40 Fun Thanksgiving Group Games [For Both Small & Large]

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to eat, talk, and enjoy being together. Yet a few playful activities can make the gathering even more memorable.

These Thanksgiving group games are made for families, friends, coworkers, church members, and guests of different ages.

You will find calm table games, active team challenges, and funny contests that create plenty of laughter.

Whether your celebration has six people or a crowded room, these ideas can help everyone connect, feel included, and enjoy the holiday beyond the dinner table.

40 Fun Thanksgiving Group Games

The list below is divided into games for small and large groups. This makes it easier to find activities that fit your party.

Some need only a few simple supplies, while others work best with teams and open space.

Read through the options, gather what you need, and choose the games your guests will enjoy most.

Thanksgiving Games For Small Groups

A small Thanksgiving gathering can still be full of laughter and friendly competition.

These games work well around a table, in the living room, or outside. Most are simple to explain and easy for every age to enjoy.

Choose a few that fit your space, group mood, and available time.

Thanksgiving Bingo

Hand out Thanksgiving bingo cards featuring pumpkins, pies, turkeys, and fall leaves. Players mark each picture as it is called, and the first completed row wins.

This classic game is easy for children, adults, and older family members to enjoy together.

Give every player a card and a set of bingo markers. Call out one holiday picture at a time.

The first person to complete a straight line should shout, “Bingo!” You can continue with new patterns if everyone wants to play more rounds.

Turkey Ring Toss

Place an inflatable turkey ring-toss game in an open area. Let each player throw the rings from the same line and count every successful landing.

Clear a little space in the living room or backyard before starting. Mark a throwing line that matches the age of your players.

Younger children can stand closer to the turkey. Give each person three or four chances to toss the rings.

Add one point for every ring that lands correctly. The person with the highest score wins.

Thanksgiving Trivia Challenge

Use Thanksgiving trivia cards to test everyone’s knowledge of holiday foods, traditions, history, and fun facts. Play individually or divide the group into pairs.

Turn your gathering into a friendly battle of holiday knowledge. One person can read each question while the others write down their answers.

Include a mix of easy, funny, and challenging questions. This keeps every age group involved. Award a point for each correct response.

If the final score is tied, use one difficult trivia question to choose the champion.

Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss

Set up a pumpkin-themed bean bag toss board. Give each guest several bean bags and award different points depending on which opening they reach.

Guests do not need special skills to enjoy this simple tossing game. Place the board a comfortable distance from the players.

Each person gets the same number of throws. Write down the points after every turn.

For an extra challenge, move the throwing line farther away during the final round. The highest total score wins the game.

Thanksgiving Charades

Write holiday actions on Thanksgiving charades cards. Players silently act out carving a turkey, baking pie, watching football, or other festive moments.

Laughter begins quickly when someone pretends to be a turkey without speaking.

Place all the cards inside a bowl and let players choose one at random. Give each person about one minute to act out the prompt.

The remaining guests must guess the answer before time ends. Keep the actions simple so both children and adults can join the fun.

Gratitude Conversation Cards

Take turns choosing gratitude conversation cards and answering the questions. This calm game helps guests share memories, laugh together, and learn more about one another.

Not every Thanksgiving game needs running, shouting, or competition. Place the cards near the dinner table and invite one guest to begin.

Questions may ask about happy memories, helpful people, or small things that bring joy.

Give everyone time to share an honest answer. Guests may discover sweet family stories they have never heard before.

Turkey Bowling

Decorate a miniature bowling set with turkey faces and feathers. Players roll a small pumpkin or bowling ball and try to knock down every turkey pin.

Create a short bowling lane on a smooth floor, patio, or driveway. Arrange the decorated pins in a triangle at one end.

Each player gets two rolls per turn. Count how many turkey pins fall and record the score.

A lightweight bowling set makes this game safer for young children. Play several rounds to find the best bowler.

Thanksgiving Would You Rather

Read questions from Thanksgiving Would You Rather cards. Everyone chooses between two funny holiday situations and explains why they picked that answer.

Imagine choosing between eating only mashed potatoes or only pumpkin pie for an entire week.

Questions like these can create funny debates around the table. Ask guests to move to different sides of the room based on their choices.

Then, invite a few people to explain their answers. There are no wrong choices, so everyone can speak freely.

Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe

Use mini orange and white pumpkins as playing pieces on a reusable tic-tac-toe board. Guests can play several quick rounds while waiting for dinner.

A simple table game can keep guests busy while the final dishes are being prepared.

One player uses orange pumpkins, while the other uses white ones. They take turns placing pieces on the board.

The first player to make a row of three wins. Arrange a small tournament if several family members want a chance to play.

