Festivus Restaurant Ideas for the Rest of Us
Parts Town / Foodservice Tips, Holiday, Restaurant Tips / December 13

Originally a made-up holiday introduced by Seinfeld’s Frank Costanza, Festivus first gained popularity when it was featured in a 1997 episode titled “The Strike”. The holiday that was pegged to be a little “out-there,” according to the Cosmo Kramer character, was actually created by Seinfeld’s writer Dan O’Keefe’s father in response to the over-commercialization of Christmas.
Since that initial airing over 25 years ago, millions of Americans have come to celebrate the new holiday, making it a great opportunity to hold an event at your restaurant and bring in more customers. In this article we’ll cover everything you need to know about Festivus, as well as give you some Festivus restaurant ideas to make your celebration a success.
When is Festivus Celebrated
As in the 1997 episode, Festivus is celebrated on December 23rd, no matter the day of the week it falls on. Although festivities can take place at any time of day, people who want to stay true to the TV show usually celebrate in the evening.
Why Should Restaurants Celebrate Festivus?
Christmas is usually one of the slowest days in the restaurant industry, so Festivus is a great opportunity to make one final push to get business before the holiday. Since Festivus is usually celebrated in the evening, it’s perfect for encouraging people to come in for dinner.
What 5 Things are Included in a Festivus Celebration
Even if you’re a Seinfeld fan, you might not know how to celebrate Festivus at your restaurant. Every proper Festivus get-together has 5 components, so make sure to do each of the following in some form:
- The Airing of Grievances – Traditionally, the Airing of Grievances was a way for Frank Costanza to get his family’s year of (real or imagined) transgressions off his chest. This may be a little awkward in a restaurant setting, but with a fun twist and some creativity, you could tradition your own this Festivus season.
- The Feats of Strength – In the show, The Feats of Strength was performed as a closing ceremony to Festivus where Frank Costanza would challenge a guest to a wrestling match. It’s probably not in your best interest to sponsor an actual wrestling competition for liability reasons. But in the name of Festivus, you could replace the tradition with something safer, like an arm wrestling contest. The winner gets a free drink.
- The Festivus Pole – The Festivus pole is nothing fancy as far as Christmas trees go, but that’s the whole point! Find yourself an aluminum pole and something for it to stand on, and you’ll have yourself the Festivus version of time-old tradition.
- The Festivus Miracle – “It’s a Festivus miracle!” is to be shouted at every seemingly insignificant event. So if a guest drops their fork or accidentally drips soup down their front, you know what to do.
- The Festivus Dinner – All Seinfeld fans know that the main Festivus activity is sharing a meal. Whether you follow the tradition and serve meatloaf atop lettuce or do something else, the fact that the holiday is based around eating is perfect for restaurants.
What Food Do You Eat at Festivus
When people think of going out to dinner, images of meatloaf and salad don’t typically stampede the mind. If you’re thinking that a more traditional holiday menu will bring in more people to your restaurant, here are some meatloaf alternatives that still keep to the spirit of Festivus:
- Turkey or Ham – The real Festivus dinner, as celebrated by the O’Keefe family, featured turkey or ham as the main course. Whether you’re serving honeyed ham or a turkey sandwich, run a special on all the Festivus menu items.
- Soup & Salad – Since the traditional Festivus meal was sparse, you can pull Festivus restaurant menu ideas from other Seinfeld episodes. Try options like “No Soup for You” and “The Big Salad,” and be sure to explain the backstory in the menu description.
- Dessert – Another Festivus restaurant idea is to write Festivus quotes with icing on top of the dessert. Whether you choose a cookie, cupcake or cake, you can spell “Happy Festivus”, “It’s a Festivus miracle” or “Festivus for the Rest of Us” in big, lacey letters.
- Other Seinfeld Foods – From marble rye to muffin tops, many foods appeared on the show during its 9-season run, so feel free to offer some of those, too. If you need ideas, FlavorWire.com has a great list of foods featured on Seinfeld that you might find helpful.
What Do You Put Up for Festivus
To observe Festivus the right way, you’ll need an unadorned aluminum pole. If your restaurant has a large window, put the pole on display there to attract potential customers and advertise your establishment’s participation in one of America’s fastest-growing holidays: any Seinfeld fans who walk by your window and see the pole will surely come in to grab a bite to eat.
How to Build a Festivus Pole
- Aluminum Pole
- Wood
- Wood Saw
- Wood Glue
- Electric Drill
- Hole Saw Bit
- Measuring Tape
Instructions
- Step 1. Find a Festivus Pole – A Festivus Pole can be any length aluminum pole. You can repurpose an old flag or tarp pole if you have them, and if you don’t you can always buy one at your local hardware store.
- Step 2. Buy wood – You can pick the dimensions of the wood. Just make sure it’s not too thin or too short, so the pole can’t balance. Keep in mind: the longer the pole, the wider the base.
- Step 3. Cut the wood – Take a wood saw and cut the wood to the chosen dimensions. Make sure to set aside two smaller square cuts for the feet.
- Note: If you want to skip steps 2-3, then you can buy a pre-cut circular slab of wood from a hardware store.
- Step 4. Drill the Hole – Select a hole saw bit that’s the same diameter as your pole, otherwise, the pole won’t fit. Drill the hole in the center of both planks.
- Step 5. Assemble the base – Glue the two wood planks together at the center. Now, glue the feet to the bottom of either end of the top plank. Wait at least 24 hours for the glue to completely dry.
- Note: You may also use clamps to help set the glue.
- Step 6. Insert the pole – Once all the glue has dried, you can now do the honors of putting up your Festivus Pole!
How to Make Festivus Pole Table Decorations
As far as Festivus restaurant ideas go, you can take it one step further by decorating the tables with a smaller version of the Festivus Poles. It’s easy enough to make yourself. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Aluminum Straws (for the base)
- Popsicle Sticks (for the base)
- Scissors
- Craft Glue
Instructions
- Step 1. Cut the popsicle sticks – Get a trusty pair of kitchen scissors and size the popsicle sticks to the correct length.
- Step 2. Glue the halves together – Cross the popsicle stick halves in the middle and apply glue. It should take about 30 minutes to set and a full 24 hours to dry.
- Step 3. Glue the aluminum straw to the base – Once the base has fully dried, you can now attach the straw. Wait 24 hours for it to dry and impress your guests with their new tabletop centerpieces.
Just remember, no tinsel or twinkly lights! So go ahead and visit your local hardware store and DIY yourself some Festivus cheer!