With winter right around the corner, I can feel the holiday anxiety building among the masses. Especially for college students, midterms and several daunting assignments may feel like massive mountains to climb ahead of the holiday season. While I love to decompress with a pumpkin spice candle and some relaxing tunes, nothing beats hanging out with best friends, especially for Friendsgiving.
Hosting a Friendsgiving is the perfect excuse to party in gratitude for each other and you can make some extra special college memories along the way. Whether you’re in a dorm or your first apartment, College Fashionista has listed 6 Friendsgiving ideas that are sure to elevate your holiday season.
01. Take-Out Potluck
Who needs (or wants) to cook a turkey when you’re only feeding a couple close friends? As a pretty mediocre chef myself, the idea of cooking a full course is daunting. Instead, try a take-out potluck! Assign each of your guests to bring either an appetizer, main course, side dish, dessert, or drink flight. The only twist: it has to be fast food or takeout. See what crazy dinner combinations you come up with!
02. DIY Cocktail/Mocktail Evening
If you aren’t much of a potluck person, don’t fear. To spice up a typical fall happy hour, invite your guests to each come up with a unique cocktail/mocktail recipe. You could even theme each drink, or give your guests a prompt to inspire their creations. Serve in different, fun glasses and test each others’ mixing skills!
03. Charcuterie Night
I think we’re all charcuterie stans. Charcuterie spreads are easy to create and are completely customizable for any event or holiday. You could make one big Friendsgiving charcuterie spread, have each guest bring a special addition to the board, or invite them to bring their own! Similar to the take-out potluck, you can always assign each person to a different dinner course. After all, it’s your celebration! Make your own rules. Several budget-friendly cheeses, meats, and crackers are available at Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and beyond.
04. Hot Pot
I grew up eating hot pot at New Year’s, and I know a lot of folks that like to incorporate this incredibly social (and delicious!) dish into their Thanksgiving. If you are up for a bit more of a challenge, give Chinese Hot Pot a try! Essentially, the “hot pot” is a big pot of soup stock in the center of the table. You can organize your own spread of thinly sliced meats, veggies, mushrooms, and seafood to cook in the broth with long chopsticks.
05. Brunch it Out
If you’re still recovering from last night’s festivities, a homemade brunch is never a bad idea. Grab the orange juice, set up a cozy floor picnic, whip out that dusty waffle maker and pumpkin flavoring, and go to town. You can even host an amateur latte art competition with that espresso machine you’ve used twice. Gilmore Girls episodes make an excellent mimosa companion, too!
06. Candle-Lit Painting Session
This is for all of my artsy friends out there. Light a couple of warmly scented candles and reach for your acrylic paints. The last time my friends and I had a late-night painting session, we turned down the lights and passed our canvases around every five minutes. You’ll end up with some pretty odd creations, but what’s more Friendsgiving than that?
This time of year can feel like an absolute trainwreck. No matter how you choose to celebrate this holiday season, remember to express gratitude for yourself and protect your peace. Celebration is more than gathering with friends and family, it’s loving where you came from and where you are going!
This article was originally published on November 15, 2022.
