Thanksgiving is a holiday filled with gratitude, delicious food, and cherished moments spent with family and friends. While gathering around the table is the heart of the day, a few well-chosen Thanksgiving activities can make the celebration extra memorable and fun for everyone.
If you’re looking for ways to change the atmosphere at your family gathering this year, here are 30 Thanksgiving activities to bring the holiday spirit to life. This list has something for every age and interest, from crafts and games to bonding exercises and outdoor adventures.
30 Thanksgiving Activities That Everyone (Hopefully) Will Love
If we’re perfectly honest, we’ll admit that Thanksgiving (or holiday gatherings in general) is easy for some families and a nightmare for others. While it’s sometimes a challenge to get everyone involved, family events typically go more smoothly when there’s well-planned entertainment—something to do other than sit around the table in uncomfortable conversation. (We all have that weird uncle.) For some families, including one or two of these fun Thanksgiving activities can break the ice, get people to loosen up a little, and maybe even form some new family traditions. For others, it might just make the day bearable. Either way, it’s worth a shot!
1. Thanksgiving Bingo
Thanksgiving Bingo is a classic, simple game that requires little preparation but guarantees a lot of laughs. You can find printable Thanksgiving Bingo cards online featuring images of turkeys, pumpkins, and pie slices, or make your own with family-specific terms.
Thanksgiving Bingo is perfect for all ages, and it’s a fun way to break the ice while everyone waits for dinner to be served. You can even add small prizes to make it competitive! Consider having everyone bring a $5 gag gift and letting the winner choose from the pile.
2. Thankful Tree Craft
This craft is both beautiful and meaningful. Set up a “Thankful Tree” by drawing or creating a tree with bare branches on paper or in a vase. Provide paper leaves in fall colors, and ask each guest to write down something they’re thankful for on a leaf.
Once completed, attach each leaf to the branches. The Thankful Tree makes a lovely holiday decoration, and it’s a wonderful way for everyone to reflect on what they appreciate most.
3. Pumpkin Bowling
Pumpkin bowling is a fun and simple outdoor Thanksgiving activity. Set up a makeshift bowling alley using mini pumpkins as bowling balls and plastic cups, cans, or bottles as pins. The slightly uneven shapes of pumpkins add a fun challenge, making every roll unpredictable. This activity is especially great for families with kids, allowing them to release some energy and enjoy a friendly competition.
4. DIY Thanksgiving Placemats
Get creative with placemats that double as a table setting and keepsake. Use blank placemats or large construction paper, and provide markers, stickers, and stencils. Guests can personalize their placemats with drawings of turkeys, cornucopias, or leaves. Not only is this a fun craft, but it also adds a personal touch to the Thanksgiving table.
If you’ve got an extra competition clan, consider adding prizes for the “most creative,” “overall best,” or “funniest” placemat.
5. Turkey Tag
Turkey Tag is a Thanksgiving-themed version of freeze tag. Designate one person as the “hunter” and the others as “turkeys.” The turkeys run around, trying not to be tagged and frozen by the hunter.
When a turkey gets tagged, they must freeze in place until another turkey tags them back in. This game adds a playful twist to traditional tag and is perfect for burning off some post-dinner calories.
6. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Turn a table or the ground into a tic-tac-toe board using chalk or masking tape, and use mini pumpkins and gourds as your game pieces. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe is a simple but fun activity that allows everyone to play in quick rounds.
You can even let kids decorate their pumpkins with stickers or markers before playing, adding an extra layer of fun and creativity.
7. Scavenger Hunt
A Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt can be set up indoors or outdoors, depending on your space and weather. Create a list of seasonal items to find, like an acorn, an orange leaf, or a pinecone, and set a timer. This activity encourages teamwork and adventure, especially if you make it a team challenge. Reward winners with small prizes or treats!
8. Pie Tasting Competition
This is personally, one of my personal Thanksgiving activities! Encourage everyone to bring a unique pie flavor for a pie-tasting competition. Label each pie with the type and have everyone sample and vote for their favorite.
This activity not only adds variety to your dessert table but also highlights each person’s baking skills. It’s a tasty way to get everyone involved, and you might even discover a new family favorite.
