With the first day of Fall right around the corner, I wanted to do a blog post on an easy Fall Happy Hour idea that is perfect for both adults and kids. This blog post is a little different than normal because I am outlining it similarly to the party plans I sell in my shop. This post will walk you step by step through organizing, planning, and pulling off this fun Fall activity.

This would be great as a first day of fall party, Halloween pre-game, or a weekly thing you do with neighbors, family, and friends. If I had a front porch, I would probably set this up every Friday night throughout October with an open invitation to next-door-neighbors or close friends. 

“Crafts and Crafts'“ (as I have named it) is for adults and kids. Adults taste Fall craft beers and kids do crafts. Clever right? I thought so.

First and foremost, you need craft beer. If you are only hosting this once, then pick out your top 3-5 Fall beers. I would suggest a couple that you know are good and a couple that you have not yet tried. That way you get the best of both worlds – reliability and spontaneity. If you are planning to do this shindig more than once, I would limit to 3 Fall beers, and choose ones you have not tried. Keep a six pack on hand of one beer you like in case none of the three work out.

Supplies Needed:

• 1 Table (I use 6ft folding tables)

• 6-8 chairs (buy a bundle to have for entertaining, or use chairs you already have in the house)

• 10 Paper Bags (or however many you need for # of guests coming, adults may want one too!)

• Assortment of Markers/Crayons

• Assorted Halloween Craft Supplies (stickers, stamps, stencils – nothing too complicated or messy)

• 3 buckets or  baskets for craft supplies

 Instructions:

A very informal activity; kids get a bag and decorate as they see fit. No need for glue, tape, scissors, etc. This activity is meant to be easy and safe.  Setup a table and chairs (or use an existing table as shown above) where you have enough space. I suggest it be close to the parents, so that they can watch. Put one bag at each seat. Split up the craft supplies into baskets and arrange down the middle of the table as a “centerpiece”.

Thrifty Tips:

Don’t have a folding table and/or extra chairs? Throw down some blankets on the lawn, put the craft supplies in baskets, and call it a day. 

Supplies Needed:

• 1 Tall Table as the bar

• 1 Festive Linen on the bar

• Beer Flight Kit or 16 Beer Flight Glasses (you can be real fancy and buy a couple of kits for an amazing presentation, or you can just use a bunch of juice glasses like shown above)

• Beverage Labels or a flight tasting sheet 

• 4 packs of BEER! (this is on you – go to a large Beer/Wine distributor and pick out some interesting seasonal brews)

• 1 beverage tub (to keep the beers cold)

Instructions:

Parents each get their own flight of beer, meaning 4 glasses (or however many corresponding beers) per parent. Line the glasses up into rows and place corresponding beer bottle with each corresponding row. You should also label each row with the corresponding beer. Wait until guests arrive and kids are settled doing crafts before pouring the beers. This is just a sample, so fill each glass about 1/4 full, you should only need 1 six pack of each beer. After the beers are poured, let guests go at it! You can be informal and let guests drink as they please or ask guests to try the same beers at the same time and talk about them. If there is still beer leftover, let parents take one of their favorites home!

Check this out for inspiration. I typically like to serve 4 beer options, but you can do more or less.

Thrifty Tips:

Don’t feel like spending money on beer flight or juice glasses? Just round up as many small glasses as you can. The mis-matched glasses will work for this party. Line the glasses in trays or just lay in groups on the table.

If you don’t have a flare for writing out labels, it’s just as easy to type a beer list on the computer, add some Halloween imagery, print them out and hand them to guests.

For this shindig, you will create a “grab and go” chili station with sweet Cincinnati chili and a variety of fixings. Your chili will cook in a crockpot all day and your fixings will be pre-set in bowls, waiting for you in the fridge. The goal is that once you are home from work, all you need to do is pop the food out.

Ingredients:

Cincinnati Chili by Stephanie White

• 5-6 lbs of ground beef

• 1 white onion (diced into small pieces, save ¼ for fixings)

• 1 16 oz can of tomato sauce

• 1 12oz can of tomato paste

• 3 TBSP apple cider vinegar

• 1 TSP salt and pepper

• 3 cloves of fresh garlic

Fixings 

• Shredded cheddar cheese

• Favorite hot sauce 

• Hot peppers

• Diced white onion (from above)

• Sour Cream

• ½ box of Linguine or Macaroni noodles

• 1 bag of Fritos

Instructions:

Chili: Add all chili ingredients to your crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Stir and break up meat occasionally if able. Once ready to serve, break up the meat until it reaches a chili consistency. Serve directly from the crockpot.

