When thinking of Thanksgiving, many people automatically think about traditional celebrations with family. But for those who can’t make it home, don’t have family members to celebrate with, or just want to spend time with their chosen family, Friendsgiving can be an alternate way to make merry. Thanksgiving is ultimately about community and gratitude — concepts we can celebrate whether surrounded by friends, family, or neighbors.
Planning a Friendsgiving event is also a great excuse to bring people together and extend the holiday, even if attendees do have plans with their families on the actual Thanksgiving date. Plan your event with Eventbrite and share it conveniently with your community — Eventbrite can help you sell multiple ticket types right on your website or Facebook page.
If you need help coming up with Friendsgiving theme ideas, we’ve compiled a list of 15 unique events that we hope will excite and inspire you, along with some tips for creating a safe and enjoyable event.
Friendsgiving Ideas Categories
Interactive
Classes and workshops
Charitable
Virtual
Tips for planning a successful Friendsgiving event
Creating a joyful Friendsgiving event is at the heart of your planning. With a few strategic decisions, you can ensure everyone has a great time.
Decide who will be invited
Before brainstorming new Friendsgiving theme ideas, it’s important to have a good idea of who your attendees will be. Is this an event you’re planning for a place of worship, a neighborhood, a workplace, or a community? Is this an event catering to children, adults, or both?
Depending on your attendees, you’ll need to tailor the event activities accordingly. Think about the likes and dislikes of your potential audience, what they enjoy, and what moves them can help you shape your overall event.
Involve everyone
One way to ensure that your Friendsgiving is a success is to make sure everyone gets involved in some way or another. You can use icebreakers or team activities to get everyone to participate. If you’re organizing a community event with guests from different backgrounds, encourage them to bring culturally significant items to share.
You can also include friendly contests with exciting prizes, encourage guests to share event highlights on social media and consider charitable initiatives such as food drives or donation collections.
Design a comfortable, inviting event space
Nothing puts a damper on what could’ve been a great event like a cramped space. To ensure your Friendsgiving event is a great success, select a comfortable and spacious venue. Make sure the chosen venue can accommodate the number of expected guests and any planned activities without crowding the dining area.
To accurately plan your event, you should be able to estimate the size of the event. Encourage people to RSVP — consider offering incentives like early access or queue-free entry. For ticketed events, consider tiered pricing to motivate early ticket purchases, aiding in more accurate planning.
Thanksgiving, no matter how you celebrate it, is about unity, so think about how best to make your guests feel relaxed and welcome.
Interactive Friendsgiving party ideas
Explore interactive event ideas that foster community connections and lively interactions, making your Friendsgiving celebrations unforgettable.
1. Football watch party
Cost: 💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
Watching football is one of the more traditional Thanksgiving party ideas, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. Make it large-scale by renting out a sports bar or events space and setting up enough seating for everyone. Cater some bar-quality snacks and have guests come wearing jerseys and colors that support their favorite team.
Pro Tip: Include different side activities and cocktails for those not that interested in football. They can also enjoy watching the halftime performances, so make sure you have access to a big screen and a good sound system that will work for your venue.
2. Board game day
Cost: 💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
If your attendees are competitive but not really into football, consider hosting a board game extravaganza. You’ll want to provide a ton of board games, but you can also encourage guests to bring their favorite games to teach others. Ask attendees to share what makes their choice special or who introduced it to them.
Pro Tip: If your guests are particularly interested in one game, turn your event into a tournament to see who comes out on top. Be sure to reward the winners!
3. Community potluck
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
When bringing a diverse community together, a potluck is a great way to share different cultures and traditions. Perhaps not everyone in your community celebrates Thanksgiving specifically, but they would still be interested in an event that brings people together to share food and give thanks.
You’ll learn a lot about your neighbors and maybe make some unexpected new friends. Set up an event page so your community members can get their tickets.
Pro Tip: Create a sign-up sheet where attendees can write down what they’ll bring to avoid duplication or competition.
4. Friendly retreat
Cost: 💲💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
You can craft a unique Friendsgiving experience, drawing inspiration from similar events like the Gluten-Free Friendsgiving Healing Retreat by SolFlowers Holistic Apothecarium. Elevate your event with a focus on community, healing, gratitude, joyful interactions, or other elements that resonate with your community or friends.
You can further enrich your retreat by incorporating engaging activities, a wholesome feast, and opportunities for personal exploration in breathtaking locations.
Pro Tip: Establish an online hub or social group for your Friendsgiving event to maintain year-round community connections, extending the spirit of togetherness and gratitude.
Shop Made in DC / Wine and Watercolors / Washington, DC
Classes and workshops
Discover Friendsgiving event Ideas that emphasize learning and skill-sharing, perfect for celebrating the spirit of Thanksgiving with friends, family, or community.
5. Thanksgiving cooking class
Cost: 💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
Hold a cooking class to bring like-minded people, friends, and family together, fostering culinary skills and creating unforgettable Thanksgiving memories. You can base it around popular snacks and classic dishes, such as pumpkin pies, or draw inspiration from culinary adventures like the Friends-Themed Friendsgiving by Cozymeal, where friends come together over a delectable 3-course meal.
Pro Tip: Offer customized recipe cards as event souvenirs, allowing attendees to recreate the magic of Friendsgiving at home.
6. Candle-making workshop
Cost: 💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
Candle-making can be a memorable Friendsgiving experience for a hands-on and heartwarming event. You can bring warmth and creativity to your event by crafting custom candles, perfect for gifting or decorating your Friendsgiving table.
Encourage attendees to share the photos of their masterpieces on social media, and you can even turn it into a contest and reward the winners.
