At my granddaughter's recent Thanksgiving Harvest Feast, I set up a candy buffet for the children to enjoy. I used a round table covered with a Thanksgiving tablecloth, arranged a centerpiece at the back of the table, and elevated the centerpiece, by placing a small plastic container under the tablecloth. The centerpiece was a small scarecrow, 3 small resin Thanksgiving figurines, and a small resin pumpkin.
I had different sizes of containers to hold the candy - there was a selection of wrapped candy and loose candy. Tall suckers were placed in a tall container. Festive ribbons were tied around the clear containers. The loose candy had small scoops and the wrapped candy was placed in larger containers. Treat bags were provided for the children to come to the Candy Buffet table and with the help of parents, they were able to fill their bags with the candy that they enjoyed. It was a successful party and the plus side of the candy buffet was that the children filled their own treat bags.
The candy buffet can be arranged by using different levels for the candy containers, by putting books or other items that would elevate the candy containers under the cloth. it makes for a nice presentation. With small children, the candy buffet should be at their height to prevent breakage of the containers or spillage of the candy.
When setting up the candy buffet, if there is a small amount of candy left in each bag of loose candy, a small platter can become a decoration by placing the leftover loose candy in the platter and placing a small figurine among the candy on the platter. Candy buffets can be small or large in proportion; it all depends upon the occasion.
The students and parents at our school enjoyed this concept and the candy buffet idea will be used again at Christmas time.
By JOSE from Collierville, TN