Fixings: Put shredded cheddar cheese, hot peppers, diced white onion, and sour cream into bowls (or cauldrons) and store in the fridge overnight. Cook the linguine and store in a bowl overnight (no need to reheat – the chili warms it up). Put Frito’s in a bowl when ready to serve.  

Buffet Supplies:

• Disposable Bowls

• Disposable Spoons

• Crockpot for Chili

• Ladle 

• Small Halloween Plates for Buffet Utensils

• Mini Cauldrons or bowls for fixings 

• 1 Food Riser and/or old books for displays

• Festive Napkins

Witch’s Brew Bar by Stephanie White

Warm apple cider (with bourbon on the side) is all you really need for this shindig. You can also have bottles of water available as an easy alternative with spooky labels to really step it up a notch. You will supply to-go cups for your guests to take apple cider home with them. This station will coincide with the beer flight activity and use the same table for setup. 

Ingredients:

• 8 apples peeled and quartered

• 1 orange quartered 

• 1 cup of sugar

• 1 ½ tablespoons of Cinnamon

• ½ tablespoon Allspice

• 4 Cinnamon Sticks

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in the crock pot and fill entire pot with water. Cook of high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours, stirring occasionally. Once complete, strain the crockpot liquid into heat proof pitcher and discard the remnants. 

Beverage Supplies: 

• Airpot or Pitcher that can withstand heat

• Disposable To-Go Coffee Cups (for warm apple cider)

• Halloween Decanter for Bourbon (or putting out the bottle of Bourbon is acceptable too)

• Halloween Water Bottle Labels

• Also see notes on Beer Flight activity 

The only thing to really keep in mind is that you should generally be under cover somehow, so that you can setup the day before and not worry about weather, but its not mandatory, just keep it in mind. Use existing front porch or patio furniture for the adults and build the rest of the layout around that furniture. Place the kid’s activities close to the adult seating so that they can keep an eye on them. Put the beverages and buffet in any empty corner.

Lighting

The main light will be natural outdoor light, which makes this shindig easy. Beyond that, you will light the party space with 5-6 Jack-O-Lanterns, spread on the porch, steps, tables and anywhere that you see fit.

Instructions:

If carving pumpkins isn’t already on your October to-do list, add it for this shindig. Go to a local market and pickup at least 5 pumpkins. Then get one of these pumpkin carving kits to make the ultimate Jack-O-Lanterns. Place a big Jack-O-Lantern on the buffet as a centerpiece. Light the pumpkins before guests arrive. Viola – instant ambiance!

Music

Background music is always a plus. Setup a portable speaker (or if you want to get fancy, a Halloween Bluetooth Speaker), and play some fun Halloween background music during the shindig. If you don’t have a Halloween Playlist, here are some ideas for what you can play for free…

o   Pandora “Spooky Symphonies” (my personal favorite)

o   Pandora “Family Halloween”

o   YouTube “Halloween Party Music”

o   YouTube “Halloween Stomp and More” (for more interactive music)

Week of Checklist

• Gather all supplies

• Move any necessary tables to event spot ahead of time (buffet, beverage, craft)

• Carve pumpkins 2-3 days beforehand and leave outside to prevent mold

• Go grocery and beer shopping 2 days beforehand

• Make apple cider 2 days beforehand

 Night Before Checklist

• Prep chili recipe in crockpot and pop into the fridge

• Prep fixings into bowls, cover with saran wrap and pop into the fridge

• Cook linguine, put into bowl, cover with saran wrap and pop into the fridge

• Put beers into a beverage tub and then into the fridge to chill overnight 

• Setup buffet and beverage table with all necessary equipment beyond food (tables, linen, bowls, napkins, utensils, cups, beer flight equipment, décor)

• Gather craft supplies in a box or bag for quick setup

Day of Timeline

8am – put chili in the crockpot before heading to work and cook 8-10 hours 

5pm – arrive home from work (presumably)

5:30pm – Setup craft table

Take fixings out of fridge and place on the buffet 

                  Transfer crockpot outside (chili will stay warm in crockpot without power at this point)

                  Pour cider into dispenser or pitcher

5:45pm- Put tub of beer on table

                  Pour ice over top of the beer

6pm -      Guests begin to arrive 

                  Orient guests on food, beverage, activities

                  Show kids craft table

6:20ish- Pour beer flight samples for adults

                  Enjoy the party!