Thanksgiving Games For Family [DIYs & Hilarious Ideas]
Here’s a list of Thanksgiving games for family that everyone will enjoy.
These activities include easy DIY games, outdoor challenges, and silly ideas just for kids.
Each game brings laughter and fun to your Thanksgiving celebration, keeping everyone happily entertained. So gather your family, pick a game, and get ready to play!
Easy DIY Thanksgiving Games
Easy DIY is perfect for adding a little homemade fun to your celebration.
With simple materials found around the house, these games are quick to make and play.
You don’t need fancy supplies – just a bit of imagination and holiday spirit!
These games are great for all ages and create wonderful memories. Best of all, they’re a breeze to set up!
Turkey Bowling
Use empty soda bottles as pins and decorate them with Thanksgiving-themed designs. Use a small pumpkin as the bowling ball!
Turkey Bowling is a fun Thanksgiving game that feels just like regular bowling!
First, gather some empty soda bottles. You can decorate each bottle to look like a turkey. Add some feathers, draw on turkey faces, and maybe even add hats!
Arrange the bottles in a triangle shape, like bowling pins. For the bowling ball, use a small pumpkin!
Players stand back and roll the pumpkin, trying to knock down as many “turkeys” as they can.
Each player takes turns, and whoever knocks down the most bottles wins!
Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Hide Thanksgiving-themed items around the house and let players search for them. Each item can represent something to be thankful for.
A Thanksgiving twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” Draw a turkey without feathers and let players try to stick feathers in the right spot blindfolded.
This is a silly game that gives everyone a chance to be creative.
Start by drawing a big turkey on a piece of paper or poster board, but leave it without feathers. Make colorful paper feathers with sticky tape on the back.
Each player gets a turn to try and “pin” a feather on the turkey. But here’s the twist – they are blindfolded!
Spin each player around a few times, and then they have to try and stick the feather in the right place. Sometimes the feathers end up on the turkey’s head or way off on the side!
Thanksgiving Charades
Write Thanksgiving-related actions or objects on cards (like “eating pie” or “pilgrim”) and have players act them out without words.
Thanksgiving Charades is a fun, active game that gets everyone moving and laughing!
To set up, write Thanksgiving-themed actions or objects on small cards. Ideas could include “eating pie,” “setting the table,” “turkey,” “pilgrim,” or “gathering leaves.”
Divide into teams and have one player from each team pick a card. Without speaking, that player must act out the word or phrase while their team guesses.
They can use hand motions, body language, and silly expressions – anything except words! Each correct guess earns a point.
Turkey Baster Relay
Set up a relay race where players must blow a lightweight ball across a table using a turkey baster.
Cornucopia Ring Toss is a fun twist on the classic ring toss game!
To play, find a cornucopia or cone-shaped basket and set it on a table or the floor. Then, make or use rings made from rope, pipe cleaners, or plastic hoops.
Players take turns tossing the rings, aiming to get them over the cornucopia. Stand back a few feet to make it a bit challenging.
Each ring that lands on the cornucopia scores a point. You can give prizes to the top scorers or just play for fun.
Turkey Shoot
Set up small plastic cups with turkey faces drawn on them. Using a Nerf gun, players try to knock down the cups for points.
Turkey Shoot is a fun and simple game that combines skill with laughter!
To set up, line up small plastic cups, each decorated with a cute turkey face, on a table or ledge. Give each player a Nerf gun or a small foam ball shooter.
Players stand a few feet back and take turns trying to knock down as many “turkeys” as they can.
Each cup they hit earns points, and you can make it more challenging by placing cups at different distances for different point values.
Turkey Shoot is a game of aim and patience, and it’s exciting for all ages!
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Draw a tic-tac-toe board on a poster, using mini pumpkins and gourds as X’s and O’s.
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe is a Thanksgiving twist on the classic game!
First, draw a tic-tac-toe grid on a large piece of paper or poster board.
For the game pieces, use mini pumpkins and gourds. One player uses pumpkins, and the other uses gourds.
They take turns placing their pieces on the board, trying to get three in a row. It’s a fun, simple game that brings the fall season to life.
This game is quick to set up and fun to play multiple rounds, making it perfect for kids and adults alike.
