Running out of ideas for weekend get-togethers with your friends? We get it. Between nights of bar-hopping and tireless WFH office hours, planning a weekend out with your day ones can be exhausting in itself — and tough on your wallet. Whether your home has a souped entertainment room or not, a little creativity goes a long way when planning an epic night in with your best friends. We’re serving up a bunch of foolproof ideas for your next hangout night, so you can finally act on that ‘let’s hang out’ group text you’ve had going for a year.

Get competitive with your fave video games

Grab your gamer friends and get together for a night of competitive e-sports — all from the comfort of your own space! Whether you’re into FIFA and Madden, Call of Duty or Gang Beasts, create a selection of games to choose from for your next night in. Make sure you have enough controllers to go around, or encourage your friends to bring their own and join in on the fun.

Host a beer tasting night

Friends and beer: is there a better pairing? Explore the vast world of beer with your very own beer tasting evening, complete with your crew’s favourite finger foods and brews. Need some ideas? Try touring Canada through its beers by offering up a beer table complete with Molson Canadian, Coors Light, Rickard’s, Miller Lite and Carling.

Try your hand at poker

Why head to a casino when you can host a poker night with your best buds? Indulge in a little competition with a high-stakes poker game — you decide the stakes! Poker games are a great way to bond with your crew while enjoying a relaxed activity at home. Get creative with prizes to make the game that much more entertaining!

Chill and grill

Nothing’s better than a great barbecue and a bonfire on a cozy night in. Grab your besties, your highest-quality steaks and your favourite brews for a night of fun conversation and even better food. Follow it up with a post-grill dessert for maximum enjoyment.

Host your own film festival

You don’t need to get fancy to host your own film festival; there are so many ways to go about it! Pick a film theme for a movie marathon, choose a selection of foreign films to explore or opt for heavy nostalgia with your crew’s favourite childhood films. If you want to take it to the next level, plan for your film festival by polling your friends on their picks, and rotate based on their selections so everyone can join in on the fun (and take some planning weight off your shoulders at the same time).

Getting together with your best friends doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank or suffering from a hangover post-hangout. From movie nights to games around the table until the early hours of the morning, use our handy guide to throwing a memorable crew night in so you can reunite with your best buddies — and have a killer time doing it from the comfort of your chosen space.