How to Host a Ladies Lunch at the Pumpkin Patch

There’s no better season in the Pacific Northwest than fall.  Everywhere you look you’ll find vibrant colors and beauty.  One of my favorite things to do in the fall is visit our local pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins for my front porch.

This year I invited my girlfriends for a ladies lunch at the pumpkin patch.  Typically we go with the kids so I thought it would be fun change and experience the pumpkin patch without children.  Does that make me a terrible mom?!

We had a blast so you should definitely grab your girlfriends and plan your own pumpkin patch outing sans children!

Take advantage of Minted’s digital invites when hosting.  They’re simple to create and free to use.  It saves me a lot of time and keeps guest management simple.  My friends can easily RSVP from their smartphones and find mapped directions right from the invitation.

Find a great local farm with pumpkins and seating.  We live near a plethora of cool pumpkin patches but we ended up at one of my favorites, Craven Farm.  They have a beautiful property filled with color.

Pack your picnic baskets, pull on your boots and head to the patch!  Have your girlfriends pitch in and bring something to share for lunch.  We had the most delicious sandwiches, fresh fruit, cranberry orzo salad and pumpkin dip with pie chips.

Once you arrive, find a shady spot for lunch.  We found a gorgeous spot under an apple tree and laid a flannel throw over the table as a festive fall tablecloth.

Consider the weather.  Fall is typically chilly in the PNW so for for drinks, I brought everyone a Stanley thermos filled with hot apple cider.  The thermos doubled as our “cups” and also made a fun take home favor.

My friend Heather made homemade Apple Spice Vodka to spike our cider.  It’s easy to make and dangerously good!

Apple Pie Vodka:
Fill large Mason jar with sliced apples, squeeze lemon juice on them.   Add two cinnamon sticks, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg. Pour vodka to the top and place in refrigerator for 24 hours before serving. Can be mixed with any sparkling water, cider or apple juice.  Great for Apple Cider Moscow Mules!

Hailey came with an Orzo Salad that was dressed up for fall.  She included pomegranates, cranberries and pine nuts.  Yum!

Cranberry Orzo Salad:

One package of orzo
1 cup pomagranite seeds
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
Parsley for garnish

Cranberry Vinaigrette:

1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 garlic clove, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Add a little extra fall detail by tying a wooden fork around individually packed salads with a strip of flannel!

The lunch show stopper was the Pie Chips and Pumpkin Dip.  So good and super easy to make.

Pie Chips:

Pie chips can be made from any homemade pie crust or store bought, baked for approximately 10mins (keep an eye not to brown) at 375 degrees. Melt butter and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. If you don’t want to use butter you can also sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar before baking.

Pumpkin Dip:

12 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
2 cups whipped topping

1. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in pumpkin and spices.
2. Carefully mix in whipped topping. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
3. Hollow out a fresh pumpkin and place a small container inside.  Fill container with pumpkin dip and sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Serve with pie chips

After lunch make your way to the patch.

Things to do at the Pumpkin Patch:

Pick out pumpkins for your front porch.  The Pumpkin Patch usually has corn stalks and hay for sale as well.

Take a wheelbarrow ride!

Grab small pumpkins, gourds and squash to use inside the home for table centerpieces, vignettes and display shelves.  I use mine through Thanksgiving! A cake plate or tray full of of pumpkins is a simple way to dress up a dining table, mantle or coffee table!

Take advantage of the scenery and snap a new social media profile photo!

Go through the Corn Maze.

Say hello to the farm animals.

Go on a hay ride!

Buy fresh kettle corn, apple cider and all the farm fresh goods for sale!

Get your boots dirty!

Take a group pic to remember all the fun you had.

What is your favorite thing to do at the pumpkin patch?

Photos by Kelly Clare Photography 

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