18 Creative Friendsgiving Party Ideas to Recreate in 2025
Friends, food, and cozy fall vibes… Yes please! If you’re looking for Friendsgiving party ideas, then keep on reading.
From a Friendsgiving potluck to themed decorations and games, I’ve gathered these 18 Friendsgiving ideas to help you plan a stress free and fun celebration.
How to Plan a Friendsgiving
Before we get into the Friendsgiving party ideas, here are some sample questions to think about when planning your Friendsgiving party.
How Many Guests are you Expecting at the Party?
One of the first things to consider when planning your Friendsgiving is how many people you’re expecting. This number will help determine where to host the party and how much food you’ll need.
Where do you Want to Have Your Friendsgiving?
Once you know how many people are coming, the next step is figuring out where to host your Friendsgiving. You could keep it cozy at your apartment or house, take it outdoors at a public park, or even rent a venue if you’re expecting a bigger crowd.
In the past, my friends and I have done both. We’ve hosted at an apartment one year and rented an indoor space at the park another year. The park gave us plenty of room without feeling cramped, while still keeping the cozy vibe.
However, one of the downsides of renting a space is the time restrictions. You usually only get a certain window to set up and clean up. On the other hand, if you host at home, you can keep the celebration going late into the night without worrying about strict deadlines.
When do you Want to Host the Event?
Some people might have Thanksgiving and travel plans with their families. So it’s important to check in with your friends and pick a party date that works for everyone.
Hosting your Friendsgiving during the first or second week of November usually works best. It’s early enough in the month to avoid holiday conflicts but still close enough to Thanksgiving to feel festive.
What do you Want your Menu to Look Like?
Next up…let’s talk food! Do you want to keep things simple with a classic potluck? Or make it more creative with a themed menu (like a color themed potluck or everyone bringing a dish from their culture)?
You could also take on the cooking yourself, or make it stress free by catering the meal.
Friendsgiving Party Ideas
1. Have a Themed Friendsgiving
Kicking off the list of Friendsgiving party ideas, is a themed Friendsgiving party. From a pajamas and pies party to a Friendsgiving costume party, adding a theme is such a fun way to put a twist on the traditional dinner.
Since Thanksgiving with family is usually more classic and traditional, Friendsgiving is your chance to loosen up, get creative, and just have fun with it. For a full list of Friendsgiving party themes, check out the link below.
CHECK OUT: 22 Creative Friendsgiving Themes That’ll Blow Your Guests Away
2. Set up a Potluck Menu
In addition to making things easier for the host; a potluck menu is a great way for everyone to lean into the spirit of togetherness and gratitude by bringing a dish to share.
It’s also super cost effective since the burden of the meal doesn’t fall entirely on one person. Plus, you can make it extra fun with a themed potluck! Such as bringing a dish that starts with the first letter of your name.
3. Send out Invitations
Since this is a Friendsgiving party and not just a regular hangout, hype it up a little bit by creating a flyer invite to get everyone excited.
It’s a fun way to give your guests a sneak peek at what the party will be like. If you’re doing a potluck, you can also include all the details. Like what to bring, the dress code, and of course, the date and time.
4. DIY Decoration Signs
There’s no need to buy expensive Thanksgiving themed art, you can totally DIY it! Just create a design on Canva, print it at your local print shop, and pop it in a frame. BOOM! instant party sign!
The best part is that unlike store bought decor, you can customize it for your Friendsgiving by adding your party theme, the date of the party, or even a cute saying that fits your vibe.
5. Play Games and Activities
For me, the three main ingredients of a great party are people, food, and entertainment.
When it comes to entertainment, adding a few fun games to your Friendsgiving is the perfect way to keep the good vibes going. And give your guests something to do beyond just chatting.
Games are also a total lifesaver if you’re mixing different friend groups. They make the best icebreakers and help everyone feel comfortable. (and a little competitive in the best way)
CHECK OUT: Level Up Your Friendsgiving With These Fantastic Party Games
Friendsgiving Party Ideas 2025
6. Cohost and Plan the Party with Someone Else
Consider co-hosting your Friendsgiving with someone else. It can make the whole process more fun and less stressful. You can bounce ideas off each other, split the costs, and share responsibilities so that no one person feels overwhelmed.
