11 Unique Friendsgiving Ideas That’ll Have Everyone Talking

Friendsgiving is like Thanksgiving — only, you celebrate it with your friends instead of family. This informal holiday typically takes place a week before Turkey Day. It’s a lot like the real holiday — you enjoy good food and play fun games with great company and a festive vibe. 

If you’re new to this holiday or are simply looking to liven up your Friendsgiving event, here’s a list of tried-and-tested, no-fail Friendsgiving ideas.

1. Host A Potluck

Hosting a potluck is one of the best Friendsgiving ideas to ever exist. 

It takes the guesswork out of the equation and one person doesn’t have to slog off with the big prep! Everyone can bring their favorite dish. Just make sure to jot everything down in a shared spreadsheet to prevent repeat dishes. After all, there are only so many pies and potato mash one can eat!

You can leave yourself out of food duty and focus on showing up for your girlies and wingmen by:  

• Sending out customized invites. Let’s face it, our loved ones deserve more than a WhatsApp forward. 
• Laying out place cards. You can even play matchmaker by seating two people — who very obviously only have eyes for each other — next to each other!
• Setting the mood by lighting a candle with a welcoming aroma. 
• Setting up a buffet so every dish guests bring is on full display. 

2. Play Board Games

If you and your friends love games, you can spend the day playing board games.

Bring your favorite board games out — be it Taboo, Heads Up, or Monopoly — and get carried away in merriment. If you don’t have board games, you can also play Bingo, but tweak the rules a bit and read out Thanksgiving keywords instead of numbers. The first one to win these games gets dibs on movie selection. 

You can also take it to the next level by playing Jenga — the possibilities are endless. 

Being competitive will have everyone on the edge of their seats which can be so much fun! 

3. Have a Pajama Party

Instead of dressing up, have fun dressing down in your favorite and most comfy PJs!

Throw a pajama party this Friendsgiving to give your workaholic buddies a chance to wear their comfiest nighttime ensembles. Keep it cool and casual with the dress code, but go all out with the movie and food selection. 

4. Serve Fall-Themed Drinks

If Thanksgiving is incomplete without drinks and Friendsgiving is the lite version of Thanksgiving, you have to serve drinks to your pals on Friendsgiving. It’s basic math!

You can serve drinks and cocktails at your Thanksgiving party to get the camaraderie going. Apple Cider Moscow Mule and Caramel Apple Mimosas are great options, but so are Boozy Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate and Apple Cider Mojito. Ask your friends to pick their poison and include those beverages in your drink menu.

You can also spice things up with drinking card games.

5. Consider Virtual Celebrations

What’s that? Your besties don’t live in the same city as you?

Girl, we got you.

Instead of having an in-person celebration, set up a time and go virtual with your best buds. You can all dress in cute outfits and wear makeup to set the tone of the call. Set up a program with games or let the flow of your conversation take its own course.

6. Have a Holiday Movie Marathon

Movie marathons are underrated. You get to watch your favorite actors romance your favorite actress while cuddling with your A1s and binging on popcorn, ice cream, and sour candies. Get your girlies to add the name of their favorite holiday movies in a bowl, then pick a movie from it to keep things spontaneous and the movie selection totally random!

7. Host a Scavenger Hunt

Who said scavenger hunts are only for Easter?

You can host a fun scavenger hunt celebrating important milestones in your friendship. To make things lighter at your end, assign each guest to set up a clue. From places you met to places you frequent — this scavenger hunt can take you to places where you bonded, giving you a nostalgic blast from the past. It’s super entertaining and will keep everyone on their toes. 

8. Take Cute Pics for Instagram

What better way to commemorate a day spent with your “ride or dies” than by sneaking in some good pics? 

Set up a photo booth with cute Thanksgiving-themed props and get your selfie on. You can post a collection of these pictures on Instagram as an appreciation post for friends who’ve been with you through thick and thin. It will serve as a reminder of the good times you’ve had. They’re also great for commemorating your Friendsgiving event. 

9. Volunteer for a Good Cause

Friendsgiving is a great time to make a difference. 

You and your friends can volunteer for a project or cause that’s close to your hearts to make the world a better place. Volunteer projects often require a few hours of commitment so you should still have plenty of time to sneak in dinner with your best buds after. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

10. Make a Time Capsule

Honor your friendship and the years it survived and thrived, by making a friendship time capsule. 

You and your friends can gather things you love and throw them into a time capsule. You can even write cute notes to tell your friends how much you mean to them! Personalize the time capsule however you like to make it funny, moving, thrilling, and memorable. The group can open it on the same day several years later to reminisce over the events and happenings from bygone years. 

11. Go on a Hike

Going on a hike is the perfect Friendsgiving event for groups who love the outdoors. If you want to take a break from your usual rut and get away from it all, plan a day hike or even go camping to celebrate your friendship. 

Roast s’mores, swap stories around the campfire and prepare a simple Friendsgiving meal with your besties. It’s the perfect way to recharge among people whose company you enjoy. 

So, which of these Friendsgiving ideas are you most excited to put into action this holiday? Let us know in the comments below. 

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