We’re throwing a full-on Friendsgiving with a playful throwback twist. Inspired by IZZE’s colorful, fizzy energy and their Friendsgiving theme, we leaned into a 90s-inspired celebration—bright, nostalgic, and a little bit disco.
Below are five vibrant, easy ideas to bring a throwback Friendsgiving to life. Think disco ball cornucopias, tie-dyed napkins, cocktail throwbacks, whimsical treats, and tiny pie necklaces. If you’d rather skip the full turkey dinner, invite friends over for drinks and dessert the weekend before Thanksgiving and surprise them with this lively, nostalgic gathering.
We pulled inspiration from IZZE’s bright palette and playful spirit and translated it into five approachable ideas you can recreate at home. First up: disco.
Cornucopias were never my thing—until they became disco ball cornucopias. This makes a striking centerpiece. To make one: spray paint a cornucopia basket in your chosen color, then gather disco balls in various sizes. Use museum wax or glue dots to stack and secure the disco balls inside the basket so they look like they’re spilling out.
Next: tie-dyed napkins for a bright pop of table color. Roll each napkin into a tube and dip sections into different dye colors, following standard tie-dye steps. You can use a kit if you prefer a more traditional tie-dye look. The effect is cheerful and easy to customize to your palette.
For a cocktail throwback, we mixed a Sparkling Pomegranate Cosmo using IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate. It’s a nod to classic city-cocktail vibes—bright, tart, and bubbly. Recipe makes one cocktail:
1 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau (or fresh orange juice)
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
3 ounces IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate Juice
Combine vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass, then top with the IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate. Garnish with pomegranate seeds, an orange slice, or a lime wedge if desired.
For a playful dessert, cereal-treat turkey legs are a fun throwback. Using a batch of Rice Krispies treats, shape a turkey leg and attach it to a pretzel rod. Add two mini marshmallows at the end of the rod with melted white chocolate and cover part of the rod in white chocolate and sprinkles. These are nostalgic, silly, and perfect alongside your cocktails.
Ingredients and quick steps:
Rice Krispies treats (prepared per box directions)
Pretzel rods
Mini marshmallows
White chocolate
Sprinkles
1. Melt white chocolate and use it to glue two mini marshmallows to the end of each pretzel rod. Let set.
2. Dip half the pretzel rod (including the marshmallows) into white chocolate and add sprinkles. Let set.
3. Shape a portion of the cereal treat into a turkey-leg shape on the other half of the rod and let set.
Finally, mini polymer-clay pie necklaces make delightful favors or a group craft activity. They’re surprisingly simple and make a memorable keepsake. Basic supplies: polymer clay in orange, tan, white, and brown; liquid clay; a craft knife; headpins; chain; jump rings; and a clasp. The process involves forming a tiny pie shape, adding a whipped-cream dollop, attaching a headpin, baking the slices, and finishing the jewelry findings so each guest can take home a little slice of fun.
Summary steps:
1. Mix clay colors as needed, shape the pie base and crust, and add texture with a toothpick.
2. Cut into slices, add a small white whipped-cream detail, and secure with liquid clay.
3. Insert a headpin, bake according to clay instructions, cool, trim the pin, create a loop, and thread onto a chain with jump rings and a clasp.
To round out the party, serve a funfetti pie, display colorful IZZE sparkling drinks, and add a confetti-stuffed turkey for extra whimsy. These elements together create an energetic, nostalgic Friendsgiving that’s equal parts festive and relaxed.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
If you’re curious which Friendsgiving fits your style, check out IZZE’s Friendsgiving quiz. Whichever result you get, consider adding a few cosmos, lots of color, and at least one disco ball to the mix.
This post was created in partnership with IZZE. All content and opinions are my own.