We all know that the very first Pilgrim Thanksgiving dinner took place outdoors, so naturally it had to be rustic. Why not celebrate the way the holiday started, with a rustic outdoor Thanksgiving dinner? You can really pull it off, all you need are some ideas to inspire you. That’s what we have today!

Rustic Outdoor Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Although there’s a chance that the weather won’t cooperate with your rustic outdoor Thanksgiving dinner plans, there are still a lot of areas where great fall weather is still in play in late November. And if you happen to hit a perfect “Indian summer,” this is the year to go for it! Here are some ideas to help you plan your outdoor Thanksgiving. Even if worse comes to worse, you can move everything indoors and it’ll still be beautiful.

The outdoors are the perfect backdrop for a rustic Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks to the beautiful fall leaves and crisp weather, all you really need to worry about decorating is the table. Since we’re going for a rustic look, don’t feel like you have to drag the fancy dining table outside. If you’ve got a weathered patio table, use it! Some simple and rustic gray fabric makes the perfect table runner and napkins. Cut some fall flowers from your garden, set them in a pitcher, and your centerpiece is done. The food is going to take center stage anyway!

Thanksgiving is a fantastic time to pull out your plaid. Use a plaid scarf as a table runner, and pair it up with a pumpkin and floral centerpiece. A couple of pillar candles add definite rustic ambience to this lovely outdoor setting. Since the theme for the day is rustic outdoor, don’t even pull out your best china. Your everyday dishware works perfectly!

Pull out those gorgeous gourds from your garden {or purchase some life-like replicas at Amazon and reuse them every year}. Burlap, baskets, cinnamon sticks and those gourds go together to make an inviting centerpiece for any Thanksgiving table, indoors or out.

Finally, add a little extra ambience to your rustic outdoor Thanksgiving dinner with lights. String some lights along your patio, or in the trees. Set out some tin can luminaries, or light up some beeswax candles. Check out these inspiring outdoor fall tablescapes–any of them are fabulous for a Thanksgiving dinner!