When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of family. And for many of us, friendsare family, putting a fun spin on the holiday.Welcome, Friendsgiving!Full of laughter, gratitude, and far less drama, Friendsgiving celebrates the peoplewe choose.Here are a few tips to create a fun, cozy, and meaningful gathering.The Food (of Course!)Food is the star of the show at both Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving.Who says you need to keep things traditional? Why not add a theme? Spice thingsup by veering off the beaten path and trying new dishes, or stick with somethingfamiliar and yummy.Try a taco bar, chili, a pizza and pasta bar, or grill hot dogs and hamburgers.Create your own new traditions!Potlucks are typical among friend gatherings. To avoid duplicate dishes, askfriends to bring their favorite side or dessert to share.However you celebrate, the important thing is that you’re with those dear to you.The ThemeWhile Friendsgiving is really its own theme, add a fun twist such as a pajama partyor murder mystery dinner?Another favorite is a wholesome, down home fall celebration:Hay Bale HarvestFor those of you lucky to live in a place with mild November weather, such as weenjoy on California’s Central Coast, take the celebration outdoors.For a rustic vibe, arrange hay bales around a table or bonfire for seating. Coverthe bales with blankets to prevent straw from poking anybody.Display food and beverages on a few stacked hay bales. For an extra spark ofautumn decor, add a few scarecrows from storage and a handful of pumpkins indifferent colors, shapes, and sizes. Place a pile of warm blankets on one of thebales for guests to use when the temperatures drop.Wrap up the evening snuggled around a fire pit or bonfire with a s’mores bar andhot chocolate station.Fun & GamesAnyone up for a little friendly competition? Check out this mix of activities sure toinspire a few belly laughs.Friendsgiving BingoPut a festive twist on the classic game with customized, fall-themed bingo cards,including phrases such as “I’m stuffed” or pictures of pumpkins, pies, and turkeys.You can print ready-made holiday-themed bingo cards (thank you, Google) orcreate your own.Outdoor ActivitiesWanting something a little more interactive? Give Twister a try. This one’s bestbefore feasting. Trust us—don’t say we didn’t warn you!Or give outdoor bowling a whirl, using haybales to create bowling lanes, smallpumpkins as bowling balls, and cans or water bottles as pins.The Gratitude GameNext up, we have the Gratitude Game, drawing us into the holiday’s truemeaning.Customize a list of prompts as you please, and have guests take turns rolling thedice. For example: If you roll 1—mention a moment or an experience that made you laugh; If you roll 2—share a cherished family tradition; If you roll 3—reveal a place that’s special to you; If you roll 4—say something you’re grateful for; If you roll 5—recall a treasured memory; If you roll 6—name a person you’re grateful for.Arts & CraftsCreative souls will have a blast carving or decorating pumpkins. Helpful hint: forcarving, consider cleaning out the pumpkins ahead of your gathering. Place a fewdesign templates and tools on the table to share.For pumpkin decorating, arrange bowls of beads, rhinestones, googly eyes,feathers—whatever you’d like—on the table. Don’t forget glue bottles.A Gratitude PumpkinPlace a medium or large pumpkin on a display table alongside several Sharpiepens. Invite everyone to write something they’re thankful for on the pumpkin,and share these sentiments together during dessert.Friendsgiving is such a beautiful take on Thanksgiving. Surrounded by closefriends, you already have so much to be grateful for. We’re thankful for newtraditions and meaningful connections on this magical day and always.
