The holidays are going to look a little different this year. With health experts advising us against gathering with people outside our immediate households, carrying on our annual Friendsgiving traditions is likely to take an entirely new form in 2020. But that doesn’t mean the festivities are canceled; instead of getting together IRL, why not host a virtual Friendsgiving feast? With a bit of planning and imagination, your digital celebration can be just as much fun as Friendsgivings past.
Here’s how to make sure your 2020 Friendsgiving is one for the books.
Invite Your Crew
If there’s an Official Meeting Room of the Pandemic, Zoom may be it.
When sending out your Zoom invites, set the stage by including a link to an online image folder full of fun Thanksgiving backgrounds. (For the tech-challenged friends in your group, also include instructions for swapping out digital backdrops.)
While it may be tempting to invite everyone you’ve been missing during lockdown, try to keep the group size manageable. That will make it easier to catch up with each person on your guest list.
If you really want to go the extra mile, snail-mail out a few party favors in advance, like “Happy Friendsgiving” headbands. To make the celebration extra festive, suggest a fancy or funky dress code (with so much of our lives happening at home these days in sweatpants, it can be super exciting to have a reason to get dressed up!).
Get Organized
Friendsgiving events often last most of the day, and if you’re up for a digital marathon, so can your virtual celebration. For longer events, it helps to have a schedule. For instance, 2-3 p.m. can be time to catch up over a glass of Cava; schedule games for 3-4 p.m.; and plan for a wine-and-cheese hour from 3-4 p.m. Then your friends can opt in for the parts of the day that work for them.
If your group is scattered across different areas, choose a few easy recipes that you all can make at home. (Nothing says “togetherness” like everyone eating the same pumpkin hummus or kale salad with pomegranate dressing!).
Fun and Games
Keep the virtual party fresh and fun by planning a few easy games to play. Charades, Pictionary, and trivia games are all easy to pull off via Zoom. You could even ask a few friends to create five-minute slide shows for screen sharing, covering silly topics like “Why ___ is the best (or worst) Thanksgiving dish.” At the end of the presentations, have everyone vote in chat for their favorite. Check out our custom trivia game below!
If there’s a gifted cook or mixologist in the group, “volunteer” that person to do a cocktail or cooking demonstration. Stick with something simple that everyone can make together, like cranberry Mimosas or puff pastry apple tarts. Or, ask the artistic cheese nerd of the group to teach the group how to put together a gorgeous cheese board.
Toast What You’re Grateful For
Friendsgiving isn’t just about gathering with best friends, it’s about giving thanks. Raising a glass of bubbly before the meal to toast what you’re grateful for can help you feel connected to your crew, even when you’re hundreds of miles apart. For an extra special toast, opt for award-winning Segura Viudas Cava — made in Spain since the 12th century. Crafted with indigenous grapes using the traditional Champagne method, it’s fresh and fruity enough to drink on its own, but also pairs delightfully with festive cheese courses and fall salads.
You can even keep it going throughout the Friendsgiving meal, since its acidity and effervescence make it a lovely match for just about any dish you throw at it. Because they spend extra time on the lees, Segura Viudas Cavas have a roundness and complexity that make them both charming and versatile. The delicious Brut Reserva, which usually retails for around $10 to $12 per bottle, is an astonishing value, and at that price you can afford to send a bottle to your Friendsgiving inner circle for the pre-dinner toast.
Work Through the Quirks
Even if glitches come up on the day of the party, your virtual Friendsgiving is bound to be memorable and wonderful, thanks to good friends, good food, and great wine. It’s all about celebrating with the people you love.
Start the festivities and order a bottle of Segura Viudas Cava at the link below!
This article is sponsored by Segura Viudas Cava.
