Thanksgiving Games and Activities for Family

The meal is the centre of Thanksgiving, but the hours around it can drag if there is nothing to do. These Thanksgiving games and activities need almost no setup, work for mixed ages and give everyone a reason to talk. Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, so you have plenty of time to print a few sheets and gather supplies.

Thanksgiving Games for the Whole Family

Thanksgiving trivia: write ten questions about the holiday, the year and your family.
Charades: use words such as turkey, pumpkin pie, parade and football.
Guess the dish: blindfolded tasters guess the side dish.
Pass the pie: music plays while a paper pie is passed, and whoever holds it when it stops answers a question.
Family bingo: squares such as someone falls asleep, seconds, and someone says pass the gravy.
Pictionary: draw turkeys, cranberries and pilgrim hats.

Pumpkin tart autumn dessert for the Thanksgiving table

Gratitude Games That Fit Any Table

Thankful jar: everyone writes one thing on a slip and the jar is read aloud.
Alphabet of thanks: go around the table naming something you are thankful for, A to Z.
Gratitude chain: each guest writes a thank you on a paper strip and the strips become a chain.
Thank-you notes: write one card to someone at the table.

Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Make hand-print turkeys with paper and markers.
Build a thankful tree with paper leaves.
Decorate place cards for each guest.
Colour a Thanksgiving poster or card for grandparents.
Set up a kids’ table craft station with stickers and crayons.
Let children help stir, wash vegetables or fold napkins.

Thanksgiving Games for Adults

Trivia with small prizes.
Card games and board games.
A pie baking contest with a family vote.
Two truths and a Thanksgiving.
A gratitude toast round.

Five easy Thanksgiving games for family gatherings

Outdoor and Active Thanksgiving Ideas

A family walk before or after dinner.
A backyard touch football game.
A turkey trot fun run, if your town holds one.
Leaf collecting for kids.
A bike ride or hike on Friday morning.

Thanksgiving after dinner activities card

Quiet Activities After Dinner

Watch a family movie.
Play puzzles together.
Look through old photos and tell stories.
Make leftover sandwiches and share them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good Thanksgiving games for a large group? Trivia, charades and family bingo work for large groups because they need little setup and can be played in teams.

What Thanksgiving activities are best for kids? Paper turkeys, thankful trees, place cards and colouring pages keep children busy and make the table feel special.

What is a simple gratitude game? Pass a jar of slips where each person writes one thing they are thankful for, then read them aloud and guess who wrote each.

When is Thanksgiving 2026? Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26.