Fun Thanksgiving Activities: 65 Ideas for Families
Thanksgiving dinner is wonderful. But let’s be honest. The turkey takes hours to cook. Kids get restless. Adults need something more than small talk.
That’s where fun activities come in.
This guide offers Thanksgiving fun activities for everyone. Indoor games for rainy days. Outdoor challenges for active families. Crafts for creative minds. Gratitude exercises that bring meaning to the holiday.
You’ll find ideas for toddlers, teens, and grandparents alike. Each activity is simple to set up and designed to create memories that last.
Ready to make this Thanksgiving your best one yet? Let’s turn your holiday into a day filled with laughter, connection, and joy that your family will remember for years.
Why Plan Fun Thanksgiving Activities?
Thanksgiving is more than just a meal. It’s a chance to bring your family closer. When you plan Thanksgiving family games and activities, you keep everyone engaged and happy.
Before dinner, kids won’t get bored. After the feast, no one will just sit around feeling sleepy. Fun Thanksgiving ideas add laughter, gratitude, and creativity to your day.
They help you build traditions that your kids will remember for years. Plus, family bonding happens naturally when you play, create, and celebrate together.
These activities turn a regular holiday into something special that everyone looks forward to.
How to Choose the Right Thanksgiving Activities
Picking the right activities makes all the difference. Use this simple guide to plan a day that works for everyone:
| Planning Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Know Your Group | Match activities to your guest list. Toddlers need different fun than teens or adults. |
| Balance the Energy | Mix active games with calm activities. Start energetic, then slow down when people need rest. |
| Prepare Early | Gather supplies the day before. Check for paper, markers, props, and outdoor equipment. |
| Include All Ages | Pick one activity from each category so kids, teens, and adults all have something to enjoy. |
| Stay Flexible | Don’t stress if plans change. The goal is joy, not a perfect schedule. |
Pro Tip: Ask family members ahead of time what they’d like to do. This gets everyone excited and helps you pick activities people actually want to try.
65 Thanksgiving Fun Activities Kids & Adults Love
Now that you know why activities matter and how to choose them, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are 65 tried-and-tested ideas that bring joy to every age group and make your Thanksgiving truly special.
Outdoor Thanksgiving Activities
Get everyone outside for some fresh air and movement. These outdoor ideas help burn energy before the big meal and create fun moments your family will talk about for years.
1. Backyard football game: Split into two teams and play a casual game of touch football in your yard.
2. Thanksgiving scavenger hunt: Hide fall items like acorns, pinecones, and small pumpkins around your property for kids to find.
3. Pumpkin relay race: Set up a relay where teams race while carrying a pumpkin from start to finish.
4. Cornhole tournament: Create a bracket and let family members compete in this classic bean bag toss game.
5. Nature walk gratitude challenge: Take a walk together and have each person share something they’re thankful for at every stop.
6. Turkey trot or family fun run: Organize a short run or walk around the neighborhood before breakfast.
7. Leaf pile jumping: Rake up a big pile of fall leaves and let kids jump in for simple, free fun.
8. Tug of war: Pilgrims vs. Turkeys: Divide into two silly teams and see who has the most strength.
9. Capture the Pumpkin (like Capture the Flag): Use small pumpkins instead of flags for a seasonal twist on this classic game.
10. Family hike and photo contest: Go on a short hike and have everyone snap photos, then vote on the best one.
Indoor Thanksgiving Games
When the weather turns cold or you need a break from cooking, indoor games keep the fun going. These ideas work in any space and need minimal setup.
11. Thanksgiving charades: Act out holiday words like “turkey,” “stuffing,” or “Macy’s parade” without speaking.
12. Gratitude bingo: Create bingo cards with things people are thankful for and mark them off as they’re mentioned.
13. Thanksgiving trivia night: Test your family’s knowledge with questions about Thanksgiving history and traditions.
14. “Name That Dish” blind taste test: Blindfold participants and have them guess different Thanksgiving foods by taste alone.
