It’s not a mystery why Friendsgiving is wildly popular with teens and young adults. It takes the best parts of Thanksgiving Day and combines them with a guest list of bff’s, a low-stress potluck menu, and a casual vibe that celebrates friendship and community.
Whether they're school friends, teammates, work friends or childhood besties, it's a brilliant way to celebrate with your favorite people.
It’s natural to assume that the term “Friendsgiving” was coined by the popular sitcom Friends. But the word was never actually used in the show, even though the concept is introduced in the first season’s Thanksgiving episode. The six friends all have a reason why they can’t go home for the holiday, so they cook and celebrate together in Monica’s apartment instead.
The first known use of the term Friendsgiving appeared in a national ad campaign for Bailey’s Irish Cream in 2011. Suddenly Friendsgiving was in the spotlight and the concept and term quickly gained popularity.
In the Post
|  |
(This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase by using one of the affiliate links provided in this article, then I will get a small commission at no extra expense to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read our full disclosure policyhere).
When to Hold Friendsgiving
One of the first things you have to figure out is a date! It can get a little tricky with family traditions and obligations crowding the holiday season, but if you're flexible, hopefully you can land on a date that works for your group of friends.
While turkey day has a definite date on the calendar, there are no rules about when to hold your Friendsgiving. It tends to be an autumn celebration since it’s a spin-off of Thanksgiving, but you can schedule it whenever it works for you and your friends (even if it’s not during the holiday season).
High school-aged students may choose the weekend before or after Thanksgiving weekend to avoid conflicts with family travel plans. If travel plans aren’t an issue, Thanksgiving break is a great option for a get together since schools are closed and weekend activities are usually suspended until Monday.
College students traveling home for Thanksgiving often squeeze a Friendsgiving celebration into their holiday break since many of their friends from home are likely to be in town for the holiday.
Once you've set a date, send invitations to your squad. You can send a digital invitation by text or e-mail, or a real paper invitation that you can mail or hand-deliver; digital invitations may be a bit easier and less expensive, but paper invitations are harder to ignore.
|
|
|
Our Friendsgiving invitations come with BOTH digital and paper invitation templates so you can use whatever type of invitation works best for you and is most likely to make an impression with your friends. They are available in thewebsite shopand onEtsy.
What to Serve at Friendsgiving
Before you start working on the menu, decide what type of meal to have at your Friendsgiving – it doesn’t have to be dinner.
You could have a Friendsgiving brunch or lunch or even a desserts-only Friendsgiving. Imagine a Friendsgiving brunch with this pumpkin-spiced waffles recipe from Mountainside Bakery - yum! Or a desserts-only Friendsgiving where everyone brings their favorite pie, or you set up an ice cream bar and everyone brings their favorite topping.
One of the best parts about Friendsgiving is that it’s typically potluck-style. Each guest brings a dish to share, taking the pressure off of the host to feed a big crowd an elaborate meal. I think a potluck works best when the hosts asks guests to bring a type of dish, like a side, salad or dessert, rather than a specific dish - just as long as someone brings sweet potato casserole!
Encourage the guests to bring whatever works for them, from a homemade family recipe or favorite dish to a pre-packaged fruit or veggie tray. My daughter always brings Hashbrown Casserole because she personally loves it, it's a crowd pleaser, and it’s very easy to make, even if you don’t possess any cooking skills yet (which she doesn't).
For underage guests, put sparkling apple cider on your shopping list, or come up with a festive mocktail recipe like this non-alcoholic Moscow Mule from Cupcakes and Cutlery to serve with the meal. If the guests are over 21, keep it simple and serve wine and beer – or whatever your crew usually drinks. You can take your Friendsgiving beverages up a notch with these festive Friendsgiving plastic cups, or with these clever custom wine labels from Harper and Ivy on Etsy.
Decorations for Friendsgiving
Friendsgiving is usually casual, and the decorations, if any, can be casual too, especially for young people. I love this Friendsgiving banner by Chaotic Collected and this garland by Knot & Baile. Both would be cute hung from a mantle, in a doorway, or across the front of a sideboard or kitchen cabinets. A cute "Welcome to Friendsgiving 2023" sign in a frame would add a nice touch to a buffet table or on an entry table.
|
|
|
To create an easy Friendsgiving look for your dinner table, start with a solid colored tablecloth with a burlap runner. Add one or two autumn accents like pumpkins, pine cones, apples, oranges, faux leaves or a small vase of fresh flowers to create a centerpiece or simple table scape. Add your plates, napkins and utensils, and for a personal touch, create printable name cards for each guest like the ones below that you can find inour digital shopand Etsy shop.
|
|
|
Or for an interactive Friendsgiving table, cover the table in butcher paper and set out markers or crayons, and ask your friends to write and draw on the paper tablecloth. If your table isn't too big - you can fold up the butcher paper at the end of the night and include it in your Friendsgiving Time Capsule (see below).
