30 Fun Things to Do on Thanksgiving With Family
Kids, adults and even teens will be thankful for these popular Turkey Day ideas.
By Lizz Schumer
On Thanksgiving, the food tends to take center stage, but there's a lot of holiday time that needs filling before (and after) you eat. When your extended family or chosen family gathers to celebrate the holiday, it's also important to focus on the faces gathered around the big bird. Thanksgiving Day can be a marathon, not a sprint, so you'll need some fun things to occupy the crew while waiting to carve the turkey and pass the pumpkin pie.
Many of us do that by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade or tossing around the pigskin in a friendly game of touch football. But if you're looking to establish a unique Thanksgiving tradition to liven up the festivities this year, look no further. We've got a whole list of fun, funny or unusual things to do on Turkey Day that everyone from grandma to the youngest cousins can enjoy (besides eating, of course!). These Thanksgiving activities and Thanksgiving games will help fill the time before or after Thanksgiving dinner and make memories together in the process. Don't forget to take some pictures, while you're at it (and pair them with the perfect holiday Instagram captions)!
And because some of us have a higher tolerance for elaborate activities than others, these ideas range widely from Thanksgiving themed-arts and crafts options that you can whip up in a snap, to ideas that require no materials at all to a few that need a little more time to put together and can become keepsakes all their own. And of course, when all else fails, tune into a family-friendly Thanksgiving movie while you snack on desserts. Get ready for every kid, teen and adult to have a blast on Turkey Day!
Play a Gratitude Game
Keep everyone's minds on the reason for the season with this free printable. It makes asking everyone what they're thankful for even sweeter, plus encourages more creativity in people's answers. Use game pieces instead of candy if you don't want to spoil any appetites.
Participate in a Turkey Trot Near You
Whether your town has an organized Turkey Trot road race or you just lace up and head out on your own, a pre-dinner run is a great way to get your blood moving before all that pie.
Host a Mini Pumpkin Hunt
Coming up with genius places to hide the eggs before the big Easter egg hunt is just as much fun for adults as finding them is for kids. But don't limit the hunting fun to spring! Instead of eggs, hide miniature pumpkins or gourds and let the kids loose in the yard to find them all. They can double as a centerpiece once they're all discovered.
Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or Food Pantry
Before your own meal goes in the oven, get a group together to serve others. Lots of soup kitchens and food pantries welcome volunteers to give the less fortunate a happy Turkey Day. See if one near you does, too.
RELATED: 6 Surprising Benefits of Volunteering You Didn't Know About
Thanksgiving Bingo
It doesn't get much more classic than a rousing game of holiday bingo! Give the game a festive spin by downloading free printable Turkey Day-themed cards online. Use pieces from other board games, hard-shelled candies, buttons or even pennies to cover the squares.
Write Thank-You Cards
Thank-you cards aren't just for gifts anymore. Set the kids up with some crayons and blank cards and encourage them to write (or draw) cards to their loved ones, teachers and friends as an exercise in gratitude.
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
Not only is coloring a relaxing (and stationary!) activity for children and grown-ups alike, you also end up with a holiday decoration for the fridge. Everyone will love filling in these gratitude-themed coloring pages, and they'll help everyone focus on what's most important.
Break the Wishbone
When carving the turkey, set aside the wishbone to dry. Then, after the dishes are done, have a wishbone-breaking contest. Whoever ends up with the biggest piece gets to make a wish!
Craft a Family Tree
When the whole family gathers for the holiday, put together a family tree to commemorate your connection. Experts say that when children know their family story, they're happier and have higher self-esteem — and teaching them all about it couldn't be easier thanks to this hands-on project. Using everyone's fingerprints as the leaves will make it even more personal. Opt for red and orange ink to give this craft a Thanksgiving spin.
Play Thanksgiving Trivia
Ignite some friendly competition by putting your group's knowledge of Thanksgiving trivia to the test. You'll have fun seeing everyone get riled up over history, and might even learn a little something along the way. You can find inexpensive Turkey Day trivia cards on Etsy, or make your own.
Settle in for a Thanksgiving Movie Marathon
Football who? This year, pop some popcorn, cozy up on the couch and stream your favorite Thanksgiving movies or Thanksgiving episodes of marathon-worthy shows. Who can resist another viewing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving?
Play Turkey Tag
Things can get competitive when you play turkey tag. Stick this adorable DIY turkey clip on other family members' clothes when they're not looking then, when they find it, it's their turn to do the same.
Bake a Thanksgiving Dessert
Who says the whole family can't help with the big meal? Bake some Thanksgiving shape cookies and have the kids decorate them, get grandma in on rolling out the pie dough, or enlist a few cousins to frost a cake. Many hands make light (and delicious) work.
RELATED: 75 Incredible Thanksgiving Desserts You Need to Make
Make a Plan for Black Friday Shopping
Get ready for the post-Thanksgiving shopping spree by pulling up all the best Black Friday sales and deals online, then putting together your plan of attack. It's also a great chance to give gift hints!
Go Outside for a Game of Touch Football
Grab a football and divide the crew up into teams for an old-fashioned game of touch or flag football. Just don't get too rough; nobody wants to head to the ER on a holiday.
Play Harvest Bowling
Head to your local hardware or gardening store to pick up enough hay bales to create your own driveway or backyard bowling lane. It doubles as decor after you're done making strikes and spares. Just don't forget to grab some bowling pins, too!
Craft a Fall Wreath
Get some wreath forms and supplies at your local craft store, then set them out on a table so your guests can get crafty making pretty fall wreaths. Then, proudly display the results for all to see!
RELATED: 25 DIY Thanksgiving Wreath Ideas to Amp Up Your Front Door
Say What You're Grateful For, From A to Z
To keep conversation rolling at the table, ask everyone what they're grateful for — with a twist. The first answer has to start with A, then the next one starts with B, and so on throughout the alphabet. Start brainstorming your answers for the trickier letters now!
Play "Who's the Baby?"
Pull out all your old family photo albums or tell guests to email you a photo of themselves as babies before they arrive. Then, attach the photos to a bulletin board and number each one. Ask everyone to write down their guesses of who's who, then announce the correct answers after dinner. It's fun to see how much your loved ones have changed over the years!
Host an Ugly Thanksgiving Sweater Contest
Clothing that's so ugly it's cool is not just for Christmas anymore. When you give everyone the invitation details, ask them to make or buy or DIY their own Turkey Day-themed top. On Thanksgiving Day, pick a winner and don't forget to take pictures of everyone's silly duds!
Lizz (she/her) is a senior editor at Good Housekeeping, where she runs the GH Book Club, edits essays and long-form features and writes about pets, books and lifestyle topics. A journalist for almost two decades, she is the author of Biography of a Body and Buffalo Steel. She also teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at New York University's School of Professional Studies and creative nonfiction at the Muse Writing Center, and coaches with the New York Writing Room.
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