Fall Birthday Party Ideas

Bobbing for Apples

This classic game is simple and easy for all ages.

Bobbing How-To:
Keep plenty of apples on hand, as well as towels for drying off. Fill a wide tub with water, and place it on a low table. (Putting it on the ground will lead to wet knees.) Add apples, taking care not to overload the tub. To make the game easier for younger kids, include small apples for grabbing or leave the stems on the fruit. Let the bobbing begin.

Doughnuts on a String

Tie a doughnut on a string and you have a popular game that is appropriate for all ages of kids.

Doughnuts on a String How-To
Tie a length of rope between two trees. With kids standing under the rope, tie pieces of ribbon to the doughnuts (one per player) and then to the rope so the treats hang slightly above mouth level. Have players start on the count of three. Instruct each to eat an entire doughnut -- no hands allowed -- without letting it fall off the ribbon. The first to finish wins. There's no need for prizes; they've just been eaten.

Squash Bowling

To make this game friendly to kids of all ages, vary the distance of the grassy "lane" depending on each kid's pumpkin-hurling abilities.

Squash Bowling How-To
First, make the pins: Attach vinyl sticker numbers to 10 butternut squashes. With painters' tape, cover portions of each squash to create stripes. Fill in stripes using acrylic craft paint, and let dry. Carefully peel off stickers and tape. Designate a lane, and set up the pins, placing lower numbers in front and higher ones in back. Have each player stand about 15 feet away, grip a small pumpkin by the stem, and bowl. (Should the stem fall off after a few tries, players can grab onto the whole pumpkin.) Give everyone two turns, and award each player the number of points on the pins knocked down.

Pin the Face on the Pumpkin

This game provides entertainment for all at a fall celebration. Children as young as 2 or 3 can play it.

Pin the Face How-To
Any child who has played Pin the Tail on the Donkey will pick up this game quickly. Cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from black construction paper. Stick a reusable adhesive, such as Blu Tack, on the back of each cutout, and give a set of cutouts to each player. Place a large pumpkin on a low table or a bench. With blindfolded players starting four feet away (little kids may stand closer), instruct them to walk toward the pumpkin and create a jack-o'-lantern face (without peeking). After each turn, take a picture of the player with the finished pumpkin.

Related:
Halloween Crafts

For the Original publishing of this and more great crafts from Martha Stewart visit her website

Fall Crafts (Halloween)

Planning on having a Halloween party? Make your own favor bags and seasonal ornaments with the kids. For the tree, spray paint a branch black; wedge into a flower bucket filled with rocks. Cover with Spanish moss, and stretch craft-store cobwebs between the branches.

Ornament and Favor How-To's
1. For each ornament, trace template onto construction paper seven times.

2. Cut out. Stack pieces, and punch holes through both ends with a small hole punch; insert a black or orange paper fastener into each hole.

3. Bend stack into a C shape; fan out pieces to form a globe. Glue on paper features (for cat's ears, fold bottom under to make a tab). For favors, stamp mini paper bags with names. Using pinking shears, cut traced circles out of paper. Fill bags; fold over tops. Place a circle on each; punch a hole through all layers. Tie on yarn for hanging.