If you’re planning an event this fall, there are plenty of ways you can get inspiration from the season. Whether you’re planning a corporate party, a fundraiser or a convention, here are 30 fall event theme ideas to make the occasion memorable.
How to Host a Fall Event
Fall is a great season for hosting different kinds of events. Many people will be sad to see the summer end, so a fun fall event can be a great way to boost morale.
When planning your fall event, consider what your audience will enjoy. Are you planning a school fundraiser or community gathering? Go for a family-friendly theme like pumpkin carving or a movie night. For corporate parties or conferences, fall foliage-inspired decor and seasonal foods can make the event more engaging for guests. Fall is also the perfect season to encourage your business or organization to give back through fundraising events.
Consider one of these fun fall event ideas for your upcoming event.
30 Fall Event Themes
The right autumn themes make your parties memorable. Here are 30 fall-themed events to celebrate this season.
September Themes
These fabulous September party themes make back-to-school month a celebration.
1. Share the Harvest
Cultivate your theme around fall foods. You can decorate with cornucopias full of pumpkins, squashes and gourds. Serve season dishes and source the food from local foods to celebrate the harvest season.
2. Back to School
Tap into nostalgia with a back-to-school themed event. This one can also be a great opportunity for companies to give back to their communities. Here are some ways to pull it off:
- Have an Adopt-a-Classroom party, where the price of admission stocks a local classroom.
- Fill a backpack for children experiencing homelessness.
- Have a raffle where the proceeds go to a local school or children’s charity.
3. Cook Off
A cook off is another great way to indulge in seasonal foods. Invite your employees to bring their favorite fall dish in for a potluck, then have everyone vote for their favorite. The shared love of food is a great way to encourage team bonding.
"Fall is peak season for culinary creativity," shares Emily Chen, Head Chef at Harvest Moon Inn.
4. Celebrate Reading
September 8 is International Literacy Day, so celebrate the gift of reading. This theme is great for libraries or schools. You can host a used book sale to raise money and promote your organization.
5. Slumber Party
You don’t really need to have a sleepover to pull off a slumber party theme. If you’re planning an office party, you set up board games, serve pizza, and invite people to wear cozy clothes for some classic slumber party fun.
6. Backyard Cookout
Before the weather gets too cold, host an outdoor event with a backyard cookout vibe. Set up a canopy and picnic-style tables for an elevated backyard party theme. Grill up some food and set up lawn games for guests to enjoy.
7. Who Needs Alcohol to Party Day
Saturday, September 14 is National Sober Day. For corporate events, you can have a mocktail hour after work to be inclusive to anyone who doesn’t drink. Schools or youth organizations can use this day as an opportunity to teach children about drinking responsibly.
8. Fall Equinox
The autumn season officially begins on September 22. Create a fall equinox theme by decorating with autumnal colors – red, orange and yellow – and say farewell to summer.
9. Middle Earth Day
For fans of “Lord of the Rings,” this theme is perfect. September 22 is Hobbit Day, so throw a Middle-Earth-themed fall event. You can encourage attendees to come in costume and be ready to discuss their favorite film in the franchise.
10. Good Neighbor Day
Saturday, September 28 is Good Neighbor Day. Can you say annual neighborhood block party?
"Fall offers a vibrant palette of colors and a wealth of seasonal elements to inspire unique event themes," says Sarah Jones, CEO of Grand Celebrations.
October Themes
You don’t have to dig deep to find winning October themes for your fall events.
11. Oktoberfest
Who doesn’t love an Oktoberfest party? Serve some beer and soft pretzels and encourage guests to dress for the event.
12. Fall Foliage
The beauty of fall foliage can inspire your event in many ways. Here are some ideas:
- Take a trip to a local park for a simple outdoor meeting or picnic.
- Clean up trash while you enjoy the sights on a hiking trail.
- For a children’s event, do a fall foliage themed craft.
13. Pumpkin Carving
Pumpkin carving is a fun activity for all ages. You can plan your event as a contest or just a fun, family-friendly activity.
14. Pumpkin Patch
Taking trips to the pumpkin patch growing up is a fond memory for many people. You can recreate the vibe for a corporate event by decorating with hay bales, pumpkins and faux corn cobs. You can set up a bucket to bob for apples or bring animals in from a local petting zoo.
15. Baseball World Series
The World Series goes down in October, and baseball-inspired autumn themes are all the rage. Better yet, see if you can get people together for a watch party.
16. Costume Contest
Host a costume contest for some classic Halloween fun. You can do a catwalk to cheer on each contestant or do a 50-50 raffle. Contestants can put some money in the pot to enter the contest. The winner will take home half the winnings and donate the rest to a charity of their choice.
17. Classic Movies
You can never go wrong with a movie theme. Decorate with classic movie posters and serve popcorn for a party everyone can enjoy.
18. International Foods
United Nations Day is October 24. Celebrate with a potluck where everyone brings their favorite International Food. This event is perfect to learn about your coworkers’ heritage and share your cultures.
19. I Love Candy
Why not plan your whole event around sweets? Make goodie bags full of candy and take the opportunity to tell your employees how sweet it is to work with them.
20. Halloween
Halloween is the ultimate theme for October. Here are some unique ideas for your Halloween event:
- Have a trunk-or-treat where you pass out candy to local children in your office’s parking lot.
- Host a spooky happy hour with themed food and drinks.
- Show a scary (or spooky family-friendly) movie – great for schools, libraries or rec centers.
"Fall events present a strategic opportunity to engage audiences with immersive brand experiences," remarks Michael Lee, CMO of Spark Marketing.
November Themes
The right November party themes get the fun in motion well before Thanksgiving. Here are 10 fall-themed events to host this month.
21. Eco-Friendly
More and more people are interested in living eco-friendly lifestyles. Encourage this through an event that educates them on green living, and give out favors like reusable bags, bamboo toothbrushes and vegan snacks.
22. Winter Clothing Drive
As the temperatures start to drop, consider hosting a winter clothing drive. Invite employees or the local community to drop off coats, scarves and hats to donate to a shelter.
23. Chili Party
Chili is a classic cold-weather dish. Many people have their own personal recipes, so hosting a chili cook off can make for a fun and tasty event.
24. Movember
Movember is an annual movement where men grow out their facial hair to raise awareness for men’s health issues. You don’t need to grow a beard to participate though. You can host a fundraiser to support men’s health causes – and maybe even set up a photobooth with fake mustache props to have some fun with the theme.
25. Bonfire
Host a bonfire for some classic fall fun. Be sure to serve s'mores and hot chocolate for the perfect bonfire event.
26. Flannel Party
If you’re looking for a simple theme perfect for fall, go with flannel. All you need to do is decorate with flannel-patterned tablecloths or banners and invite guests to wear flannel. This print gives off fall vibes without a lot of effort.
27. Day of Giving
Giving back is a great way to boost morale before the holidays. Plan a volunteer day for your office or organize a charity drive to collect food or clothes.
28. Game of Thrones
Throw a party based on the wildly popular TV series, “Game of Thrones.” Many people know the quote, “Winter is coming,” so fall is the perfect season for this theme. Decorate with a medieval theme for some excitement.
29. Thanksgiving
For U.S. events, Thanksgiving is the perfect theme for November. You can serve the classic foods and organize gratitude-based activities, like writing notes to tell others how much you appreciate them.
30. Mental Health Day
Many people struggle with mental health as the weather gets colder, so hosting a mental health day is perfect this time of year. Hire a speaker to talk about the importance of taking care of your mental health and share helpful resources.
"Fall events provide a platform for storytelling and artistic expression," states Laura Davis, Founder of Autumn Arts Collective.
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