Have you seen the Friends episode where Chandler and Phoebe pretend to watch the football game on Thanksgiving so they don’t have to help with meal prep? It’s a family favorite at our house! One of the reasons is that in our little fam, we really don’t do football. In our larger, extended families, however, football is a big deal. After the big meal, the TV gets turned on and it seems like everyone zones out while they digest their food. It’s my least favorite part of Thanksgiving. So, what should you do if you’re not that into football or you’re just trying to encourage the family to be a little more interactive? Play some games of course! It’s time to turn off the TV and spend some quality time with your family. Laugh. Make memories. Enjoy each other’s company! Whether you have a house full of adults, kids, or a mixture, these Thanksgiving games are sure to remind you just how much you have to be thankful for this holiday season. Plus it’s a whole lotta family fun!
Top 10 Thanksgiving Games Everyone Will Love
Game 01: Pin The Feathers On The Turkey
Okay, so this is a modification of a kid’s birthday game, but it’s a good one! Grab a premade picture here with the colored feathers ready to go. All you need to do is add a blindfold and you’re set. Give each player a few good turns, start them off in the right direction of the turkey and see how well they can place the feathers. You can also grab this version which is “Pin the Hat on the Turkey.”
Game 02: Thanksgiving Mad Libs
This is a fun game to play while people are waiting to be served or for people to show up. You can grab some premade ones here. Alternatively, you could totally modify these to be customized to your family. You can also find a cute printable one here. This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving games.
Game 03: Thanksgiving Charades
This Thanksgiving game is great for adults and kids alike! Split your teams up and try adults vs. kids or family vs. family. This way you’re sure to have some fun, get into that competitive spirit, and make some memories. Grab your game here.
Game 04: Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
When all the adults need a break to digest and the littles are ready for round two, it’s time to pop out this game. Whether you buy a premade version here or make one ahead of time, this is a great game to occupy kids and hopefully adults. As a bonus, it’s a great way to show kids that tech can be cool and social without opening up a game or turning on a show. Send each group off with a phone to take selfies and see who makes it through the list first! Just make sure the tasks groups are given are able to be accomplished at the location of your event. Otherwise, you’re going to have some cranky scavenger hunt participants.
Game 05: Thanksgiving Bingo
Whether you opt for a ready-to-use set like this or one you make yourself, Bingo is a great game! Grab a ridiculous prize and see who can get Bingo first. This is a great way to encourage interaction and attention to the people, place, and things going on during your dinner. We’ve even done versions with random facts from the people in attendance and whoever figured them out first won! It was a great way to get people talking and sharing memories.
Game 06: Thanksgiving Bean Bag Toss
If you have a group that’s competitive and likes to move, then this is the game for you! Set up brackets and see who can score the highest points out of the whole family. Grab your game here.
Game 07: Thanksgiving Word Scramble
This game is great for right after dinner when everyone is full and just waiting for dessert. You can grab a ready-made set here. Or make your own and throw your family members some curve balls by adding in people’s names or places that are important to your family.
Game 08: Thanksgiving Pictionary
This is a great game to pair adults with kids. It’s also fully customizable so you could add things that are special to your family. Grab your set here!
Game 09: It’s in the Bag: Holiday Edition
This game is a mixture of a few family favorites, and it’s sure to get people laughing! This game has three different rounds: describe, define, and act it out. The benefit to this game is that it’s great for kids of all ages and plays to everyone’s different strengths. So grab your game here, and get ready to guess, laugh, and make some memories!
Game 10: Activity Tablecloth
Okay, hear me out on this one. The great thing about this tablecloth is that it has coloring places, word searches, and even tic-tac-toe on it. This means that people can do individual activities during/after dinner and they can play short games with a partner as well! It’s bound to be a conversation starter. Want to up the game? Host a tic-tac-toe tournament and see who truly is the game master in your family!
So turn off that TV, get off the couch, and go make some memories this Thanksgiving! It will help you remember what you’re grateful for. Let me know what Thanksgiving games you try out!
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