9. Leaf Pile Jumping
Sometimes, the simplest activities bring the most joy. If your backyard is covered in leaves, gather them into a big pile and let kids (and adults) jump right in. Leaf pile jumping is a nostalgic activity that celebrates the season’s beauty and lets everyone release some energy. It’s also a great photo opportunity!
10. Family Gratitude Journal
Create a Family Gratitude Journal that everyone can add to throughout the day. Place a notebook and some pens on a table, and invite each person to write down what they’re thankful for. Over the years, this journal will become a precious family heirloom filled with wonderful memories and reflections.
11. Thanksgiving Charades
Charades is a classic party game, that you can easily give a seasonal twist! Write Thanksgiving-themed actions on pieces of paper for guests to act out, like “carving a turkey,” “eating pumpkin pie,” or “raking leaves.” Then, put on your best performance!
Charades is always a hit with groups, and it gets everyone laughing and interacting.
12. DIY Thanksgiving Wreaths
Thanksgiving wreath-making is a craft that adults and kids alike can enjoy. Provide a variety of wreath bases, like foam circles, grapevine wreaths, or cardboard rings, and set out fall-themed decorations like leaves, acorns, and ribbons. Each person can make a unique wreath to take home as a memento of the day, and it’s a great way to let everyone’s creative side shine.
13. Cornhole Tournament
Cornhole, a popular backyard game, is fun for all ages and athletic abilities. Set up a cornhole board in the yard and create teams for a family tournament.
Add a Thanksgiving theme to the game by using bean bags decorated with autumn designs or by painting the boards in fall colors. A friendly tournament will keep everyone entertained for hours.
14. Turkey Feather Hunt
A turkey feather hunt is similar to an Easter egg hunt but with a Thanksgiving twist. Hide colorful paper or craft feathers around the house or yard and have kids search for them. This activity is ideal for younger kids and can be repeated to keep them busy for hours.
15. Family Recipe Swap
Thanksgiving is a holiday built on culinary traditions, so why not create an activity around them? Ask each family member to bring a favorite Thanksgiving recipe to share. Exchange recipe cards, and take turns talking about why each recipe is special. This is a great way to learn about extended family history and favorite dishes and may inspire new traditions for next year.
16. Thanksgiving Trivia Quiz
Put together a quiz with questions about the history of Thanksgiving, fun facts about turkeys, and interesting food traditions. You can find printable trivia questions online, or create your own. Break your clan up into teams, and have a trivia tournament.
Go all out by setting a timer and playing music during the question phase. Give 30 seconds to answer each question and then have team leaders hand in the answer. Keep a scorecard to see who wins! This activity is perfect for a bit of friendly competition, and everyone will learn something new along the way!
17. Turkey Craft Station
Set up a craft station where kids can make their own turkey-themed creations, like handprint turkeys, pinecone turkeys, or paper plate turkeys. This Thanksgiving activity keeps kids occupied while adults finish cooking and lets them take home a cute Thanksgiving craft they made themselves.
For some epic ideas, check out our recent blog on “12 Terrific and Educational Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids.”
18. Nature Walk and Leaf Collecting
Take the family on a leisurely nature walk to collect colorful leaves and small treasures like acorns and pinecones. You can use these natural finds for a craft later on, such as pressing leaves into a scrapbook or making a family leaf collage.
A nature walk is a calming way to enjoy the beauty of autumn and give everyone a break from indoor activities.
19. Hot Apple Cider Bar
For a cozy addition to your Thanksgiving gathering, set up a station with hot apple cider and toppings like cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and cloves. Allow each family member to make their own concoction and enjoy by the firepit.
This is a relaxing Thanksgiving activity that adds a bit of warmth and a treat for everyone to enjoy in the chilly fall air.
20. Storytelling Circle
Gather everyone in a circle and take turns sharing Thanksgiving memories or favorite family stories. This storytelling circle is a heartwarming way to bring everyone closer together and relive treasured memories from past holidays. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for younger family members to hear stories from the older generation.
If storytelling doesn’t come naturally for your crew, have a cornucopia or basket filled with prompts like “What is your favorite memory of Grandma,” or “What is the funniest family memory you have?”
