Friendsgiving party 101: Eat, love, play

Whether you give credit to Charlie Brown or Monica Geller, Friendsgiving has become part of the November holidays for many young adults, with some 30% planning to celebrate, according to The Atlantic. KSL Classifieds invites you to learn how to host a perfect party.

Who to invite

Friendsgiving is an excuse to get together with your closest friends to relax, play games and, most importantly, eat! Unlike the other big event in November, your celebration can be as casual as you’d like. Invite guests to dress down — all the way down to comfy pajamas, if that’s your vibe — and come for the company.

Photo credit: Askar Abayev

What will you serve?

Lest you fear a full Thanksgiving spread is needed, rest assured: This is typically a potluck deal. One main dish should suffice for your part of the meal. And you can keep that simple enough by using a slow cooker or pressure cooker to prepare it.

Planning the menu

Because it is a mini Thanksgiving, you might want to serve a turkey breast or fried chicken, for example. Then ask all your guests to bring a side: potatoes, salads, breads, casseroles, etc. If there are specific sides you can’t go without, you can try making assignments. Use a shared Google spreadsheet for a food signup to avoid six bowls of green jello and nothing else.

Since Friendsgiving is less formal than its counterpart, consider more adventurous recipes. Try bacon and chive au gratin potatoes instead of mashed; butternut squash ravioli instead of macaroni and cheese; or herbed biscuits or crescent rolls instead of traditional dinner rolls. 

Go big with desserts

Ask half your friends to bring a side dish and the other half to bring a dessert. If you want pies, you definitely don’t need to stick with pumpkin. Try German chocolate, caramel apple or a raspberry cheesecake. Actually, try them all. Suggest they make pie bites (using a mini muffin tin) so you won’t need forks.

Photo credit: Noelle Otto

Alternative dinner ideas

Another option is skipping a main dish altogether and instead munching from charcuterie boards. Ask guests to get creative with their platters.

• Classic meat and cheese: dry salami, prosciutto, brie, Gouda

• Build-a-taco: protein, shells and toppings

• Veggie mania: vegetables and dips

• Breakfast buffet: pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, toast

• Fruit-opolis: tropical or standard fruits and dips

• Wings and rings: chicken wings, onion rings

• Potatoes: french fries, tater tots, waffle fries, dipping sauces

• Charlie Brown special: popcorn, toast, jelly beans, pretzels

• Chocoholics: cookies, cake, dipped strawberries, hot fudge

• Birthday bash: mini cupcakes, gummy bears, licorice 

Date: When to host Friendsgiving

According to the etiquette authority Emily Post Institute, you should throw your Friendsgiving party one or two weekends before Thanksgiving. There are no actual rules, though, so really, you can hold it whenever you want. But if you’re planning to serve traditional holiday foods, such as turkey, you may want to have it earlier than later. You don’t want mothers getting upset that you stole their meal thunder. 

Setting up your party

A potluck meal means you’ll have several serving dishes; keep them corralled on a buffet table instead of your dining table. Throw a basic tablecloth and/or table runner down and let the dishes provide the visual interest — no extra decor needed. Place plates and cutlery at the head of the table and a drink dispenser and cups at the end. Have some sturdy serving utensils laid out for dishing up the food.

Photo credit: Mat Brown

Create a mood with music

Set the tone for your dinner party with a fitting playlist. Light jazz, country, ‘80s rock ballads — you decide. Personalize your list by asking friends to suggest songs they associate with the holidays. Remember to keep the volume low enough so guests can talk at a normal level.

Activities: What to do at your gathering

Unlike a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner, Friendsgiving is usually more of a party than a sit down meal. People can eat all together at the table, or they may want to snack throughout the evening. 

Plan games to keep everyone involved. Provide simple card games, board games and old favorites such as Twister, giving friends a chance to mingle and laugh. Enjoying each other’s company is the whole point of your gathering, after all.

Photo credit: Gustavo Fring

Give thanks, make memories

To keep with the theme of gratitude, invite guests to share their thoughts about the past year. Place a large chalkboard, poster board or craft paper on a table for friends to write a few things they are especially grateful for. At the end of the night, take a photo of it and send it to the group text for a fun reminder of your Friendsgiving party.

Find more holiday hosting and decorating tips on the KSL Classifieds Resource page.