved squash lantern that families make together as part of the evening.
Related: 12 Gift Ideas From Your Fall Harvest
These ideas can make your garden harvest party both entertaining and meaningful while celebrating the beauty and bounty of your garden. Whether you’re enjoying a meal, playing games, or relaxing with loved ones, these activities capture the essence of autumn’s beauty and abundance.
