Fall invites us to slow down and savor some of life’s little sweet moments, whether it’s crunching leaves under our boots or warming up with a steaming chai latte. It’s also the season of cozy gatherings, and with help from local businesses in and around Indianapolis, you can bring even more comfort and charm to your autumn celebrations. Read on to find inspiration for your next fall party that feels personal and full of the season’s magic!
Apple-Themed Tasting Party Night
Nothing says fall quite like crisp apples, so why not plan a whole night around them? Have each of your friends bring something apple-inspired to share, like spiced cider, an apple strudel, or savory bites like brie-and-apple crostinis. Set up a caramel apple bar with all the fixings (like chocolate chips, sprinkles, crushed nuts, and M&M’s) for a sticky treat. End the night on a playful note by hosting a blind taste test of different apple varieties — Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji, and more — to see which one wins your group’s vote. You can even pick your apples locally before your party at Beasley’s Orchard in Danville, during their U-Pick season through October. With more than 20 apple varieties available, you’ll have no trouble filling a half-peck, peck, or even a half-bushel bag.
Cozy Board Game Night
Unplug for an evening of nostalgia with a cozy board game night. Pile blankets and pillows around the coffee table and break out your childhood favorites like Uno, chess, or checkers for a little friendly competition. If you’re looking to expand your collection before hosting your game night, Valkyrie’s Vault in Brownsburg stocks nearly 2,800 board games in-store and online. You’ll find fall-inspired picks like “Autumn Harvest: A Tea Dragon Society Game,” “Creature Comforts,” and “Everdell,” plus spooky options like “BOOoop,” “Betrayal at Hill House,” and “Quacks of Quedlinburg.”
Co-Crafting Night
Weave your friend group together with a crafting night. Have your friends bring their current knitting, crochet, embroidery, or other project to work on while sipping warm drinks and snacking on seasonal treats. Set up a small crafting station with extra supplies of yarn, needles, and patterns, so anyone without handiwork can join too. You can stock up on supplies locally before your party at Village Yarn Company in Zionsville, where you’ll find yarns in all colors, textures, and weights. By the end of the night, everyone will have knit a little more warmth into their wardrobe and friendships.
Blanket Fort Book Night
Revisit the thrill of childhood story time with a blanket fort book night. Gather your friends, build a fort with blankets and pillows, and take turns reading mystery or horror stories under the glow of flashlights — just like sharing scary stories around a campfire. Encourage everyone to bring a favorite book to swap and discuss. If you need inspiration before your party, stop by The Whispering Shelf in downtown Indy’s Lockerbie Square neighborhood. You can browse their shelves for spine-tingling reads and even learn more at their monthly horror or mystery book club discussions.
Fall Movie Marathon Night
Get comfy on the couch with your friends for a fall movie marathon night tailored to your group’s favorite genre, whether that’s heartwarming romantic comedies like “When Harry Met Sally” or classic slasher films. Dim the lights and watch your movies by the flickering flame of a candle. You can find locally handmade candles from Porten’s on 15th Candle Company in Indiana, via porch pick-up. Grab hand-poured fall scents like “Timber Jack” (with notes of clove, pine, cedar) or “Golden Hour” (with notes of bergamot, ginger, vanilla).
Don’t forget the popcorn for your movie night, too! Go for snacks from Just Pop In in Broad Ripple Village. (If a friend is flying in to visit, they can also pick some up from the shop in Indianapolis International Airport’s Terminal B.) You can choose from gourmet and chocolate-covered popcorn flavors like Caramel Nut Crunch, Sun King Dark Chocolate Osiris, and Smoking Goose Bacon & Cheddar. You can also make the night even more fun by pairing each movie with a themed drink, like hot chocolate for a rom-com or a bloody mary mocktail for a horror flick.
Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Night
You can’t celebrate fall without decorating a pumpkin! Gather your friends around a table, or even on the floor, and embrace your inner child as you carve or paint your pumpkins. Don’t forget to save the seeds for a tasty snack. Roast them with cinnamon sugar, a sweet-and-spicy blend of chili powder and cinnamon, or a savory garlic seasoning.
You can make it a full day with your friends by visiting a local pumpkin patch, like Tuttle Orchards in Greenfield, so everyone can pick out their perfect pumpkins. While you’re there, pick up seasonal treats like apple cinnamon donuts and peanut butter fudge from their farm store to enjoy as you decorate your pumpkins to later set out on your porch or place as a table centerpiece.
DIY Candle-Making Night
Create a warm and fragrant fall evening with a DIY candle-making night. Invite your friends to pour their own soy wax candles in glass jars or teacups with cotton wicks (skewers can help center and hold the wicks as candles dry). Cover your table with newspaper to catch any spills, and keep oven mitts handy for handling hot containers safely. Add your favorite fall-inspired fragrance oils — like pumpkin spice, cinnamon, clove, apple, vanilla, or pine — to make each candle smell like autumn in a jar. Once your candles are poured, let the wax set while you personalize them with labels. Visit Semantics Paper Goods, an independent stationery shop in downtown Indianapolis’ Old Northside neighborhood, to pick up cards you can cut into any shape, then decorate with washi tape and stickers to create your custom candle tags.
Comfort Soup Potluck Night
Warm up a chilly fall evening with a comfort soup potluck night. Invite your friends to each bring a batch of their favorite homemade soup, whether it’s a creamy tomato, hearty chicken noodle, or spicy chili. Set up a serving area with bowls, spoons, and plenty of toppings like shredded cheese, croutons, fresh herbs, or sour cream, so everyone can customize their bowl just the way they like it. Provide bread, rolls, or cornbread for dipping, and encourage everyone to share the story behind their soup recipe — why it’s a favorite, a family tradition or a secret fall comfort.
Stock up on ingredients for your favorite fall soups at The Hayloft, a gourmet grocery store in Brownsburg. This farm-to-table shop offers locally grown produce, farm-fresh eggs, cheeses, and a variety of meats, including beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and lamb. If you and your friends want a sweet treat after your savory soups, The Hayloft also sells homemade cookies and cupcakes with gluten-free options available.
Nicole Thomas is a writer and digital marketer who loves celebrating local businesses and all things cozy. You can follow her on LinkedIn.
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