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You are here: Home / Tablescapes / How to Host a Friendsgiving Dinner Party

How to Host a Friendsgiving Dinner Party

My best Friendsgiving ideas for a dinner party with tablescape, decorations, tips, and menu. Celebrate Thanksgiving with friends with a potluck style party you can host at home, outdoors, or in a small space.

Friendsgiving Thanksgiving ideas

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?

  • How to host a small Friendsgiving
  • What is a Friendsgiving party?
  • When should I host it?
  • What do you eat at Friendsgiving?
  • Best Friendsgiving ideas
  • Table decor
  • Games and activities
  • Easy party decorations
  • Friendsgiving menu

How to host a small Friendsgiving

These ideas for Friendsgiving are tried and true and have been tested by my friends and me for years. Follow this guide for a fun-filled celebration!

We used to have a circle of friends who were all transplants with no family nearby. So we all got together on Thanksgiving day to celebrate with each other and our children.

Those are some of my fondest memories of any holidays over the years. But as seasons change, so do the seasons of life. Our Friendsgiving dinner parties phased out as friends moved away, and lives and families changed and evolved.

Friendsgiving Thanksgiving tablescape

What is a Friendsgiving party?

Friendsgiving is the newest trend in entertaining for Thanksgiving and it’s been gaining in popularity over the last decade.

The purpose is to celebrate the holiday with friends ahead of time, or it can be hosted on Thanksgiving day if you have a group of friends who can’t be with family.

When should I host it?

Plan to hold your Friendsgiving dinner a week or two before the actual holiday. Or, you can have it on Thanksgiving day if you have a group who doesn’t have travel plans or family nearby. 

Thanksgiving table setting

What do you eat at Friendsgiving?

The meal for Friendsgiving can be very similar to, or the same as that of Thanksgiving. If you’re hosting a dinner party a week or two before the holiday, you may want to scale down the menu or serve up some alternatives.

For instance, make my easy crockpot turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. Or make rice dressing instead of traditional stuffing. You’ll find a full list of recipes below.

In addition, hosting potluck style means each guest can bring some of their favorite recipes to share with the group.

Thanksgiving centerpiece idea

Best Friendsgiving ideas

  • Start planning in early November. That way everyone has time to plan what dish they’ll bring. This is definitely a potluck party!
  • Invitations are casual. The entire nature of Friendsgiving is that you celebrate with good friends. There’s no need to send formal invitations. Just start a text chain, a facebook event, or send an Evite digital invitation.
  • The host usually cooks the turkey. This comes down to simple logistics. It’s easier to cook the main protein at home and let everyone else bring a side dish or dessert to share. You get to try new recipes that other’s hold dear, and there’s an amazing variety of food available.
  • Have games or activities available. If you’re hosting a group for friends that don’t know each other well, it’s nice to have something to break the ice. Conversation starters or board games are a good option. The host can provide them or ask guests to bring their favorite.
  • Provide take-home boxes for leftovers. If you have a ton of food left over or if guests want to take some of their favorite new dishes they tried, have boxes or tins available to fill.
  • Coordinate your menu. Make sure there’s open communication regarding the menu so you don’t have three mac n’ cheese dishes, and no pies! Use a sign up list like SignUp Genius, Evite, or a simple group text.
  • Ideas for cooking-challenged guests. Not everyone loves cooking, or is great at it. Assign things like dinner rolls, a simple appetizer, or wine to them. These are also good items to bring to Friendsgiving last minute.
  • Special diets. The nice thing about a potluck dinner party is that anyone who needs to follow a special diet can bring their own type of dish. That makes hosting so much less stressful.
entertaining pro Chris Nease

PARTY TIP: Extend your Friendsgiving group to include co-workers, neighbors, or friends of friends who can’t be with their own family. The more the merrier!

fall table setting

PARTY TIP: If you want to use a tall floral arrangement on the table, move it to the end instead of the middle. This way it still makes a statement but doesn’t impede the view between guests and conversation across the table

Friendsgiving table setting

Table decor

Creating a fall table is one of my favorite parts of hosting. I was drawn to the color combination of blue and orange, and the patio was the perfect outdoor setting for a simple Thanksgiving tablescape.

The table setting is casual and inviting but still has a holiday feel with a large flower arrangement and mini pumpkins. If you want a more formal look, check out this formal table setting.

