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View Cart5 Virtual Friendsgiving Ideas To Try This Year
Thanksgiving may be the official event to kick off the holiday season, but for many of us, Friendsgiving—the unofficial holiday where we gather with our chosen crew, our framily, our people—has become an equally important tradition. And while it may not be possible to gather together in person this year, with a few creative reworks, we can still enjoy a cozy evening of good food, good drinks, good music, and most importantly, great friends.
Read on for our tips for giving this treasured occasion a virtual makeover.
1. Send out invitations. While it’s easy to send off a group text or even a Google calendar invite, given that we’re all knee-deep in virtual meeting invites these days, sending a more formal paperless invite with an official “You’re Invited” message will make this event feel extra special.
2. Create a menu. Even though this year’s Friendsgiving feast will be virtual, including a menu or theme in your invite will help create the experience of one big meal. Some ideas to try include:
- • Friends swap recipes and make each other’s dishes (e.g., one person shares a dessert recipe, another shares a mashed potato recipe, etc.).
- • Order takeout from a restaurant that is well-loved among your friend group.
- • Keep it super casual as a Friendsgiving wine-and-charcuterie party.
3. Create shared experiences. Some of the most memorable moments of Friendsgiving occur during shared experiences—a group toast at the table, impromptu kitchen dance parties, enjoying a killer dessert. Here are ways to reimagine these moments for a virtual get-together:
- • Include a signature cocktail recipe in your invite for a big group “cheers!”
- • If your hosting budget typically includes buying ingredients and stocking the bar, you could opt to reallocate some of this year’s funds—send your virtual guests the same great bottle of wine or a delicious pie from a favorite bakery as a special Friendsgiving treat to share together.
- • Create a collaborative playlist and invite others to contribute. Because virtual dance parties are still dance parties.
4. Dinner party vibes, FTW. Whether your virtual Friendsgiving happens around your dining table, your coffee table, or it becomes a multi-room moveable feast, create the same vibes you would for an in-person dinner party. Bring out your favorite dinnerware and drinkware, light candles and set a festive mood.
5. Plan activities & conversation starters. People may have different comfort levels on a video-chat platform, so having a few pre-planned activities will help break the ice and, just like in real life, provide some much-needed laughter. Plus, it’s fairly easy to recreate a snack, sip and play scenario online.
Did you know? Lots of beloved party games are now available online. Some to try:
- • Virtual karaoke (yep, it’s a thing!)
- • Virtual bingo
- • Virtual escape rooms
- • Pictionary
- • Trivia
- • Charades