Leaf Pile Guessing Jar
Fill a jar with artificial autumn leaves and let everyone guess how many are inside.
The Leaf Pile Guessing Jar is a guessing game that’s easy to set up and fun to play!
To prepare, fill a clear jar with artificial autumn leaves. Count how many leaves you add, but keep it a secret! Place the jar where everyone can see it.
Each player writes down their guess of how many leaves are inside. After everyone has guessed, reveal the answer!
The player with the closest guess wins a small prize or simply the satisfaction of being the best guesser.
Thankful Pictionary
Write things to be thankful for on slips of paper. Players draw these out for their team to guess.
Thankful Pictionary is a creative game where players get to show off their drawing skills!
First, write down things to be thankful for on slips of paper, like “family,” “pets,” “sunshine,” or “good food.” Divide everyone into teams.
Each round, one player from a team picks a slip and tries to draw what it says, without using words.
Their team has to guess what they’re drawing before time runs out. Each correct guess earns points.
Outside Thanksgiving Games
Outside Thanksgiving Games are perfect for families who want some fresh air and active fun.
These outdoor activities work well in a backyard or park and allow everyone to enjoy the fall weather.
Running, tossing, and racing make for a lively holiday that’s full of smiles.
It’s a great way to burn off energy after a big meal and add a bit of friendly competition to the day.
Turkey Tag
Play tag where the “it” player has a feather attached to their back that others try to grab.
Turkey Tag is a playful twist on the classic game of tag!
In this version, the player who is “it” has a paper or cloth feather attached to their back. The goal for the other players is to try to grab the feather without getting tagged themselves.
If a player successfully grabs the feather, they become the new “it” and attach the feather to their back.
Players continue to chase and swap roles, making it a fast-paced, hilarious game.
Pumpkin Toss
Have a bean bag toss using small pumpkins or gourds as the “bean bags” and buckets or baskets as targets.
Pumpkin Toss is a simple, skill-based game that brings some fall fun to Thanksgiving!
For this game, use small pumpkins or gourds as “bean bags.” Set up a few baskets or buckets at different distances and assign points to each one – the farther the basket, the higher the points.
Players take turns tossing the pumpkins, trying to land them in the baskets to score points. You can play individually or divide into teams.
Pumpkin Toss is a perfect outdoor game that gets everyone aiming, cheering, and enjoying the autumn vibes.
Thanksgiving Sack Race
Use large sacks or bags for a fun sack race in the backyard.
The Football Toss Challenge brings a bit of Turkey Bowl excitement to Thanksgiving!
To play, set up a target, like a hula hoop or a marked spot on a wall or tree. Each player takes turns throwing a football, aiming to hit or land closest to the target.
You can also make it more challenging by setting different distances for different point values. Give players a few tries to rack up as many points as they can.
The Football Toss Challenge is perfect for anyone who loves football or wants to enjoy a friendly competition with family and friends!
Pumpkin Bowling
Set up bowling pins (or bottles) in a row and roll a small pumpkin to knock them down.
Pumpkin Bowling is a fun fall twist on regular bowling!
To set up, line up six to ten bowling pins (or you can use plastic bottles or cans) in a triangle shape. Instead of a bowling ball, use a small pumpkin with a roundish shape.
Players take turns rolling the pumpkin, trying to knock down as many pins as possible. You can play in rounds, just like traditional bowling, and keep score.
It’s funny to see how the uneven pumpkin rolls, add extra fun and laughter to the game.
Feather Float Race
Each player has a feather, and they must keep it in the air as long as possible by blowing on it.
Turkey Run is a lively outdoor game that combines balance and speed!
To set it up, create an obstacle course in your yard using items like cones, chairs, or hula hoops. Each player is given a spoon with a small ball or egg balanced on it.
The challenge is for players to carefully move through the obstacles without dropping their items. If they drop it, they have to go back to the start of the course.
The first person to make it through the entire course without a spill wins!
Corn Cob Relay
Set up a relay race where players must carry a corn cob on a spoon without dropping it.
Thanksgiving Bingo is a fun way to keep everyone engaged during the Thanksgiving celebration!
To prepare, create Bingo cards with Thanksgiving-related items, like turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, family gatherings, and watching football.
As these events or foods come up during the day, players can mark off the corresponding squares on their cards.