TIP: If you use paper plates, have your guests double-up or choose a sturdy option that will hold up to the weight of an overflowing plate of food even if that means using plain white plates. Plain white plates are perfectly fine; just use colorful napkins and cute place cards to create a festive place setting.
|
|
|
Friendsgiving Games and Fun Activities
Friendsgiving Photo Booth
Create an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity at your Friendsgiving with some fun fall-themed or Friendsgiving-themed signs and photo props. You can find an inexpensive pack of Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving props on Amazon. Or check outour digital shoporEtsy shop for printable Friendsgiving signs and selfie framesfor an extra fun photo booth set-up.
S'mores!If the weather is mild enough where you live, you can take the festivities outside after your Friendsgiving meal and gather around a fire table or Solo stove. Set up some camp chairs, offer cozy fall blankets if it’s chilly, and makes s’mores as your Friendsgiving dessert! |  |
Time Capsule TraditionIf you celebrate Friendsgiving with the same core group every year, creating a time-capsule to be opened at a future Friendsgiving is a fun annual tradition. You can fill it with mementos from this year’s Friendsgiving and each person can write down what they're thankful for and tuck it inside the capsule. When you open it at a future Friendsgiving, it will be like a gratitude journal from the past! |  |
Friendsgiving Bingo
Spice up yourFriendsgiving with a game of Bingo! No letters and numbers in this one and no bingo caller needed – just mark off your card as you find the guests – someone shows up late, a guest spills their drink, someone yells at the TV – you get the idea. The first person who gets Bingo wins! Prizes can be first dibs on leftovers, a pass from clean-up duty or choosing the next activity or party game.
Volunteer in Your Community
Consider combining your Friendsgiving celebration with a service project in your community. Hold a food drive in your neighborhood, clean up a local park, or volunteer your time at a community event. In the Triangle area, A Note in the Pocket provides quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families; they are often looking for volunteers. Working together for a good cause will make your Friendsgiving meal that much more meaningful.
Turkey Trot
Turkey TrotIf you’re holding your Friendsgiving over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, work up an appetite at a local Turkey Trot! With about 1,000 Turkey Trot races held every year, odds are good that you’ll be able to find one being held in your area.
Turkey Trots are usually family-friendly races that sometimes have a charitable component and always focus on FUN! Participants often dress up in costumes or wear festive holiday-themed accessories while they race. So find a race near you (a quick search of Facebook events revealed over a dozen in my area), sign up, wear ridiculous clothes or accessories, and get your trot on as a part of your Friendsgiving this year!
|
|
|
Card Games or Board Games Marathon
Break out the playing cards or your favorite board games for an old school gaming marathon. Go with a retro theme and only play board games from when you were little like Apples to Apples and Guess Who.
Movie Marathon
Sometimes there's no better way to spend time with friends than curled up together watching your favorite movies. If Friendsgiving sends you into a food coma, grab your PJs and some blankets and geek out on a favorite movie series like Harry Potter or High School Musical.
Scavenger Hunt
There are lots of ways to organize a scavenger hunt. The old school version means handing out a list of household objects and challenging teams to find everything on the list. Modern scavenger hunts often send competing teams into the community to do funny things or witness specific events and capture them on their phones. Either way, a scavenger hunt is a great way to spend a couple of hours being silly with your friends.
Flag Football
Season 3 of Friends features a game of flag football that fully reveals Monica's competitive nature. If your group of friends likes a little friendly competition and aren't afraid to get sweaty, Friendsgiving offers a perfect opportunity to plan a backyard game of flag football. Like a Turkey Trot, it's a great way to burn off some excess calories.
More Holiday Articles and Resources
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Teens That They'll Actually Use
25 Holiday Gift Ideas for Teens
Winter Break Bucket List
Julie Stallman is the owner and publisher of TriangleSeniorYear.com. She is a graphic designer and marketing professional with a love of all things creative and a sincere appreciation for small business owners. Julie and her family have lived in Cary, NC for over 23 years and feel fortunate to call the Triangle home.
