You may have heard Gilmore Girls fans across the globe collectively freaking out when Netflix launched Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life a few years back. We will, of course, be watching while Rory continues to figure out her life and career, Lorelai struggles to understand her relationship with Luke, and both of them eat way more junk food than anyone ever should.
Of course, these four new episodes –or just a Gilmore Girls series streaming party featuring the classic episodes from S1E1–will be so much better if you watch with friends. so we’ve collected some fun and easy ideas to help you throw an epic Gilmore Girls watch party. These are low on the DIY component, because it’s not really Lorelai and Rory’s style. But they’re fun, yummy, and totally do-able.
So grab some Kleenex, wear your yoga pants, and eat some junk food while you watch. We’ll be there too.
Updated for 2023
Get comfy…and get ready for your Gilmore Girls party!
Lorelai and Rory have a great fashion sense, but what we really love about them is their chats on the couch in their PJs with Chinese food or popcorn. Tell your friends to wear their yoga pants or pajamas too, so you can binge watch in comfort. You do have four 90-minute episodes to get through, after all.
Serve coffee, of course
Salted Nutella Latte | The Faux Martha
These girls are known for their love for — maybe, obsession with — coffee. And if you’re going start watching at midnight, right when the episodes release, you’ll need it. Take a look at some of our favorite fall coffee recipes to serve up something a little, ahem, fancier than Luke would serve. Or, just top it with whipped cream and sprinkles, like Lorelai would.
We think serving in a Luke’s Diner coffee mug from Ace Place Studios can be the perfect touch–and a nice souvenir.
Turn off your phones (sort of)
Luke has a strict no cell phone policy at his diner, and this free printable No Cell Phones sign from his cafe would be fun to display at your party. Of course, we fully expect fans to be Tweeting and Instagraming their watch parties, so this sign is really just for fun.
Sport some Gilmore Girls tattoos
I’ve recently become obsessed Love & Lion’s witty temporary tattoos, so when they released their Gilmore Girls tattoos this week I geeked out a little. The pack comes with some of our favorite GG quotes and sentiments, which you can keep looking back at fondly after the party is over and you’re watching the shows for the third time. Because, we know you will.
Play Gilmore Girls bingo
We found so many fun ideas for watch parties at Jane, but I particularly love this Gilmore Girls Bingo card. You could play for prizes — see the enamel pins at the end — or just for fun. With squares for topics like Kirk has a new job, Mrs. Kim disapproves, and Emily is passive-aggressive, it shouldn’t be too hard to hit bingo pretty quickly. You can find all the downloads in this post at the very, very end (under the ad); look close, it can be easy to miss. But these games and printables will make your party feel extra special.
Related: 11 family-friendly television shows that everyone can agree on. Seriously.
Serve The Gilmore Girls favorite junk food (or junk-y food), and lots of it
Sweet & Spicy Pork Stir Fry | Running to the Kitchen
Garlic Mushroom pizza | Life is But a Dish
Berry Pop Tarts | Bake Eat Repeat
Yukon Fries | Umami Girl
So, we all know Lorelai and Rory love their junk food. From the Chinese takeout at Al’s Pancake World to the Pop-Tarts with their newspaper in the morning, pizza delivery all the time, or the fries Mrs. Kim calls “the devil’s starchy fingers,” these girls like to eat. A lot.
If they were hosting this party, you know they’d be ordering in. But we did find some yummy recipes for all their favorites too, as shown above. So if you’re more of a Sookie than a Lorelai, whip up these treats from some amazing food bloggers before your friends come over, and then sit down and snack all night long.
Color in the Gilmore Girls while you watch
We’re all caught up in the adult coloring book craze, and this (Unofficial) Gilmore Girls Printable Coloring Book at Star Hollow Souveniers is perfect to sit and doodle in while you watch. (Note the one above is no longer available, so we’ve updated the link to one that is.)
Have Gilmore Girl party favors
Love these cute Rory and Lorelai Gilmore Girl pins designed by Kate Gabrielle for her Etsy shop. Or opt for an affordable set of Gilmore Girls stickers from the Mindful Creativity Etsy Shop. We think they’d make wonderful party favors for your friends, if you’re willing to part with them.
You can watch the four new 90-minute Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episodes — Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall — on Netflix, or catch the entire Gilmore Girls series streaming on Netflix
