This huge list of Thanksgiving party games are perfect if you’re hosting a big group of friends and family this year! Set up one of these quick and easy game ideas for your after-dinner entertainment!
Okay, so here’s the thing: Thanksgiving is supposed to be about family, gratitude, and pie. But somewhere between basting the turkey, refereeing sibling rivalries, and hiding in the pantry with a bottle of Pinot Grigio (just me?), we realize something else: our guests need entertainment.
That’s where Thanksgiving party games come in. Whether you’re hosting a table full of hyper kids, adults who can’t agree on politics, or a mix of both, a few fun Thanksgiving games can turn your day from “When is dinner ready?” to “That was the best Thanksgiving ever!”
So grab your stretchy pants, pour yourself a refill of apple cider (the hard kind, if you know what I mean), and let’s talk about the best Thanksgiving Day party games for families, kids, and adults.
Thanksgiving Party Games for the Whole Family
Sometimes you just need a game that everyone can play. Grandma, toddlers, and that cousin who mysteriously appears once a year just for free turkey. These games are simple, silly, and guaranteed to keep people laughing instead of napping.
Thanksgiving Charades
Classic charades, but with a turkey twist. Act out “stuffing the turkey,” “Grandpa snoring after pie,” or “Pilgrim churning butter.” You’ll be surprised how quickly your competitive side comes out when the word is “mashed potatoes.” Get a printable Thanksgiving Charades game here!
Pilgrim Hat Ring Toss
Craft some pilgrim hats out of construction paper or buy cheap party hats, then toss rings (or glow sticks!) onto them. It’s harder than it looks, especially after two glasses of mulled wine.
Pin the Tail on the Turkey
Move over, donkey, turkeys are the new stars. Blindfolded guests try to stick a tail feather on Tom the Turkey. Bonus points if Grandma accidentally pins it on the fridge instead. Get the free turkey template and see how to play pin the tail on the turkey here!
Sweet Potato Roll
Line up sweet potatoes on the floor and see who can roll theirs across the finish line first – using only their nose. Warning: this may cause both bruised egos and mashed sweet potatoes on your carpet.
Thanksgiving Parade BINGO
Print your cards, flip on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and get ready to yell “BINGO!” when Snoopy floats by. This keeps kids entertained and buys you a few extra minutes in the kitchen. Grab the free printable Thanksgiving parade BINGO game here!
Turkey Feather Shake
Tape a tissue box to your waist, fill it with craft feathers, and shake your tail feathers until the box is empty. Yes, it’s a little ridiculous, but it’s Thanksgiving, so embrace it.
Turkey Feather Straw Race
Use a straw to blow a feather across the table to the finish line. First one across wins. Spoiler alert – this is much harder than it sounds!
Candy Corn Scoop
Dump candy corn into a wide-bottomed, shallow bowl. Have players scoop pieces of candy corn from one bowl to another using only a plastic spoon held in between their teeth. Set up a timer to see who can move the most candy corns over in 30 seconds, or make it a head-to-head battle with two players.
Corn Kernel Guess
Fill a jar with dried corn kernels and let everyone guess the number. Winner gets first dibs on pie. The loser has to do the dishes. (Kidding… sort of.)
Saran Wrap Ball Game
The Saran Wrap Ball Game is typically reserved for Christmas, but it makes a fantastic Thanksgiving party game as well! Create the ball with tons of plastic wrap and lots of small gifts, toys, or gift cards wrapped up inside the layers. Then roll dice, and take turns opening the ball as fast as you can to uncover the prizes! See how to play the Saran Wrap Ball Game and get ideas for what to put inside here!
Turkey Bowling
Set up empty soda bottles as pins, paint them like turkeys, and roll a mini pumpkin to knock them down. Kids will play this for hours. Adults will, too, after the pie coma wears off.
Thanksgiving Party Games for Kids
Kids don’t sit still at Thanksgiving. They eat a roll, a few bites of mac and cheese, and then start asking when dessert is. That’s why you need games to keep them busy so the adults can actually have a conversation.
Leaf Hunt
Hide paper leaves around the house and let the kids collect them. Add numbers or prizes on the back for extra fun. Bonus: they’ll be too busy running around to ask “Is dinner ready yet?” every five minutes.
Turkey Tag
Attach paper turkey feathers to kids’ backs. The goal? Steal as many feathers as possible without losing your own. Think of it as “Thanksgiving flag football,” minus the actual football.
Roll a Pumpkin Game
Just like the “Roll a Turkey” game, but with a pumpkin template! This easy Thanksgiving party game for kids is very similar to the classic Cootie bug game – you roll a dice, and each number on the dice corresponds to a different part of the pumpkin. Grab the free roll a pumpkin game here!
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Use mini pumpkins and gourds as game pieces on a tic-tac-toe board made of painter’s tape. Cute, easy, and way less messy than carving.
Mayflower Float Race
Grab plastic tubs of water and let kids blow tiny paper boats across with straws. The first one to the other side “lands in the New World.”
