It’s autumn, the season of crisp weather and warm, comfort food. This is the perfect time to reunite with your neighborhood and kick-start a Mindful fall party.

Our country has been under a lot of strain recently. With the news of the U.S. government shutdowns and hundreds of thousands of people being sent home from their jobs, we could all benefit from some seasonal cheer. A community gathering may be just what people need to help relieve some of the mounting tension, but it may not be so easy. With everyone being so busy nowadays, fewer and fewer people are familiar with his or her neighbors. Fortunately, an autumn party is a great way to greet and learn more about your neighbors.

4 Fall Party Ideas

Listed below are some helpful tips for hosting a Mindful fall party for your neighbors.

1. Brainstorm. Before you start making plans for a neighborhood party, start brainstorming. Come up with a few ideas that would best fit your neighborhood. For instance, you’ll need lots of games if there are plenty of kids in your neighborhood. Or if your neighbors love a good competition, maybe a cook-off would be best. Poll the neighborhood to get input from your neighbors.
2. Make it a community effort. Get the word out about your fall party. Send out a note by email, tape it on mailboxes or tape it onto their front door. On your note put a date and time of an initial meeting at your home or community center. At this meeting, you can further discuss ideas and plans for a fall party. Don’t forget to put your email address or phone number on the note so your neighbors can get back to you.
3. Sign up. Encourage people to sign up for hosting activities so that everyone can help with the party. People can bring food, drinks, or set up booths for games and activities. For a Halloween party, consider hosting costume contests. You can also have pumpkin carving or painting stations. People can even make their own candy apples or s’mores. You’ll also need people to help with set-up, clean up, and chaperoning.
4. Bring the neighborhood together. Keep everyone up-to-date with the party planning information and consider adding icebreakers and “getting to know you” games to the festivities. This may just help the people in your neighborhood forge stronger bonds with each other, which is great for establishing a community and for reducing stress.