Pro Tip: Offer a variety of fragrance options to suit different preferences and encourage participants to get creative by mixing scents. Providing an array of choices will make the experience even more personalized and enjoyable for your attendees.
7. Charcuterie and cocktail workshop
Cost: 💲💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
Indulge your community in a unique Friendsgiving experience by organizing a charcuterie and cocktail workshop. Elevate your celebration with a mouthwatering cheese and charcuterie board, expertly crafted with food-styling tips from the pros.
Tickets should include all the ingredients for your board and delightful treats, samples, and cocktails. Make your event exclusive by offering limited spots like EZPZ Gatherings and encourage the readers to reserve their spots early.
Pro Tip: Encourage attendees to personalize their boards with favorite flavors and garnishes to create a one-of-a-kind appetizer and end it with a friendly contest!
Charitable Friendsgiving theme ideas
Embrace the spirit of giving and gratitude during your Friendsgiving celebrations. While having fun, use the opportunity to make a positive impact, pay it forward, and express thanks through acts of kindness and generosity.
8. Turkey trot 5K race
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
For the athletic group that doesn’t just want to watch sports on Thanksgiving, walk or run a Turkey Trot 5K race that will get everyone ready for a big dinner. Consider planning training meet-ups in the lead-up to the race to foster community.
You can add a charitable component to the event by having runners, either in teams or as individuals, collect donations from their friends and family to donate to charity. Also, consider creating custom T-shirts for the runners to commemorate the event and work with local vendors to provide refreshments afterward. Don’t forget to thank the vendors for their support.
Pro Tip: Maximize your charitable impact by partnering with a local nonprofit organization or charity and designate all the proceeds to support a specific cause.
9. Block party
Cost: 💲💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
Celebrate Friendsgiving with the community at a lively block party! Share a meal, enjoy live performances, and support local vendors.
Embrace the spirit of giving by making your event donation-based, raising funds for a meaningful cause, such as building a school like Jeannette Kobelt in this event hosted by Experience Initiative. You can also offer prizes to appreciate attendees who contribute the most to the fundraiser.
Pro Tip: Encourage local businesses and sponsors to support your charitable initiative, providing a platform for them to showcase their services and contribute to your fundraising efforts.
10. Pie-making contest
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and unleash your inner pastry chef with a pie-making contest. Host your Friendsgiving event around this delightful competition and watch participants whip up their favorite pie recipes.
Encourage creativity and camaraderie by providing a variety of ingredients and flavors to choose from.
Pro Tip: Invite a local baking expert or chef to judge the pies and offer prizes for the most delicious and creative creations, ensuring your pie-making contest becomes a cherished annual tradition.
11. A blood drive
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
The World Health Organization emphasizes the demand for a regular blood supply, as blood can only be stored for a limited time. To ensure its availability whenever and wherever needed, a sufficient number of healthy individuals must donate blood regularly. Consider organizing a blood drive at your workplace, place of worship, or for a group or organization.
Pro Tip: Partner with local hospitals or blood banks to ensure a smooth and efficient blood donation process. Additionally, promote the event well in advance to maximize participation and the impact of your Friendsgiving blood drive.
Virtual Friendsgiving ideas
In today’s global village, friends can be scattered across the world, making virtual Friendsgiving gatherings a delightful way to unite and celebrate together. Embrace the digital age and create memorable online experiences.
12. Dine together, virtually
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
Though many people are excited about in-person Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving celebrations, this isn’t possible for everyone. No matter where your attendees live, you can still bring them together on a video call while they enjoy their holiday meal.
Virtual Friendsgivings help people feel included and ensure that nobody has to eat Thanksgiving dinner alone.
Pro Tip: To enhance the virtual dining experience, encourage attendees to cook or order the same meal, creating a sense of togetherness, even when miles apart. Consider hosting engaging icebreaker activities and contests to make the virtual gathering more interactive.
13. Virtual social mixer
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
Create a virtual Friendsgiving event like 3rd Place as a prelude to the holiday season, where attendees can connect with like-minded individuals in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This 3rd Place experience offers a safe space to foster a sense of belonging and self-expression, ensuring a pressure-free and relaxing environment for all.
Pro Tip: Before the virtual Friendsgiving event, encourage participants to share their interests and hobbies, helping them connect with like-minded people. You can also use this information to include activities and icebreakers to kick-start conversations and build camaraderie.
14. Holiday watch party
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃🦃
Virtual watch parties are a fantastic way to bring people together no matter the distance. These events remain a hit, allowing friends to enjoy TV shows, movies, sports, or concerts with buddies, even when miles apart.
Host a thrilling game-watch party for football enthusiasts via your chosen video chat platform. And if your guests are feeling particularly festive, consider organizing a virtual Christmas movie watch party following your Friendsgiving feast.
Pro Tip: Create a shared playlist or viewing schedule for guests to follow, enhancing the virtual watch party experience.
15. Friendsgiving trivia night
Cost: 💲
Difficulty: 🪵
Size: 🦃🦃
Organize a trivia night that tests attendees’ knowledge. Divide guests into teams or play solo, but make sure to include themed rounds with diverse topics, such as historical facts, pop culture, and sports, so that everyone can participate and enjoy a win.
For an adult event, consider coming up with a themed cocktail — share the recipe with attendees so they can make it themselves at home to enjoy while they compete.
Pro Tip: Provide a leaderboard in real-time to maintain excitement and offer small, personalized prizes to keep attendees motivated throughout the game. You can reward the winning team with fun holiday prizes or virtual gift cards.
Ready to bring your Friendsgiving event to life? Create your event on Eventbrite and use our comprehensive ticket-selling service and marketing tools to reach a wider audience locally and globally. Start planning your Friendsgiving event with Eventbrite today and make this year’s celebration one for the books.
