Fall is simply one of our favorite seasons! Brightly colored leaves, the feel of cool, crisp air and an abundance of everything apple! One of our favorite traditions is going apple picking at our local orchard, so we decided to host an apple themed fall playdate honoring this fun tradition!
The Sweet Station:
Every playdate calls for some delicious sweets and we wanted to be sure our little guests had plenty to choose from! From pies, cookies, to fresh picked apples from our local orchard! The kids enjoyed the sweet station which was full of plenty of yummy apple-inspired sweets, treats and toys! 
Mini apple pies made with fresh fall apples are not only adorable, but the individually-sized treats were a huge hit! We created mini straw flags using Red Striped Paper Straws and Rectangular Chalkboard Stickers and placed them on top of each pie. The kids were happy to join in on the fun by writing "5 cents" using Crayola Colored Chalk. 
The kids especially loved the over-sized apple cookies which were displayed in Berry Baskets and laid on Red Gingham Luncheon Napkins. The Chalkboard Place Card Clips were a super cute and playful addition to each basket. 
We also served up some mini apple cookies in Pint Ball Mason Jars as a yummy and modest alternative to the larger cookies! We added Red Gingham Luncheon Napkins between the lid and the jar for a cute picnic look. 
We wanted to create a tasty but simple recipe for busy parents who want to host an apple-themed playdate. This Apple Cupcake Recipe is a winner with both kids and parents! They looked extra cute in tiny Red Chevron Pails too! 
What would an apple playdate be without freshly picked apples!? We displayed plenty of fresh apples in DIY Large Silver Tin Pails and in a DIY Apple Crate as well. Each was filled with fresh apples, Red Gingham Luncheon Napkins and labeled with more coordinating Chalkboard Place Card Clips and Wood Chalkboard Signs. 
We added some vintage charm to a Wire Paint Bottle Caddy by placing spare Clear Glass Milk Bottles in it and displayed it by our sweets station. 
The Table:
For this apple-inspired playdate we wanted to make sure the kids had plenty of apple related sweets, activities and decor! With lots of snacking, playing and crafting planned, we wanted to be sure we had a kid friendly table set up for the kids to enjoy every aspect of their playdate. We topped a Red Gingham Tablecloth Roll with a burlap runner to set the table just right. 
We loved creating apple-inspired plates by layering Classic Red Dessert Plates on top of Red Gingham Dinner Plates and added an Apple Shaped Sticky Note to each place setting. We placed a stem and leaf at the top of our plate to create the look of a real apple! 
Each place setting also had its own Clear Glass Milk Bottle with a Red Striped Paper Straws for the kids to fill with their favorite drink. We added a sweet little apple detail by adhering Apple Shaped Sticky Notes to the front. 
Each place setting had utensils and napkins but we offered up plenty of extras for additional snacks and messy fingers! Extras were displayed in an oh so adorable Red Gingham Tableware Caddy. 
Fun patterned Red Chevron Lanterns added a darling extra touch! The Decor: 
We wanted to create some unique and child-like decor pieces to both inspire creativity and to get the kids excited about apple season! We created this adorable apple-themed wreath using a White Foam Wreath form, red satin ribbons and a bit of felt.
We had a blast creating this DIY "Fresh Apples" Sign, which added a whimsical and kid friendly detail to the playdate! The Activities: 
The kids enjoyed a fun game of Bobbing for Apples. We filled a galvanized bucket with plenty of freshly picked apples and the kids had a blast trying to grab an apple! We created a sign for the game with DIY chalkboards. The game was displayed next to an oversized lantern that we transformed into a giant apple. 
The kids also enjoyed weaving using the Apple Weaving Craft Kits! These easy to do crafts were a great way to keep little hands busy after plenty of snacking!
The Favors: 
Nothing makes a fun gathering more memorable than bringing home fun favors to continue the excitement long after the playdate has come to an end! DIY Felt Tote Bags are a quick and easy project for parents and kids to work on together! These bags are a great way to tote home some apples or crafts! 
As an extra favor, kids enjoyed playing with Red Apple Containers that they could fill with extra sweets! With an abundance of games, crafts and delicious treats, this apple picking playdate was the perfect way to welcome fall! For more apple picking inspiration , be sure to check out our Apple Cupcake Recipe, DIY Felt Tote Bag Favor and our DIY Apple Sign! Cookies & Mini Pies: Katie's Creative Baking
