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Friendsgiving has become the best unofficial holiday of the year. It’s that in-between moment when you’re not quite in full holiday mode yet, but everyone’s ready for good food, comfy sweaters, and just being together.
It’s like Thanksgiving’s chill younger cousin, with all the joy but way less pressure. You don’t have to deal with travel chaos or your uncle’s intense political rants. Instead, it’s all about your chosen family, your friends, the people you actually want to be around.
What makes Friendsgiving special is how flexible it is. There’s no right way to do it, which is kinda the point. Some people go all out with themes and color palettes, others throw something together last minute that still ends up perfect in its own messy way. In this guide, we’ll go through how to plan your Friendsgiving from start to finish with ideas for food, decor, and fun that make the night one everyone remembers.
Set the Scene
When planning a Friendsgiving party, choosing the date is step one. Friendsgiving usually lands the weekend before or after Thanksgiving, but it can totally be whenever your crew can make it. The main thing is picking a time that works for the people. Once the date’s locked, everything else starts falling into place.
The next step is to create a guest list. There’s a balance to this one. You want enough people to keep the energy fun, but not so many that it turns into chaos. Think about your space and the vibe you want. A cozy dinner works great with six or eight people, but if you’ve got room for more, go for it. Just make sure there’s enough seating and food to go around.
Once you’ve decided on the guest list, the next thing is to send invites. Friendsgiving isn’t the kind of thing that needs fancy embossed invitations unless that’s your thing. Most people do digital invites, text threads, or even a cute little Canva card if you’re feeling extra creative. The earlier you send them, the better the turnout. Everyone’s schedules get packed this time of year.
Group chats are great for keeping everyone in the loop too, who’s bringing what, what time to show up, if there’s a theme. It’s all about keeping it easy and fun.
Friendsgiving Theme and Decor Ideas
Every Friendsgiving deserves a little bit of personality, right? This is where you can get creative without going overboard. You don’t need a ton of decorations or to spend alot. A few intentional touches make it feel special.
Choose a Theme
A Friendsgiving theme is totally optional, but it does make things more cohesive and fun. You could go for a cozy cabin vibe with plaid tablecloths and candles everywhere, or lean into boho chic with macrame runners and wildflowers. If your style is more minimal, try a simple modern setup with neutral tones and clean lines.
Whatever you choose, let it reflect your group’s energy. There’s no need for Pinterest-level perfection here. It’s about making the space feel inviting and warm.
Select Color Palette
Color sets the mood without anyone realizing it. Earthy oranges, golds, forest greens, or deep neutrals feel right for the season. You can layer textures too, linen napkins, wood boards, ceramic plates, so it feels homey and lived in.
If you’re doing potluck style, you can even tell people what colors to bring serving dishes in so the table looks put together without anyone trying too hard. It’s those small coordination things that make everything feel cohesive even if it’s all from different kitchens.
Friendsgiving Tablescape Ideas
This is the part everyone secretly loves taking photos of. A few candles down the center of the table instantly makes it cozy. Add little pumpkins, greenery, or even eucalyptus branches from the grocery store. Place cards are a nice touch if you want a little structure.
You could also do a communal centerpiece of dishes and drinks so everything’s easy to reach. Friendsgiving should feel like a long relaxed dinner, not a formal setup. Don’t stress about matching plates or perfect silverware, it’s the mix that gives it charm.
Centerpieces
Centerpieces don’t have to be fancy floral arrangements. You can grab a few glass bottles, fill them with dried stems, and call it a day. Or line up some apples, candles, and greenery for a more natural look. If your space is small, keep it low so people can actually see each other across the table.
Honestly, sometimes the food itself ends up being the centerpiece. A big pie, a colorful salad, or even the drinks can take center stage without any extra effort.
Friendsgiving Food and Drink Ideas
Let’s be real, the food is the main event. People might come for the friendship, but they stay for the mac and cheese.
Decide on Hosting Style
First things first, decide if you’re doing the cooking all by yourself or doing potluck style. Potluck is usually easier because everyone brings something they love to make and it takes the pressure off the host. You can still coordinate so you don’t end up with six pans of mashed potatoes.
If you love hosting, you might want to handle the main dish and let others fill in the sides and desserts. A mix of both usually works best, just communicate early so everyone’s on the same page.