Thanksgiving Puzzle Race

Give each pair the same Thanksgiving jigsaw puzzle. Start a timer and see which team can correctly complete its festive picture first.

Pair children with adults to make the race fair and more enjoyable. Place each puzzle in a separate space so the pieces do not become mixed.

Once the timer begins, teams must work quickly and communicate clearly. Choose puzzles with the same number of pieces.

The first pair to finish and raise both hands wins the challenge.

Turkey Feather Dice Game

Players roll colorful dice and add the matching feather color to their paper turkey. The first person to complete every feather wins the round.

Colorful feathers make this quiet game feel cheerful and festive. Give each player a turkey board with empty spaces around its body.

During a turn, the player rolls a color dice and adds the matching feather. If that color is already complete, the turn passes.

Keep rolling until someone fills every space and finishes their turkey.

Thanksgiving Memory Match

Spread Thanksgiving matching cards face down on a table. Players flip over two cards at a time and keep every matching holiday pair they uncover.

Good memory can lead to victory in this relaxing table game. Mix the cards well and arrange them in neat rows.

Everyone takes turns revealing two pictures. A matching pair stays with the player, while unmatched cards are turned back over.

Encourage guests to watch closely. Once every pair is found, count the cards to discover the winner.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Provide mini craft pumpkins, paint markers, stickers, and googly eyes. Give everyone a short time to create the funniest or most creative pumpkin design.

Let every guest show their creative side with a pumpkin that does not require carving.

Spread the decorating supplies across a covered table. Set a time limit of around fifteen minutes.

When everyone finishes, display the pumpkins together. Guests can vote for titles such as Funniest Face, Most Colorful Pumpkin, or Best Thanksgiving Design.

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Hand each guest a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt sheet. Players search the home or yard for listed objects such as leaves, candles, pumpkins, and serving spoons.

Hide a few special objects before the game if you want to make the search more exciting.

Players can hunt alone or work in pairs. Ask them to check off each object they find without moving it.

Set a clear time limit and explain which rooms are allowed. The person or pair with the most completed items wins.

Turkey Shoot Cup Game

Arrange turkey-themed plastic cups at the end of a table. Players use foam dart blasters to knock down as many cups as possible.

Foam darts turn a basic cup game into an exciting Thanksgiving challenge. Stack the cups in a pyramid or arrange them in one row.

Mark a safe shooting line several feet away. Each player receives the same number of darts.

Count every cup that falls completely. Adults can stand farther back to make their turns more difficult.

Thanksgiving Pictionary

Choose holiday prompts from Thanksgiving Pictionary cards. One person draws the selected word on a dry-erase board while everyone else tries to guess it.

Art skills are not required, and messy drawings often make the game much funnier.

Divide the group into two small teams. One artist chooses a prompt and begins drawing without speaking or writing letters.

Their teammates must guess the word before the timer ends. Switch artists after every turn so each guest gets a chance to draw.

Pumpkin Stack Challenge

Give each player several miniature plastic pumpkins. They must build the tallest standing tower before the timer sounds without holding it in place.

Steady hands are helpful in this quick building contest. Place an equal pile of pumpkins in front of every player.

Set the timer for one minute and let the stacking begin. Towers must remain standing without support when time ends.

If two towers have the same height, give those players thirty extra seconds for a final round.

Turkey Puzzle Cube Race

Hand every player a Thanksgiving puzzle cube or small brain teaser. The first person to correctly solve the festive challenge earns a point.

Challenge everyone’s problem-solving skills with several short rounds. Let players examine their puzzle only after the starting signal.

They may turn, slide, or arrange the pieces as required. Avoid giving hints too early. When someone finishes, check the result carefully.

Switch puzzles between players during the next round so nobody receives the same challenge twice.

Thanksgiving Left Right Game

Pass a small wrapped prize while someone reads a Thanksgiving left-right story. Players move the prize whenever they hear the words “left” or “right.”

Seat everyone in a circle and choose one person to read the story aloud.

Start the wrapped item with any guest. Each time the reader says “left,” pass it in that direction. Do the same for “right.”

Fast sections can cause plenty of confusion and laughter. Whoever holds the prize when the story ends becomes the winner.

Fall Pick-Up Sticks

Use a wooden pick-up sticks set in fall colors. Players carefully remove one stick at a time without causing the remaining pile to move.

Patience matters more than speed in this classic game. Drop the sticks gently onto the center of a table.

Each guest tries to remove one without disturbing another. A successful pick means the player may continue.

The turn ends as soon as another stick moves. Add up the collected sticks after the pile is cleared to determine the winner.

