How to Host An Outdoor Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving This Year

Thanksgiving is obviously a great opportunity to reflect upon what you’re thankful for–and yes, that applies even during a pandemic. Even though you likely won’t be crammed around one dining room table with countless friends and family this holiday, there are some positives! You can still enjoy turkey, stuffing, and all the appetizers and pie! One option: Host an outdoor Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.

Per the CDC, which has guidelines for modified holiday plans, outdoor settings are safer than indoors, smaller groups are better than larger, shorter gatherings are less risky than longer ones. Plus, you won’t have to sit through awkward conversations with that one distant relative no one remembers inviting! Get your masks and appetites ready: Here are some tips on how to enjoy a (socially distanced) Thanksgiving meal with your loved ones.

Guests

Each state has its own social gathering number restrictions, but celebrating with your own household holds the lowest risk. If you are inviting others, take the right precautions like maintaining six feet apart, wearing masks, frequently washing your hands, eliminating shared serving utensils, and avoiding buffet-style serving.

Beyond your small in-person group, you can expand the dinner to include virtual guests from near and far. Breaking bread over Zoom may feel a little weird, but we’re all used to living a good chunk of our lives via video chat these days, so what’s one more thing? You can coordinate meals, times, and even centerpieces and activities, and think of it this way: Time spent together virtually is still time spent together.

Since most parts of the country have dipping temperatures in late November, make sure your guests bring layers, or provide heat lamps and/or fuzzy blankets, which can double as holiday gifts.

Food and Drinks

Thanksgiving cooking is a whole day affair. You’ve got to roast the turkey and then make all the sides that each family member or friend insists on having or it ‘won’t be a real Thanksgiving.’ Make it easy on yourself this year by ordering a full festive meal (or at least the ingredients to make one) delivered straight to your door. Here are some options:

• Omaha Steaks: You can build your own meal for six to eight people by choosing fully cooked turkey breasts or sliced ham, and then picking from a selection of sides and desserts including potatoes, green bean casserole, and caramel apple tartlets. Does your Thanksgiving call for some really great steaks instead of (or in addition to) turkey? As their name implies, Omaha Steaks has you more than covered.
• Williams Sonoma: Williams Sonoma has a meal for any type of food preference. In addition to traditional turkey dinners, they also have vegetarian entrees, Italian entrees, just sides, and a Southern Thanksgiving Honey Glazed Ham Dinner.
• Blue Apron: For people who really love a home-cooked meal, Blue Apron is offering Thanksgiving meal kits, which will save you a trip to the grocery store. You can get a full turkey dinner, which includes a spice roasted turkey, five sides (e.g., cheesy cornbread pudding and braised collard greens), and a dessert, or you can mix and match your own meal to include pork roast, up to five different sides, and a dessert. Each meal kit serves up to eight people. Blue Apron also has a wine pairing offering, because what’s a good meal without wine?
• HelloFresh: HelloFresh has two Thanksgiving meal kits, a turkey and sides box, or a beef tenderloin and sides box. The sides include ciabatta stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more.

Use disposable flatware and drinkware, and prepare individual portions to minimize sharing dishes and items. And of course, everyone loves a hot beverage in the fall, whether it’s apple cider, mulled wine, or a peppermint hot cocoa with marshmallows. Make sure you have plenty to go around!

Games and Activities

Keep everyone entertained with a number of activities that can be done outdoors and socially distanced, such as:

• Corn hole or bean bag toss
• Pre- or post-dinner neighborhood stroll (or your own Turkey Trot if you’re really ambitious)
• Scavenger hunt: Make a list of things to find outdoors or digitally. Split into teams and the team that finds the most items wins a prize or bragging rights.
• Trivia: Test everyone’s knowledge about Thanksgiving, the holiday season, or holiday-themed movies or music. This is also great for virtual guest participation.
• Outdoor movie theater: With a projector and blank wall or a white sheet, you can transform a backyard into an outdoor screening room. Whether your family tradition is to watch holiday movies, football, or Thanksgiving episodes of Friends together, grab some blankets and popcorn, and enjoy the show together.
• Sharing gratitude: Spend some time having everyone mention at least one thing they’re grateful for this year. Doesn’t matter if it’s big or small: It’s a great way to spread some positivity around.

Are you throwing an outdoor dinnrer party this Thanksgiving? Show us your safe soiree on Instagram @Lulus using #lovelulus–then get a jump on all your Holiday Gift shopping!