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Are you planning a fall event for women’s ministry? Start with this fall fest! Your women will love it and want to do it again next year! We even give the craft instructions and a devotion!
We all love to attend great fall events. The harvest themes, pumpkin everything, the changing seasons –– it just lends itself to a fun time to celebrate! Wouldn’t you love to have the notes to host a fun fall party for the women in your small church?
Keep reading for an entire Fall Fest Party plan! After just a little bit of gathering supplies and inviting your friends, you and your team will only have to set up, show up, and have a whole lot of fun!
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Fall Fest Party Plan
Read the overview, then follow the planner for invitations, set up, schedule, craft, devotion, and tips & how-tos. This party will leave your women wanting to do it again next year!
Party Overview
This is a 2-hour event packed with fun and fellowship for the women in your church and their guests. At this party, you will see your women gather their friends to take selfies at the photo booth area, make pumpkin decorations for their homes, and enjoy games that bring fun and laughter. Tasty snacks and devotion to their souls will round out the evening.
Your Plan
- Choose your date and time.
- Spread the word about your party. Create a buzz and get everyone excited.
- Find decorations for the welcome area, hospitality, etc.
- Design the photo area in a sketch, then acquire the needed decorations and props.
- Purchase craft supplies and print instructions. (We have the craft and instructions listed below.)
- Plan out your food and tables for snacks & refreshments … Even though people are bringing snacks, be sure to have drinks available. Warm apple cider is a good option. Offer gluten-free and low-sugar options for those with dietary needs. (Plain popcorn fits the bill, and so do fresh fruit & veggies.)
- Organize your set-up plan.
- Enjoy your Women’s Fall Fest Party.
How To Set Up For Your Fall Fest
Create different areas for your party. Make sure to have a setup team to help you get everything ready!
As you think about decorations, brainstorm ideas with your friend or your team. Ask people if you can borrow some of their fall decor pieces for the evening. Consider using natural elements like pumpkins, gourds, potted mums, and even hay bales. Make a pennant sign for the wall. Balloons and streamers are always an option. Know who your setup crew is. Most of all, have fun with it!
Set Up These 5 Stations For The Women’s Fall Fest
1. Welcome Area & Check-In Table
This is where your greeter will be stationed. Have name tags available for everyone. Decorate this area –– it sets the stage for your party.
2. Photo Backdrop Area
Gather fall decorations, pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, baskets, wood crates, and other items from friends. Set up a specific area for people to take photos and selfies. Make sure to include a sign that is either free-standing or that can be held. List the party name and the year.
Professional-style photo backdrops are available for under $25: Fall-Themed Photo Backdrop
3. Crafty Corner
This is where your guests will make a small craft to take home. Have one table for all the materials and other tables for people to work at (depending on your expected number of guests).
It’s a good idea to cover your craft tables with disposable tablecloths. It makes for easy cleanup and adds to the festive atmosphere!
*There is a craft sample picture & instructions included further down in this article.
4. Hospitality Area & Refreshment Tables
Go crazy with your fall colors and decor. Find someone in your group that just delights in making tablescapes and decorating with a theme. They will be blessed to help and you will be blessed to have them!
You can find matching tableware, napkins, and tablecloths at your local discount store or party store, or you can order them here:
- Plates & Napkins Set
- Disposable Tablecloths
- Plasticware/Plates & Napkins Set
- Solid Color Tablecloths
5. Set Up The Fellowship, Gathering, & Game Area
This will be dependent on the size of your room and your setup. Set up tables & chairs, or it would be fine to just have chairs in a circle for your guests.
Schedule For The Party
This party runs from 6-8 pm.
5:45-6:00 pm: Check-In
Smile and welcome everyone who attends. Set the check-in table with a greeter and someone to give out name tags.
Here are a couple of different ideas for fall-themed self-stick name labels: Wood Name Tags or Fall Shapes Name Tags
5:45-6:30 pm: Crafty Corner
Have your crafty corner set up and ready to go right from the start.
*Instructions should be printed. Put them in clear acrylic frames on the tables for reference. An “instructor” should be in the crafty corner to oversee and answer any questions.
Ladies can work at their own pace and then move to the fellowship tables or take an opportunity to take photos by the backdrop as they wait for everyone else to finish their craft.
