How to Throw a “Friendsgiving” Party in Style

” Friendsgiving” has become a popular tradition where friends get together to celebrate Thanksgiving potluck-style “” usually before or after Thanksgiving Day. It’s a great way to share family traditions with friends (and eat Thanksgiving food twice in one week!) It’s also a way for people who can’t travel and be with family to still celebrate with people they love.

If you’re hosting a Friendsgiving gathering this year, follow along for some tips to celebrate in style!

Choose a Theme

When you’re getting ready for Friendsgiving, your Cincinnati Goodwill thrift store is the perfect place to start shopping. Find inspiration online for themes before you set out to shop, and be sure you know how many place settings you’ll need. Once you have a theme in mind, let your imagination run wild!

Find vintage dishes, extra flatware, cloth napkins, candles, faux pumpkins and gourds, tablecloths, vases, and all the parts and pieces for a do-it-yourself centerpiece at Goodwill. You could even task your friends with creating a centerpiece while you put the finishing touches on dinner!

You’ll never know exactly what to expect when you walk into your local Goodwill store, but you can count on finding affordable, unique items that will help you put together a stylish table. Don’t be afraid to mix traditional and modern pieces. It’s easy to pull the look together if you choose a color scheme and stick to it ““ but don’t forget, many items can easily be spray-painted to fit the theme. With the help of Goodwill, you’ll have a gorgeous tablescape with little investment, and your friends will definitely be impressed.

Friendsgiving = Fun

What sets Friendsgiving apart from a traditional family Thanksgiving? There’s nothing stopping you from throwing tradition aside and spicing things up! Pick up board games, card games, or DVDs while you’re thrifting at Goodwill. If your crew is into outdoor fun, look for a football or soccer ball and plan a casual face-off for after the meal.

Make Memories

Consider asking your friends to embrace a themed dress code to add an extra element of fun. Challenge them to show up in formal attire, or in the silliest, most festive outfit they can find thrifted from Goodwill. It’s sure to make for some laughs, and great pictures!

Speaking of great pictures ““ think about using thrifted items from Goodwill to make a homemade photo booth! Hang a sheet or blanket as a backdrop, find items for props, and, voila! You’ll have photo memories to hang on to for years to come.

Thrift Your Way to a Fun-Filled Friendsgiving!

Find your Cincinnati Goodwill store or shop Ohio Valley Goodwill online at ShopGoodwill.com, and get started on this year’s Friendsgiving celebration. It will quickly become your favorite holiday tradition, thanks to the ease of shopping at Goodwill!