20 Cozy Outdoor Thanksgiving Celebration Ideas

Mother Nature is calling. Take advantage of mild fall weather and take your Thanksgiving celebration outdoors this year with our tips.

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October 30, 2020

By: Kamron Sanders

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Alfresco + Intimate

For a small family-style Thanksgiving in the great outdoors, consider a destination picnic. Bring along a picnic basket, filled with your family's Turkey Day faves, and a few decorative items to dress up the table to better suit Mother Nature's beautiful backdrop.

Learn More: Host a Fall Farm-to-Table Dinner Party

Apple-Themed Orchard Dinner

Live close to an apple orchard? You’re in luck. This is the perfect setting for an outdoor Thanksgiving dinner. Set up a lightweight or folding table along with a few easy-to-carry chairs and treat your guests to a memorable evening beneath the trees and stars.

See More Photos: Celebrate Fall With an Apple-Themed Outdoor Get-Together

From: Marian Parsons

Glam Up the Outdoors

Don’t be afraid to go glam in your outdoor space. The beauty of incorporating a bit of glitz, like these metallic pumpkins, is the way they contrast with the existing outdoor elements. When mixed with more muted, natural tones, the glam gourds add striking visual interest.

learn more: Stage an Outdoors-Inspired Thanksgiving Dinner

Weather the Storm

For an outdoor Thanksgiving dining experience that can brave unexpected weather, dress up an indoor/outdoor space such as a barn or garden shed as a rustic and romantic dinner locale. A timeworn wooden table makes the perfect foundation; just cover it with a colorful cloth or table runner for added visual interest.

See More Photos: Our Favorite Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

Dinner With a View

Holiday or no, any outdoor dining experience is improved by a gorgeous view. Place your table in a location that benefits from amazing views, then soak in the fantastic fall foliage while you dig into your succulent side dish of choice.

See More Photos: Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Feast

'Fur' Your Troubles

If you’re after that magazine-worthy look but don’t want to sacrifice coziness, stock up on faux fur throws to soften seating. This long wooden bench provides plenty of seating but could stand a bit of softening — a cushy throw will encourage guests to linger over coffee and dessert.

See More Photos: Rustic + Refined: Set a Stunning Fall or Winter Table Setting

From: H. Camille Smith

Fall in Love With Florals

Fresh-cut backyard blooms shine in this outdoor centerpiece. Bright dahlias in shades of orange, yellow, red and pink pair perfectly with golden celosia, while sorrel leaves, ornamental grasses and cabbages stand in for standard greenery.

See More Photos: Our 70 Favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Craft Natural Place Cards

When planning your Thanksgiving table setting, remember that beauty is in the details. Thoughtful additions like pretty place cards will make all the difference. These DIY place cards, that repurpose foraged magnolia leaves, have been personalized with the magic of a gold paint pen.

See More Photos: 28 Thoughtful + Creative Thanksgiving Place Cards

Add a Little Drama

It’s okay to break away from the traditional fall color palette and experiment with cooler elements. This stunning tablescape enlists traditional fall hues in the centerpiece, but pairs them with moody, dramatic teals in the candles and glassware creating a warm-meets-cool pairing that always works.

See More Photos: Our Favorite Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas

An Unexpected Addition

Every table setting needs a touch of the unexpected. For this outdoor Thanksgiving table, a vintage brass peacock was chosen to add a touch of whimsy and a seasonal splash of gold. The addition adds character to the table's overall design and keeps things interesting.

See More Photos: Rustic + Refined: Set a Stunning Fall or Winter Table Setting

From: H. Camille Smith

Relish the Rustic

Whenever you can sub in a rustic replacement for a standard serving dish, go for it! This DIY wood slice cake stand will ensure your homemade goodies are a slice above. Get crafting with our tutorial, below.

Get the How-To: DIY Wood Slice Dessert Stand

Serve Up Something Seasonal

Make your outdoor Thanksgiving dinner a bit more festive by serving a seasonal sip. This autumn-inspired sangria is packed with the flavors of fall and is perfectly suited for a big-batch preparation. Though it's served chilled, the seasonal spices offer a warming element that'll keep your dinner guests feeling cozy on a cool Thanksgiving evening.

Get the Recipe: Fall Sangria Recipe

Or, Brew Up Some Bliss

An enticing coffee bar is what your outdoor events have been missing, and Thanksgiving dinner is no different. This setup utilizes a piece of indoor furniture as its base and is fully stocked with everything one could ask for to craft the perfect cup of joe. A cute pennant banner spelling out “coffee” strung above the table adds a delightfully handcrafted touch.

See More Photos: 3 Ways to Set Up a Beverage Station at Your Next Shindig

Host a Pre-Dinner Pie Party

Pre-game your outdoor Thanksgiving dinner by gathering a little early for a pie-baking party. Lay out some ready-to-use pie crusts and a variety of fillings and have everyone whip up dessert to suit their tastes. After the feast, guests can sample a bit of everyone's culinary creations.

See More Photos: 8 Unique + Homemade Pie Crust Designs

Mix In Garden Goodies

Effortlessly add instant fall flair to your outdoor table with a touch of terracotta. These out-of-the-box elements are really just new terracotta saucers, which are both inexpensive and come ready to use in the quintessential fall color: orange.

See More Photos: 6 Place Settings Inspired by Today's Hottest Trends

From: Kristin Guy

Don't Forget the Games

Hosting Thanksgiving outdoors isn’t complete without a few lawn games. This classic bean bag toss game incorporates the family initials on the DIY board and bags, all while using muted fall hues to stay perfectly on theme.

Assemble a Gourd-geous Display

Centerpieces don’t get more fall-tastic than this lovely display of flowers in hollowed-out butternut squash vases. Our step-by-step instructions, below, will show you how to hollow out a butternut squash or pumpkin to make an affordable vase for fall flowers.

Get the How-To: Turn a Butternut Squash Into a Fall Centerpiece

Craft a Rustic Floral Centerpiece

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve your Thanksgiving centerpiece goals — you just have to be a little crafty. This rustic fall centerpiece is a quick-and-easy DIY that utilizes scrap wood to build a jaw-dropping floral centerpiece that oozes fall flair.

See More Photos: Fall Harvest Centerpiece

Backyard Bonfire

No matter what your Thanksgiving dinner festivities hold, you can’t go wrong with a backyard bonfire on a chilly fall evening. Just make sure you load up on the s’mores ingredients for those that aren’t crazy about pumpkin pie.

See More Photos: 15 Easy, Creative Recipes & DIYs for S'mores Lovers

From: Tiffany Brooks

Try a Different Pie For Dinner

Sure, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of a golden turkey, succulent stuffing and pumpkin pie, but we’ve got another pie in mind. If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor pizza oven, you have no excuse not to host an outdoor Thanksgiving pizza party. (Who likes dry turkey anyway?)

Get the How-To: How to Build an Outdoor Pizza Oven

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