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Guests suggest random nouns, verbs, and adjectives for Thanksgiving Mad Libs sheets. Read the completed stories aloud for plenty of surprising and silly results.

Start by asking for words without showing anyone the full story. Write each suggestion in its matching blank.

Strange word choices usually create the funniest results. Once all spaces are filled, read the finished Thanksgiving tale with plenty of expression.

Make a few copies so different guests can lead their own stories during the celebration.

Turkey Target Toss

Place a turkey target game several feet away. Players throw soft balls or hook-and-loop darts and collect points based on the sections they hit.

Set the target against a clear wall or in a safe outdoor spot. Show everyone how many points each section is worth.

Give players three throws per round and keep a simple score sheet. Small children may use a closer line.

After several rounds, total the scores and celebrate the most accurate turkey tosser.

Guess the Thanksgiving Scent

Fill small containers with fall-scented oils or spices. Blindfolded players smell each one and identify scents such as cinnamon, apple, vanilla, or pumpkin.

Cover each container so guests cannot see what is inside. Invite players to smell the scents one at a time and write down their guesses.

Avoid using anything that may cause an allergic reaction. Familiar choices like cloves, nutmeg, coffee, and maple work well.

Reveal all the answers at the end and award one point for each correct guess.

Thanksgiving Card Game Tournament

Choose a family-friendly card game and create a short tournament. Winners continue to the next round until only one Thanksgiving card champion remains.

Pick a game with simple rules so new players can learn it quickly. Divide guests into small groups and let each table play one round.

Winners then move forward to face one another. Guests who leave the tournament can cheer, help track scores, or start a casual side game.

Continue until the final two players compete for the title.

Pass The Pumpkin

Play music while guests pass a plush pumpkin around the circle. When the music stops, the person holding it completes a funny challenge.

Gather everyone in a comfortable circle and choose one person to control the music.

Pass the pumpkin quickly without throwing it. When the song suddenly pauses, the holder picks a challenge card.

They might gobble like a turkey, name three pies, or share something they appreciate. Begin the music again and continue for as many rounds as desired.

Thanksgiving Games For Large Groups

Big Thanksgiving celebrations need games that can include many guests without confusion.

The activities below are ideal for family reunions, church events, office parties, and community dinners. Some use teams, while others let everyone play together.

Pick games that match your venue, group size, and energy level for a smoother celebration.

Thanksgiving Family Feud

Use a Thanksgiving Family Feud game set with holiday survey questions. Divide guests into teams and award points for the most popular answers.

Begin with two team members facing each other near a bell or buzzer. Read one survey question and let them race to answer first.

The winning side may play the round or pass it. Teammates then try to uncover the remaining popular answers.

Three wrong guesses give the other team a chance to steal all the points.

Inflatable Turkey Toss

Separate everyone into teams and give each group an inflatable turkey. Players toss it down the line without dropping it or using both hands.

Ask teammates to stand several feet apart in a straight line. The first player tosses the turkey using only one hand.

It must travel through every team member before reaching the end. If someone drops it, the turkey returns to the beginning.

Move players farther apart during later rounds to make the challenge harder and funnier.

Thanksgiving Bingo Tournament

Provide a large Thanksgiving bingo set with plenty of unique cards. Play several rounds and introduce new winning patterns to keep the tournament interesting.

Large groups can enjoy this game while sitting comfortably at tables.

Give each guest a card and enough markers to cover the pictures. Begin with a normal straight-line round. Later, try four corners, an X shape, or a full card.

Check every winning card carefully before starting again. Small prizes can be given after each completed round.

Giant Fall Jenga

Write Thanksgiving questions or challenges on a giant tumbling tower. Each player completes the instruction on the block before placing it on top.

Set the wooden tower on a flat surface where everyone can gather safely.

Guests take turns pulling out one block with a single hand. A block might ask them to name a favorite food, share a thankful thought, or act like a turkey.

After completing the prompt, they place it on top. Whoever knocks down the tower ends the round.

Turkey Relay Race

Teams balance a small plush turkey on a wooden spoon while racing around cones. Dropped turkeys must be returned before the player continues.

Mark a simple course in the yard or another open space. Each racer carries the plush turkey around every cone and returns to the starting point.

They then hand the spoon to the next teammate. Hands cannot hold the turkey in place.

The first group to complete the relay with every member crossing the finish line wins.

Thanksgiving Photo Booth Challenge

Set out Thanksgiving photo booth props and divide guests into teams. Each team must create specific funny poses before the time limit ends.

Funny hats, turkey glasses, pie signs, and fall frames can inspire playful group pictures.

Give each team a short list of scenes to create. They might pose as a hungry family or pretend to protect the last piece of pie.