21. Gratitude Rocks
Find some smooth rocks and encourage everyone to write or paint a word of gratitude on them. These gratitude rocks can be placed in a bowl or in the flowerbed as a reminder of what you’re thankful for. This activity is a simple but powerful way to share positive thoughts and brighten the mood.
22. Family Talent Show
A family talent show is a fun way to showcase everyone’s unique abilities…or lack thereof! Whether it’s a song, a dance, a joke, a stupid human trick, or a magic trick, everyone has something to offer.
Give each person a chance to perform in front of the family, creating an exciting lineup that lets each person’s personality shine. It’s a lighthearted way to bond and share laughter together.
23. Pin the Beak on the Turkey
This spin on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” is fun for guests of all ages. Print or draw a large turkey and make paper beaks for everyone to try and stick onto its head while blindfolded. It’s an old game but is a crowd-pleaser that provides easy entertainment and plenty of laughs.
24. DIY Thanksgiving Candle Holders
Get creative by making Thanksgiving candle holders using small jars, fall leaves, and tea lights. Glue leaves onto the jars to create a warm, flickering effect when the candles are lit. This craft doubles as a Thanksgiving decoration for the dinner table and gives everyone a fun, seasonal project to work on together.
25. Thanksgiving Karaoke
Set up a karaoke machine or simply play sing-along tracks on a Bluetooth speaker, and let everyone join in for a Thanksgiving-themed karaoke session. You can stick to classic songs that everyone knows or add in a few holiday songs to get everyone laughing and singing together. Karaoke is an energetic way to end the day on a high note (sorry I had to).
26. Family Turkey Trot
A family Turkey Trot is a lighthearted race or walk around your neighborhood or local park. It doesn’t have to be competitive; simply encourage everyone to join at their own pace, and for added fun, dress up in Thanksgiving hats or silly costumes and take treats to your neighbors! This Thanksgiving activity helps everyone work up an appetite before the feast and enjoy some fresh air together.
27. Popcorn Kernel Guessing Game
Fill a clear jar with popcorn kernels and have everyone guess how many kernels are inside. The person with the closest guess wins a small prize, like a Thanksgiving-themed treat or first place in the dinner line. This simple guessing game is easy to set up, and everyone will be eager to try their hand at estimating.
When the game is over, brown some butter, and let those kernels pop for an afternoon snack around the fire!
28. Pumpkin Painting Contest
Skip the carving knives and opt for a pumpkin painting contest instead! Set up a table with paints, brushes, and glitter, and let everyone create their own painted pumpkin masterpiece.
Younger kids can decorate with stickers, while older family members might go all out with designs. This Thanksgiving activity adds color to the day and gives everyone a keepsake they can bring home.
29. Thanksgiving Photo Booth
Set up a Thanksgiving photo booth with props like pilgrim hats, turkey masks, and signs that say “Thankful” or “Gobble Gobble.” You can make simple props yourself or print out free Thanksgiving-themed designs.
A photo booth is a fantastic way to capture memories from the day, and it’s fun for all ages. Bonus points if you give Polaroids as keepsakes for each guest!
30. Movie Marathon of Thanksgiving Classics
A Thanksgiving movie marathon is the perfect way to wind down after a big meal. Put together a list of Thanksgiving or family-friendly movies, like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and set up a cozy viewing area. This Thanksgiving activity brings everyone together and lets the family relax and laugh together as the day wraps up.
Time to Choose Your Favorite Thanksgiving Activities!
Adding these Thanksgiving activities to your day may seem like just another task to complete. Choosing games for a big group is stressful, I know. I’m always worried, they will roll their eyes and hate me for making them participate (and they usually do). However, in the end, we always end up laughing, and they will remember these moments I forced them into (hopefully with fondness).
I encourage you to take the chance and make your holiday lively, engaging, and memorable for everyone this year. Whether crafting, playing games, sharing stories, or enjoying time outdoors, these activities help create the bonds and laughter that make Thanksgiving unforgettable. Let the holiday spirit shine through as you celebrate with the people you cherish most…or tolerate best.
Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll!
For more fun family-friendly ideas, take a look at “Fall in Arkansas: Awesome Arkansas Autumn Activities for 2024!”