Crafy B Pumpkin Hunt

When the boys were preschool aged, our family hosted a family friendly Halloween party called "Pumpkin Hunt." Think Easter Egg Hunt in the fall, with costumes, and cute candy-filled pumpkins instead of eggs. It started as a backyard party, but quickly became a hot ticket for the preschool crowd. Not wanting to leave anyone out, we expanded to a local city park to accommodate more pumpkin hunters. Parents liked it because their kids got to wear their costumes more than once, it was during the day, and was a non-scary event. Kids liked it because they got to wear their costumes more than once and because it was a golden Halloween candy hoarding opportunity. 

We typically held the even the Sunday afternoon before Halloween. Invitations were printed on jack-o-lantern paper, put into orange envelopes, and either hand delivered or mailed about 10-14 days prior. 

D's Tip: Halloween printer paper and orange envelopes can be found at Office Supply
stores or online for much cheaper than buying card invitations. 

Then I got down to bi-ness stuffing about a gazillion little pumpkins with non-melty candies (Halloween in the South can be blistering), spider rings and other little novelties. I tried to make at least 4 pumpkins per child. To make a prize Golden Pumpkin, I spray painted one little pumpkin with gold paint and stuffed it with $5. 

Dollar Tree and party stores have these in packs of 6 or 12. Ebay is also a good source for bulk mini pumpkins. 

My mom and I would get to the park a little early to set up the food and hide the pumpkins. Depending on the ages of the kids we would separate the park into sections for different age groups. That way we didn't have bigger kids stealing pumpkins from the babies (and they would, too!) We let the kids go hunting first, leaving plenty of time for photos, pinatas, food, and free play afterwards.

The park where we held the event was not a playground type park, but instead offered a gazebo, benches, picnic tables, and large shade trees. We set up a photo-op area by placing a bench under a large tree. We used large mums and pumpkins to set the stage for perfect Halloween portraits. I made a reusable sign out of felt to commemorate the event:

Gratuitous pic of my kids when they were still sweet little punkins. 

At the time in my life when these parties were held, I was trying very hard to channel my inner Martha Stewart. I HAND CRAFTED (Martha does not "make," she "crafts") pumpkin and ghost pinatas every year, but in retrospect, the $20 I saved making those things was not worth it. It was a messy project and took up a lot of time. If I had it to do over again, I'd be ordering pinatas from Oriental Trading as fast as you could say "Jack-o-lantern."

For food, I usually prepared a few cutesy make-ahead Halloween dishes to set the mood. Two of my staple theme dishes came from Southern Living:  Monster Eyes and Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Monster eyes are just sausage balls with an olive in the center!

Savory Pumpkin Cheese Ball with apple slices

My third standard Halloweened up recipe was a sweet cheese ball from a local church's cookbook. I made the recipe fit the theme by shaping it into a ghost and renaming it "Ghostly Goo."

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball (aka Ghostly Goo)

1 (8 ounce) pack cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup confectioner's sugar

2 tablespoon brown sugar

3/4 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Chocolate and graham cracker sticks

In a large bowl beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars and beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and chill for 2 hours. Shape into a ball (or a ghost), cover in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 more hour. Serve with assorted graham cracker sticks. 

This is a favorite with adults and kiddos. 

For the rest of the food, I just supplemented with easy and cheap party foods like chips and salsa, cheesy poofs, cheese cubes, and cocktail wienies. I'll give you a little Crafty B advice. If you give something a cute name, it instantly elevates it. For example, you could serve chips and salsa OR you could serve COFFIN CRUNCH! 

COFFIN CRUNCH (blue corn chips and chunky salsa)

Why serve regular cheese cubes and wienies when you can give your guests SPIDER'S PREY? 

I cut the ring part off some spider rings and hot glued them to toothpicks. Instant Halloween flair!

Turn ordinary pretzel rods dipped in chocolate into MAGIC WANDS by using festive Halloween themed sprinkles (Target always has a good selection).

Here's another "D to the B" tip: Halloween serving pieces are easy to find at most dollar stores, but you could always just go with white serving pieces. They are versatile, inexpensive, and not bound by seasons. Burlap, black tulle, orange and black paper goods and a few miniature pumpkins scattered about the table are all you need create some party spirit. Burlap and pumpkins can be reused for Thanksgiving decor in November. Double duty decorating, baby! 

We finally passed the Pumpkin Hunt torch when the boys turned 6 and 7. They started to find it baby-ish and I was okay with that. A friend with young kids wanted to take it on, so I gladly gave over my menus, decorations, and invitation template. She took my idea and made it her own. I hope she passes it on when her kids grow out of it. That's how traditions are born. 

Stay Crafty, my friends! 

D-