With the crisp weather and beautiful foliage arriving in waves, there’s few better ways to take advantage of the season than a fall apple picking party. Whether as a fundraiser or simply a fun change of pace from the typical way to celebrate the season, your guests will love the opportunity to leave stocked with ripe, crisp apples. Here are a few tips to make your party a sweet sensation!

Choose your setting and check local orchards
Many local apple orchards have space that can be rented for events and special occasions, making them the perfect setting for a picking party. Call around to get good local rates and to make sure that the apples will be in season on the day of your event. You can locate an orchard near you by checking out pickyourown.org.

If you opt to have the party at home, that’s OK too: You can invite your friends and family for an hour or two to a local orchard, then head back to your house for a backyard barbecue and drinks.

Apple picking bring families and friends together!

Decorate with rustic charm
Picking parties don’t need to be lavish – in fact, rustic or barnyard touches work well with the theme! Set out bushels of hay and blankets for guests to sit on, decorate with dried leaves and pumpkins and store your food and refreshments in picnic baskets. Including signage and customized banners can also help your event feel more special. Be sure to provide sturdy canvas or burlap sacks for guests to take their apples home.

Apple picking tips
When your guests are out doing the actual picking, be sure to give them the following tips:

• Apples on the outer branches tend to be the ripest.
• Look for apples that are firm, unbruised and lacking spots of discoloration.
• Lifting and twisting apples makes it easier to separate them from the stem.
• Limit shaking the entire trees or branches too vigorously, lest you find out what happened to Isaac Newton!
• Be careful of bees and other stinging insects around the base of trees with an accumulation of overripe apples.

Some orchards even have dwarf trees where the fruit only grows about three feet off the ground. These can be perfect for young kids looking to pick an apple or two for themselves.

Delicious snacks
Snacks that integrate the sweet taste of apple is crucial for your party. Better Homes and Gardens has a variety of options you can easily prepare, including Apple Pie Pops, Pork Sandwich with Tarragon-Apple Slaw and – of course – Mulled Apple Cider (both virgin and spiked). Want something even easier and  delicious? Bring along peanut butter, caramel or chocolate sauce or cheddar spread, cut the apples you just picked into bite-sized slices, and have a no-heat dipping bar!

Party activities
The main event is fun, but it likely won’t last the entire length of the party. Consider these other delightful fall pastimes:

• Make candied or caramel dipped apples.
• Have apple sack races.
• Have a pumpkin or apple rolling contest, where each player must use a stick to roll their apple or pumpkin to the finish line.
• Play apple tic-tac-toe.
• Hang donuts on a string and have your guest try and eat them without using their hands.

Send your guests home with recipes
Doing a little advanced research and printing out a few of your favorite apple-related recipes is a great way to send your guests home with something useful – and a perfect opportunity to make your party more memorable.

If you need custom signage for your apple party, or any other of your event needs, trust Sign Art Etc.