Thanksgiving is the perfect time for families to come together and create lasting memories with fun activities everyone can enjoy.
From games to crafts to outdoor adventures, there are plenty of ways to keep everyone entertained.
Here are some of the best Thanksgiving activities for the whole family.
Give Thanks
Okay, so Thanksgiving isn’t only about the food. When you gather around your glorious feast, remember to give thanks for all of your blessings by saying a holiday prayer or what you’re grateful for.
Play a Game of Thankfulness Tag
This Thanksgiving-themed take on tag allows kids to avoid being tagged by shouting out something they’re thankful for. It’ll go a long way towards getting them in the Thanksgiving spirit!
See more at Meaningful Mama.
Play a Game of Candy Corn Bowling
Not everyone loves candy corn, but everyone will love candy corn bowling—especially if you’ve got time to spare before dinnertime.
Play a Guessing Game
Once the kids have gone to sleep, play an adults-only guessing game while you enjoy coffee and seconds of dessert. It’s a great way to unwind after a long day of cooking and hosting.
Craft a Turkey Crown
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a turkey craft or two for the little ones. Make the classic handprint turkey or this fun turkey crown the kids will proudly wear all night.
Go for a Fall Hike
Feeling full after all that turkey? Walk it off on a holiday hike with your family. It’s also a great opportunity to admire all the beautiful fall foliage!
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
A corn maze is one of the best fall activities there is, so it just makes good sense to visit one on Thanksgiving. You’ll be a-maze-d how much fun you’ll have!
Start Decorating for Christmas
Some people consider Thanksgiving Day as the official sign to begin Christmas decorating. This may be controversial for some, but an absolute necessity to others. (It makes sense, considering it’s the next big holiday on the calendar!)
Tell Jokes
There’s at least one jokester in the family. If that person is you, then you should definitely have some Thanksgiving jokes in your back pocket for when you see everyone around the dinner table.
Make a Thanksgiving Video
If a picture says a thousand words, then videos must be even more! Some people love capturing the moment on camera, and that’s especially true on a holiday like Thanksgiving! Go ahead and record some of the special events that take place on the day.
Road Trip
Your love for traveling does not need to take a break on Thanksgiving. Use the holiday to bring your loved ones on a special trip to… wherever! You can even whip up an on-the-go Thanksgiving meal to keep the momentum going
Make a Thanksgiving Toast
This can definitely be a group effort, too. Have everyone go around the table and give a toast, whether that be something they are grateful for, or future plans that they wish to see come into fruition.
Do a Thanksgiving Puzzle
Puzzles are a great way to bring the group together. This could be an activity people do throughout the day, or try to complete after dinner.
Make Care Packages
Helping out those in need can be one of the most rewarding things to do on Thanksgiving (or really anytime of the year). You can make a care package full of goodies and donate them to your nearest shelter or non-profit organization.
Preserve Kids’ Handprints
There are some people in your family that you might only see once a year—that time being Thanksgiving! So, it could be a fun project to preserve handprints from the young ones of your family each year, showing just how big they’ve gotten once they reach adulthood.
Go Out to Eat
Not everyone enjoys cooking, and that’s truly okay. Heading to a favorite restaurant of yours that’s open on Thanksgiving can be the next best thing.
Paint Pumpkins
A craft like painting pumpkins doubles as both a fun activity and the cutest Thanksgiving décor! Grab a few gourds and brushes, then let everyone get crafty!
Give a Lesson
A holiday like Thanksgiving is full of history and facts! You can give a little history lesson to the kids of the family each year so that they’re reminded exactly why we celebrate a day like this.
Tell Recent Stories
You’ll likely be playing catch up with those relatives you don’t see too often. So, make sure you make it a point to get each other up to date on your lives—there might be some fun stuff you missed!
Sing Karaoke
The turkey isn’t always the star of the show! Trust us, everyone will get a kick out of hearing grandma and grandpa belt out Thanksgiving songs!
Play in Leaves
Raking the leaves doesn’t have to be a chore. Make big piles and invite the kiddos to jump in them before you bag up your work! Bonus activity: Collect a few for some for fall leaf crafts.
Make Warm Drinks
Apple cider, hot chocolate, buttered rum, pumpkin spice latte… you name it, you can make it! Add a few hot drinks to your Thanksgiving menu to warm your hands and your soul on the holiday.
Have a Petsgiving
You’ve heard of Friendsgiving, but what about Petsgiving? Have your friends and family bring their furry family members along with several pet-friendly dishes so your cats and dogs can join the feast!
Host a Pie Swap
What’s better than a Thanksgiving pie? Having all the best Thanksgiving pies! If you host a pie swap, you’ll only be responsible for making one kind, but then you get to enjoy so many other flavors.
Capture the Moment
Whether you snap a few impromptu family photos or organize a more formal photoshoot, don’t forget to capture the special moments. After all, Thanksgiving is all about spending time with those you love, so it’s important to remember it always.