7. DIY a Friendsgiving Photobooth
From using gift wrap as a colorful backdrop to adding letter balloons that spell out “Friendsgiving,” there are so many creative ways to DIY your party photobooth.
8. Have a Gift Exchange
In the spirit of gratitude and togetherness, another fun way to celebrate is by hosting a gift exchange. Think Secret Santa…but make it Thanksgiving! You can give it a cute twist with a fun name like Secret Turkey or Secret Pumpkin. (I’m leaning more towards the secret pumpkin name)
9. Serve Non-Traditional Foods
When I think of Thanksgiving food, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and ham are usually the first things that come to mind.
But for Friendsgiving, you can really have fun with the menu and serve whatever you and your friends actually enjoy. Especially if you don’t want to get tired of the traditional dishes you’ll already be eating on Thanksgiving Day. From ordering pizzas to grabbing Chinese takeout or even catering Chipotle, customize the menu to fit what everyone loves.
10. Play Kahoot
I saw this Instagram reel and thought it would be such a fun idea for a game night with friends. And it’s perfect for Friendsgiving too! If you don’t know what Kahoot is, it’s an online game platform where everyone logs in with a code and plays along by answering questions.
One of the best parts about Kahoot is that you can create your own personalized trivia set. You can ask your friends to send you fun facts, inside jokes, or random quirks about themselves, then play it during Friendsgiving to see who knows each other best.
Friendsgiving Ideas
11. Decorate with Friendsgiving Balloons
A great way to give your party that festive Friendsgiving look, is by decorating with themed decor. Such as Friendsgiving letter balloons.
12. Create a Signature Drink
Just like how fancy parties often serve a signature drink, you can create one for your Friendsgiving too!
It could be anything from a cocktail (21+) to a mocktail that everyone can enjoy. Here are a few ideas that would make amazing signature drinks: cranberry ginger ale, a pomegranate mocktail, or even an apple cider margarita.
13. Create a Party Playlist
What’s a party without good background music? From smooth jazz to a collaborative playlist with songs your friends added, the music can help set the tone for the night.
For example, a jazz playlist can help create a cozy and relaxed vibe that works well in the background. While a friends curated playlist brings an upbeat energy. Encouraging everyone to sing along and making the music a main part of the party.
14. Serve Delicious Desserts
Let’s not limit Friendsgiving to just pies. You can totally add plenty of other desserts to the menu, especially if your guests have a sweet tooth. From pastries to ice cream and even warm cinnamon rolls, there are so many delicious treats you can include in your lineup.
15. Celebrate With Cake
I know not everyone is a fan of pie, so if that’s the case for you and your friends, swap it out for cake instead!
One year, my friends and I celebrated with a lemon flavored Nothing Bundt Cake, and it was a huge hit! Probably because it wasn’t a traditional fall flavor, so everyone was excited to try it.
Whether you pick up a cake from the store, bake your own, or even serve cupcakes, go with whatever you think you and your friends will enjoy the most.
Ideas for a Friendsgiving Party
16. Decorate With Pictures of you and Your Friends
As the name suggests, Friendsgiving is all about FRIENDS! Make your friends the star of the show by decorating your party space with pictures of you and them.
This is also a fun way to get creative with your decor. For example, you could create a large photo collage, or place framed pictures around the dining table to give the space a personal and festive touch.
17. Have to-go Containers
One rule I always follow for parties is having to-go containers handy. It can be tricky managing all the leftovers, especially at a Friendsgiving with so much food.
To make it easier for your guests to take some food home and enjoy later, have containers on hand. This not only minimizes waste but also makes it convenient for everyone to enjoy the leftovers.
18. Serve Yummy and Easy Appetizers
Appetizers are a great way to keep your guests munching while you get the party started, especially if the main meal isn’t ready yet.
Plus they’re perfect for the “beginner” part of the party when people are playing games and mingling. For me, the easier the appetizers are to make, the better! Some crowd pleasers that I’ve found are homemade spinach dip, pigs in a blanket, and barbecue meatballs.
