Thanksgiving Party Games
Your Entire Family Will Enjoy

These Thanksgiving party games are no turkeys! We only recommend top quality games for Thanksgiving family celebrations.

Just when you're beginning to fit into your favorite pair of jeans, it's the time of the year when you just can't resist having seconds of that mouth-watering turkey, heavenly mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and pumpkin pie. Yes, folks, it's Thanksgiving again. Not only is this a time, or rather shall we say an excuse, for gaining a pound or two, it's also the time to be thankful for the bountiful blessings of families, friends, fellowship, freedom and abundance.

Make this Thanksgiving different by going beyond the traditional after-dinner Thanksgiving football games. Since the celebration calls for spending quality time with family and friends, it is important to choose activities which all guests could take part in.

It's also a good idea to combine games which involve physical activity (the best way to gradually shed those calories!) and those which could be enjoyed just sitting down. These Thanksgiving party games will surely enable you to bond, laugh and internalize the point of the holiday.

Printable Thanksgiving Trivia Games

After dinner, you wouldn't want to jump right into an activity which would involve a lot of moving about and running around.

Thanksgiving trivia questions are an exciting way to test your guests' knowledge of the facts about the holiday while giving those tummies a time to digest all those food. They can be played individually, or in teams if you have a lot of guests or if everybody's feeling competitive. Present a prize (and a wooden spoon to the losers!) to raise the stakes.

Thanksgiving Joke and Riddle Telling Contest

Even Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell need some time to think of a good joke. So it would be a good idea to inform your guests of this activity ahead of time so that they could come up with some funny jokes or challenging riddles.

Set up a 'stage' area and let everyone have a turn being a standup comedian… or a sphinx. Let other guests vote as to whom they think performed best. NOTE: This Thanksgiving party game's why YouTube was invented. Seriously. Get it on camera!

See more Thanksgiving word games here.

Thanksgiving Memory Game

Have everyone sit in a circle. Start the game with an open ended sentence such as:
"At Thanksgiving dinner I ate ___________." or "Last Thanksgiving I ____________" (fill in the black with an activity, such as "visited friends"). Have the next player repeat this line and add one more ending (e.g. "At Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey." "At Thanksgiving dinner I ate turkey and ham.")

The game continues with each player listing the previous items (in the correct order) and then adding a new dish. If someone makes a mistake, he or she is out of the game. Continue until only one person remains.

Recreate the First Thanksgiving

Have a really authentic Thanksgiving dinner by inviting everyone to come as Pilgrims and Native Americans. Gather information about the first Thanksgiving from any Thanksgiving trivia questions game and share it with the guests.

You may want to recreate some of the foods shared on the first Thanksgiving. Offer games and trivia that include the history of the Pilgrims and America. Learning and having fun at the same time!

Thanksgiving Group Story

Sit around in a circle. As the host, you can begin a story of the tradition of your family's Thanksgiving. It can either be true or completely made up.

After saying three or five sentences, have somebody else in the circle pick up the story from where you left off. This goes on until everybody has had a chance to tell part of the story.

Try to record or videotape the story being told and send a copy to everybody that attended the Thanksgiving party. You'll still have a good laugh even after Thanksgiving's over.

Family History Thanksgiving Party Game

Have everyone bring some family pictures from various years, the older the better. Mix them all together. Each person closes their eyes and randomly picks out one picture and puts it on the table. That person will try to guess who is in the picture, what was happening, as well as an estimated year.

The next person to go does the same thing, but they should specify whether the picture dates before or after the first image. Continue until you run out of pictures. This is a fun way to reminisce all those snapshot memories.

If you want to make the game a bit more difficult, toss in some random pictures that have nothing to do with family. You'll be laughing yourselves silly watching people come up with some story!

Popcorn/Pumpkin Seed Relay

Great as an outdoor activity if the weather permits it. If not, just push aside the furniture and you're good to go. Fill two large bowls with popcorn or pumpkin seeds and place them at one end of the room. Put two empty bowls at the opposite end of the room.

Divide your guests into teams and each group competes to be the first at transferring all the popcorn or seeds from one bowl to the other using only a tablespoon. Any player who drops a seed must return to the beginning and run their leg of the relay again.

See more Thanksgiving games for kids here.

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

After that hearty feast, you would want to get your guests moving and this Thanksgiving party game's just a perfect mini work-out. Ask everyone to gather in one room while you hide Thanksgiving objects around the house.

Hand out lists of the hidden items, or to make the hunt more difficult, simply give clues pertaining to the object to be found. If the weather's great, try playing it outside and hide the items in bushes, sheds, and even piles of leaves.

Alternatively, take all the work out of planning with this printable Thanksgiving scavenger hunt.

Pumpkin Race

This game is best played outside, although it will also work in a large room or hallway. Guests can compete individually or they can be divided into teams.

Technically, this game is a pumpkin rolling contest. Players gather at the starting line, turn pumpkins on their sides and race to see who will be the first to roll their way across the finish line.

Apple Pass

Guests must channel all their dexterity and creativity if they want to win this Thanksgiving party games! Divide them into teams and have them form a line. They should pass an apple to the next person without using their hands. Feet, knees, elbows, even mouths are allowed, but NO hands. The first team to successfully pass the apple from beginning to end is declared the winner.

Be creative and feel free to add any twist to the games to make it even more fun and personal. With games and activities like these, everyone will surely be looking forward to your next Thanksgiving!

Don't see the Thanksgiving party games you're looking for? Check out the range of fun printable Thanksgiving games available at Python Printable Games!

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