Fill in the information in the box below to get the full devotion and craft instructions!
6:30-6:35 pm: Welcome, Instructions, & Opening Prayer
Take this time to welcome everyone and let them know how happy you are that they came. If you have new visitors, be sure to point out where the restrooms are located. Keep instructions to a minimum –– less than 5 things to remember.
6:35-7:25 pm: Group Games
We give three options for group games. Plan for all three. Depending on the size of your group, you may not complete them all but plan for them just in case.
1. Fall Bingo Mash-Up Game
Use the game #5 idea from the 10 Must-Have Women’s Ministry Mixers For Small Churches article on our website. Make sure to insert all fall-themed items into the squares!
Of course, you know your location and your women, so you can determine the types of items that would be appropriate for your guests. But here are just a few suggestions:
- Been on a hayride
- Bobbed for apples
- Grown pumpkins from seed
- Can make a mean apple pie
- Drank a pumpkin-flavored drink today
- Loves whipped cream on pumpkin pie
- Traveled to New England in the fall
- Made a scarecrow
- Owns a fall-themed sweater
- Decorated with corn stalks
- Walked through a corn maze
- Entered something in a county fair
- Driven through the Blue Ridge Mtns. in the fall
2. Old Fashioned Apple Peeling Game
Ask for volunteers to play this game (3-4 people). Ask for people who enjoy making apple pies!!
Place chairs up in the front of the room.
Give each contestant a large apple (the same size is important).
Each one needs a paring knife. (Purchase new ones from a discount store so everyone has the same kind of knife.)
When the leader says “Go,” contestants use their knives to peel the apple. The goal is to see who can make the longest continuous peel.
Have a small fall-themed prize for the winner!
3. Paper Plate Drawing Game
Follow the instructions from game #16, which comes from our favorite icebreaker games article located here: Your Favorite Icebreaker Games For Small Churches
*To make this game fit in with your fall theme, have participants draw a fall scene. Try drawing a front door with an autumn wreath on it, a large pumpkin to the side of the door, and some corn stalks on the other side.
Don’t forget to take pictures of all the beautiful ‘artwork’ to post on your social media page!!
7:25-7:50 pm: Refreshments, Snacks, & Fellowship At Tables
7:50-8:00 pm: Devotional
Ask one of your ladies to prepare one, or fill out the form below to get a fall printable devotion!
8:00 pm: Wrap Up
Thank everyone for coming, ask for quick answers to, “What was your favorite part of this party?” Make a party favor announcement, then close in prayer.
Fall Fest Party Favors
Have one of your volunteers stand at the door with a basket of party favors. Pass them out to each woman as she leaves.
Suggestions for fall-themed party favors:
- Cute Pumpkin Keychain & Bags
- Make a fall party mix (popcorn, Bugles, pretzels, candy corn, fall M&M’s & caramel corn with nuts). Put the mix in Decorated Fall Treat Bags.
It’s Time To Party!
Now, you have all the ingredients and instructions you need to put on your own incredible Fall Fest Party for the women in your small church!! So grab some friends to pray with you and help you put this all together, and most of all, have fun with it. Use this event to deepen those relationships with your women and see what God will do!
We hope that you will take pictures and let us know in our Facebook community, Creative Solutions for Small Churches, how everything went and if this article was helpful.
Planning is always more enjoyable with a friend or a team. Meet them for coffee or at the church to look over this party idea and see how easy it will be! For this Fall Fest Party, we give everything you need to get started.
Fall Devotional: Seasons Of Our Faith
Read Psalm 1:1-3a NLT
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they (We, who follow the Lord) delight in the law (in His Word, His thoughts) of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They (We) are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in its season.
Words in parenthesis are from the author of this post, given for emphasis.
Tonight we are celebrating the changing of the seasons! We are blessed that our Lord cares so much for us that He brings this variety into our life by showing us different seasons in nature. In the same way, He leads us through different ‘seasons’ in our spiritual life as well.
This passage draws a wonderful picture of us. A picture that as we trust in God and follow Him, we can grow and be like those trees along the riverbank, bearing fruit in its season.
Fill in the information in the box below to get the full devotion and craft instructions!
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