Thanksgiving is often about traveling home and spending time with family. But, for those who loathe the idea of missing out on the best dinner of the year and can’t get home for the holiday, the next best thing is Friendsgiving.
The holiday was made famous in part by “Friends” Thanksgiving episode, can be made one of the best parties of the year with a little preparation and a few friends. This kind of celebration may not be as common as a conventional family Thanksgiving, but what it lacks in tradition, it makes up for in creativity and individuality.
Here are a few ways to make any Friendsgiving celebration a fun and entertaining experience for everyone invited. This Friendsgiving leaves room for some innovation along with tradition, without leaving one longing for their mom’s home cooking.
Food
Friendsgiving is all about friends and food, but mostly the food. While this kind of celebration doesn’t require a full five-course meal, it is a good idea to have an array of dishes for everyone to enjoy.
One doesn’t have to stick with a perfectly roasted turkey as the main dish. Other meat options or non-meat options work just as well. The side options for any Friendsgiving really are the best part of the meal, so having a variety of other snacks makes for a well-rounded meal.
To let everyone enjoy what they like best about a traditional Thanksgiving, let the host make the main dish and a few side dishes, while having other guests bring a favorite dish of their own to share with everyone else. Side dishes like stuffing, mashed potatoes, salad, fresh fruit and roasted vegetables are always great options to have during dinner.
Any Friendsgiving wouldn’t be complete without a selection of sweets. Apple and pumpkin pies are traditionally great options for sweet treats, but it never hurts to have guests bring more unconventional desserts as well.
No matter what food options one has for Friendsgiving, celebrations are most successful when everyone pitches in and helps to create an original dinner.
Decoration
In a small apartment filled with Friendsgiving cheer and extra guests, it can be hard to find room for decoration and seating.
However, by adding a few miniature pumpkins around the room, stringing up white twinkle lights and placing some tea light candles on tables, the perfect touch of autumn can be added almost instantly to anyone’s home.
Even for larger apartments, it is easy to create a crowded space with lots of food and friends. Like most people, those who don’t have a dining room table that seats 12 can save space by placing the food in a buffet-like setting. Having extra chairs on hand and leaving couch space open for seating may not make for the fanciest of dinner parties, but that is what makes Friendsgiving fun and a little more stress-free.
Entertainment
Sometimes the food and friends of a Friendsgiving celebration are entertainment enough, but it is always a good idea to have some fun for guests to engage in. Board and card games are both great options to have around one’s apartment just in case guests want to partake in friendly competition.
A versatile music playlist is also a must for a Friendsgiving party. A set of upbeat tunes makes for a fun atmosphere and keeps the celebration going. For those who don’t mind creating an early Christmas vibe, make a playlist of the best winter holiday songs to add to the cheer of celebrating Friendsgiving.
To create a low-key Friendsgiving celebration, have a variety of movies on hand for when the night winds down. Pick out a selection of autumn or winter themed movies and relax with extra pie and mashed potatoes.
No matter how or where one spends their Friendsgiving, what matters most is the great friends and delicious leftovers the next day.