Set a timer for every photo. At the end, let everyone vote for the funniest and most creative picture.

Pumpkin Sack Race

Mark a racing lane with outdoor cones and give players burlap race sacks. Run several heats before holding a final race between the fastest competitors.

Choose a soft, level area with plenty of room for jumping. Place racers inside their sacks and ask them to hold the tops near their waists.

After the starting signal, everyone hops toward the finish line. Anyone who falls may stand up and continue.

Keep each heat small to prevent crashes. The quickest racers advance to the final.

Turkey Egg-and-Spoon Relay

Players carry plastic eggs on large spoons through a marked course. Each teammate completes the route before passing the materials to the next runner.

Balance becomes more important than speed during this lively relay. Create two or more equal teams and place them behind a starting line.

Players must walk around the course without touching the egg. When it falls, they stop and replace it before moving again.

The first team whose final runner returns with the egg still balanced earns the win.

Thanksgiving Minute-to-Win-It Tournament

Prepare a collection of minute-to-win-it game supplies. Teams rotate between short challenges involving cups, feathers, candy corn, balloons, and miniature pumpkins.

Turn different areas of the room into quick game stations.

One challenge may involve stacking cups, while another asks players to move feathers using only their breath. Give every team sixty seconds at each station.

Record how well they perform before they rotate. Once all stations are complete, combine the points to discover the tournament champion.

Giant Thanksgiving Trivia

Ask questions using a Thanksgiving trivia game pack. Teams discuss each answer and display it on small dry-erase boards before time runs out.

Seat guests in balanced groups and give each one a board, marker, and eraser.

Read a question aloud, then allow a short discussion. Teams reveal their answers at the same time, which prevents copying.

Include rounds about food, movies, history, and family traditions. For the final question, offer extra points and let teams choose how many they wish to risk.

Turkey Tag

Attach colorful turkey tail ribbons to every player’s waist. Players collect as many ribbons as possible while protecting the ones attached to them.

Every player begins with the same number of ribbons tucked loosely into a waistband or belt.

Once the game starts, guests try to pull ribbons from others without pushing or grabbing clothes. Collected tails can be held in one hand.

Stop the round after a few minutes. The person who gathered the most ribbons becomes the top turkey.

Pumpkin Cornhole Tournament

Set up several cornhole boards and organize guests into pairs. Teams compete in quick rounds until the final two groups meet for the championship.

Arrange matching boards across the yard so several pairs can play at once.

Each teammate takes turns throwing pumpkin-themed bean bags toward the opposite board. Bags on the board earn one point, while bags through the hole earn three.

Keep early matches short to help the tournament move smoothly. Winning pairs advance until only one team remains.

Thanksgiving Team Scavenger Hunt

Give each team a holiday scavenger hunt kit containing clues and challenge cards. The first group to solve every clue and reach the finish wins.

Send groups along a planned route through the home, yard, office, or party venue.

One clue should guide them toward the next hidden location. Add simple tasks between clues, such as naming five Thanksgiving foods or taking a team photo.

Explain the boundaries before starting. Teams must remain together throughout the hunt to qualify for the final win.

Turkey Pinata Challenge

Hang a turkey-shaped piñata in a safe open space. Blindfolded players take turns swinging while the remaining guests guide them with spoken directions.

Clear people and breakable objects away from the playing area first.

Choose one guest at a time and gently turn them around before handing over a lightweight piñata stick. Allow only a few swings per turn.

Everyone else must stay behind the safety line. When the turkey opens, guests can collect the candy or small surprises scattered across the ground.

Thanksgiving Tug-of-War

Divide the crowd into balanced groups and use a heavy-duty tug-of-war rope. Mark the center point and hold several friendly team battles.

Find a flat outdoor area that is free from rocks, holes, and slippery ground.

Tie a bright ribbon around the rope’s center. Place a clear line beneath it, then position both teams at equal distances.

At the signal, players pull together until the ribbon crosses one side. Mix the teams between rounds so different guests can work together.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving feels even warmer when everyone has a reason to laugh, move, and spend time together.

These games can help quiet guests join in and give energetic players something fun to do.

Choose activities that suit your space, group size, and ages. You do not need to play every game. Even two or three favorites can create lasting memories.

Keep the rules simple, include everyone, and enjoy the cheerful moments between the meal, stories, and holiday traditions.

Engage With Us

Which Thanksgiving group game would your guests enjoy the most?

Do you prefer calm table games or lively team challenges? Share your favorite idea in the comments below.

If your family plays a special Thanksgiving game every year, tell us how it works.

Your tradition may help another reader plan a fun and memorable holiday gathering!