Watch the Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition shared by millions of Americans, thanks to the magic of television. Whether you just keep it on in the background while you prep food or look at every single float, it’s so easy to enjoy the festivities.
Hold an Ugly Sweater Contest
Why wait for Christmas for an ugly sweater contest? Start early with a Thanksgiving-themed contest instead! Your family and friends will gobble up the idea of starting the high jinx early.
Go for a Walk
Getting some fresh air in between all those food courses is a great idea. It helps get your blood circulating again to take a walk around the neighborhood. Plus, it might give you a chance for some one-on-one time with someone you haven’t been able to connect with yet.
Craft a Fall Wreath
Create a beautiful fall wreath to welcome in your guests during Thanksgiving and beyond! For the simplest options, all you really need is a wreath form and some craft leaves. Add some berries and gourds if you want it to pop a little more.
Run in a Turkey Trot
Never heard of a Turkey Trot? Prepare to work up a sweat! The idea is a short run typically held on Thanksgiving morning so you can enjoy the crisp fall air while making room for the feast to come.
DIY Wool Pumpkins
Wool pumpkins encapsulate all of the coziness of fall in craft form! You can make no-sew options using leftover fabric, wrapping it with twine, and using dried twigs for the stem. They’re the cutest last-minute Thanksgiving table or porch décor!
Bake Thanksgiving Cookies
Yes, pies are great and a thanksgiving must-have, but they’re not the only delicious sweet on Turkey Day! Bake a batch of Thanksgiving cookies like these pecan sandies and let the kids help decorate.
Get Ready for Black Friday
Once Thanksgiving passes, you’re straight onto the biggest shopping day of the year. That means there’s little time to take stock of what you actually want to buy! Create a Black Friday shopping list for your friends and family so you can take advantage of the deals without purchasing goods you don’t really need.
Volunteer
Give back to your community by spending your Thanksgiving morning volunteering at a soup kitchen or food shelter.
Arrange a Fall Bouquet
This activity is the gift that keeps on giving. Have fun arranging beautiful fall-inspired bouquets and then use them to decorate your Thanksgiving dinner party.
Thanksgiving Pictionary
Have fun crafting this cute Thanksgiving-themed Pictionary from an empty tin can and wood craft sticks. Then, let the games begin!
See more at Somewhat Simple.
Play Thanksgiving Bingo
Grandma and Grandpa will love this one! Thanksgiving bingo is the perfect game for the whole family to play while they wait for the turkey to finish cooking.
Break the Wishbone
A wishbone-breaking contest is a classic Thanksgiving tradition in which two people hold onto opposite ends of the bone and pull until it breaks. Whoever ends up with the bigger piece gets to make a wish!
Make an Oversized Family Tree
Trace your ancestral roots by making a family tree! For super-sized fun, you can create one on your wall using washable markers and pretty paper leaves.
Write Thank You Cards
Thanksgiving is a time for expressing gratitude, so why not take this opportunity to write a few thank you cards to the people you love, whether near or far.
Create a ‘Count Your Blessings’ Tree
This free printable offers a fun and meaningful way for the whole family to count their blessings. When you’re done, hang it in your home as a daily reminder of everything you have to be thankful for.
Win a Thanksgiving Word Search
Test your word smarts with a fun Thanksgiving word search. There are lots of free printables available online featuring festive words like harvest, feast, and pumpkin.
Play a Game of Touch Football
A game of touch football is a great way to get some exercise and fresh fall air before you settle in to eat the night away. Make it an annual Thanksgiving tradition, if you haven’t already.
Host a Thanksgiving Movie Marathon
After the table has been cleared and the leftover turkey has been put away, it’s time to cuddle up and watch one or two of the best Thanksgiving movies, like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Look Through Family Photo Albums
There are few better times than Thanksgiving to look through old photo albums with your family. Everyone, young and old, will love reminiscing about your family’s most special memories and events.
Count Down to Thanksgiving with a Thankful Activity Jar
This Thanksgiving countdown jar is filled with mini activities that will help the whole family cultivate an attitude of gratitude as you build anticipation for the holiday.
Dress Up Your Dog
Get your dog or cat in on the Thanksgiving fun by dressing them up in a festive costume or a feather turkey hat like this one.
Put on a Thanksgiving Play
Spark your kids’ creativity by encouraging them to put on a Thanksgiving-themed play. They’ll love stealing the spotlight after dinner.
Make a Cornucopia
Nothing says Thanksgiving like a beautiful cornucopia arrangement. Have fun creating a colorful display with leaves, gourds, and mini pumpkins.
Set Up a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Keep the kids entertained with an engaging indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt! They’ll have a ball looking for holiday-inspired items like mini pumpkins, corn on the cob, and gourds.
Thanksgiving Icebreaker Game
Kick off the Thanksgiving festivities with this game filled with fun, conversation-sparking questions. No matter how well you know your family, you’re bound to hear a few surprising answers!
See more at Homemade by Carmona.
