If you’re throwing a locally grown baby shower, then check out this list of 37 ideas that will surely inspire you. These ideas include invitations, decorations, activities, foods, and party favors to ensure every aspect of your shower is fit for a farmer’s market.
Invitations:
First impressions are always important, and the first impression anyone will have of your baby shower will be through the invitation. This makes picking out your invitation an important part of your party planning. One of my favorite places to look for invitations is through Etsy. There are hundreds of different styles to choose from and the templates are all customizable. For a locally grown theme, invitations include market stalls, vegetables, sprouts, and flowers.
Decorations:
What is a party without decorations? Backdrops, table cloths, centerpieces, and balloons can all be used to transform your party into a farmer’s market.
- Farmer’s Market Stall
Place a market stall and fill it with food, party favors, or presents for the little sprout. If you don’t have a market stall, you can make one by placing a wooden table against a wall and then hanging a striped awning above it. Complete the look by connecting the table to the awning with some dowel rods.
- Our Little Sprout Backdrop
If you want the perfect spot for your guest to pose in front of, then hang up a customizable banner. This Locally Grown Baby Banner features vegetables and a baby onesie hanging on a line. Another option is this Little Sprout Banner that is filled with cartoon vegetables with a gingham pattern border. Surround your banner with balloons, ribbons, or flowers for a professional background. - Baskets of Fruits and Vegetables for Centerpieces
Place wicker or Jute Rope Baskets filled with fresh fruits in the center of your tables. These centerpieces serve the dual purpose of also providing a snack for your hungry guests. - Picnic Patterned Tablecloths
Lay out some Gingham Patterned Tablecloths on your tables to fit your farmer’s market theme. You can also roll out some brown paper table runners for a rustic feel.
- Baby Vegetable Size Banner
A unique party banner you can add to your market shower are these Pregnancy Vegetable Milestone Cards. These cards feature different vegetables and their corresponding pregnancy week. String them together and you’ll have a beautiful banner at your party. - Garden or Farmer’s Market Themed Plates
For your tableware, check out this Locally Grown Baby Shower Plate Set. This plate set includes two different sized plates featuring a locally grown sign with fruits and vegetables, napkins, and forks. Or, you can opt for these Gingham Patterned Plates and Napkins in whatever color fits your theme. - Pots for Utensils
Set your utensils, napkins, and toothpicks in garden pots. You can label each pot with what’s inside and tie a gingham patterned bow around the top to make them feel extra festive. - Tomato Balloons
Turn regular red balloons into tomatoes by attaching green felt leaf tops to each balloon. You can scatter these balloons among your other decorations to create a vegetable surprise around every corner.
Foods:
Now that your guests have arrived, it’s time to feed them. This list of ideas includes appetizers, entrees, and desserts to ensure your entire menu is fit for a farmer’s market.
- Popped Corn on the Cob
Fill up these Popcorn Corn on The Cob bags with popped corn for a fun grab and go snack. These bags are clear and come with green paper to wrap around them making your popcorn look just like corn on the cob. - Cartoons of Fruits and Vegetables
Use Cardboard Produce Containers to serve your guests their fruits and vegetables. These containers are perfect for individual servings and they will make your food tables look just like a farmers market. - Freshly Squeezed Lemonades
Set up a drink station filled with different flavors of freshly squeezed lemonade. Place them in these Large Drink Dispensers and add in whole fruits for a beautiful display. This article by Bless this Mess Please has recipes for 8 different types of lemonade for you to choose from.
- Sandwiches Wrapped in Brown Paper
Wrap some sandwiches in brown paper to create a farmer’s market sandwich station. Some great sandwich ideas for a locally grown party are turkey and swiss topped with lettuce and tomato, egg salad, and a cheese with tomato and pesto. - Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
Check out this recipe for a spinach and mushroom quiche by All Recipes. This dish uses tons of fresh vegetables and will be a great showcase for your market themed party. And the best part, it only takes about 15 minutes to prep. - Roasted Vegetable Pizza
Pizza is always a crowd favorite at parties. And for a garden themed party, you can make your pizza extra special by loading it with bright and vibrant roasted vegetables. If you’re having a larger party, serve up several pizzas each showcasing a different variety of vegetables.
- Pasta Salad
A pasta salad is a great way to incorporate lots of color and vegetables into your party’s menu. For a great pasta salad recipe, check out this article by Pinch of Yum. This pasta features tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoni, olives, and an easy Italian dressing. But the truly great thing about a pasta salad is that it can be customized to whatever’s in season. - Chocolate Covered “Carrot” Strawberries
Dip large strawberries in melted orange chocolate to make some chocolate covered “carrot” strawberries. You can place these strawberries on a bed of crushed up oreos to make it look like your guests are pulling their carrots out of a garden.
