12 Unique Thanksgiving Party Ideas

Looking to have a nontraditional turkey day? Then you need to check out these Thanksgiving party ideas! Switch things up this year by hosting an intimate gathering in a unique space. Thanksgiving is a holiday typically celebrated in one’s home with family, but why not buck the tradition and host it somewhere new? Peerspace is the Airbnb of party venues, and the platform can help you find a gourmet kitchen and dining room space where you can host a holiday feast.

Choose from cafes, bars, mansions, lofts, warehouses, and more when you use Peerspace to book your ultimate Thanksgiving dinner venue. You are sure to find something that will impress your guests, no matter where you live or what your budget may be. The biggest food holiday of the year is the perfect excuse to gather friends and chosen family for a potluck-style dinner. 

After you book an amazing Peerspace, you just need our fun Thanksgiving party ideas. Let’s check them out!

1. Gather and feast in an amazing Peerspace venue

If your home is lacking in seating, a Thanksgiving party isn’t off the table. With Peerspace, you can find a space that accommodates any number of guests. From cozy and quaint lofts to massive industrial warehouses, you can find a venue that fits your party style.

You can find a home with a gourmet kitchen to tool around in or a superb restaurant with onsite catering options. Many of our amazing Peerspace hosts can also connect their guests with preferred vendors, like catering and entertainment companies that can easily elevate your Thanksgiving event. And it will be an event!

Just to get you started with an example, check out The Nellie Rose, a downtown modern industrial loft in Houston, TX. This exquisite space provides you with a gourmet kitchen, a private rooftop, A/V equipment, and amazing optional add-on services to enhance your Thanksgiving dinner. All in a beautiful, welcoming, fresh setting!

You can rest assured that Peerspace venues are safe, clean, and ready for you and your guests. Simply head to our homepage and search in your desired location to see what listings appear.

2. Host a charitable dinner to show your thanks

Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for what you have, and it is also the perfect occasion to give back. A charitable organization like No Kid Hungry provides an extensive guide for hosting a Friendsgiving fundraiser that you can use any time of year. Or, you can take it upon yourself to host a potluck-style gathering and simply ask everyone to “match” their dish with a donation by bringing food donations of every ingredient included in the recipe.

For example, if someone makes a green bean casserole, they would bring canned green beans and cream of mushroom soup to donate to the local food pantry. If the ingredients of a dish are perishable, be sure to consult the food pantry first to see which donation items they accept. Many places will take turkeys and vegetables on select days right before Thanksgiving. This is one of those thoughtful Thanksgiving party ideas that are meaningful and a win-win for everyone.

3. Serve nontraditional food for a fresh spin on the holiday

Who says Thanksgiving has to include a turkey, pies, potatoes, and stuffing? Celebrate in your own way by serving whatever you want, or ask everyone to bring their favorite comfort food to share. 

If people are unsure what to bring, try setting a theme like “Italian food” or “Thai food.” Better yet, ask everyone to bring recipe cards so that they can share their culinary secrets with all of the guests. You’ll end up with an array of diverse dishes and might even discover your new favorite food!

To make it easy on yourself, consider booking a restaurant venue through Peerspace that can provide you with a scrumptious multi-course Thanksgiving feast your guests will never forget. For example, you can book this beautifully decorated French Mediterranean restaurant in South Orange, NJ, and enjoy southern French bistro cuisine in its lovely setting.

Want to put a delicious twist on the food itself this year? Then check out our Thanksgiving brunch ideas, too!

4. Give thanks to the amazing people in your life

It’s already in the name, but we couldn’t leave it off this list of Thanksgiving party ideas. Take the time to write thank-you cards for various people in your life. They could be for family and friends, including the people at your party, but they could also include your mailperson, the baristas at your favorite local coffee shop, your children’s teachers, the garbage person, gardeners, housekeepers, dog walkers, or babysitters.

Buy pre-made cards from the dollar store, or make your own out of cardstock. This can be a fun activity for kids at the party. Supply them with stickers, fun markers, glitter glue, and gel pens so they can get creative and design unique cards.

Capture every special moment using these Thanksgiving photoshoot ideas as your template.

5. Reeducate yourself on the holiday’s origins

Chances are, you didn’t learn the true history of Thanksgiving in school. Or, at least, not the whole truth. Learn the real history with some humorous YouTube videos, like this one. 

If you have guests who belong in the limelight, provide costumes and suggest that they reenact the real Thanksgiving history in an improvised play (tastefully, of course). This can be an entertaining and educational activity for everyone.

6. Design a festive tablescape befitting the holiday

When the table is the focal point of the party, it needs to make an outstanding impression. Use centerpieces like a cornucopia, pumpkins, gourds, fall leaves, and baskets of apples. For a table runner, use burlap and bind all utensils together with tan-colored twine. Use earth tones and fall colors like red and orange to inform your design palette.

