Though Thanksgiving is usually a time spent with family, laughing (or maybe arguing) over turkey and pie, Friendsgiving is a celebration of friendship. This unofficial holiday is a time for your to say that they’ll be there for you and that you’ll be there for them, too. Sound fun? Learn how to throw a Friendsgiving of your own.
A relatively new tradition, Friendsgiving doesn’t have a specific date. Typically, it’s celebrated the week before Thanksgiving, but it can really be held just about any time in November. For some people, Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving are the very same day. But, if not, it’s time to break out the calendar and pick a date.
Because November is the beginning of the holiday season, it can be difficult to coordinate with everyone you want to invite. Choose two or three dates that work for you and survey your friends. It’s possible not everyone will be able to attend, so make it clear that you are choosing the date based on attendance.
After you choose the date, send invitations. Make sure your friends that couldn’t come know they are still welcome if their plans change. Invitations don’t have to be fancy. You can send text messages, calendar invites, or evites. But, if you want to have a little more fun with it, you can send out paper invites that fit the theme of your Friendsgiving.
Friendsgiving can be completely traditional with all of the fixings you’ll have on Thanksgiving, or it can be a unique meal with favorite dishes from any region or season. Decide what kind of Friendsgiving works best for you and your friends. If you are looking for a theme, you can check out the following suggestions.
Friendsgiving ideas:
Decorating can be simple with a few tablecloths, but Friendsgiving is the perfect time to go all out on your theme. And, because Friendsgiving is such a flexible holiday, you don’t have to stick to the fall and winter favorites that dominate November (though there’s nothing wrong with that). Consider banners, lights, backdrops for photo ops, and centerpieces to transform your space for the holiday.
You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s a classic for a reason: Make a list. Your list should have everything that needs to be done so you create a schedule. Don’t load everything you have to do into the morning of your event. Spread shopping, set up, and meal prep over two or three days. A good tip is to see which recipes can be made or prepped a day or two before your event. This way, your dishes won’t be fighting for attention and oven space. If you have the room, set up the dining area the day before everyone arrives. This will reduce stress and allow extra time if something doesn’t go exactly according to plan.
Most Friendsgiving celebrations are potluck. Though some people may prefer to cook every dish by themselves, having a potluck takes away a lot of the stress and financial burden. A successful Friendsgiving meal generally includes starters, sides, main dishes, and desserts, but it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Whether you’re only planning on serving soup and grilled cheese sandwiches with three types of potatoes, or you’re planning a three-course meal, you’re going to want some help.
When it comes to food, you have two options: create a specific menu or allow your guests to choose the dishes based on your party theme. If you have a planned menu, you can split up the food responsibilities among your friends by sending out a signup sheet with slots available for specific dishes such as rolls, pie, green bean casserole, or whatever dishes best fit your meal plan.
Alternatively, you can have a predetermined number or slots for the kinds of dishes you need. For instance, two or three signup lines for appetizers, three or four lines for side dishes, etc. This will allow your guests to bring exactly what they want while showing off their personalities. Someone may prefer to make their own cranberry sauce, while others may want to serve a traditional English trifle. Just be sure to keep the allergies and food preferences of your friends in mind and make sure to have options available for those with dietary restrictions.
Not everyone is going to want to bring food. Maybe they don’t like cooking, or perhaps they just have a busy schedule and would prefer to contribute something non-perishable. Have sign-ups available for non-food items such as cups, plates, flatware, napkins, tablecloths, ice, and even decorations.
If you are hosting a large group, you may need to set up additional tables and chairs. Get volunteers to help you move and set up folding tables and chairs. You may also want people to help you decorate.
Have a few people to help with cleanup as well. A party generates a lot of trash, and often a lot of dishes (even if you’re using paper plates). Make sure you have people available to help you wash up and break down. This will take a lot of the weight off of you and allow you to really enjoy the holiday.
Though the meal may be the main event, it doesn’t hurt to have a few activities planned for the day. If you want something lowkey, consider trivia games (particularly trivia games that fit your theme), bingo, or traditional boardgames and card games. If you want something a little more active, a scavenger hunt, karaoke, charades, or a game of football can all work.
There’s a good chance that there will be more food than you know what to do with at the end of the night. Provide food storage containers for your guests so they can make up an extra meal and take it home.
