Published November 3, 2025
BY CHOICE MUIVAH
If awkward hugs and passive-aggressive conversations while passing the mashed potatoes doesn’t sound enjoyable this Thanksgiving, you might want to consider having a Friendsgiving instead.
A spin-off from the turkey-themed federal holiday, Friendsgiving is a get together with friends instead of family, usually the week before Thanksgiving where it’s tradition for everyone to bring something potluck style to contribute to the feast.
Every hearty Friendsgiving dinner should include not just a healthy variety, but also your best group of friends to bring it together. photo by NATALIE BEHN on UNPLASH
While the number of people you could invite is limitless, opting for an inner circle of five to seven friends rather than a large group helps make the event more close-knit and personal with the added benefit of ending with less dishes and cleanup.
In case a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with buttered toast, jellybeans, popcorn and pretzel sticks isn’t your ideal Friendsgiving, you can’t go wrong with the tried-and-true turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie spread. But if you’re not sure what to bring or aren’t a fan of the typical Thanksgiving foods, another fun idea to try is setting up a theme, such as each person being assigned an ingredient to incorporate into their dish, or bringing one of your buried family recipes to expand taste buds and try new cuisines.
Just make sure that everyone brings something that’s homemade as it makes the food more appreciated by everyone since you don’t want to be like that one friend who defaults to bringing whatever is the most bang-for-your-buck in the dessert section at Safeway–it’s not fair to the people who bothered to take the time and energy to cook something, so put some effort in!
Not only is it important to have the right setting and vibes, but it’s equally important for everyone to bring the vibes themselves, which is why you need to dress appropriately. We all know that one friend that practically lives in their Dr. Pepper pajama pants, and this is a message to let them know that they can’t show up dressed like a bum! It’s understandable to want to be comfortable, but there’s definitely a difference between wearing sweatpants versus your ratty soft-drink-themed PJs.
Amid all the cozy fall vibes, it’s easy to forget that Friendsgiving is more than just a get-together with friends and food. It’s about appreciating and taking the time to be thankful for your friends while being able to celebrate how much you all care for each other together.
