44 Best Thanksgiving Games And Activities to Keep the Whole Family Entertained

🍂🌽🦃Thanksgiving Games And Activities

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for family, friends, and delicious food. It's also the perfect opportunity to engage in fun games and activities that can bring everyone together and create lasting memories. Here are 44 fantastic Thanksgiving games and activities that are sure to entertain everyone from the youngest to the oldest.

1. Thanksgiving Bingo

Create bingo cards with Thanksgiving-themed images and words. Use candy corn as markers and play until someone gets a full row or column.

2. Turkey Tag

A fun outdoor game where one player is the "turkey" and everyone else tries to tag them. Once tagged, the new turkey takes over.

3. Pumpkin Bowling

Set up a bowling alley with empty cans or plastic bottles and use small pumpkins as bowling balls.

4. Pin the Feather on the Turkey

A Thanksgiving twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” Blindfolded players try to pin a paper feather on a turkey poster.

5. Thanksgiving Charades

Write down Thanksgiving-related activities or items on slips of paper and have players act them out without speaking.

6. Thankful Tree

Have everyone write what they’re thankful for on paper leaves and hang them on a tree branch or a construction paper tree on the wall.

7. Turkey Hunt

Hide paper turkeys around the house or yard and have a scavenger hunt to find them all.

8. Thanksgiving Pictionary

Draw Thanksgiving-themed words and have your family guess what they are. Use a whiteboard or paper for drawing.

9. Cranberry Spoon Race

Similar to an egg and spoon race, but use cranberries instead. See who can race to the finish line without dropping their cranberry.

10. Gratitude Circle

Sit in a circle and take turns saying what you are thankful for. A great way to reflect on the holiday's meaning.

11. Thanksgiving Trivia

Create trivia questions about Thanksgiving history, traditions, and fun facts.

12. Cornucopia Relay

Fill a basket with various items, then have teams race to fill their cornucopia with the same items using a spoon or other utensil.

13. Turkey Crafting

Set up a crafting table with supplies to make turkeys out of handprints, paper plates, or pinecones.

14. Pilgrim Hat Ring Toss

Create Pilgrim hats from construction paper or plastic and use them as targets for a ring toss game.

15. Thanksgiving Word Search

Print out Thanksgiving-themed word search puzzles for a quiet activity.

16. Pie Eating Contest

Have a friendly competition to see who can eat a slice of pie the fastest (hands behind the back optional).

17. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe

Use a large board and mini pumpkins and gourds as X's and O's.

18. Leaf Pile Jump

Rake leaves into a big pile and let the kids (and adults) have fun jumping in.

19. Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Create funny stories with Thanksgiving-themed Mad Libs.

20. Gratitude Journal

Provide journals and encourage everyone to write down things they are thankful for throughout the day.

21. Turkey Bowling

Set up pins and use a small frozen turkey or a stuffed toy turkey as the bowling ball.

22. Family Talent Show

Encourage everyone to showcase their talents, whether it’s singing, dancing, or telling jokes.

23. Guess the Gratitude

Write down what people are thankful for and have others guess who wrote each one.

24. Apple Bobbing

Fill a large tub with water and apples and see who can grab the most apples with their teeth.

25. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of Thanksgiving-related items for people to find around the house or yard.

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26. Gratitude Chain

Write things you're thankful for on strips of paper and link them together to create a gratitude chain.

27. Turkey Feather Hunt

Hide colorful feathers around the house or yard and have kids search for them.

28. Pumpkin Decorating

Provide pumpkins and decorating supplies for a fun and creative activity.

29. Name That Food

Blindfold players and have them guess Thanksgiving foods by taste or smell.

30. Thanksgiving Would You Rather

Play a fun game of "Would You Rather" with Thanksgiving-themed questions (see below for a detailed game).

31. Stuff the Turkey

Create a large paper turkey and have players "stuff" it with paper balls or bean bags from a distance.

32. Family Football Game

Organize a friendly game of touch football in the backyard.

33. Memory Lane

Share family stories and memories, especially those related to past Thanksgivings.

