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Fall is definitely in the air!  Cozy sweaters, brisk bonfire nights, pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween stores popping up on every corner . . . yep, it’s definitely fall.  If you’re looking for a relaxed and fun way to celebrate fall, have some good, old-fashioned little kid fun and be in the great outdoors, you need to throw a Picnic in the Park party.  Read on for some tips and tricks on how to throw a perfectly laidback shindig in the park.

Location

Go early and save a spot at your local park, preferably in a spot with picnic tables and a gazebo.  Not close to any parks?  Your backyard will work too!

Decor

We all know that every party is only as good as its decor and you want to let your guests know that this party is all about relaxed fun and celebrating the simple things of the season.

via girlinspired.com

1. DIY Vintage Material Pennant Get thrifty and crafty and make your own fabric pennant using old sheets, blankets and scarves you picked up at your local thrift store.  Not feeling super crafty?  Grab a reusable chalkboard pennant and some chalk markers linked below or at your local craft store and let your inner child artist free 🙂

Via intimateweddings

2. Ribbon Garland I’ve had a gigantic bag of vintage lace I’ve been dying to repurpose and this was the perfect project for it!  If you have fabric scraps, leftover lace or an embarrassingly large ribbon drawer (It’s ok, we understand!), cut a bunch into semi-even strips and knot away.  (Use baker’s twine or hemp cord to hold your ribbon knots.)  If you’re not quite ready to part with your ribbon collection, this ribbon garland on Amazon would work perfectly too!

via athomeinlove.com

3. Tin cans and Mason jars repurposed: In the weeks before the party, start saving your tin cans and Mason jars (you know how we love our Mason jars around here).  When the day of the party arrives, tie some ribbons and lace around them, or decoupage some punch out paper circles onto them, and you have containers to hold utensils and fall flower arrangements.

via southernladymagazine.com

4. Grab some old blankets and quilts or pick up a couple of these yummy-warm blankets and use them as practical, and festive, tablecloths.  Roll a couple extra ones and place them in a basket in case your guests get chilly.
5. Finish off your décor with mismatched thrift plates, coffee mugs and utensils and set some berry baskets like these from Amazon on the picnic table.  Fill the baskets with smooth rocks you’ve collected, or bought, and paint pens.  These will be used for some picnic-y fun later on.

Food

Who doesn’t love some delicious, picnic-inspired food?  You might already be totally committed to some of your childhood favorites (marshmallow fluff sandwiches and mom’s potato salad, anyone?) but here are a few ideas if you want to try some fall updates on old favorites.

1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich bar Borrow an idea from the little ones and give it a grown up twist!  Here are a few ideas for your peanut and butter and jelly bar but it’s really about what you love: a few different breads like sourdough or cinnamon raisin; peanut butter, almond butter and cashew butter; biscoff cookie spread and marshmallow fluff; different jams and preserves; honey; granola, raisins, chocolate chips and banana slices.  Keep the leftovers and make your office jealous with your daily, delicious revisions on the office pbj.

Via marthastewart.com

2. Homemade sweet potato chips While bagged potato chips would work just fine, who wouldn’t want to bite into a deliciously seasoned baked sweet potato chip?  This recipe is quick and easy and only has four ingredients.

via vogue.com

3. Soup in a jar This soup is decadently rich and fragrant but still only has 7 ingredients.  Roasting these fall vegetables before putting them in the soup brings out their yumminess and makes the flavor scream “I belong at a fall picnic!”  Make the soup at home, put individual servings into small, lidded Mason jars and this soup is perfectly-picnic-ready.
4. Dessert bar with a picnic twist: What could be easier, or more nostalgic, than stacking a variety of snack cakes and donuts onto a vintage cake stand?  They are portable and no-mess . . . and your friends will thank you for the trip down memory lane.

via theyummylife.com

5. Crockpot pumpkin spice lattes Trust us when we say these will be the hit of the party!  This is everything fall poured into a coffee mug and it gives another famous PSL some serious competition.  Another great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it if any of your friends have allergies.  Oh yeah, and you make it in a crock pot.  Do we need to say anything else?  Make this at home, while you are making the soup, and bring it to the picnic in an insulated drink dispenser.  Or pour individual servings into cute little thermos’ and they can double as party favors.

Party Fun

A  party is only as fun as the games you play and a picnic party is no different.  Amp up your party’s fun factor with some of these outdoor, park-inspired activities:

1. Rock painting: Let everyone at your party have a chance to be creative and celebrate the beautiful outdoors with a rock painting contest.  Have your guests grab a rock and some paint pens from the table and make fall-inspired rock art.  The winner gets the title until next year.
2. Park relays: You’re at a park . . . be inspired by the park to create some crazy, fun relays to get people laughing.  Monkey bar races, who can swing the highest, who can climb up the slide backwards the fastest?  Yes please!
3. Photo booth op: You already have the great outdoors as a natural background.  Throw down a few cozy blankets, a mini chalkboard and some chalk markers and you have a quick and easy way to get some great photos.
4. Tug of War: Don’t forget to end your party with a classic tug of war contest.  You just can’t not have one!

Are you ready to celebrate fall like we are?  Let us know how you plan to celebrate in the comments below.