www.onecharmingparty.com
welcome to your
COUNTY FAIR PARTY
introduction Here’s to the good old days, whether you’re inviting friends over for a relaxing birthday party, needing ideas for a family reunion, or just throwing a neighborhood get together. The classic colors and vintage feel of this party are reminiscent of days gone by. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, you’ll find yourself slipping into memories of your childhood. Games from your youth will bring delight to kids of today and take them back to when blowing the biggest bubblegum bubble was cool and lazy days meant playing outside. An easy potluck that is shared by all is the perfect no fuss meal that keeps the good times rolling. It’s time for some old fashioned country living—welcome to the County Fair.
I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, but our favorite thing about parties is teaching you how to re-create every party that we do. Our parties have been photographed in great detail to show you our process so that you can have this same party yourself. We’ve done all of the hard work already so you can focus on building amazing memories with your family. Feel free to use our party ideas, but remember to play nice. This PDF is for personal use only.
Design & styling by Sara Westbrook and Brittany Egbert. Photography by Nicole Hill Gerulat.
party overview
introduction printing invitations party food 1st prize toppers garden harvest centerpieces pick a prize board pony rides ring toss mini pie eating contest bubblegum blowing contest cakewalk sawdust money dig party tips take home favors
printing invitations
These eye-catching County Fair invitations come
in two sizes. The smaller invitations and thank you cards are printed on bright white matte photo or brochure paper from an office supply store. Please be sure to use the highest quality printing settings on your printer--we can’t stress this enough. Light brown envelopes (sometimes called kraft, khaki, or paper bag) are available at scrapbooking stores and online at Paper Source. The invitations fit an A7 size envelope and the thank you’s fit an A2 size envelope. The different U.S. postal stamps we used are all available on Ebay: Cowboys of the Silver Screen, America’s Wool, Food for Peace, 4H Clubs 50th Anniversary Stamp, and Fruit Berries. The invitations also come in a larger flyer size, 8 ½ x 11 inches that you can tri-fold and send out.
party food
Let your guests show off their award winning cooking by hosting a
potluck. A potluck is a co-operative meal where everyone brings a side dish to share. This is a simple way to feed a crowd and makes it easier on the host. If you’re inviting a large group, give general assignments to ensure a complete meal; for example: side dish, salad, dessert, or drinks. If you want to go all out, have a chili cook off or pie-baking contest. Hand out awards and be sure to get the winning recipes. We say the more the merrier at this party, so ring the dinner bell and dig in.
garden harvest centerpieces Tools and Supplies: floral knife or clippers, watertight enamel containers, oasis wet floral foam (make sure it is the wet floral foam), greening pins, pot tape (optional)
Flowers and Vegetables: broccoli, radishes, ornamental cabbage (kale), feverfew, billy balls, corn flower (or blue daisies), white poms, wheat, and scented geranium
For a large arrangement: Fill your container with fresh water. Start gathering a bouquet in your hand. Use taller flowers (wheat, billy balls, etc) in the middle and bring the broccoli and ornamental cabbage low around the sides. Arrange so that it looks visually interesting--different heights and colors--all around. Once the arrangement is full enough for the container, secure stems with a rubber band or wire around the stems, trim the ends of the flowers and vegetables, and place into the container. Make any adjustments so the arrangement looks full and wild. Note: add the broccoli and radishes the day of the party, they don’t last as long as flowers do.
party tips
A County Fair Party is great for all ages. Whether you’re inviting a
small group or having a large family reunion, these ideas can be adapted for your friends and family.
For decorating with a country flair consider using bails of straw covered with fabric or blankets. Some people also have allergies to hay, making straw a better option to use.
With all of the hard work and prep that goes into having a party, you’ll want to remember every detail after it’s all over. Be sure to have your camera on hand and the batteries charged. As the host, there isn’t much time to snap shots of the party. So it’s a good idea to put someone else in charge of taking pictures. Sometimes the best memories of a party are when the unexpected happens, so just roll with it and snap away.
take home favors
Ladies and gentlemen. Boys and girls. Step right up, and
pick a prize. Every kid’s a winner at this County Fair so have a variety of prizes to choose from and enough for everyone. An assortment of treasures will keep every age happy. You can include small cars, candy sticks, packs of gum, and old fashioned toys. The sky’s the limit. With this handy dandy prize set up your party guests are sure to go home with a smile.
party where you are planted. onecharmingparty.com