What wording would help attract you to attend an AS group?

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Well, if the participants are anywhere near college-student age, free pizza tends to do it. Free food is the perfect college-student bait.

No MHPs and no parents

If it's young adults and adults, why the legos and crayons? I love to color and buy markers and fuzzy posters for myself and will spend hours coloring here at home. However, if I were to go to an AS support group that was for adults and young adults and I saw legos and crayons I would be offended and leave, especially if it's specified that it's HFA. I would feel that the people who run the group were treating us as if we were <that r word that upsets some people here> and would expect to see something like cartoon videos and juice boxes passed out.

A table with fun things to do and fiddly things is great and can include crayons and legos, but I'd also have other things there such as pads and pens for taking notes or writing down contact info, magazines of various sorts, fun little sensory things like cool things to hold or squeeze or fiddle with, a rubiks cube or two, maybe a couple hacky sacks (I can't kick one to save my life but they are fun to squeeze and to try and kick), maybe a few magazines or light books on fandom type topics of different sorts (not just MLP and Star Trek/Wars and Dr Who) and a paper, pen and a box for suggestions of topics. Also a list of local resources that folks on the spectrum might need (including resources that all folks, not just us, might need).

Going in with the assumption that we all just want to color and play with legos will put some people off.

As for the Christmas lights, those are cool. I know a lot of people who use them in their regular decor. They can make the place feel "warmer" and more casual. I also wouldn't want to sit on the floor. I'd have some chairs and also some floor cushions for those who want to sit on the floor. Large mats like the tumbling mats they use in gym are good, but I'd put a big cloth over them to make them not so sticky feeling. Sitting on the floor can make it more casual and friendlier as well, but some people are more physically comfortable in chairs. I would have an assortment of that just sitting around in the area together and tell people "Have a seat, wherever you're the most comfortable". Also, soft background music might be good too, so it's not just "loud silence" if nobody is talking.

Maybe make a list of some topics for discussion at first too, so nobody is pressured about finding something to talk about.

Here's one issue I've had with food and drink offered at events, particularly low-budget ones: I'm a picky eater, I do NOT do cold lunch meats, nor will I eat "hot" food that has gotten cold or drink any beverage except water at room temperature. For the longest time, not even water. Also, I only eat ice cream if it's fully frozen. So if I were one of the Aspies there, if allowed to be in charge of food, all "hot" foods will be brought out at 150+°F and all soda 32-40°F, so there would AT LEAST be time to get it while it's hot/cold. And for ice cream, the colder, the better. People can always wait for the temperature to moderate if it's too extreme, but not the other way around...

If this is impossible, pointing out that bringing your own food (including fast food) is allowed would be acceptable. Basically, don't force anyone into bad eating situations.

I know this would be a TOTAL non-issue to NT's, but surely I can't be the only one out of 7 billion picky about food temperature...

There's a saying I've read in a business publication, "Hurry up and make some mistakes."

Which I take to mean that mistakes sometimes add texture, that mistakes give feedback which I can then ping-pong back and forth between theory and practice.

Also gives me permission to step outside my rather typical perfectionist approach.

"Go away."

You're welcome. Permission to make mistakes!

How about balding beer-gutted middle aged men allowed.

There used to be a group in my area of Missouri for adults. Their flyer said something like, 'parents should be involved to help plan the meetings and perform carpooling'.

I never attended any of the meetings. That sentence alone pretty much said I don't belong in that group.