Roll a Turkey
This one’s like Yahtzee met a craft project. Roll the dice, collect turkey parts, and see who can build their gobbler first. Kids love it, adults pretend they’re too cool for it, and somehow Uncle Bob always ends up cheating. Get the free printable roll a turkey game here!
Pie Face (Thanksgiving Style)
Instead of whipped cream, use pumpkin pie filling. Okay, maybe not the best idea indoors… but outside? Hilarious.
Thanksgiving Party Games for Adults
After the kids are sugared up and occupied, the adults need their own fun. These games are a little sassier, sometimes more competitive, and occasionally involve wine.
Leftover Trivia
Quiz your guests on weird Thanksgiving facts (like how many calories are in the average plate. Spoiler: don’t Google it). Winner gets to skip leftovers duty.
Thanksgiving Scattergories
Think fast: name something you’re thankful for that starts with “P.” (Pumpkin pie. Obviously.) This is perfect for adults who love word games and a little friendly competition. Grab the printable Thanksgiving Scattergories game here!
Turkey Trot Relay
Set up an outdoor relay race, similar to a potato sack race, but with pillowcases decorated to resemble turkey feathers. Yes, your neighbors will judge. Yes, it’s worth it.
Guess that Spice
Gather a large assortment of spice bottles including some commonly used for Thanksgiving dinner like thyme, rosemary, and sage. Blindfold players, one at a time, and let them see if they can guess what spice it is just by smelling the bottle.
Wine Glass Musical Chairs
Exactly what it sounds like, but instead of sitting, you carry a glass of wine. Spill it and you’re out. Pro tip: don’t play this on carpet.
“What’s on Your Phone?” Game
This free printable What’s on Your Phone Game is great for a large group of adults that don’t know each other well. Or it’s also the perfect game if you’re short on space, and you just need something quick and easy that can be played at the dining tabel. Guests pull out their phones, and see how many points they can get based on what’s on their cell phones – like one point if your alarm is turned on, and 5 points for if your home screen shows a missed call!
Thanksgiving “Would You Rather”
Would you rather eat only cranberry sauce for a year or never eat pie again? (The correct answer is obviously cranberry sauce.) This one’s great for sparking conversations and arguments you didn’t know you needed.
Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest
Blindfolded, hands behind your back, pie in front of you. Whoever eats the fastest wins. Whoever loses gets shamed on Instagram.
More Fun Games to Play at Thanksgiving Dinner
Because one game is never enough, here’s a big list of extras you can add to your day:
- Pumpkin Ring Toss – Use mini pumpkins with stems as targets and toss rings to land around them. Simple, competitive, and perfect for all ages.
- Pilgrim Hat Stack – Stack cups decorated like pilgrim hats as high as you can before they tumble. Bonus points for speed and style.
- Cranberry Spoon Race – Balance cranberries on a spoon and race to the finish line without dropping them. It’s classic, messy fun that kids love.
- Turkey Waddle – Race while holding a balloon between your knees, just like a turkey waddle. Guaranteed laughs and a little chaos.
- Thanksgiving Pictionary – Draw Thanksgiving-themed words and have your team guess them. Hilarity ensues when “turkey on a tractor” comes up.
- Turkey Feather Hunt – Hide paper feathers around the house for kids or adults to find. The person with the most feathers wins a prize (or bragging rights).
- “Hot Turkey” – Play Hot Potato with a plush turkey toy. Whoever’s holding it when the music stops is out—bonus: act out turkey squawks.
- Cornhole, Thanksgiving Edition – Toss corn bags into a cornhole board with a Thanksgiving theme. Easy to set up and fun for adults and kids alike.
- Thanksgiving Family Feud – Survey your guests beforehand and see who can guess the most popular Thanksgiving answers. Competitive and perfect for large groups.
- Stuff the Turkey Relay – Fill a pillowcase or bag with balloons or small items and race to “stuff” your turkey. Fast-paced and silly fun.
- Gravy Boat Balance – Carry a cup of water or juice across a room without spilling it. Bonus: pretend it’s hot gravy for extra laughs.
- Name That Thanksgiving Tune – Hum or play clips of Thanksgiving-themed or fall songs for your guests to guess. A fun challenge for music lovers.
- Pin the Beak on the Turkey – A twist on Pin the Tail on the Donkey with a turkey’s beak. Blindfolded guests try to stick it in the right place.
- Thanksgiving Trivia Night – Quiz your friends and family on fun and quirky Thanksgiving facts. Great for sparking laughter and surprising knowledge.
- Turkey Balloon Pop – Pop balloons filled with silly challenges or treats. Guests race to complete whatever is inside, making it unpredictable and hilarious.
- Corn Kernel Pickup – Dump a pile of candy corn on the table. Players have one minute to pick up as many as possible using only chopsticks. This is actually impossible, but that’s what makes it fun.
Trust me, by the time you’re done, your family will forget about politics, stop fighting over the last roll, and actually start having fun together. And isn’t that what Thanksgiving’s all about? Well, that and pie. Always pie.
Which of these Thanksgiving party games do you think will have your family laughing the hardest this year?