34. Thanksgiving Crossword

Print out Thanksgiving-themed crossword puzzles for a quiet, brain-teasing activity.

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35. Pumpkin Ring Toss

Toss rings over the stems of small pumpkins or other targets.

36. Gratitude Stones

Paint small stones with things you are thankful for and display them as decorations.

37. Thanksgiving Cornhole

Play cornhole with boards and bags decorated with Thanksgiving themes.

38. Musical Chairs with Thanksgiving Songs

Play musical chairs using Thanksgiving-themed music.

39. Harvest Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course in the yard using hay bales, pumpkins, and other fall items.

40. Turkey Handprint Art

Make turkey handprints with paint on paper or canvas.

41. Thanksgiving Jokes

Take turns telling your best Thanksgiving-themed jokes and see who can get the biggest laugh.

42. Thanksgiving Would You Rather

Play a fun and engaging game of "Would You Rather" with a Thanksgiving twist. This game is perfect for sparking laughter and interesting conversations around the dinner table.

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43. Pie Tasting

Have a pie tasting with different types of pies and vote on the best one.

44. Thankful for You

Write down compliments or things you appreciate about each family member and share them.

These games and activities are sure to make your Thanksgiving gathering fun and memorable. Enjoy the time with your loved ones, and happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Games and Activities FAQ

1. What are some traditional Thanksgiving games?

Some traditional Thanksgiving games include touch football, Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunts, sack races, and cornhole. These activities are popular for bringing family and friends together in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.

2. How can I incorporate Thanksgiving into board games?

You can incorporate Thanksgiving themes into classic board games like Pictionary or Charades by using Thanksgiving-related words or phrases. Another option is to play trivia games focused on Thanksgiving history, traditions, or fun facts.

3. What are some indoor activities for Thanksgiving?

Indoor activities for Thanksgiving include crafting Thanksgiving decorations, cooking or baking together, watching Thanksgiving-themed movies or shows, and playing board games or card games. These activities are perfect for when the weather is not conducive to outdoor play.

4. Are there any Thanksgiving activities for kids?

Absolutely! Kids can participate in Thanksgiving-themed crafts like making handprint turkeys or creating paper plate pilgrims and Native Americans. Additionally, they can engage in Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunts, storytelling sessions about the history of Thanksgiving, or simple games like pin the tail on the turkey.

5. How can I involve technology in Thanksgiving activities?

You can involve technology in Thanksgiving activities by hosting virtual gatherings with distant family and friends, playing online Thanksgiving-themed games or quizzes, or even utilizing apps for scavenger hunts or interactive storytelling sessions.

6. What are some outdoor Thanksgiving activities?

Outdoor Thanksgiving activities include playing touch football, organizing a turkey trot (a fun run or walk usually held on Thanksgiving morning), going for a hike to enjoy the autumn scenery, or having a bonfire with storytelling and s'mores.

7. Can Thanksgiving activities be educational?

Yes, Thanksgiving activities can be educational! You can incorporate learning about the history and cultural significance of Thanksgiving into activities like crafts, games, and storytelling. For example, you can create a "Thanksgiving timeline" with key historical events or have a trivia game focused on Thanksgiving history and traditions.

8. Are there any Thanksgiving-themed team-building activities?

Yes, there are plenty of Thanksgiving-themed team-building activities! You can organize a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt where teams have to work together to solve clues and complete challenges related to Thanksgiving. Another idea is to have a "turkey bowl" flag football tournament or a Thanksgiving-themed relay race.

9. How can I make Thanksgiving activities inclusive for everyone?

To make Thanksgiving activities inclusive for everyone, consider incorporating diverse perspectives and traditions into your games and activities. You can include activities that celebrate different cultures and cuisines, or encourage participants to share their own family traditions and stories related to Thanksgiving. Additionally, make sure that activities are accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

10. What are some Thanksgiving activities for large groups?

For large groups, consider organizing a potluck-style Thanksgiving feast where everyone contributes a dish. You can also have a talent show or karaoke session, host a friendly sports tournament like soccer or volleyball, or set up various game stations with options like cornhole, horseshoes, and lawn bowling.

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