19 Fun Thanksgiving Family Games
The Littles & Me/Small Stuff Counts/The Seasoned Mom
The best part of Thanksgiving—besides the delicious feast—is getting to spend lots of time with loved ones. And you know what they say: The family that games together, sticks together… or something like that. Whether you’re trying to keep bored kids occupied while everyone’s preparing the meal or you just want a fun way to give thanks for the year with your family, these Thanksgiving games will keep the festivities going all night long, or until the tryptophan kicks in. Whichever comes first.
From festive takes on classic games to some of the most creative ways to celebrate Turkey Day you’ll ever see (turkey bowling, anyone?), the whole family is sure to enjoy these games—which you can buy or DIY. Little ones will be entertained for hours playing Pin The Feather On The Turkey and a Thanksgiving memory matching game. From a Thanksgiving Mad Libs to a family-friendly Would You Rather game, there are plenty of games for the entire family, too. And, in the spirit of the holiday, we also included games that’ll get you thinking about what you’re thankful for. Game night definitely just got a holiday makeover.
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A little construction paper and painter’s tape can go a long way when it comes to entertaining kids on Thanksgiving. All you have to do is cut out the shapes to make a turkey and a bunch of feathers, then you’ll play it just like a rousing game of pin the tail on the donkey—except that it’s more like tape the tailfeather on the turkey.
Get the tutorial at The Littles & Me.
All you need to make this game work is the printable cards, M&Ms, and a set of two dice. Each color M&M coordinates with a number on the card, and the kids take turns rolling both dice to find out which colors they get. Each time they get a new color, they decide where to place it on their turkey until they fill up all the spots, and the first one to fill their card wins. Oh, and if you roll doubles, you get to eat one as you play.
$40.00
This kit comes with an adorable knit turkey and some paper feathers. To participate, everyone writes down something they’re thankful for on the feather, and adds it to the turkey. Whether you play this throughout the month or on Thanksgiving itself, it gets everyone thinking about gratitude. Even better, it’s a game that gives back—for each Turkey on the Table sold, 10 meals will be provided to people in need, thanks to a partnership with Feeding America.
$2.99
Keep the kids entertained with these Thanksgiving-themed printable search games. The game comes with different levels (easy, medium, and hard) so younger and older kids can play, while the adults have a glass of after-dinner wine.
This memory game incorporates your Thanksgiving feast and can be played while everyone is eating. The first person starts by saying “For Thanksgiving dinner I had turkey,” and then each subsequent player adds a food and repeats the entire reel of dishes said prior to his or her turn. Each person who can’t remember the full list is out. But don’t concentrate too hard—you wouldn’t want the stuffing to get cold.
See more at Sign Up Genius.
Mad Libs are a great Thanksgiving game because they can pass the time while you wait for dinner, or you can even play while you eat and the whole family can participate. Have everyone take turns calling out words until the entire sheet is filled, then read what is sure to be a funny (and at least somewhat festive) story aloud.
Get the printables at Small Stuff Counts.
$29.95
This Thanksgiving-themed memory tile matching game isn’t just a cute, fun way to engage the little ones before (or after) the feast—you can also have it personalized for a fun added touch.
$4.85
If you’ve ever played Taboo before, you know how this one goes—you have to get your team to guess the word on the card, but you can’t say any of the associated words below it. These Thanksgiving Taboo cards add a festive twist to the classic game. And you can always mix them in with your regular cards to keep the game going longer.
Here’s a way to get your blood pumping before or after the feast—host a socially distant pumpkin roll in the backyard. You’ll need lots of room (sorry, apartment dwellers), since pumpkins don’t roll in a straight line. Divide into teams, set start and finish lines, and get rolling.
Learn more at Sign Up Genius.
Fill an apothecary jar—bonus if you have a pumpkin-shaped one—with candy corn and place in the center of your tablescape. Provide guests with slips of paper and then ask them to guess how many candy corn kernels are in the jar. Whoever’s guess is closest gets to take the jar home.
Learn more at Celebrations At Home.
If the family can’t get together without playing a rousing game of Bunco, you need these themed Bunco score cards for Thanksgiving. They’ll give your usual game a festive makeover, and they can be instantly downloaded and printed as soon as you buy.
With the help of some brown plastic cups, some construction paper, and some googly eyes, you can challenge the family to a friendly Thanksgiving bowling tournament. Use mini pumpkins or a tennis ball to bowl with, and try to knock down these super cute DIY turkey pins.
Get the tutorial at The Seasoned Mom.
Make watching the parade a little more interesting by turning it into a game of Bingo—you can print out cards with references to different floats and performers (you can also easily edit the cards in the link below to reflect the performers you know will be in the parade each year). Then see who can gets to call out “Bingo!” first.
Print cards at My Free Bingo Cards.
If you like cornhole, you’ll love this DIY pumpkin toss game. The base can be made out of thick poster board or cardboard, and you can use balls or bean bags to toss through the cutouts. Assign point values to each cutout, and maybe offer a prize (an extra slice of pie?) to the winner.
Get the tutorial at Lolly Jane.
$19.99
If you’ve ever wanted to try an escape the room game, you can set this Thanksgiving themed one up yourself. Using this printable kit (and the required items from the supply list) you can make a fun holiday room escape scenario the whole family can enjoy.
Charades is always a fun party game for all ages, but you can make it extra fun on Thanksgiving by using words and phrases that are seasonal and festive. Acting out “cranberry sauce” and “pumpkin pie” might be a little bit of a challenge, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right?
Get the word list at The Game Gal.
Every holiday has its respective sought-after object—for Easter it’s chocolate eggs, for Christmas it’s candy canes, and for Thanksgiving it’s uh, pumpkins. Or, at least this game is making it so. You’ll need lots of pumpkins and a volunteer to hide them before the guests arrive. We’ll be kind and recommend mini pumpkins as opposed to the regular 20-pound variety.
Learn more at Family Education.
You’ve likely played “Would You Rather?” dozens of times, but think of this as a festive version for the whole family. Print out strips with questions on them, and put them in a jar. Then go around (while you eat, or after dinner!) and have everyone draw a paper. They can either read it aloud and answer it for themselves, or pose the question to the table.
Get the tutorial at Mom of 6.
This one’s pretty straightforward, and it’s another one you can play while eating dinner. Plus, it’s also a great way to get everyone talking about what they’re thankful for. All you have to do is have each person share one thing they’re thankful for, but the catch is, it has to start with the next letter of the alphabet, starting with A (the next person’s response will start with B, and so on). Go around the table until the alphabet’s been filled—yes, even X and Z.
Learn more at Holidappy.
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