How to Host an Autumn Apple Party

In the fall when apples are plentiful, host an apple party--a perfect occasion to help kids get to know their new school friends, or a great idea for a neighborhood block party. Read on to learn how to host an autumn apple party.

Things You'll Need

• For invitations:
• One apple with its stem for each invitation
• Green construction paper
• String or yarn
• For entertainment:
• An apple for each guest
• A newspaper
• Strings for carrying apples
• For refreshments:
• Apple pies
• Vanilla ice cream
• Caramel topping
• Apple cider
• For favors:
• Mini jars of apple butter (for adults)
• Little bags of sour apple candies (for kids)

Instructions

1. Make the invitations. From green construction paper, cut a fat “worm” shape about 3 to 4 inches long. Make a face on one end of the worm, punch a hole in the other end. On the worm write “Apple Party” on one side; on the other write the time, date and place the party will be held. Tie the worm to the apple’s stem with a piece of yarn or string. Deliver in person.

2. Plan an icebreaker. As guests arrive give them copies of the following two apple brainteasers—minus the answers. As some guests figure out the answer, they can pass the brainteasers onto newcomers. Try brainteaser one: There are 20 people in an empty, square room. Each person has full sight of the entire room and everyone in it without turning his head or body, or moving in any way other than the eyes. Where can you place an apple so that all but one person can see it? Answer: On someone’s head! Or brainteaser two: Two fathers and two sons come upon a tree with three apples; the three apples are not cut, broken or shared and everyone gets to eat one apple. How can that be? Answer: One of the fathers is also a son of the other father. In other words, a grandfather comes upon the tree with his son and grandson.

3. Plan the entertainment. Try the apple eating race. Hang apples on strings from the top of a swing set or other structure. Contestants must eat their apple without using their hands. For the apple relay, give everyone an apple. Form two teams. First player runs to the goal and back carrying his apple. Second player takes apple from first runner and runs with it and her apple as well. Runners will be carrying an increasingly large number of apples. Any dropped apples mean that team must start the race over. End with the apple addition. Use the same teams and the same apples as in the previous relay. Spread out two sheets of newspaper, one for each team. Leader calls out an addition problem and each team must try to give the solution to the problem by placing the correct number of apples on the paper. Players must carry their own apples. For example, the leader calls out four plus three. The first team to get seven apples, no more or less on the paper wins. (If there are 10 kids on each side, it will take a little teamwork to figure out who will put their apples on the paper.

4. Plan the refreshments. Make or buy apple pies, either large pies or individual ones. Buy vanilla ice cream, caramel topping and apple cider. Keep pies warming in the oven until time to serve. Offer pie a la mode: hot apple pie with icy cold vanilla ice cream topped with caramel topping.

5. Prepare favors. Give each adult a small jar of apple butter; give each child a bag of sour apple flavored candies.