I’ll be sharing SEVEN amazing Thanksgiving hosting ideas that you can do with your friends and family to make the occasion even more memorable. This post will give you some inspiration on what you can implement as a host to make the night that much more special.
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is quite overwhelming. And aside from the food, the party can instantly turn into a typical dinner party if you don’t take the time to plan and think about creating moments that will make the day extra special.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with it being a typical dinner party because memories are created regardless. It’s just the little things that you can incorporate on this day that can create traditions for years to come.
I’ve always loved helping my mom prepare for Thanksgiving. Whether it was in the kitchen cooking or in the dining room setting up the table, I was there. And I still am. At this point, my mom leaves a lot of the planning to me. haha. I don’t blame her. I’m just incredibly EXTRA when it comes to hosting.
This post will go over 7 Thanksgiving hosting ideas that my family has done in the past as well as some new ideas that I’m dying to try out this year!
THANKSGIVING HOSTING IDEAS
1. I’m Thankful for…
Now, I know this is a very popular Thanksgiving tradition with many families, but it really is what Thanksgiving is all about. Before eating your meal, take a moment with your family to share what you are thankful for this year. It’s just a great way to practice gratitude and is a must in my family on Thanksgiving day.
2. Thanksgiving Dessert Taste Testing
They say there’s always room for dessert! Everyone in my family says this, but nobody ever follows through. Like honestly, dessert is the best part.
I guess the thought of having a huge chunk of pie is just daunting at the end of an already excessive meal. So, I’ve found a great alternative: a mini dessert taste testing. Think of your favorite thanksgiving desserts but mini-sized. Cute, right?
The idea here is to prepare two or three mini dessert options to create a taste testing experience. You can lay them out on platters OR you can create individual plates for your guests! The mini-size makes it seem less daunting and incorporating variety is exciting for everyone.
Here are some ideas for mini desserts that you can serve: cinnamon rolls, apple pie, and pumpkin pie!
Just look at how cute these mini desserts are!
3. Thanksgiving Picnic
This idea is a whole mood for 2020. If you have good weather running in November, a Thanksgiving picnic is a great option this year. You can remain socially distant and take advantage of the outdoors to have some fun with your family.
The best part about a picnic, is that you can easily turn it into a family potluck! It’s a great alternative if you are looking for something that is laidback and easier to plan.
Here are some more ideas of how to make the most of it:
- Plan ahead! Keep checking the weather forecasts as you get closer to the picnic day. You never know how the weather is going to change, especially in late November!
- If you go with a potluck style, make sure you assign everyone a dish to bring! Don’t forget about items like table cloths, disposable plates and utensils, napkins, serving utensils, etc.
- Bring a football, frisbee, soccer ball, cricket gear, or whatever game you and your family enjoy playing together
4. Unsetting the Table Together
Getting everyone involved in clearing the table is such a fun family bonding activity and it gets the job done faster!
The amount of leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner can be overwhelming. Instead of worrying about if you can stuff all the leftovers in the fridge, try to reduce the amount of potential leftovers. This is where you can turn it into a little “game”. Make it a deal that together you should finish at least one complete dish so that there’s one less leftover to deal with.
And for Thanksgiving dinner it’s a difficult game, but trying to accomplish this one task can be so fulfilling and fun by the end of the night.
5. Thanksgiving Photoshoot
What better way to document the day than with a family picture? Create a space that’s nicely decorated beforehand, so that it is ready to go when your family arrives. Maybe even throw in some cool props? Just have fun with it.
Play around with the areas in your space. Maybe it’s around your fireplace, or around your couch? Whatever area it may be, making it feel special will feel like you and your family are getting these photos taken by a professional.
And to make this experience A LOT easier, use a tripod. You won’t have spend the time making a makeshift one and you won’t have to worry about the pictures coming out uneven.
6. Evening Stroll
This is a great way to burn off a little bit of what you just ate. I feel like people just don’t think about it, which makes sense because of weather conditions. But, if the weather is in your favor, going on a walk after dinner is quite refreshing.
For those who live in cooler areas, consider having Thanksgiving dinner a bit earlier. That way, if you want to incorporate a nice walk after dinner, you’ll still have some daylight available.
7. Going through old photo albums and videos
Ok this is SO much fun and a huge trip down memory lane! Looking through old photos and videos is a great activity to do with your family on Thanksgiving. It really is more enjoyable to reminisce with your loved ones and a lot of stories come out from it. Sounds quite enjoyable post-dinner, right?
Stories begin to unravel, memories are relived, and there’s just an overwhelming rush of gratitude. It’s truly a great way to end off the night!
And that’s it! Those are 7 Thanksgiving hosting ideas that you can incorporate to keep your family & friends entertained all night long.