  • Start with an inexpensive burlap runner, basic white dishes, and coordinating napkins and drink ware.
  • Follow these secrets to flower arranging to create a gorgeous but inexpensive centerpiece. If you have room, move the show-stopping arrangement to one end of the table where it’s still a focal point but doesn’t impede the view between guests.
  • Line candlesticks down the center of the table and place mini pumpkins on top. This brings in a pop of color and whimsy to the setting.
  • Metallic details are the “jewelry” of the table and you can use it in brass candlesticks, gold flatware, gold-painted lucky wishbones, and copper Moscow mule cups.
  • Use pine cones for a natural element that doubles as place card holders.
Thanksgiving tabletop

PARTY TIP: Be prepared to share your recipes with the others so they can add it to their holiday menu repertoire. Print out a few copies beforehand so you can hand them out.

Games and activities

*contains affiliate links

Be prepared with some fun interactive games to play.

  • We love playing Apples to Apples, and it’s suitable for all ages.
  • If you’re only playing with adults, Cards Against Humanity is hilarious! Or try the family version.
  • A friendly game of poker can be fun too.
  • Depending on the day you choose, there may be football on tv to watch. 
  • At the end of the meal each guest can take their shot at pulling the lucky wishbone with a partner to see who’s wishes will come true!
pull the lucky wish bone
fall patio decorating

Easy party decorations

When you host a Friendsgiving dinner party be prepared with these themed decoration ideas. They work well for an outdoor party or for a small apartment.

  • Add fall centerpiece ideas like simple vases of dry wheat, cattails, or Pampas grass on side tables and buffets.
  • Place small pumpkins on tables and use warm fall colors for pillows and tablescape.
  • Gather natural items together in a basket. Add rustic antlers, pinecones, feathers, etc.
  • Make sure to have cozy seating areas ready to gather in. The best part is that most of the work has already been done so when you get together you can relax and have fun.
  • Don’t stress too much about seating. You can move chairs and benches back and forth from the sitting area to the dinner table, when needed.
  • Set up a bar or lounge area and serve my hot Russian tea for sipping. Add a shot of rum or bourbon to make it extra special for the adults.
  • If you’re lucky enough to set up outdoors provide blankets and throws, and wood ready in the fire pit in case the temperature drops. Add pots of mums to the space.
hot cider on tray
foraged antlers in caddy

When we celebrated Friendsgiving it was an all day event. Guests would arrive to the host’s home by around 11 am or noon. We’d eat appetizers and sip wine, and talk and play games while the turkey finished cooking. Dinner usually happened around 6 or 7pm.

fall-cheers

Friendsgiving menu

Sip on fall cocktails or wine, and nibble on light apple appetizers or a party cheese board throughout the day while the food cooks.

Here are some of my favorite recipes you can make and take to a Friendsgiving potluck.

PARTY TIP: Have some disposable containers on hand so guests can take home leftovers for lunch the next day.

Friendsgiving Food Ideas

Bring any of these tried and true recipes to your Friendsgiving party.

Easy Herbed Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe

This turkey breast is perfect for Friendsgiving where the gatherings may be smaller. And using the slow cooker makes it so easy to make ahead.

Butternut Squash Baby Kale Salad Recipe

Use those butternut squash in season by adding it to this amazing salad full of flavor and texture.

Curried Pumpkin Soup & Stuffing Balls

This rich and scrumptious soup is a fantastic starter. Serve it in mini cups or shot glasses for a fun appetizer, and add these stuffing balls on the side.

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

A vegetarian soup starter course with lots of fall flavor.

Easy Wild Rice Dressing Side Dish Recipe (vegetarian)

Serve this easy delicious dressing with wild rice and ciabatta, on the side instead of stuffing.

Creamy Mac-n-Cheese Recipe

This macaroni and cheese is creamy and delicious and feeds a crowd.

Marinated Green Bean Salad 

This green bean salad adds something light to the table among all those casseroles. Plus, you won't need the oven for it!

Easy Side Dish - Cornbread Spoon Bread is a Southern Favorite!

No holiday meal is complete without this traditional southern cornbread spoon bread. It's lightly sweet, it's moist, and it goes great with any meal.

Delicious Broccoli Casserole

Upgrade your green bean casserole to this amazing broccoli casserole instead.

Streusel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Is it a side dish? Is it dessert? Who cares. It's truly delicious and has both marshmallows AND crunchy streusel on top so you don't have to choose.

Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe is a Family Favorite!

I've been making this easy pumpkin pie recipe for 20 years. It's so good there's no reason to change it up!

Easy Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake Recipe

It doesn't get much easier than this pumpkin dump cake. The flavors are traditionally Thanksgiving but the presentation is rustic and another great alternative to pie.

Easy 4-Layer Pumpkin Cake Recipe

Add a cake next to all the pies. This layer cake looks impressive and tastes delectable!

Pecan Pie Trifle Recipe

Add another twist on tradition with this pecan pie trifle. Store bought pie meets sweetened cream filling and it's a marriage made in heaven.

Thanksgiving Trifle Dessert for Fall - Easy No Bake Recipe

Luscious layers of pumpkin cream, pumpkin cake, and ginger snaps make this fall dessert a showstopper. Both in presentation and taste.

Easiest Pumpkin Ice Cream for Fall Dessert

It doesn't get any easier than this make-ahead pumpkin flavored ice cream. Serve it alongside pie or on its own.

Delicious Chess Pie Recipe

This is another classic family favorite. Made with sugar and butter and prepared pastry, how can you go wrong?

This Chocolate Chess Pie Should Be On Your Holiday Dessert Table

This southern deep dish chocolate chess pie is perfect for dinner party or holiday dessert. It's easy to make using milk, cocoa powder, and a touch of instant coffee for a rich, indulgent dessert.

Rustic Apple Galette with Caramel Drizzle Recipe

Add this apple galette to the table for a different flavor profile. The galette is a fun rustic twist on pie.

DIY Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes

These adorable Thanksgiving cupcakes are perfect for your littlest guests.

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Previous: Easy Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake Recipe
Next: Traditional Thanksgiving Table Decor

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November 8, 2021 11:12 am Chris Filed Under: autumn, blue, Dinner Party, Entertaining, Holidays, Menus for Entertaining, orange, Tablescapes, Thanksgiving

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bird says

    November 6, 2019 at 12:02 pm

    Love this color combo, and you made it look so beautiful as always! ♥

  2. Nicole says

    November 5, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    I’m always blown away by your tables capes and party themes! And I am so obsessed with copper dishes right now!

    • Chris says

      November 10, 2015 at 9:35 am

      Thanks so much, Nicole!
      I know, isn’t the copper so pretty. I love how it coordinates with the gold/brass that’s been so popular too.

  3. Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says

    November 4, 2015 at 7:04 pm

    Beautiful, just beautiful! And such a great idea for special holiday memories with our friends!

    • Chris says

      November 10, 2015 at 9:36 am

      Robin, we have so many good stories to tell from our years of “Friendsgiving” 😉

  4. [email protected] blog says

    November 4, 2015 at 8:56 am

    This looks fabulous! We frequently spend the holiday with friends as we are all so far from family. Thanks for the great ideas.

    • Chris says

      November 10, 2015 at 9:39 am

      Yes, Elizabeth, it can be tough to travel at Thanksgiving. This is a great alternative.

  5. Kara Woolery says

    November 3, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    I absolutely adore this! I love the mugs, place settings, and the cozy sitting area! And Chris you look adorable! Cute outfit!!

    • Chris says

      November 3, 2015 at 10:29 pm

      Thank you, Kara. Sometimes I think I entertain just so I can shop and wear a new outfit! LOL

  6. Carrie Harris says

    November 3, 2015 at 10:21 am

    This is gorgeous!! I live in a climate where outdoor Thanksgiving entertaining may or may not work, but I love the idea of an outdoor Friendsgiving!

    • Chris says

      November 3, 2015 at 10:26 pm

      Same here, Carrie. 70 degrees one week, 40 the next!

  7. Amy BI says

    November 2, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    I love this! I would come to your Friendsgiving in a heartbeat.

    • Chris says

      November 3, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      Girrrrrl, we would have a blast! Paul and Chuck could be best buds too!

  8. Tori says

    November 2, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    I love how casual yet elegant this all looks Chris!

    • Chris says

      November 3, 2015 at 10:24 pm

      Thanks so much, Tori. It’s fun for me to look back and see how my style has evolved over the years.

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The most important thing about parties & entertaining is the guest list! Next, it should be delicious, beautiful, unique, and fun. Chris Nease shares her years of experience for how to pull it all together with style. Cheers!

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