Whether your friends are near or far, here are ten steps to hosting a Friendsgiving. The most important part of this holiday is spending it together, so our tips will help you cut back on the “extra stuff” so you can all spend more time on the part that matters most – your group of friends!

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1. Invite all your friends! If they live close you could make a little invitation and attach it to a mini pumpkin to leave on their porch. You could also mail invitations or even just send out a facebook or text invite.
2. Pick a location. I am partial to the outdoors because it can be so dreamy. But depending on your weather, an indoor gathering might be your best bet. Find a place where everyone will fit and make sure you have enough tables and chairs.
3. Plan the menu. These are a few of my favorite recipes:
   1. Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
   2. Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
   3. The Best Stuffing
   4. Pumpkin Cheesecake
   5. Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip
   6. Maple Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
   7. Dinner Rolls
4. Ask everyone to bring something (you can even assign the recipes above!). People won’t mind bringing a dish and if everyone brings something it will take a LOT of the work off of your plate.
5. Have something for the kids if they are invited. We made paintable cookies, but HERE are a few other ideas.
6. Give yourself plenty of time to set up, and ask a few friends come early to help. 
7. Use paper products! For real, you don’t need to bring out the fine china, everyone will be more than happy to eat on paper plates. Then you can enjoy your company after the dinner instead of camping out in the kitchen to clean up. Believe me, I learned the hard way that I don’t want to wash all that china again next year.
8. Create a charcuterie board for grazing while people are waiting. My favorite foods are meats, cheese, fruits, and crackers. But here are a few more ideas:
   1. Fun Appetizers
   2. Turkey Snack Board
9. Enjoy your friends and family with some yummy food!
10. Send everyone home with leftovers – ask them ahead of time to bring their own containers.

Are your friends spread out across the country? Host a virtual Friendsgiving instead! Finding a time that works best for everyone will probably be the hardest part, especially if you are in different time zones. But instead of everyone cooking a big elaborate Thanksgiving dinner, consider having each guest have their dinner delivered from their favorite local restaurant. Gather on Zoom or another live video platform at the agreed-upon time. Spend some time sharing why you each picked the restaurant or the meal that you did. Who says Friendsgiving has to be traditional?

Additional Idea

If you’d like to give your friends something to take home, there’s nothing better than focusing on the sweetness of their friendship with some Niagara Chocolates. Niagara Chocolates have been handcrafted in small batches in Buffalo, New York since 1956. It bears the Rain Forest Alliance Certification seal, too, which means that Niagara Chocolates are produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.

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*I was provided with Niagara Chocolates for the purpose of a review. All comments and opinions are my own.