Hello, fabulous friends! As the leaves turn gold and the air gets cold, our thoughts inevitably turn to warm gatherings and cozy celebrations. If you’re looking to put a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving with your nearest and dearest pals, you’re in for a treat! Friendsgiving is the perfect time to break up the family gathering circuit. Looking for the tl;dr version? Use the links below to easily navigate this article.
Friendsgiving Squad Activities
Let’s kick things off with some activities that’ll have your friend group talking for years to come:
Set a Cheerful Vibe with some Curated Thanksgiving Music
Friendsgiving is such a warm and wonderful time to gather and what better way to set the vibe than with some bops in the background? Your playlist should be like the best kind of pie: a little bit sweet, a touch of spice, and everything nice. Here are some ideas for your Friendsgiving soundtrack that’ll have everyone feeling thankful for not only the feast but the beats too!
Make Football FUn For Everyone
Nothing screams Thanksgiving like the rousing cheers and friendly rivalries of football season. Here’s how to score major points with your fellow football fans:
DIY Scoreboard
Get crafty with a homemade scoreboard for the games playing that day. Guests can predict scores for a little friendly competition of their own.
Gameday Snacks
Set up a snack station with little pennants labeling the delights. Think mini turkey sliders, classic buffalo wings, and those irresistible pigs in a blanket.
Halftime Hangout
During halftime, encourage a bit of outdoor tossing of the ol’ pigskin. It’s a great way to burn off some of that pumpkin pie!
Friendsgiving Film Festival
We know all sports aren’t for everyone, so here are a few other suggestions on what to watch. Why does Christmas get all of the love when it comes to holiday movies? Create a chill-out zone where friends can unwind with a Thanksgiving-themed movie. Here are a few of our favorites to entertain the friends that might be a little socially drained:
Simple Recipes to Show you Care
Don’t be the one who shows up with a tub of potato salad or a bag of chips. Everyone wants to show out for the crew, so we’ve got a few quick and easy Friendsgiving recipe ideas that will definitely impress. So, let’s stir up some ideas that’ll have everyone asking for seconds (and the recipe!).
Cocktails and Mocktails
Get your Friendsgiving cocktail menu ready with these easy-to-follow, delicious recipes that are sure to impress your guests!
Apple Cider Mimosas:
A bubbly blend of autumn’s apple harvest and celebratory champagne. This can easily be substituted with a simple bottle of sparkling cider for those who don’t drink.
- 1 bottle of your favorite champagne, sparkling wine, or sparkling water
- Fresh apple cider
- Gold sugar for rimming (optional)
- Apple slices, or dehydrated apple for garnish
- Begin by rimming your champagne flutes. Dip the rim of each glass in a shallow plate of water, then dip into the gold sugar to coat.
- Fill each champagne flute about 1/4 full with fresh apple cider.
- Top the rest of the glass slowly with champagne. Watch it fizz and bubble up!
- Garnish with a thin apple slice either on the rim or dropped into the glass.
Pumpkin Spice White Russian:
This is like a cozy sweater for your insides, mixing rich coffee flavors with a hint of pumpkin spice.
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa)
- 2 oz heavy cream or milk
- 1 tbsp pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- A pinch of pumpkin pie spice
- Whipped cream and additional pumpkin pie spice, for garnish
- In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, coffee liqueur, heavy cream, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.
- Fill the shaker with ice, secure the lid, and shake it up until well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice, making sure to get all that pumpkin spice goodness out.
- Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.
Cranberry Sangria
This make-ahead drink is perfect for a crow- it’s a little tart and a little sweet. Substitute grape juice for wine and omit the brandy for a delicious mocktail.
- 1 bottle red wine (something fruity like a Pinot Noir or Merlot.)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (100% juice, not cranberry cocktail)
- 1/2 cup brandy (omit for NA version)
- 1/2 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
- 1/4 cup simple syrup (or more to taste)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 1 apple, cored and chopped
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish
- In a large pitcher, combine red wine, cranberry juice, brandy, and orange juice.
- Add simple syrup to sweeten, adjusting according to your taste.
- Stir in the fresh cranberries, orange slices, and chopped apple.
- Let the sangria chill in the refrigerator overnight, to let all the flavors marry and the fruits to infuse their magic.
- Serve over ice, garnish with a cinnamon stick, and share a toast to the bond of friendships old and new.
Raise Those Glasses
You’ve all put in the work to make this holiday a true festival of friendship. Celebrate friends here and remember those not with these great Friendsgiving toasts we’ve crafted for you and all of your amigos.
Most importantly, Thank you.
From all of us at Greenridge, we’d like to share a sincere thank you. We are grateful for you allowing us at your table. We hope that this is a Friendsgiving to remember, filled with laughter, epic stories, and a feast that’ll live on in legend (and leftovers). As the evening settles and the last piece of pie disappears, we’re reminded why this tradition rocks: it’s about the company, the camaraderie, and the love that fills the room. Here’s to good friends, great food, and the unbeatable warmth of shared gratitude. Until our next Friendsgiving—stay cozy and connected, pals! Cheers!
