Thanksgiving is just around the corner. On top of your traditional gathering with family, you might consider getting together with friends for what’s called a “Friendsgiving.” It’s simply thanksgiving with friends instead of relatives.
But making sure your Friendsgiving is fun and successful takes some planning. So here are some helpful tips on how to do just that:
- Create an invite list
The first step to planning your Friendsgiving is deciding who should come. Invite whoever you want and as many as will fit around your table.
Friendsgiving is a great opportunity to invite friends you wouldn’t otherwise see for the holidays or those that don’t have anywhere to go for normal Thanksgiving.
- Choose a time and location
Once you’ve decided who should come, nail down a time and location for the event. That way, you can start planning the fun stuff.
Try to pick a time and place that works for everyone. It doesn’t have to be on Thanksgiving day, but it could be if none of the guests have actual Thanksgiving plans.
Then make invitations to send out to everyone or send out a group email or text to inform everyone of the details.
- Settle on a menu
The food is one of the most important parts of any Thanksgiving celebration. So it’s important to settle on a menu.
There’s nothing wrong with sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. But feel free to switch it up, too, especially if you’ll already be having the traditional Thanksgiving foods with your family.
Whatever you do, be mindful of any allergies, food aversions, or other dietary needs that guests may have.
- Divvy up food assignments
You don’t need to cook everything on your own. Once the menu is set, go ahead and divvy up food assignments.
The easiest way to do this is to create a shared Excel or Google Sheets document. Then everyone can claim the items they prefer to bring, and it ensures everyone brings something different.
Try to let everyone choose the items that best suit their cooking skills.
- Make travel arrangements
Depending on where everyone lives, you may need to make travel arrangements. Guests that live close to each other could carpool to your house, for example.
Alternatively, if it’s a destination Friendsgiving at an Airbnb somewhere, consider getting a charter minibus to take everyone there. The point is to make sure everyone has a way to get to the feast.
- Clean the house
Whether the Friendsgiving is in your home or somewhere else, be sure to clean the space so it looks nice and inviting.
If it’s a big task, recruit the help of your friends. Everyone should be invested in having a clean space to celebrate in.
- Set the table
Next, you can’t have a Friendsgiving meal without setting the table first. Make it look nice and festive with a tablecloth, napkins, centerpiece, and even candles if you like.
Just make sure there’s plenty of space to place all the food that everyone will bring.
- Plan some entertainment
Add to the Friendsgiving celebration by planning some entertainment. This could be a football game before the meal or a group game afterward—anything that will make for a fun and memorable experience.
- Make a playlist for background music
Lastly, it’s always good to have some background music for the event. This sets the mood and helps fill in the gaps in conversations.
You just don’t want the music to be too loud. If it’s requiring people to speak louder than normal, then turn it down.
Wrapping it up
Now that you know how to plan your Friendsgiving, it’s bound to be a success. Remember to get help from your friends when planning, and once the party is over, don’t forget to thank everyone for coming!