Main Course Options
Turkey’s the classic, but you don’t have to stick to it. Roast chicken, glazed ham, or even a hearty pasta bake can be just as special. For vegetarian mains, think stuffed squash or creamy mushroom lasagna. The goal is something cozy and shareable, not something that keeps you chained to the oven all day.
You can even order from a local spot if cooking’s not your thing. Friendsgiving doesn’t have to mean doing everything from scratch.
Side Dishes
This is where the magic happens. Everyone’s got a go-to dish they’re proud of. Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted veggies, salads, there’s usually a mix of comfort foods and fresh ones to balance it out.
You can also do a twist on tradition thing, like adding jalapeños to your cornbread or trying sweet potato fries instead of a casserole. It keeps things interesting and a little more personal.
Desserts & Sweets
Dessert is your moment to shine, or at least to snack while chatting on the couch later. Pies are always a hit, apple, pecan, pumpkin, but cookies, brownies, or dessert bars are way easier for serving.
You could even do a mini dessert table so people can grab a few bites of different things. A small scoop of something sweet after dinner feels like the perfect ending without being too heavy.
Signature Drinks
A signature drink is a fun touch, even if it’s just a pitcher of something seasonal. Spiced cocktails, fall sangria with cinnamon sticks, or cider mocktails always hit the right note. If your group’s more casual, keep a cooler of drinks by the table so no one has to get up too much.
Hot drinks work too, mulled cider, hot cocoa, or tea if you’re winding down later in the night. It gives that warm, cozy wrap-up feeling.
Friendsgiving Activities and Games
Once everyone’s full and happy, it’s nice to have something fun or sentimental planned.
Gratitude Game
You can’t really do Friendsgiving without a little gratitude moment, right? One easy way is to have everyone write something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and toss it in a bowl. Then during dessert, take turns reading them aloud and guessing who wrote what. It’s simple, but it gets people talking and laughing.
Another idea is to have everyone share a favorite memory from the year. It doesn’t have to be deep, just real. Those moments of reflection make the night feel meaningful in between all the chaos and laughter.
Charades
Classic and always hilarious. You don’t need props or a fancy setup, just a few prompts written on scraps of paper. It’s one of those games that gets everyone up and moving, which is great after a big meal. Plus, it’s always fun to see your quiet friend suddenly go all in acting out a turkey.
Trivia
Friendsgiving trivia can be totally customized. You can mix in pop culture questions, facts about your friend group, or random Thanksgiving history if you want to keep it on theme. It’s a great icebreaker if you’ve got a few people meeting for the first time.
Who Said It
This one’s especially funny if your group has a bunch of inside jokes. Collect quotes or things people have said during the year and have everyone guess who said it. You’ll end up in tears laughing at stuff you forgot even happened.
Photo Booth or Friendsgiving Photo Wall Setup
Everyone loves a photo moment. You can set up a corner with a simple backdrop like a sheet, some fairy lights, or a few fall decorations, and let people take turns snapping photo’s. Or just make a photo wall where everyone adds a printed pic from the night later on. It’s a fun way to remember it all.
Friendsgiving Leftovers and Clean-Up Tips
Okay, the food was amazing, but now you’re staring at the aftermath. Don’t panic.
Encourage everyone to bring containers so they can take home leftovers. It’s actually kinda the best part of Friendsgiving, eating that next-day plate in your pajamas. If there’s alot left, you can even pack little to-go bags with desserts or snacks.
Get creative with leftovers too. Turkey sandwiches, mashed potato bowls, soups, even brunch dishes like hash or frittatas. You’ll thank yourself later for repurposing it instead of wasting food.
For clean-up, make it a group effort. Throw on some music, hand out trash bags, and tackle it together. Someone can wash, someone can dry, someone can pack things up. It goes quick when everyone chips in.
Afterward, send a thank-you text or photo from the night to the group. It keeps the good vibes going a little longer, and honestly, it’s just nice to end on a grateful note.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Friendsgiving isn’t about how perfect everything looks, it’s about the people sitting around your table. The laughter, the stories, the feeling of belonging for a night. There’s no checklist for what makes it good, it’s good because it’s yours.
So plan what you can, ask for help, don’t stress the rest. Let the night unfold naturally.
