Thanksgiving is just a day away and the only thing as great as Thanksgiving is the next best thing… Friendsgiving! We found a fun and delicious way for the kids to enjoy Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving besides already having delicious food, and that’s with our DIY Candy Cornucopia! Keep reading for this fun and easy DIY, plus more fun Friendsgiving ideas.
But first, what even IS a cornucopia? According to Wonderopolis, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped wicker basket filled with various seasonal fruits and vegetables. Though most Americans associate the cornucopia with the Thanksgiving holiday, it was around long before Columbus sailed to America.
Today, the cornucopia serves as a symbol of abundance. In the United States, it most commonly appears as a centerpiece at Thanksgiving. Some historians suspect the cornucopia’s place at the Thanksgiving table was borrowed from the European harvest festivals, where farmers celebrated by filling a goat’s horn with grain and fruit. The word “cornucopia” is derived from the Latin “cornu” (meaning “horn”) and “copia” (meaning “plenty”). That literally translates to “horn of plenty!”
Peachy Dreams Teepee
Everything’s peachy keen in this bright Peachy Dream Teepee! With the high-quality polyester canvas made to prevent common rips and tears and the mesh promoting air circulation, this is the perfect indoor-outdoor teepee. The doors also close easily with ties, creating a cozy reading nook before bed. The easy set-up allows for hours of playtime at the drop of a peach, and the included sturdy carry bag makes it convenient for travel and storage. These fun colors match perfectly with fall, Thanksgiving, candy, and good times!
DIY Candy Cornucopia
This adorable and easy DIY can be a goodie for the kids, a party favor at Friendsgiving, or a centerpiece to a kid’s plate at the dinner table. Whatever you decide, it’s a great and delicious addition to any Thanksgiving celebration. You will want to make sure you are helping or supervising your kids with this DIY, as the cone might be hot while you’re working with it.
What You Need
- Waffle Cone
- Candy
- TIP: We went with candy corn for the fall colors! If a child has a peanut allergy, you can use Hershey Kisses or whatever your kiddo loves best. There are tons of great fall candy options available, such as pumpkin-shaped gummies or Reese’s Pieces!
- Thin Dowel Rod
- Plastic Baggies (optional)
How You Make It
- Wet a paper towel squeeze out as much water as possible
- Drape it on the bottom of your waffle cone, just covering the tips
- Microwave the waffle cone with the damp paper towel on top for 30 seconds, or until the tips are soft enough to start bending
- TIP: We suggest doing 15 to 20-second intervals if the bottom hasn’t become soft enough. Doing it for longer runs the risk of the waffle cone burning.
- Once the cone is soft, put the rod at the tip and roll it a couple of times so that it begins to resemble a cornucopia. Be careful, the tip of the cone is very hot!
- Once you get the curl you want, let the waffle cones cool down, then add your kid’s favorite fall-themed candy and it is good to go!
More Friendsgiving Fun
Finding fun and educational things for the kids to do during your Friendsgiving celebration is easy — here are some of our favorite Friendsgiving activities for kids!
Gratitude Jar
This awesome activity from Country Living is perfect for Thanksgiving! Have little ones—or everyone!—share what they’re thankful for by placing this jar, strips of paper, and a few pens at the table. During downtime, while dinner is still being prepared, everyone grabs a slip and writes down what they are thankful for. After dinner, wrap up your feast on a sweet note by having kiddos read the slips aloud while dessert is served. Take it up a notch by having them guess who wrote which one!
Turkey Tracks
This activity from Fun-a-Day is especially great for little ones! Simply bend some brown or orange pipe cleaner into the shape of turkey feet. Layout a paper plate of paint and some blank paper. Dip the turkey feet into the paint and stamp away! You can even take it a step further and have the kids come up with a story for where the turkey is going, where he’s been and what kind of trail he is on.
Kid’s Table Coloring Tablecloth
Just as easy as it sounds! Cover the kid’s table with a large roll of paper that can be found at any craft or hardware store. Tape the ends to the underside of the table, adorn the center of the table with crayons, markers, or colored pencils and let the little ones have at it. You can also leave out stencils, cut-outs of leaves and turkeys, or write their names above their place setting for a fun personal touch. They can even cut out their section to take home — if it hasn’t gotten too much turkey on it!
Let Us Know!
What are some fun ways you like to celebrate Friendsgiving? Let us know in the comments below, or reach out to us on social media. Have a great Thanksgiving!