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Oktoberfest is an annual German festival that occurs between the last week of September and the first week of October. It’s probably safe to assume that many of us weren’t traveling to Germany for the festival pre-pandemic, and travel is currently much more restrictive compared to last Fall. In this post, I’ve reimagined Oktoberfest for a small group gathering closer to home.
Food + Drink
A p p e t i z e r s » vegetable dip (served in a pumpkin for bonus points!); roasted cayenne-honey pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin bowl; beer cheese and pretzels or chips (easily served in a crock pot)
M a i n D i s h » baked mac and cheese; grilled bratwurst with sauerkraut and spicy, whole grain mustard
S w e e t s » apple cider donuts and caramel apples from the orchard; fall-colored Hershey’s kisses
B e v e r a g e s » apple cider (non-alcoholic or spiked, also from the orchard); growler of pumpkin beer from a local brewery
Decor
Oktoberfest and Thanksgiving are the two best occasions to practice your DIY skills and create a pumpkin succulent centerpiece.
You know I’m a fan of using fresh and dried seasonal bouquets to decorate for any occasion. Arranging the flowers to suit your space is half the fun, but the farmer’s market always has plenty of beautiful bouquets to grab and go. Bonus points for using unconventional vases like repurposed vials!
Use Canva to create custom “It’s Fall, y’all!” or “Oktoberfest 2020” designs that can be easily printed and framed or downloaded and used as Facebook event backgrounds. Go ahead and download this one I created for free!
Don’t forget the most important decor of all—your outfit! This “Thankful” tee from Alley and Rae is sure to get lots of wear throughout the Fall.
Photo: Alley and Rae
Add a finishing touch to any room with a warm, cinnamon-scented candle, which can be found at any maker’s market from September through November. I visited the annual Craftery market in the Philly suburb of Furlong this weekend, and there were candles for sale everywhere!
Fun + Games
Pumpkin painting is a fun Fall activity if you have the space and supplies. Driving to your local orchard to pick a pumpkin and grab a gallon of apple cider and donuts is the perfect way to spend the morning of the party.
For a less involved option, turn on your favorite Halloween movies. Don’t forget every millennial’s favorite movie if your party happens to fall on October 3. A coincidence like that would be so fetch. 😉
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What Fall recipe, activity, or piece of decor will make it into your Oktoberfest? Share your ideas in the comments!