15. Minute to Win It turkey edition: Set up quick one-minute challenges using Thanksgiving-themed props.
16. Thanksgiving emoji guessing game: Show Thanksgiving movie titles or phrases using only emojis and let people guess.
17. “Would You Rather?” holiday edition: Ask silly holiday questions like “Would you rather eat only cranberry sauce or only mashed potatoes?”
18. Thanksgiving Pictionary: Draw Thanksgiving items while your team tries to guess what you’re sketching.
19. Guess the pie flavor challenge: Offer small bites of different pies and see who can identify each flavor correctly.
20. Balloon volleyball in the living room: Clear some space and use a balloon for a safe, indoor volleyball game.
Thanksgiving Crafts & DIY Projects
Crafts bring out everyone’s creative side and give you decorations to enjoy during dinner. Set up a craft station with supplies and let imaginations run wild.
21. Handprint turkey art: Trace hands on colored paper, cut them out, and turn them into cute turkey decorations.
22. Gratitude tree with paper leaves: Draw a tree on a poster board and have everyone write what they’re thankful for on paper leaves to attach.
23. DIY Thanksgiving wreath: Use a foam ring, fall leaves, ribbons, and mini pumpkins to create a festive door wreath.
24. Paint your own pumpkin station: Set out small pumpkins and acrylic paints so everyone can design their own.
25. Pinecone turkeys: Glue colorful feathers and googly eyes onto pinecones to make tiny turkey figures.
26. Create place cards for dinner guests: Let kids write names and decorate cards for each person’s spot at the table.
27. Make a “Thankful Banner”: Cut out letter shapes and string them together to spell out a grateful message.
28. Decorate mason jars with leaves: Glue real or paper leaves onto jars and use them as candle holders for the table.
29. DIY napkin rings with twine: Wrap twine around toilet paper rolls and add small decorations for homemade napkin rings.
30. Homemade candle jars with cinnamon sticks: Attach cinnamon sticks to the outside of glass jars with ribbon for a festive scent.
Gratitude & Reflection Activities
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to pause and appreciate what you have. These gratitude activities help families focus on thankfulness and connect on a deeper level.
31. Family gratitude jar: Have everyone write what they’re grateful for on slips of paper and read them aloud during dinner.
32. “I’m Thankful For…” circle: Sit in a circle and let each person share one thing they appreciate about the year.
33. Write thank you notes to loved ones: Provide cards and pens so family members can write notes to people who made a difference.
34. Gratitude journaling session: Give everyone a notebook and 10 minutes to write about what makes them feel blessed.
35. Create a gratitude playlist: Have each person pick one song that represents something they’re thankful for and play them all.
36. Volunteer at a food drive or shelter: Spend part of your day helping those in need at a local charity.
37. Make a video of family gratitude clips: Record short clips of each family member sharing what they’re grateful for this year.
38. Draw or paint what you’re thankful for: Set out art supplies and let everyone express gratitude through artwork.
39. Kindness challenge for the week: Challenge family members to do one kind act each day of Thanksgiving week.
40. End the day with a moment of reflection: Before bed, gather together and share the best part of your Thanksgiving day.
Kids’ Thanksgiving Activities
Little ones need special activities to keep them busy and happy. These kid-friendly ideas are simple, fun, and perfect for short attention spans.
41. Turkey coloring contest: Print turkey coloring pages and let kids color them, then vote on the most creative design.
42. Thanksgiving word search: Create or print age-appropriate word searches with holiday vocabulary.
43. Paper plate turkey craft: Turn paper plates into turkeys using construction paper, markers, and glue.
44. Candy corn guessing jar: Fill a jar with candy corn and have kids guess how many pieces are inside.
45. DIY pilgrim hats: Make simple pilgrim hats using black construction paper, buckles, and tape.
46. Leaf rub crayon art: Place leaves under paper and rub crayons over them to create beautiful leaf prints.
47. Build a feast pretend play: Set up toy food or paper cutouts so kids can pretend to cook Thanksgiving dinner.
48. Thanksgiving puppet show: Help kids make turkey and pilgrim puppets from paper bags, then put on a show.
49. Thanksgiving story time: Read classic Thanksgiving books together like “Turkey Trouble” or “The Thankful Book.”
50. “Pin the Feather on the Turkey”: Create a turkey poster and blindfold kids as they try to pin feathers in the right spot.
