9 Ideas for a Festive Fall-Themed Party

Seasonal cocktails on offer at Toronto’s BarChef include Fall Essence. The drink includes innovative ingredients and is presented uniquely, according to owner Frankie Solarik. It’s "a spherified maple and Fernet Branca granita, bitter almond and orange blossom air, [and] essence of cedar and earth. [The] cocktail, poured table-side, consists of a brandy base with balsam fir bitters, sweet vermouth, and rosemary syrup."

Talk about bringing pumpkin-carving to a new level. Shawn Feeney's studio, known as the Invisible Underground, creates surreal fruit carvings, vegetable sculptures, and "edible alchemy." In addition to providing decor, his jack-o'-lanterns can make an appearance at events for pumpkin-sculpture and carving workshops, and he will showcase his carving at live events worldwide.

For the 25th anniversary of the Teddy Bear Affair in 2011, harvest vegetables from Ontario provided decor in the autumn area of the cocktail reception at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Featuring theme decor from Kehoe Designs, Howard Brown Health held its sophomore Halloween party, the Big Orange Ball, at Chicago’s Carnivale in October. More than 400 costume-wearers came to the restaurant and event space, and they raised funds for health and social services to be provided to Chicago’s L.G.B.T.Q. and allied community. RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight winner Bob the Drag Queen performed at, and emceed, the event, and a meet and greet for “R.I.P.” ticket-holders was held.

At Vancouver-based chain Earl's Kitchen & Bar, which boasts locations in Chicago and Virginia, fall-focused guests can order the Bee's Knees. Served in a honey-bear-shaped glass, the cocktail includes gin, Cointreau, honey, fresh lemon, and bitters.

Identified as a "spicy, smoky whiskey sour," the pinecone-adorned Cabin Fever cocktail at Earl's is made of Crown Royal, port, ginger and pineapple syrups, fresh lemon juice, and bitters.

Located in a former public school building in the Long Island City section of Queens, New York, MoMA PS1 held its first fall benefit last September. The event included a rebellious spin on high school as a theme, and was created by performance artist Ryan McNamara. Guests donned typical school attire while throwback activities, like paper airplane-throwing, took place.

Hive has converted a 1983 Airstream trailer into a full bar to provide a craft cocktail experience at events. Autumnal beverages on offer could include the Sage Brown Derby (rye whiskey, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, agave syrup, bitters, and fresh sage leaf) or the Cranberry Caipirinha (Aquavit, cranberry simple syrup, and fresh lime juice). Event organizers can work with partners Graham H. McKissock and Lance to create drinks that tie into an event’s theme while using seasonal ingredients and local spirits.

For a hosiery preview party in New York in 2009, the Susan Magrino Agency recreated fall in a city park by using a bench, dried leaves, a lamppost, and a seasonally dressed model.