The first person to get five squares in a row shouts “Bingo!” and wins a prize.
Thankful Trivia
Test everyone’s knowledge of Thanksgiving history or fun family trivia.
Thankful Trivia is a game that brings together fun facts and family memories!
For this game, prepare questions related to Thanksgiving history (like “Who was at the first Thanksgiving?”) or interesting family trivia (like “What year did we start hosting Thanksgiving dinner?”).
Players can work in teams or individually to answer questions and earn points for each correct answer. You can make the trivia questions as easy or challenging as you like.
Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest
Have a small, fast-paced contest to see who can eat a slice of pie the fastest (no hands allowed!).
A Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest is a hilarious game that everyone can enjoy watching!
For this contest, each participant gets a small slice of pumpkin pie. The challenge is to eat the pie as quickly as possible – without using your hands!
On the count of three, players dive in, trying to finish their pie slice before anyone else. The first person to finish their pie wins.
It’s messy, funny, and sure to bring lots of laughs. This game is perfect for both kids and adults, and it adds a delicious twist to the Thanksgiving festivities!
Leftover Swap Game
Bring some extra leftovers, wrap them up, and do a fun exchange game, like White Elephant but with food.
The Leftover Swap Game is a fun way to share and exchange delicious Thanksgiving leftovers!
To play, each guest wraps up a small portion of their extra leftovers in creative, mysterious packaging, like a gift bag or foil.
Arrange the wrapped leftovers in a central spot, and let everyone draw numbers to decide the order of picking.
Players take turns choosing a leftover package or “stealing” a dish someone else already picked. Just like a White Elephant game, each person ends up with a mystery meal they didn’t bring.
Two Truths and a Turkey
A twist on “Two Truths and a Lie,” but with a Thanksgiving spin. Players share two true facts and one turkey-themed “fact” (that is false), and others guess which one is the lie.
Two Truths and a Turkey is a Thanksgiving twist on the classic game “Two Truths and a Lie.”
Each player takes turns sharing two true facts about themselves and one “turkey” fact, which is a lie.
To add a holiday spin, players can choose Thanksgiving-themed statements, such as “I ate five slices of pie last year” or “I’ve been to a Thanksgiving parade.”
The other players then guess which statement is the “turkey” (the lie).
It’s a fun game that gets everyone thinking, laughing, and learning new things about each other.
Hilarious Thanksgiving Games for Kids
Hilarious Games for Kids keep the little ones entertained with lots of giggles.
They’ll love racing with candy corn on a spoon or hunting for hidden feathers around the yard. Each game is simple, active, and full of laughter.
These games make Thanksgiving extra fun for kids and create an atmosphere of joy and excitement for the whole family.
Turkey Waddle
Put a balloon between players’ knees, and have them race while keeping the balloon from dropping.
Turkey Waddle is a hilarious Thanksgiving race that’s sure to bring out lots of laughter!
To set up, give each player a balloon and have them place it between their knees. The challenge is to waddle or hop to the finish line without dropping or popping the balloon.
If the balloon falls, the player has to stop and put it back in place before continuing. Players race each other, trying to keep their “turkey” (the balloon) balanced as they move.
The first player to cross the finish line with their balloon still between their knees wins.
Feather Relay
Players carry a feather on a spoon through a short obstacle course without letting it fall.
Feather Relay is a Thanksgiving-themed relay race that tests both balance and patience!
To play, each player is given a spoon and a feather. Set up a short obstacle course with small challenges, like cones to weave around or low objects to step over.
Players have to carefully carry the feather on the spoon through the course without letting it fall. If the feather drops, the player has to start over from the last checkpoint.
Players can compete individually, or you can split into teams for a relay-style race. Feather Relay is a fun, skill-based game that’s great for both kids and adults.
Pumpkin Roll Race
Use small pumpkins and race to see who can roll theirs across the yard or room fastest.
The Pumpkin Roll Race is a fast-paced game that brings a seasonal twist to racing!
Each player gets a small, round pumpkin, and the goal is to roll it from the starting line to the finish line using only their hands.
Unlike a smooth ball, the pumpkin’s uneven shape makes it a bit unpredictable, so it can roll in funny directions! Players can race against each other or take turns for the best time.