Teen & Adult Thanksgiving Fun
Teens and grown-ups want activities that feel current and engaging. These modern ideas keep older family members entertained and laughing.
51. Thanksgiving photo booth: Set up a backdrop with props like turkey hats and pilgrim accessories for silly photos.
52. Karaoke night with fall songs: Belt out your favorite songs or pick ones with autumn and harvest themes.
53. “Bake Off” dessert challenge: Split into teams and compete to create the best Thanksgiving dessert in a time limit.
54. DIY mocktail bar: Set out juices, sparkling water, and garnishes so everyone can mix their own festive drinks.
55. Thanksgiving trivia via Kahoot: Use the Kahoot app to host a competitive trivia game on phones or tablets.
56. Fall candle making: Melt wax and add fall scents like cinnamon or apple to create custom candles together.
57. Board game marathon: Pull out strategy games like Settlers of Catan or party games like Codenames.
58. Thanksgiving TikTok challenge: Learn a trending dance or create funny Thanksgiving-themed videos together.
59. Family talent show: Give everyone five minutes to perform a talent, whether it’s singing, jokes, or magic tricks.
60. Thanksgiving movie marathon: Queue up classics like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” or “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”
Thanksgiving Cooking Activities
Getting everyone involved in the kitchen makes meal prep faster and more fun. These cooking activities turn food preparation into quality time together.
61. Family cook-along: Assign each person a dish to prepare and work side by side in the kitchen.
62. Cookie or pie decorating contest: Bake plain cookies or mini pies ahead, then compete to decorate the prettiest one.
63. DIY hot chocolate or cider bar: Set out toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, and cinnamon sticks for custom drinks.
64. Pumpkin carving or painting: While some cook, let others carve or paint pumpkins to display on the porch.
65. Leftover remix challenge: The day after Thanksgiving, see who can create the most creative dish using leftovers.
Tips for Hosting a Memorable Thanksgiving
Planning activities is one thing. Hosting them smoothly is another. Use these simple tips to ensure your Thanksgiving runs stress-free and that everyone has a great time.
- Create cozy décor with fall scents and lighting: Use candles with cinnamon or pumpkin scents and string up warm lights to make your home feel inviting.
- Prepare a “fun zone” for kids: Set up a corner with coloring books, toys, and crafts so kids have their own space to play.
- Delegate small activities to guests: Ask family members to bring a dish, lead a game, or help set the table so you’re not doing everything alone.
- Keep a balance between food, fun, and rest: Schedule activities with breaks in between so people can eat, play, and relax without feeling rushed.
- Capture candid photos for next year’s memories: Keep your phone or camera handy to snap spontaneous moments of laughter and togetherness throughout the day.
How to Keep the Fun Going After Dinner
The fun doesn’t have to stop when the plates are cleared. Once everyone’s finished eating, keep the celebration alive.
Put on a Thanksgiving movie like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” or replay the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for those who missed it.
Gather in the living room and share the funniest moments from the day. Someone always has a story that makes everyone laugh. You can also create a quick family gratitude video in which each person shares what made today special.
If you’re already thinking ahead, start planning a “Friendsgiving” for next year and get everyone excited. And if the weather’s nice, head outside for dessert around a bonfire with music playing.
These simple activities help your family stay connected and make the most of your time together.
Closing Remarks
Thanksgiving is about more than food on the table. It’s about the people sitting around it. These
Thanksgiving fun activities help you create moments that matter. From outdoor games to heartfelt gratitude exercises, each idea brings your family closer together.
You don’t need to do all of it. Pick three to five that best fit your family. Mix active games with quiet crafts. Balance kid activities with adult fun. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s a connection.
This year, make traditions that your family will ask for again and again. Laugh together. Play together. Be thankful together.
Now it’s your turn. Which of these Thanksgiving fun activities will you try first? Do you have a family tradition we didn’t mention? Share your favorite ideas in the comments below.
