There's Still Time to Host Your First Friendsgiving!
8 Tips & Ideas to Make It Happen
With October rapidly coming to a close, we are once again racing toward the holiday season! Perhaps you have heard of – or even attended – Friendsgiving celebrations before, but have you ever hosted one? It may seem like yet another obligation to add to an already stressful Q4, but we assure you – this is a party that reaps plenty of rewards in the form of fun and togetherness with your friends and typically does not involve suffering through Aunt Sue’s Jello mold creation or those heated political exchanges among the cousins.
So, how to get started? Here are some ideas on how to make Friendsgiving a new beloved tradition for you and your “framily”!
1. Set The Date
If most of your guests have a Thanksgiving dinner planned with their respective families on November 25th, consider planning your Friendsgiving party the weekend before to avoid any travel conflicts. Your friends will also appreciate the extra time to digest before the big Thanksgiving celebration.
2. Friendsgiving Potluck
Most “traditional” Friendsgiving parties involve potlucks, and it is no secret that this approach brings an interesting and homemade feel to the evening. Your job as host is to organize your friends and manage who will prepare what. Using SignUp Genius or Google Sheets, you can decide which dishes you would like your friends to bring, or you can take a more laid back approach and let your friends surprise the group with contributions of their choosing.
3. Bring on the Festive Décor
Get your friends in the holiday mood by focusing on the festive décor. In addition to making sure you have sufficient table settings and, for larger gatherings, possibly hiring a bartender, décor will set the tone for your evening. There are endless options for Friendsgiving décor (see our ideas for fall tablescapes), depending on whether you want to create an elegant, festive, or kid-friendly ambience.
4. Include a Fun Outdoor Activity
Thanksgiving and football go hand and hand. Weather permitting, why not invite your friends early to burn off energy – or engage in a lighter outdoor activity with a drink in hand – before you sit down for dinner? Depending on your crowd, football, soccer, or lawn games like croquet or cornhole, are all great options. Who wants to try their hand at a friendly game of tug-of-war post Squid Games?
5. The FRIENDS Connection
Some people credit the hit show, Friends, as the inspiration for Friendsgiving. If your own friends are fans of the show and in the giving mood, consider organizing your party around the Official Friends Giving Virtual Run, an event benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Plan a 1 mile, 5K or 10K race loop near your home, and ask your friends to register in advance ($40) to access Friends-themed race swag. Welcome your guests at the finish line with festive holiday-themed drinks leading up to your party.
6. An Outdoor Friendsgiving
If your group might be nervous about gathering indoors due to COVID or you would simply like to create a unique dining experience, consider designing a chic backyard Friendsgiving. How about setting up your dining table under a festive bell tent, a variation on the charming teepee party trend?
7. A Company Friendsgiving
Friendsgiving events at the office have cropped up in recent years as a fun way to kick off the holiday season with work colleagues. This is a perfect event to plan for the Friday before Thanksgiving, and can be made simple by bringing in a caterer to eliminate the stress of weekday meal preparation and focusing on festive décor elements to lift the spirits of your team.
8. A Virtual Friendsgiving
If your friends are not local, don’t overlook the option of an entirely customized virtual gathering. Delight your friends with a personalized trivia night, cooking experience, or other entertainment tailored to your group’s specific interests.
Regardless of what kind of Friendsgiving gathering you aspire to host, EventAve’s talented planners are ready to help you get in the holiday spirit and make your event vision a reality!