September is already here! School is underway, evening light is fading, and there is a familiar chill in the air. We are about to begin a steep downhill slide into holiday activities. Before that happens, I want to soak up a few more warm and slow summer-like moments with family and friends.
I read a quote the other day that pulled at my heart. It said something like “I’m not looking for another perfect family picture. I just want one more summer with everyone under the same roof.” YES.
I am here to distract you from the inevitable passing of time and seasons. I am here to wrap you in connection and friendship and memories. And why not do it through the universal language of food?
Have you ever participated in a progressive dinner? It is one of those timeless traditions that has a unique way of bringing people together. Instead of gathering at one home for an entire meal, everyone moves from house to house enjoying a different course at each stop.
The last one we participated in went something like this. We started at a house for appetizers, went to the next home for drinks and backyard games, wandered to the following home for main course, and ended at our house for dessert around the fire pit under the stars.
The beauty of a progressive dinner is that no one has to do it all, making for a more enjoyable and easy gathering. The best experiences are simple and done ahead of time. Think bruschetta or charcuterie for the appetizer, something warm like soup or tacos from a crock pot for the main, a stop for pie or brownies at the third home, and final destination can be a nightcap or hot chocolate around the table with some fruit.
If possible, have the homes close enough to walk between. Those short strolls often become the most memorable parts of the evening. If kids are involved, it is so heartwarming to watch them run ahead, laughing and anticipating what is waiting for them at the next home.
Usually, 45 minutes at each home is ideal, and people linger at the last home. You can make the evening more memorable by picking a theme like Italian feast, favorite family recipes, or a harvest using whatever ingredients you can find from the farmers markets.
An unexpected benefit of a progressive dinner is that people naturally mix and mingle. Unlike a traditional dinner where guests remain seated in one spot, moving from home to home creates fresh conversation and deeper friendships.
This is a time when so many of us communicate through text and social media, and the thought of gathering around the table together might feel really uncomfortable. Sharing food reminds us that real community is built face to face and through opening our homes to each other.
Before the rush of fall and winter holidays sweeps us up, pick a few neighbors and try organizing a progressive dinner of your own. You may leave with not only a full stomach but a full heart and new connections as well.
Lisa Payne writes about home, food, and family. You can reach her at paynefam6@gmail.com. She also writes about Colorado’s best restaurants and spaces to gather on Substack:
