Friendsgiving Ideas in Denver for Friends Who Don’t Want to Host

Friendsgiving is your chance to celebrate with the friends who feel like family, usually the weekend before Thanksgiving. It’s a fun, casual holiday, but it can be tough to get someone to agree to host. Between pre-gathering cleaning and a pile of dishes, planning a relaxed Friendsgiving in Denver can be a tall order.

Why not change the venue? A Garage Party at Oakwell Beer Spa is the one Friendsgiving plan where nobody needs to host: everyone shows up, settles into private spa suites, and leaves the cleanup to someone else. 

Check out this guide to get four done-for-you Friendsgiving plans, plus tips to make everyone feel relaxed and welcome.

Friendsgiving Is Great, But Hosting? Not So Much

Asking your friends to do a potluck sounds simple until you realize your friend’s apartment can’t accommodate six people, slow cookers, and all the dishes that come with hosting a big dinner. 

Someone who promised to bring a side dish brings chips. And somehow, the person who offered up their living room and kitchen is also making three sides—and still scrubbing a roasting pan at midnight. 

With Thanksgiving coming up, does anyone really need another thing to clean or do? Nobody needs that stress, so think outside the box for Friendsgiving this year.

4 Ways to do Friendsgiving in Denver Without Hosting

These Friendsgiving activities bring everyone together—without anyone playing host or taking the lead on food. Whether you’re planning a friends’ night out or a girls’ afternoon with zero hosting duties, these ideas will bring your gathering out of a crowded living room and into a relaxed space where you can connect with your closest friends.

1. Book a Garage Party at Oakwell

An Oakwell Garage Party accommodates up to six people in one 90-minute reservation. Inside several connected spa suites, you can move leisurely between amenities like soaking tubs with herbal infusions, infrared saunas, rain showers, and lounge space to catch up. 

Bring your swimsuits and settle into a warm beer- or wine-infused herbal bath, chat about your holiday plans, and enjoy having nowhere else to be for a while. Your group gets exclusive access to this private suite during your reservation, so you won’t have to compete with other people’s conversations. 

You can’t bring your own food to Oakwell, but you can order a gourmet Friendsgiving snack spread. Enjoy a charcuterie board, chocolate bonbons, and a range of craft beverage options from the Oakwell taproom. 

Need another drink? Use the in-room service bell to have drinks and snacks brought to your suite. No one has to climb out of a perfectly good soak to play bartender.

If your guest list has grown beyond six people, explore our private party options for bigger groups. Everyone should have a spot at your Friendsgiving celebration, especially the friend who finally managed to get a night off.

2. Pair a Soak With a Dinner Reservation

Do you want a proper sit-down meal with your friends? Breaking bread is a Friendsgiving tradition, so you can still go out to eat with your pals. In fact, you can book nearby dinner reservations before or after your Oakwell visit to make Friendsgiving even more special. 

A soak gives everyone something to do before dinner and time to catch up before you head to a loud restaurant. Since you have a larger group, don’t leave anything to chance. Book dinner reservations as soon as possible so you know there will be a table waiting for your group.

3. Visit the Oakwell Taproom for a Brewery Meetup

For a laid-back Friendsgiving in Denver, set aside time during your spa visit to gather in the Oakwell taproom. Guests 21 and up can enjoy craft beer, wine, cider, kombucha, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks in our casual taproom designed for lounging and conversation.

If your group wants a longer outing, swap one brewery stop for a soak and arrange transportation ahead of time. Everyone can choose their own drink, so six friends don't have to agree on the same IPA.

And if your friends have dietary restrictions, Oakwell can accommodate. Our food and drinks include vegetarian and even vegan options, plus plenty of non-alcoholic choices for people who prefer to skip the alcohol.

4. Try a Class or Game Night With Friends

If your group wants a hands-on activity, book a class or plan group game night outside of your home. Choose something beginners can enjoy, check the full cost, and reserve together so nobody ends up in a different session.

Pottery or cooking classes are always a fun choice. For a rowdier crowd, plan a picnic at one of Denver’s many gorgeous parks and bring active games like Twister or oversized Connect 4.

Plan a Friendsgiving That Includes Everyone

Hosting Friendsgiving at a beer spa might sound exclusionary if people in your friend group don’t drink, but that’s not the case at Oakwell. Friends who don’t drink can enjoy non-alcoholic drinks and the spa experience. Our baths don’t contain any alcohol or fermentation, either. 

If you have a gluten-free friend in the group, they can still enjoy Oakwell. While we can’t guarantee gluten-free food or drinks, we do offer a gluten-free beer bath soak. Just let us know about your preference during booking and confirm it with your Beer Therapist when you arrive at Oakwell. 

Not everyone has to like beer to come to Oakwell, either. If your friend prefers the romantic aroma of wine, book a wine-infused herbal bath instead for no added charge.

When it comes to splitting the cost, the Garage Party starts at $450 for the whole group, and the listed rate covers up to six guests. At that rate, six friends would pay about $75 each before drinks, snacks, upgrades, and taxes or gratuity. Check the booking page for the exact rate at your location on your date.

If you’re looking for a deal, check out Oakwell’s current offers. For example, our Celebration Suite offer includes a $100 spa credit with a Monday–Thursday Garage Party at Highlands Ranch through December 17, 2026. Blackout dates apply and offers change.

Agree on how you’ll split the bill before one friend books the package under their name. Remember, if you have seven or more people coming, you’ll need to contact Oakwell to plan a private party instead of the Garage Party. 

…But Agree On The Details Before You Book

We all have that one flaky friend in the group. That’s just how it goes, but everyone in your Friendsgiving party needs to commit before you book. 

Garage Parties have a 48-hour cancellation policy. Late cancellations or no-shows are charged in full, plus 20% gratuity, so make sure everyone understands what they’re signing up for.

Make Plans, Not Mashed Potatoes

Friendsgiving is supposed to be a laid-back, informal gathering with your favorite people. A traditional gathering at your home with lots of food is fun, but it can be stressful. When you want to gather without the stress of hosting, try something different for Friendsgiving. 

Make memories, not dirty dishes. Book a Garage Party at Oakwell so your whole friend group can relax before the holidays.