27 Best Thanksgiving Games to Play at the Big Feast
All activities should be supervised by an adult. This post contains affiliate links which help support One Simple Party. As always, we only recommend things that we truly love. Full disclosure here.
The Thanksgiving Feast. A time to gather together and be thankful for each other. This year, I am so excited. We are getting our entire family together. And I don’t have to cook – minus baking some Thanksgiving pies. Which is a real treat.
Although getting together during the holiday season can be fun, keeping everyone entertained at the Thanksgiving feast can be hard. We have a family that spans multiple generations (from tweens to 80s). It’s not always easy to figure out how to get everyone interacting together.
So, I like to find some Thanksgiving games that we can all participate in. These Thanksgiving games can be played before, during or after the feast. Some take some prep beforehand – printing the printables, grabbing the play dough, and cutting the leaves for the Grateful Tree. But with a little of forethought, you will be ready to go.
Printable Family Favorites
The easiest types of Thanksgiving Games are the printable kind. You can simply log into your Print and Party Club membership and download an assortment of ready to go Thanksgiving games. We also offer some for free on our blog. Here are some of our favorites. (affiliates)
Free Printable Thanksgiving Bingo
This is probably our favorite printable Thanksgiving game. Print out the Free Printable Thanksgiving Bingo cards, calling cards and markers. Give a card and set of markers to each player. Then, see who calls “Bingo” first!
Would You Rather – Thanksgiving Edition
Would you Rather has become one of our favorite family games this year. Print these Would You Rather cards out and read them aloud at the feast. It’s a great way to create conversations and fun debate among guests.
Thanksgiving Charades
Whether your family likes to act, draw or build with Play Doh, this Thanksgiving Charades games is a great way to get everyone in the action. Download your Free Printable Thanksgiving Charades here. Cut out the cards and pick a Charades format. See if guests can guess what your drawing, acting or building. All Thanksgiving themed.
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
Invite guests to explore their artistic side with these Thanksgiving coloring pages. Add some turkey shaped crayons for a festive flair.
Fowl Play Game
Invite guests to test their turkey knowledge with this fun Thanksgiving trivia game – Fowl Play.
Thanksgiving Word Search
Can anyone find all of the Thanksgiving words? Check out this Thanksgiving Word Search in our Print and Party Membership.
Thanksgiving Scattergories
Challenge guests to think of words in different Thanksgiving themed categories that start with the letters of “PIE”. See how many each person can come up with.
Interactive Thanksgiving Games
If you want to get everyone up and moving, these interactive Thanksgiving games are the perfect way to do so.
Thanksgiving Bowling
Although you can dress up your own bowling pins as turkeys, this cute Thanksgiving bowling set is ready to play. Simply set up the pins, mark off a starting line and roll the ball. (affiliate)
Pass the Pumpkin
Similar to hot potato, but more seasonal. Players sit in a circle and pass a mini pumpkin while music is playing. Once the music stops, the person with the pumpkin is out.
Throw the Turkey Leg
This game is a fun twist on a grateful circle. Each person gets a stuffed turkey leg. They toss it to another person who shares what they’re grateful for. Then, they toss the turkey leg to someone else. The passing of the turkey legs continues until everyone has shared.
Although these stuffed turkey legs come in a pack of six, you really just need one depending on the size of your group. You could also play this game with this cute stuffed turkey. He’s just the right size to toss. The best part is that this game keeps the grateful circle interactive, which will help hold everyone’s attention – especially littles. (affiliates)
Turkey Trot Relay Race
Teams race with a “turkey egg” on a wooden spoon. The first team to get all of their players to cross the finish line, wins. (affiliate)
Thanksgiving Dress Up Race
See which team can get dressed up for the Thanksgiving feast the fastest. To play, have two sets of holiday clothes. The first players run to the clothes, put them on and run to the “feast”. Then they return, take off the clothes, and pass them to the next player.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Send family members young and old on a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt. Break into teams and see if you can solve each riddle.
Pin the Feather on the Turkey
A take on the classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey, this Pin the Feather on the Turkey game is sure to be a family favorite. (affiliate)
Turkey Waddle Race
See which turkey is the fastest! Give each player a balloon. Hold the balloon between their knees and waddle to the finish line without dropping it.
Pie Eating Contest
Who can eat the most pie in three minutes? Challenge guests to a pie eating contest. This works best with mini pies. Or fill empty pie tins with whipped cream and have guests try to eat all of the whipped cream without using their hands.
Gratitude Games
These gratitude games will help guests show how grateful they are for each other (and the feast).
Thankful Tree
This is one of our family’s favorite Thanksgiving Traditions. Decorate wooden branches with grateful feathers to make a Thankful Tree. Each guest write something or somebody they are grateful for.
Guess the Gratitude
Give each guest a slip of paper. Each person writes something they are grateful for. Then, mix up the papers and read them. See if guests can guess who was grateful for what.
Let’s Be Thankful Dice Game
Kind of like the Gratitude Bingo, but with dice. Players roll the dice and answer one of the gratitude questions. A fun way to everyone to share what their grateful for.
Thankful Chain
Each person writes down something they are thankful for on a strip of paper. Then connect the strips together to make a Thankful Chain.
Gratitude Bingo
Each guest fills out things that they are grateful for on their Gratitude Bingo Card. They try to fill out a row, column or diagonal line. You can find the Gratitude Bingo cards in our Print and Party Club here.
Thankful Alphabet Game
Go around the Thanksgiving table and name something you’re grateful for. The catch – you have to go in the order of the alphabet.
Creative Thanksgiving Games
Disguise a Turkey Activity
This turkey themed activity is fun for kids and the young at heart. Give each person a turkey outline (find ideas for your Disguise a Turkey here). Each person chooses how they would like to disguise their turkey. Using craft and drawing materials, guests decorate their turkeys.
Turkey Trap Challenge
This is one of our favorite STEM activities to do as a family. It can be really fun in teams. Each team designs a trap to catch a turkey using recycled materials. If you have little ones around, you can read the book “How to Catch a Turkey” to kick off this Thanksgiving challenge. (affiliate)
Build the Feast
Challenge guests to build their own Thanksgiving feast – out of Play Doh. Nominate a judge and give awards for the best completed feasts. Think “Most Realistic” or “Most Creative”.
The Great Turkey Escape
Test your family’s storytelling abilities with The Great Turkey Escape. One person starts that story of the turkey’s great escape from becoming dinner. Then, the next person continues it. The story continues until it is managed to get around the table.
Family Photo Challenge
Give everyone a list of photos to take throughout the day. See who can take the most. Check out our Thanksgiving Family Photo Challenge List at the Print and Party Club.
Thanksgiving Game Prizes
If you’re going to host Thanksgiving games, it’s essential that you have some fun prizes for guests to win. Check out these fun Thanksgiving game prize ideas.
Toss around some Thanksgiving stress balls.
A pumpkin cheeseboard to serve hors d’euvres on.
Turkey inspired hats to keep warm.
A smiling crocheted pumpkin pie.
Mini pumpkin or apple pies.
Thanksgiving party crackers.
Harvest tea and a turkey mug.
Love these Thanksgiving games? Be sure to pin it below.
Happy Celebrating,
Natalie