Holiday picnic parties are a tradition beloved by many people around the world, and are often held in place of standard indoor parties for companies, organizations, families and groups of neighbors. They’re a great alternative to indoor parties for many reasons – they offer an exciting, unexpected twist and a chance to broaden your typical holiday party games and entertainment.
First, figure out your budget and decide upon a guest list based on how much money you want to spend. You may want to invite your child’s class, your book club or friends from work. You could organize a block party, or invite family over in lieu of the usual holiday dinner. If you’re planning to do a ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchange, make sure you have guests RSVP.
Ramp up your guests’ appetites with some fun outdoor games before the big meal. Provided it isn’t storming outside, fun outdoor activities are a great way to spend the day even in the chilly November weather. Toss a football around, or play a round of croquet. Dart boards, horse shoes, bocce, Frisbees, and miniature golf sets will keep everyone entertained.
Create opportunities for new traditions to come to life. Thanksgiving is about more than just food, or pilgrims and Indians – it’s about your gratitude for the wonderful people in your life, building memories, and creating traditions that will be lovingly repeated again and again. There are tons of fun fall activities for kids that they can enjoy right in your backyard, or you can challenge them to be more creative – provide them with materials to stuff a scarecrow, or put on a Thanksgiving play.
You could even create a spectacular edible centrepiece such as a mini Christmas tree made from a Styrofoam base, toothpicks and sugary green and red gum drops. Have a beverage table set up in a central location with hot cocoa, cider, and other warm drinks. If you like, you could lay out a buffet of small finger foods or platters of delicious comfort food such as sliced ham, dinner rolls, mixed veggies, and glazed sweet potato slices.
Don’t forget about the decorations – this is the surest way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. You can do this inexpensively with some twinkling lights, red bows and poinsettia plants. If you want to go all out, holiday yard decorations are bigger and cooler than ever this year – check out places like Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart and other large discount chain stores for the best selection.
Gather ’round the fire with a hot beverage for some good conversation with friends and family. Your Thanksgiving party certainly doesn’t have to be spent in front of the television. After dinner, once you’ve stuffed yourselves to the max, a hot mug of coffee or cider will be a beautiful thing as you look at the smiling faces around you and enjoy the company.
For those who celebrate Christmas, a living nativity scene can be a really fun way to get kids involved – all you’d really need is colored fabric (for their clothing), some hay, a baby doll and perhaps some neighbourhood pets to stand in for the barn animals. Spread some holiday cheer by taking a walk down nearby streets singing carols, or have a responsible adult with a pickup truck haul some seated and supervised youngsters around as they sing.
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