- Cupcakes with Seed Packet Toppers
If you plan on serving cupcakes, then make them garden themed by coating the icing with crushed up oreos. This will make your cupcake look like they are covered in dirt. Then, top them with Seed Packet Cupcake Toppers. - Cheese Cake Topped with Fresh Berries
Serve up a creamy cheesecake and top with fresh berries or preserves for a sweet treat that is sure to delight your guests. You can serve this as a whole cake or make individual cups for each guest. - Garden Cake
If you want to serve a large cake at your party, then consider making it a garden bed cake. Use crushed up oreos to coat the top of your cake for the dirt, and then create rows of different vegetables using icing or these Edible Vegetable Cake Toppers. Add some white fencing to complete the look.
Want more food ideas? Check out 24 Farmers Market Party Food Ideas That Guests Will Love.
Games and Activites:
After the food, it’s time for the real fun to begin! Entertain your guests with these market themed crafts and games that will make your shower a blast.
- Plant Your Own Seed Station
If you’re looking for an activity that can be done during the shower’s slower moments, then set up a planting station. At this station, guests will be able to plant their own little sprout. They can then take their sprout home and watch it grow just as you watch your own sprout grow. - Guess How Many Beans in the Jar.
Host a classic “Guess How Many Candies in the Jar” game but with beans instead of candy. Let your guests write down how many beans they see and whoever is the closest is the winner.
- Decorate a Garden Themed Onesie
Set out some White Onesies and let your guests get creative by decorating them. For a market themed shower, have your guests incorporate fruits, vegetables, and flowers into their design. These onesies will be extra special because every time your new baby wears one, you will remember the loved one that made it. - Recipe Book Station
Ask your guests to bring a farm fresh recipe to add to your recipe book. Set up your book at a table with some blank pages and your guests can fill them in throughout the party. This is a great way for your guests to share a part of themselves with you and your future baby.
- Guess Baby’s Size
Lay out different sized vegetables and have your guests try to guess what week of gestation matches the vegetable’s size. You can hand out cards for your guests to write their answers on and whoever has the most right is declared the winner. - Pea Shot
Challenge your guests to a pea shot game. Give each player a bowl of dried peas and have them try to shoot the pea into a baby bottle. Whoever can get the most peas into their bottle is the winner. - Honey Tasting
Set out different flavored honey sticks and see if your guests can guess the different flavors. This Honey Stick Sampler Pack contains 14 sticks with 7 different flavors and would be perfect for this game.
Favors:
The most successful party is one that is remembered well past the party date. A great way to help your guests remember is by sending them home with a souvenir. Check out these ideas for party favors that will fit your locally grown theme.
- Honey or Fruit Preserve Jars
Fill up some Miniature Jars with honey or fruit preserves for a sweet treat your guests will love. Add a thank you note and top with a gingham patterned cloth for a party favor straight from the farmer’s market.
- Honey Pops
If you don’t want to give whole jars of honey, you can give some honey pops instead. This listing for Gourmet Honey Pops comes in 5 different flavors and would be a great party favor. - Mini Magnet Dried Flowers Bouquet
Check out these Mini Magnet Dried Flowers Bouquets. They come in 5 different colors and will represent your little sprout perfectly. - Little Sprouts
Encourage your guests to grow their own sprouts by gifting them a potted plant. This plant will give your guests a visual representation of how fast your baby is growing as they watch their own sprout bloom.
- Seed Packets
Another way to give your guests some plants to grow is by providing them with Seed Packets. Your guests will be reminded of your little sprout every time they look at their own sprouts. - Strawberry Scented Hand Creams
Hand out some strawberry scented hand lotions for a luxurious party favor that your guests will love to use at home. This set of 50 Strawberry Hand Creams comes with a thank you sign and will fit your theme perfectly. - Locally Grown Keychains
You can’t go wrong giving out themed keychains. Check out these adorable Locally Grown Keychains that would fit your party perfectly. They come with thank you cards and small bags that you can add other treats to. - Pick Your Own Basket
Set out a table filled with local produce for your guests to pick through. You can provide them with little baskets or containers for them to fill and bring home.
I hope this guide has inspired you. Let me know in the comments if you plan to incorporate any of these ideas into your locally grown baby shower.
