There’s something special about gathering outdoors in fall — crisp air, golden leaves, and laughter that echoes into the evening. Friendsgiving is your chance to celebrate friendship without the formality of Thanksgiving. It’s casual, heartfelt, and best enjoyed under the open sky.
With the right setup — a SUNJOY gazebo, a fire pit, a rolling cooler, and good company — you can create a warm, welcoming outdoor space where everyone feels at home. Here’s how to host a relaxed outdoor Friendsgiving that’s easy to plan and impossible to forget.
1. Take the Celebration Outside
When it comes to Friendsgiving, location sets the tone. Instead of crowding indoors, move your gathering under a SUNJOY 11x11 Metal Pergola with Roof and Sliding Canopy. Its adjustable canopy and built-in solar lights make it the perfect fall entertaining space — bright enough for dinner, soft enough for cozy conversation.
Add an outdoor rug and string lights for texture and warmth. You can even hang lightweight curtains or netting from the pergola posts to create intimacy while still enjoying the crisp air.
The open-air setting allows everyone to relax, stretch out, and truly savor the evening — free from the confines of the dining room.
2. Style the Table for Effortless Charm
Friendsgiving isn’t about perfection — it’s about personality. Instead of matching china and linen napkins, think casual chic: layered textiles, rustic serveware, and natural accents.
Start with a neutral base — a linen or plaid runner — then add texture with wood chargers and ceramic plates. Use mini pumpkins, dried leaves, or small vases of wheat stalks as centerpieces. A few LED candles in glass jars instantly elevate the look.
Under the SUNJOY pergola’s warm solar lighting, your table will glow with an inviting amber hue — no harsh lights, no stress, just pure atmosphere.
If your setup includes a gazebo, hang a wreath or floral bundle from the ceiling hook above the table for a touch of organic drama.
3. Keep It Cozy and Warm
The best outdoor gatherings balance beauty and comfort.
Place a SUNJOY fire pit or outdoor fireplace near your seating area to anchor the space and add a touch of warmth. Guests naturally gather around firelight — it encourages long talks and laughter.
Here’s how to make everyone comfortable:
Set out blankets in a woven basket for guests to grab when the temperature drops.
Use cushions and throws to soften metal or wooden chairs.
Offer mugs of cider, hot cocoa, or mulled wine near the fire pit table for a hands-on warming station.
Your outdoor space doesn’t have to fight the chill — it can embrace it.
4. Create a Simple Yet Delicious Menu
Cooking outdoors adds both flavor and fun. If you have a SUNJOY Grill or any outdoor cooking station, try roasting turkey breast, salmon, or seasonal vegetables right on the grill.
Here’s a Friendsgiving-friendly menu that keeps prep easy and mess minimal:
- Appetizers: Cheese and charcuterie boards, roasted nuts, or stuffed mushrooms.
- Main Dishes: Grilled turkey, cedar-planked salmon, or veggie skewers.
- Sides: Butternut squash soup, garlic mashed potatoes, and maple-glazed carrots.
- Dessert: Pumpkin mousse or s’mores roasted over your SUNJOY fire pit.
Keep drinks nearby with the SUNJOY 60 Quart Portable Rolling Ice Chest Drink Cooler Cart with Bottle Opener and Shelf — it doubles as a stylish serving station. Guests can grab beverages easily, keeping the host free to mingle and enjoy.
5. Let Lighting Set the Mood
As twilight falls, lighting becomes your secret ingredient. To achieve that magical glow, think in layers:
- Overhead Ambience: Use the solar lights built into your SUNJOY pergola to softly illuminate the dining area.
- Tabletop Glow: Add LED candles or fairy lights woven through greenery.
- Firelight: Let your fire pit do its work — nothing beats the flicker of real flame.
- Pathway Safety: Line garden walkways with lanterns or solar stakes so guests can move around easily.
Lighting shouldn’t just help people see — it should make them feel. The balance of soft amber tones and natural shadows transforms your backyard into something cinematic.
6. Arrange Spaces That Invite Relaxation
Good hosting is about flow — where guests move naturally between zones of comfort.
Think of your outdoor setup as three connected areas:
Dining Zone: Under the pergola, where the main meal happens.
Lounge Zone: Near the fire pit or outdoor sofa — perfect for after-dinner chats.
Drink Zone: Beside your patio ice cooler, set up with glasses, napkins, and a few seasonal cocktails.
By separating spaces, you keep the gathering dynamic and engaging. People can grab drinks, share stories by the fire, or enjoy dessert under the pergola lights.
7. Add Personal Touches
Small details make big memories.
Try these simple Friendsgiving touches to show your thoughtfulness:
- Handwritten Notes: Leave mini cards of gratitude at each place setting.
- Photo Garland: Hang Polaroids or autumn leaves across the pergola beams.
- DIY Fall Scent: Simmer a pot of cinnamon sticks, oranges, and cloves near your fire pit to fill the air with cozy fragrance.
These details turn your space from “beautiful” to “personal.” Guests will remember how it felt to be there — not just how it looked.
8. Keep the Energy Light and Unscripted
Friendsgiving isn’t about schedules — it’s about rhythm.
Let the night evolve naturally:
Begin just before sunset for that golden glow.
Serve dinner once everyone settles in.
Transition to dessert and hot drinks as the stars come out.
Play a relaxed playlist — acoustic, folk, or jazz — to underscore the mood.
The hum of conversation, the soft clink of glasses, and the crackle of the fire become your soundtrack.
9. Clean Up the Easy Way
Outdoor entertaining doesn’t have to mean chaos after the feast.
Use the SUNJOY rolling cooler to collect used glasses and utensils at the end of the night. Keep a compost bin nearby for food scraps, and use reusable dinnerware to cut down on waste.
Invite friends to pitch in — it’s Friendsgiving, after all. Cleaning together often leads to more laughter and connection than the meal itself.
10. Why Outdoor Friendsgiving Feels So Special
There’s something grounding about celebrating gratitude outdoors. The open air, soft lighting, and sound of firelight bring people closer together — and make moments linger longer.
With SUNJOY’s outdoor products, hosting becomes effortless:
The 11x11 Metal Pergola with Roof and Sliding Canopy creates structure and shelter.
The 60 Quart Rolling Ice Chest keeps drinks flowing and stylishly displayed.
The Fire Pit adds warmth and focus.
Together, they turn your backyard into a place of connection — a living room without walls.
