30+ creative Friendsgiving ideas to make your holiday gathering unforgettable
Friendsgiving ideas like scavenger hunt, DIY photo booth, and outdoor activities are essential for turning a simple dinner into an unforgettable and meaningful celebration of friendship. While Thanksgiving is usually a family holiday, Friendsgiving allows people to honour their chosen family members and friends.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Creative Friendsgiving ideas
- 1. Friendsgiving Bingo
- 2. DIY photo booth
- 3. Pie-making contest
- 4. DIY cocktail
- 5. Friendsgiving trivia
- 6. International potluck
- 7. Paint and sip
- 8. Gratitude board
- 9. Gourmet pizza night
- 10. DIY craft station
- 11. The gratitude jar
- 12. Watch a movie
- 13. Self-serve drinks
- 14. Create a playlist
- 15. Scavenger hunt
- 16. Recipe swap
- 17. Outdoor activities
- 18. Friendsgiving karaoke
- 19. Banner decorations
- 20. Friendsgiving aprons
- 21. Charcuterie board
- 22. Apple cranberry sauce
- 23. Festive cocktail meatballs
- 24. Apple pie stuffed cupcakes
- 25. Macy's parade drinking game
- 26. Never have I ever
- 27. Face the pie
- 28. Murder mystery game
- 29. The gratitude game
- 30. Pumpkin patch balloon stomp
- 31. Gratitude guess
- 32. Two truths and a lie
- What is the Friendsgiving holiday party?
- How do I make Friendsgiving more fun?
Key takeaways
- The most successful Friendsgiving parties incorporate innovative themes, non-traditional cuisines, and a more relaxed ambience.
- The best memories are made via shared experiences, not just shared meals.
- The ideas prioritise guest participation in activities such as a pie-making contest, a photo booth, and group games.
Creative Friendsgiving ideas
These ideas are customisable, collaborative, and centred upon shared experiences. Discover some of the best Friendsgiving celebration ideas for your inspiration.
1. Friendsgiving Bingo
Friendsgiving Bingo is a fun and engaging game with a unique spin on traditional bingo. Instead of a standard bingo caller generating numbers or words, the game involves ticking off squares as particular events or activities occur throughout the day.
2. DIY photo booth
A DIY photo booth is a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your Friendsgiving party. It creates a dedicated location for attendees to snap fun group photos together, and the DIY aspect allows you to tailor it to your event's theme and budget.
3. Pie-making contest
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A pie-making competition is a fun, social event that lends a competitive element to a typical Friendsgiving celebration. Instead of a traditional potluck, where people bring random food, a pie-making contest makes the dessert the event's focal point. It's a way to combine friendly competition with the spirit of thanksgiving and friendship.
4. DIY cocktail
Setting up a DIY cocktail bar is a fun Friendsgiving idea that lets you personalise and interactively enhance your Friendsgiving celebration. The activity allows guests to be innovative and create unique beverages, making the experience enjoyable and memorable.
5. Friendsgiving trivia
Friendsgiving trivia is a delightful way to spend the holiday season with friends, combining the comfort of Thanksgiving dinner with friendly competition. It's an opportunity to put your knowledge to the test on a variety of subjects, such as the history of Friendsgiving.
6. International potluck
An international potluck is a unique Friendsgiving idea that features dishes from around the world. Instead of the regular meal, each visitor is allocated or selects a country and brings a dish typical of that country's cuisine. It turns the gathering into a lively exploration of other cultures and flavours.
7. Paint and sip
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Instead of focusing entirely on the meal, visitors are given canvases, brushes, and paints to make their own paintings while enjoying drinks and appetisers. This game promotes conversation and laughter as friends unlock their inner artists. It also creates a pleasant, low-pressure setting for everyone to connect.
8. Gratitude board
Instead of reciting what you're grateful for, this engaging game makes an unforgettable keepsake. Set up a giant chalkboard or whiteboard in the centre of your party room. Give guests different coloured chalk or markers and ask them to write messages of gratitude.
9. Gourmet pizza night
A gourmet pizza night is an excellent option for a unique Friendsgiving celebration. This innovative and engaging theme encourages everyone to get involved and create their own culinary masterpiece. Convert your kitchen into a pizzeria by cooking a range of high-quality toppings. Offer a variety of doughs, including gluten-free and whole wheat.
10. DIY craft station
Creating a DIY craft station is a memorable and distinctive Friendsgiving idea. It goes beyond the conventional potluck meal, giving your guests a creative outlet. You can choose a seasonally appropriate theme, such as decorating little pumpkins, creating personalised gratitude notebooks, or making festive wreaths.
11. The gratitude jar
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The gratitude jar is a heartfelt and simple Friendsgiving idea that adds a special touch to the celebration. Before or during the event, give each attendee a little piece of paper, a notecard, and a pen. Put a decorative jar in a central area. Ask everyone to write down something they're happy about.
12. Watch a movie
Watching a movie is an excellent and low-key way to commemorate Friendsgiving. Instead of a formal supper, set up a projector or a massive television to create a casual mood. Encourage visitors to bring their blankets and cushions, and provide movie-themed treats such as popcorn, candies, and hot cocoa.
13. Self-serve drinks
Instead of always playing barman, create a distinct space with various beverages for guests to serve themselves. In a galvanised tub filled with ice, serve bottled drinks such as sodas and sparkling water.
14. Create a playlist
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Create a collaborative playlist to set the right mood for your Friendsgiving celebration. Make a shared playlist using a music streaming service and welcome your friends to participate. Encourage everyone to contribute their favourite songs to create a mix of vintage anthems and contemporary hits.
