What does Friendsgiving really mean?
Friendsgiving isn’t just Thanksgiving with cooler guests, it’s a chosen-family potluck where creativity runs wild, the pressure is low, and the vibes are high. Carnival saw an opportunity to tap into this younger-skewing, feel-good holiday to show that connection doesn’t require a dining room table back home, it can happen anywhere, even at sea. Our mission? Find out what makes Friendsgiving meaningful (and meme-able) for Gen Z and young millennials, and translate that into something only Carnival could do.
Through cultural digging, TikTok rabbit holes, and more NYT think pieces than we’d care to admit, we uncovered a few key truths: Friendsgiving thrives on chaos (the good kind), celebrates chosen family, and trades traditional turkey for unhinged dishes like “Name-Based Potluck Assignments” or “Dipsgiving.” Most importantly, it’s a space for spontaneity, inside jokes, and showing up authentically—bad casserole and all. This insight unlocked Carnival's sweet spot: bringing people together in unconventional, joy-filled ways.
From food truck dish drops to piñata smashes and flash feasts in public parks, we proposed bold, communal stunts that could reflect the heart of Friendsgiving—playful, imperfect, and full of love. Because whether you’re floating down a canal with a rubber ducky or sitting around a mismatched table with mismatched friends, the message is clear: Friendsgiving isn’t about where you are, it’s about who you’re with—and Carnival is the perfect place to find them.