It's almost time for Friendsgiving—or, as we like to call it, everyone’s favorite holiday. Whether you're celebrating with family, friends, or both, it's still a real celebration, damn it!
Friendsgiving is slowly but surely joining the ‘big boys’; Thanksgiving and Halloween, as one of the most anticipated holidays in November. It encompasses everything from spending quality time with friends, food, football, and fall colors. To sum it up, Friendsgiving is simply a magical experience.
Herein, we'll go over someFriendsgiving ideas and show you how to throw the best Friendsgiving ever. By the sound of it, you won't have mom cooking all the fixings, so here’s how you step it up yourself.
Everybody loves a theme party. That's just a fact. Well, I once knew a guy who didn't love themed parties, but I think he's in prison now. Choosing a theme is the fun part. Can't wait for Christmas? Make it an ugly Christmas sweaters Thanksgiving party. Or if you enjoy a good whodunnit, make it a murder mystery, a Friendsgiving complete with secret clues and hidden identities.
Take your Friendsgiving party to the next level by adding a costume requirement and thematic Friendsgiving decor. If you are looking for comfy fits for you and your guests. Our collection of Thanksgiving shirts, sweaters, and tank tops will have you and your guests feeling comfortable AF. If you're feeling extra generous, maybe gift a couple to your friends too.
Sometimes Friendsgiving is just an excuse to eat and drink way too much, and that's perfectly fine. Adding a little structure to the evening with a planned activity would be great.
Have a blind pumpkin-spice latte taste test, a cookie decorating competition or even a scavenger hunt. A good activity can also double as an icebreaker for friend groups that don't know each other too well.
It goes without saying, but the food is the key to an awesome party. The host usually provides the turkey, but don't worry if you don't feel like cooking everything else: potlucks are a great strategy, too.
Collect your RSVPs and take note of who's bringing what. Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, apple cider, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes—and don't forget the backup pumpkin pie. Oh, and pecan pie with ice cream.
If you run out of Friendsgiving food ideas, don't hesitate to ask for suggestions. You can even try non-traditional dishes, like a charcuterie board or pie bars.
You can ask your friends to bring a drink, so it's not always necessary to provide a lot of drinks to last everyone all evening.
It would be a great touch to have a themed cocktail or mulled wine to present to your friends when they arrive. If you've got any teetotaller friends, remember to provide a non-alcoholic option.
We've all been to that one dinner party where the food didn't arrive until way too late in the evening, and you considered sneaking out to secretly chow down a slice of pizza. Don't be that host.
If you're cooking the food yourself, consider the timing. In other words, don't start preparing the roasted turkey at 7 pm (and don't just throw it in the instant pot if you're running behind schedule). Or, if the main course won't be served until late, have some appetizers ready for your guests as they drink and mingle.
Decorating your Friendsgiving party doesn't have to be complicated. One of our favoriteFriendsgiving ideas to make it feel special is small touches like place settings.
Buy or make your cards with each guest's name on them and place them around the Friendsgiving table—preferably with a seasonal bouquet of flowers to boost the vibe.
Drinking games are a great way to lighten the mood and get everyone in the Thanksgiving spirit. You can play a drinking game along with dinner or beforehand with a deck of cards. Brave hosts might even opt for a piñata-based drinking game.
Do a quick search online to find the right drinking game for your Friendsgiving group. After all, whatever game you pick will undoubtedly be better than arguing about politics.
Friends love to feel helpful—even if that means helping with the dishes. If hosting the party feels overwhelming, you can effortlessly lighten the load by asking for help with certain tasks.
Food prep, decoration, clean up—whatever the task, don't be afraid to enlist a couple of extra hands to make the party run a little smoother.
Alright, you've got the menu all set, and the venue is set up. Now for the final touches.
Put together a stellar playlist of tunes to get everyone in the mood to party. If you're so inclined, create a shared playlist so your friends can play DJ for a while as well.
Don't forget about scent, either. Set out flowers, or boil some water with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, or cloves to make the place feel cozy.
Let's face it: there's probably going to be way too much food. And when it comes to leftovers, do you really want to eat 8 lbs of turkey for the next week?
Encourage your friends to bring their containers, and send everyone home with some leftovers. Giving your guests the gift of next-day turkey sandwiches is something they'll always be thankful for.
A text message invite is great and all, but people always appreciate a paper invitation. Make your friends feel special with a hand-written or beautifully designed card. Not only is it a nice touch, but it'll make them more likely to attend the party, too! Don't ask us how—it's science.
Hopefully, these Friendsgiving ideas will make your Thanksgiving extra special. Now excuse us—we have a food coma to fall into.