While the perfect meal is a feast for the stomach and the soul, a well-designed table is a feast for the eyes. As an example, we love how this classy TriBeCa loft in New York City, NY dresses up its tables to impress its guests. Check out the photos on its Peerspace listing for even more design inspiration!

Discover more ways to uplevel your gathering by utilizing our Thanksgiving decoration ideas!

7. Say thanks over festive drinks 

With a Thanksgiving table full of extended family, you just might need some spirits to sip on. Wash down your Thanksgiving feast with festive fall drinks like apple cider (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), cocktails, punch, and eggnog (if you can’t wait until December).

Ask everyone at the dining table to give “gratitude toasts” (if they can stand the thought of public speaking). It is a sweet way to celebrate the true meaning of Thanksgiving and celebrate the opportunity to be together.

8. Set up a scrummy dessert table that leaves your guests drooling

Pumpkin and pecan pie are classics, but you can switch it up this holiday season. Serve a buffet of mini desserts! You can offer goodies like pecan tassies, pumpkin cheesecake bites, apple turnovers, and pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls, so everyone can have a little bit of everything.

Instead of serving them to your guests after the big meal, display all of the sweets on a decorated table. That way, everyone can grab dessert at their own pace. Place the treats on cake stands, fancy plates, or trays, and arrange centerpieces like turkey figurines and mini pumpkins amid all the desserts for a stunning, festive display.

This customizable events space in Glen Burnie, MD provides you with a spacious and festive setting for hosting your Thanksgiving party. The host even offers amazing add-on services, including a gourmet cake and dessert table! Um, yes, please!

9. Enjoy a tailgate-style party for more low-key vibes

This Thanksgiving party idea is for football fans. Ask everyone to come dressed in jerseys representing their favorite teams and bring their favorite game-day snacks, drinks, and appetizers. Have some footballs available for guests to toss around if you have an outdoor area available.

Remember, Peerspace can help you find indoor and outdoor party venues for your Thanksgiving event. Even if you think it’s too chilly, you can book outdoor party venues that have plenty of space and toasty amenities, like space heaters and fire pits!

10. Try it vegan and maybe start a whole new tradition

Have a more conscious Thanksgiving meal by planning a completely plant-based menu. It can be a fun and informative way to put a new spin on the same old dishes from years prior. Love & Lemons provides 40 mouth-watering vegan Thanksgiving options for every course, many of which are super simple to whip up and less expensive than their meaty or dairy-laden counterparts.

If you’re not super comfortable cooking up a vegan feast this Thanksgiving, don’t fret. You can book a plant-based restaurant through Peerspace! One fun option is this vegan restaurant in the heart of Greenwich Village in NYC, NY that serves an all-vegan menu. Its amazing menu and sublime location are just a couple of the reasons why your Thanksgiving party ideas would come together beautifully here.

Your guests are sure to give thanks for attending a thoughtful, modernized Thanksgiving feast.

11. Make sure you offer your guests plenty of entertainment

For any of your guests not involved in the meal prep itself (we’re looking at you, kiddos!), a Thanksgiving party can be a little boring before and after the meal. Do yourself and your guests a favor and book a Peerspace venue that is both perfect for preparing and eating a Thanksgiving feast and for having some fun before and after eating.

One awesome example is this lux estate in Accokeek, MD that has a lot going for it. It’s spacious and includes a full kitchen and dining area for meal prep and serving. Plus, your guests will love its game, on-site private movie theater, and spacious backyard perfect for exploring.

12. Set a theme to brighten the festivities

There is nothing like a theme party to get your guests excited. And why should your Thanksgiving party be any different? Themes are especially helpful for annual celebrations since they can become tedious with a way to differentiate the event from year to year. Plus, themes help you decide the decorations, menu, and dress code.

Convinced yet? Great! Why not host a retro 80s Thanksgiving party at a vintage ranch in Lake Hughes, CA? Or, you can plan a neon Thanksgiving party in a glow-in-the-dark bicycle boutique in Baton Rouge, LA. Why not plan a Southern barbecue Thanksgiving fete at a party barn with on-site smokers in Spring, TX? The options for a themed Thanksgiving are endless, easy, and fun with a resource like Peerspace at your fingertips!

Thanksgiving party ideas: conclusion

Start new traditions this year! Thanksgiving can be so much more than a huge meal. Now more than ever, spending time with loved ones and giving thanks for what you have is crucial.

So gather safely at a gorgeous private dining room venue courtesy of Peerspace and make the most of every moment! No matter how you celebrate the occasion or whom you celebrate it with, these Thanksgiving party ideas are sure to turn the feast into the best yet.

Find unique Thanksgiving party venues on Peerspace