Thanksgiving & Friendsgiving in Reno: A Small-Venue Guide
Space for everyone!
Real talk: has your family outgrown your dining room? It happens! Between new babies, new partners, cousins who flew in and friends who didn’t have anywhere else to go, it’s easy to find yourself with more guests than chairs. Suddenly there’s a card table in the hallway, the oven is triple-booked and whoever’s hosting spends the entire day in the kitchen instead of at the table (hosts: we see you).
Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. Plan your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving at Flow’s Boutique Venue in Reno, and things suddenly become much easier. Our restored 1920s Victorian means you have the perfect private venue to spread out and get your turkey on. You get to keep the homemade, family-style vibe — and no one has to sit in the hallway. Our space is exclusively yours for the day, keeps the whole group together and lets you cook your own meal or bring in a caterer.
Sounds like a plan? Here’s how to make it work for you this holiday, plus what one family’s Thanksgiving at Flow’s looked like last year.
1. Decide on the day, then book fast
Flow’s all dressed up!
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year, and that day goes first — so don’t wait! Friendsgiving gives you a little more flexibility: the weekend before, the Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week or the Friday or Saturday after are all popular. If your group can be flexible, you’ll have more options.
2. Count heads, including the little ones
Total guest count shapes everything, from table length to how much turkey you need. Count kids and high chairs too. A venue that seats everyone at one long table keeps the whole family in the same conversation, instead of splitting off a kids’ table. But we can make it all work — that’s kind of our thing.
3. Choose who’s cooking
This is the big decision, and in very good news, there’s no wrong answer!
Cook it yourselves. Look for a venue with a full kitchen (ahem) so the family recipes still come out of the oven fresh. Ask about oven space, fridge space and when you can arrive to start pepping.
Bring in a caterer. Hand off the main course and keep a few homemade sides or desserts for tradition.
Go potluck. Perfect for Friendsgiving. Pro tip: assign categories (sides, desserts, drinks) so you don’t end up with five pies and zero potatoes.
4. Plan for everyone, from toddlers to grandparents
The best Thanksgivings give every generation a place to be. Grandparents need comfortable seating and a quiet corner. Kids need room to move, ideally outdoors. Teens and young adults need somewhere to gather that isn’t the kitchen. A venue with a sitting area and an outdoor space gives each group its own spot without anyone feeling left out.
5. Make room for photos
A photo bus?! Yes, please.
This is often the one day a year the whole family is together. Plan a few minutes, ideally in afternoon light, for a group photo, or go big and arrange a fun spot for candid shots (we have an incredible recommendation). A pretty backdrop, like a historic front porch or a backyard patio, means you’ll actually want to frame the result.
6. Keep cleanup simple
Bring containers for leftovers, assign a cleanup crew in advance and confirm your venue’s end time and what needs to be packed out. The goal is for the host to sit down and enjoy the meal too.
A real Thanksgiving at Flow’s Boutique Venue
Last year, a family of 26 spent Thanksgiving right here at Flow’s in downtown Reno. They cooked their own feast in the full kitchen, gathered around one long table and spent the afternoon outside on the patio. Here’s what they shared afterward.
A Truly Exceptional Venue and Even More Exceptional Owners
“Our family recently gathered at this intimate venue, and from the moment we met the owners, we felt wrapped in genuine care. Kristen and Katie are two of the most generous, kind, and thoughtful women you could ever meet! They each took the time to understand the heart behind our gathering. They embraced our family story with such sincerity that they made our event feel deeply personal and unforgettable.
The venue itself is absolutely beautiful. The table was elegantly set and spacious enough to seat all 26 of us comfortably, which is a rare and wonderful gift. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare our Thanksgiving feast, and the outdoor space was a dream: picture-ready scenery, room for family photos, and an array of activities that kept little ones, teens, young adults, and grandparents happily engaged. The day seemed to breathe easier because the space invited connection.
But what stood out above everything was the owners’ warmth. They were responsive to every call and message, attentive to every detail, and even met with us in person beforehand to ensure the setup was just right. Their kindness felt less like customer service and more like welcome from extended family. These ladies truly care about the community they're rooted in and the families they serve. Reno is lucky to have them.
And as if the day wasn't memorable enough, they arranged a surprise visit from a beloved kids’ character, a moment of pure joy that lit up the whole gathering.
If there were a special recognition award for outstanding local businesses, these women and this venue would have our wholehearted vote. We hope many others discover this gem and the remarkable people behind it.
Thank you, Katie and Kristen. We love you!”
This what we hope every family feels here: room for everyone, a kitchen that keeps up and a day that breathes a little easier. Flow’s comfortably welcomes up to 50 guests (we can usually make a few more work, too), the whole home is exclusively yours for your event and you’e welcome to cook, cater or do a little of both.
Save a seat for everyone this year
The people you love deserve to sit at the same table — and we can help make room for all of them.
Ask about Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving dates or schedule a tour of Flow’s Boutique Venue in downtown Reno, and we’ll walk you through what’s still available.
Frequently asked questions
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A small private venue with a full kitchen is a good fit for families of 20 to 50. Flow's Boutique Venue in downtown Reno seats large groups at one table, has a full kitchen for cooking your own meal and offers a backyard patio for kids and photos.
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Yes! Flow's Boutique Venue has a full kitchen, so you can prepare your own feast, bring in a caterer or combine the two.
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Popular Friendsgiving dates include the weekend before Thanksgiving and the Friday or Saturday after. These dates often have more venue availability than Thanksgiving Day itself.
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Flow's comfortably welcomes up to 50 guests in a restored 1924 Victorian home. Last year, a family of 26 was seated together at one long table for their Thanksgiving dinner.
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Yes. When you book Flow's Boutique Venue, the entire home, including the dining room, sitting area, kitchen, and patio, is exclusively yours for your event.