15. Scavenger hunt
A Friendsgiving scavenger hunt is an enjoyable and participatory way to amuse guests and foster friendship. Hide various Thanksgiving-themed things about your home or yard to set it up. Make a list of clues pointing to the following hidden item. The final hint may lead to a special award.
16. Recipe swap
A Friendsgiving recipe swap is a fun and engaging way to celebrate the season's culinary traditions. Instead of each individual bringing a single dish to the Friendsgiving gathering, the host can request guests get a copy of a favourite holiday recipe to share.
17. Outdoor activities
Outdoor activities provide an excellent opportunity to connect and have fun. The activities could be a casual football game or a park scavenger hunt. You might also plan a hike along a trail.
18. Friendsgiving karaoke
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Friendsgiving karaoke is a fun and engaging activity. Guests can gather around a karaoke machine or a television with a karaoke application and take turns singing their favourite songs. It is a fun, interactive way for friends to connect and create lasting memories.
19. Banner decorations
Banner decoration is a fun and easy Friendsgiving idea that adds a festive touch to your party. It is a popular option, allowing hosts and visitors to create personalised messages. It can include cutting letters from coloured paper, embellishing them with glitter or markers, and putting them together using twine or ribbon.
20. Friendsgiving aprons
Friendsgiving aprons are a memorable and practical activity that lends a personal touch to the celebrations. Before cooking starts, guests can personalise a basic apron with puff paint, fabric markers, or iron-on stickers. It not only prevents their clothes from spills, but it also serves as a fun icebreaker and a keepsake from the event.
21. Charcuterie board
A charcuterie board is a classic Friendsgiving activity that blends artistry and deliciousness. Guests can work together to create a stunning and abundant spread of cured meats, fruits, crackers, and nuts. The collaborative effort fosters discussion and allows participants to contribute.
22. Apple cranberry sauce
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Making apple cranberry sauce for Friendsgiving is a great way to get everyone together in the kitchen. It's a simple yet fulfilling process in which friends may work together to chop apples, measure sugar, and stir the simmering pot.
23. Festive cocktail meatballs
Rather than a traditional sit-down meal, this participatory method lets guests socialise and enjoy each other's company while eating a range of tasty meatballs. Hosts can make different kinds of meatballs. Guests can then try a selection of these savoury snacks, which are frequently provided in slow cookers to remain warm.
24. Apple pie stuffed cupcakes
Apple pie-stuffed cupcakes are a unique take on a traditional dessert that allows friends to collaborate in the kitchen. The procedure entails making a batch of cupcakes and then hollowing out the centres to fill them with a spiced apple pie filling. The cupcakes are finished with a crumble or swirl of cinnamon-spiced buttercream frosting.
25. Macy's parade drinking game
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade drinking game is a popular and funny Friendsgiving activity that turns watching the parade in the morning into an interactive affair. The rules are straightforward and customisable, although they typically involve assigning specific actions as triggers for drinking a sip or a shot.
26. Never have I ever
Never have I ever is a popular Friendsgiving game that allows you to uncover new things about your friends while having a good laugh. The game is easy to play and doesn't require any extra equipment. One person begins by saying, "Never have I ever..." and then mentions something they have never done.
27. Face the pie
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Face the Pie is an entertaining, messy, competitive Friendsgiving party idea. In this game, two young players sit across from one another at a table, with a pie between them. On the count of three, each attempts to force the other's face into the pie.
28. Murder mystery game
A murder mystery game follows a pre-written screenplay with a plot, character profiles, and clues. Every participant is assigned a role to play and must maintain their persona throughout the evening. The purpose is to investigate a fictitious murder, with one of the guests secretly portraying the perpetrator.
29. The gratitude game
In the gratitude game, a basket or bowl containing slips of paper and pens is passed around. Each individual writes one or more things for which they are grateful, folds the paper, and puts it in the bowl. After everyone has participated, the papers are shuffled and drawn one at a time, with each individual taking turns reading aloud what is written.
30. Pumpkin patch balloon stomp
Pumpkin patch balloon stomp is a lively Friendsgiving activity that blends the festive atmosphere of a pumpkin patch with the competitive fun of a balloon stomp. Guests are separated into two teams, each member wearing a balloon tied to their ankle with a string. The goal is to pop the opponent team's balloons while defending your own.
31. Gratitude guess
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The game is played by having each individual write something they are thankful for on a slip of paper. The host then collects the slips and reads them out one by one. As each slip is read, the rest of the team attempts to guess who wrote it.
32. Two truths and a lie
The game is easy to play: each player takes turns disclosing three facts about themselves, two of which are true and one false. The crew then attempts to guess which statement is a lie. The game can lead to unexpected and amusing revelations as people discuss uncommon experiences or skills.
What is the Friendsgiving holiday party?
According to the York Daily Record, Friendsgiving is a casual meal inspired by Thanksgiving, enjoyed with friends.
How do I make Friendsgiving more fun?
Making Friendsgiving more enjoyable involves incorporating unique, interactive, and personalised features into the conventional dinner celebration.
Creative Friendsgiving ideas elevate a simple dinner into an unforgettable experience. If cooperation, personalisation, and interactive fun are prioritised, these gatherings become more than just meals.
Yen.com.gh published an article featuring fun office games to promote teamwork. Office games allow coworkers to bond and entertainingly learn about one another.
Fun workplace games are an excellent way to unite everyone and make work pleasurable. They promote companionship, increase communication, and boost morale.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