The first player to get their pumpkin across the finish line wins.
Candy Corn Spoon Race
Place candy corn on a spoon and race to the finish line without dropping it.
Candy Corn Spoon Race is a fun and slightly challenging game that kids and adults alike will enjoy! Each player gets a spoon and a few pieces of candy corn.
The goal is to race to the finish line while balancing the candy corn on the spoon without letting it fall.
If it drops, the player has to stop, put the candy corn back on the spoon, and start again. Players can race side by side or take turns to see who can complete the course in the shortest time.
This game requires steady hands and focus, making it a playful test of skill.
Turkey Dance Freeze
Play some music and have kids do their best turkey dance, freezing whenever the music stops.
Turkey Dance Freeze is a Thanksgiving dance game that’s full of energy and laughter!
To play, turn on some fun, upbeat music and ask everyone to do their best “turkey dance” – this could include wiggling, flapping their arms, and shaking their tail feathers!
But when the music stops, everyone has to freeze in place. Anyone who keeps moving is out for that round.
The game continues until there’s one person left who becomes the Turkey Dance Champion.
Pumpkin Stack Challenge
Using mini pumpkins, see who can stack the most before it topples over.
The Pumpkin Stack Challenge is a game of balance and patience!
Gather mini pumpkins or small gourds of different shapes and sizes. The challenge is to see who can stack the most pumpkins on top of each other without them toppling over.
Each player takes turns, carefully adding one pumpkin at a time to their stack.
If the pumpkins fall, that player’s turn ends, and their score is the highest number of pumpkins they successfully stacked. The player who stacks the most pumpkins wins.
Pin the Beak on the Turkey
Another twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” Blindfold kids and see if they can stick a beak in the right place.
Pin the Beak on the Turkey is a Thanksgiving twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
Start by drawing or printing a large picture of a turkey, but leave out the beak. Cut out a paper beak for each player and add some sticky tape to the back.
One by one, blindfold each player, spin them around a few times, and let them try to place the beak on the turkey’s face.
Players often end up putting the beak on the turkey’s wing or belly, creating lots of laughs! The player who gets the beak closest to the right spot wins.
Thanksgiving Bingo for Kids
Bingo cards with cute Thanksgiving-themed icons like turkeys, pies, and leaves.
Thanksgiving Bingo for Kids is a great way to keep younger children entertained with an easy-to-play game!
To prepare, create Bingo cards featuring cute Thanksgiving-themed icons, like turkeys, pies, pumpkins, leaves, and acorns.
As the game goes on, call out the names of each item, and players mark them off on their cards.
The first player to complete a row – horizontal, vertical, or diagonal – shouts “Bingo!” and wins a prize.
Turkey Feather Hunt
Hide colorful feathers around the house or yard and see who can collect the most.
Turkey Feather Hunt is a Thanksgiving-themed treasure hunt that’s perfect for indoor or outdoor play.
For this game, hide colorful feathers around your house or yard before the game begins. When it’s time to play, let the kids loose to find as many feathers as they can.
Each player collects feathers in their own bag or basket, and the one who finds the most feathers wins a small prize.
You can add a twist by making certain colored feathers worth more points.
Guess the Gourd
Blindfold kids and let them feel different types of gourds. They have to guess the size or shape by touch alone.
Guess the Gourd is a sensory game that’s all about touch and feel!
To play, gather different types of gourds or small pumpkins with various shapes, textures, and sizes. Blindfold each player and give them one gourd at a time to hold and feel.
They have to guess the size or shape by touch alone, describing if it’s smooth, bumpy, round, or long. After each player makes their guesses, reveal the gourds to see how close they were.
This game helps kids focus on their senses and is a fun, hands-on way to experience the textures of fall!
Conclusion
Thanksgiving is all about spending time together and enjoying each other’s company, and these fun family games make the day even more memorable.
From silly races and outdoor games to thoughtful activities like Thankful Trivia, there’s something here for everyone.
Playing together brings laughter and creates special moments that everyone will remember long after the holiday ends.
So, after the big feast, gather your family, pick a few games from this list, and let the fun begin!
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What are your favorite Thanksgiving games for family gatherings? Do you have any unique game ideas that your family plays every year?
Share your thoughts, stories, or even photos of your family having fun with these games!
