Fall Birthday Themes
A fall birthday is versatile. The weather is not too hot or cold, and people are likely to be home from their summer vacations. People celebrate a number of holidays and special occasions, from the first day of school, to Halloween, and Thanksgiving. These make ideal starting points for birthday party themes.
Back to School
This theme may be ideal for the child whose birthday falls on the Labor Day Weekend, the last day of vacation before school starts again. Kids who are starting kindergarten will love this theme, especially if you invite their friends who are also starting school. Set up little desks and chairs for the kids to sit on. Serve candied apples as a treat, or let the kids dip apple slices into their choice of chocolate, caramel, or maple dipping sauce. To avoid choking , young children should have their apples sliced by an adult. At the end of the party, hand the kids loot bags full of fun stuff for school, such as funny erasers, cool pencils, and colorful shoe laces. Older kids might appreciate small gift cards for iTunes or their favorite restaurant. A little candy goes down well with kids of all ages.
Fall Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of fall objects and sights nearby, and see who can find the most. Give each player or team a digital camera so they don't need to disturb living things in their hunt for objects. The photos are proof of their finds. Make this a good all-ages activity for the family by including some things that are easy to find, and some harder. For example, a child might be able to find a maple leaf but not beaver tracks. Teams can earn bonus points with a correctly identified audio or video recording of an animal call or behavior.
Leave a Memory
Have a trivia contest about trees and their leaves. Give a prize to the child who correctly identifies the most different tree leaves and bark from pictures or real life. A yard full of leaves just waiting to be raked spells a ton of fun for kids. Divide a large group of kids into teams and have a competition to see who can rake the most leaves the fastest. One team could wear orange hats, and the other black or yellow. Let the kids bag the leaves and then weigh them to determine the winner. Then, stuff old clothes and create team mascots with balloon heads. These mascots make ideal decorations for Halloween.
Halloween
Celebrate a birthday on or close to Halloween with a costume party. For young or sensitive children, a no-scary-costume rule might be a good idea. Five year old probably don't need the super scary music, or the Freddy Krueger props. On the other hand, an older child or adult might have great fun planning the spookiest, creepiest party possible, complete with movies such as Nightmare on Elm Street. Enjoy Halloween candy, licorice spiders, and blood punch while carving pumpkins. After, clean and roast the seeds in the oven for a healthy snack.
Thanksgiving
Go around the room and tell the birthday person why, how, and how much they are appreciated. This is especially touching for people who don't ask for much, but like to know they are making a difference. Parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, and volunteers will be moved by a fitting tribute, making it the perfect gift for those folks who seem to have everything.
Autumn is a gorgeous and fun time of year. Honor the birthday person with a special party incorporating special holidays, events, and natural beauty. It's a great way to celebrate the changing seasons of his or her life.
