Top Tips for Hosting a Fabulous Friendsgiving: Food, Festivities, & Fun
When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of family. And for many of us, friends
are family, putting a fun spin on the holiday.
Welcome, Friendsgiving!
Full of laughter, gratitude, and far less drama, Friendsgiving celebrates the people
we choose.
Here are a few tips to create a fun, cozy, and meaningful gathering.
The Food (of Course!)
Food is the star of the show at both Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving.
Who says you need to keep things traditional? Why not add a theme? Spice things
up by veering off the beaten path and trying new dishes, or stick with something
familiar and yummy.
Try a taco bar, chili, a pizza and pasta bar, or grill hot dogs and hamburgers.
Create your own new traditions!
Potlucks are typical among friend gatherings. To avoid duplicate dishes, ask
friends to bring their favorite side or dessert to share.
However you celebrate, the important thing is that you’re with those dear to you.
The Theme
While Friendsgiving is really its own theme, add a fun twist such as a pajama party
or murder mystery dinner?
Another favorite is a wholesome, down home fall celebration:
Hay Bale Harvest
For those of you lucky to live in a place with mild November weather, such as we
enjoy on California’s Central Coast, take the celebration outdoors.
For a rustic vibe, arrange hay bales around a table or bonfire for seating. Cover
the bales with blankets to prevent straw from poking anybody.
Display food and beverages on a few stacked hay bales. For an extra spark of
autumn decor, add a few scarecrows from storage and a handful of pumpkins in
different colors, shapes, and sizes. Place a pile of warm blankets on one of the
bales for guests to use when the temperatures drop.
Wrap up the evening snuggled around a fire pit or bonfire with a s’mores bar and
hot chocolate station.
Fun & Games
Anyone up for a little friendly competition? Check out this mix of activities sure to
inspire a few belly laughs.
Friendsgiving Bingo
Put a festive twist on the classic game with customized, fall-themed bingo cards,
including phrases such as “I’m stuffed” or pictures of pumpkins, pies, and turkeys.
You can print ready-made holiday-themed bingo cards (thank you, Google) or
create your own.
Outdoor Activities
Wanting something a little more interactive? Give Twister a try. This one’s best
before feasting. Trust us—don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Or give outdoor bowling a whirl, using haybales to create bowling lanes, small
pumpkins as bowling balls, and cans or water bottles as pins.
The Gratitude Game
Next up, we have the Gratitude Game, drawing us into the holiday’s true
meaning.
Customize a list of prompts as you please, and have guests take turns rolling the
dice. For example:
If you roll 1—mention a moment or an experience that made you laugh;
If you roll 2—share a cherished family tradition;
If you roll 3—reveal a place that’s special to you;
If you roll 4—say something you’re grateful for;
If you roll 5—recall a treasured memory;
If you roll 6—name a person you’re grateful for.
Arts & Crafts
Creative souls will have a blast carving or decorating pumpkins. Helpful hint: for
carving, consider cleaning out the pumpkins ahead of your gathering. Place a few
design templates and tools on the table to share.
For pumpkin decorating, arrange bowls of beads, rhinestones, googly eyes,
feathers—whatever you’d like—on the table. Don’t forget glue bottles.
A Gratitude Pumpkin
Place a medium or large pumpkin on a display table alongside several Sharpie
pens. Invite everyone to write something they’re thankful for on the pumpkin,
and share these sentiments together during dessert.
Friendsgiving is such a beautiful take on Thanksgiving. Surrounded by close
friends, you already have so much to be grateful for. We’re thankful for new
traditions and meaningful connections on this magical day and always.
