No matter how old you are, it's natural to feel a little restless on Thanksgiving. From waiting for dinner to finish cooking to sitting through that long Thanksgiving meal, the day requires a lot of patience and often very little entertainment... especially if football game and parades just aren't your thing. However, you can attempt to keep your guests entertained and your kids out of the kitchen this year with some fun Thanksgiving games that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a game you can download and print for free or a DIY Thanksgiving activity you can put together before the big day, these Thanksgiving game ideas are a blast for guests of all ages.
From Thanksgiving-themed riddles and charades to memory games and bingo, nothing creates fun memories, intimate conversations, and giggles galore like a few fun party games — especially when they're themed around the holiday. And the best part? You won't have to worry about any of these games making a huge mess that you'll have to clean up later (especially since you'll already have all those Thanksgiving dishes to tackle in the kitchen). Here are some Thanksgiving games for kids and adults alike that will have you feeling extra grateful this holiday season.
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Spin the Pie Game
Brian Woodcock
To make this gratitude game, segment the center of a paper plate into six sections and write prompts in each: Family, Friends, Travel, Home, Pets, Work. Then, cut a smaller round from colorful craft paper and remove one “slice” to make a category window. Attach the wheel to the plate with a gold brad, and attach jute rope to the rim with hot-glue. To play, have guests spin the circle and share a sweet memory, depending on the category shown.
Roll a Turkey Game
See Vanessa Craft
With this one, you simply have to roll a die and compete to see who will be the first to complete their turkey. It's so quick that you can even play multiple rounds while waiting for dinner!
Rather than simply going around the table and having everyone share what they're grateful for this year, make it a little more fun (and tastier) by sharing based on the color of a Skittle drawn from a bag.
Turkey Bowling is a craft and a game all in one, as it allows you and your guests to decorate your own turkey pins from plastic cups before getting ready to knock 'em down.
Get everyone riled up with a round or two of Thanksgiving bingo. This digital set allows you to print out as many as six different bingo player cards, so everyone can join in on the fun.
If you're looking for a way to keep little ones amused while you make dinner, then this sticker sort game is just the thing (and it will help them hone their fine motor skills and color words).
Similar to an Easter egg hunt, a Turkey Hunt challenges participants to find the various turkeys printed on squares of paper and hidden strategically around your home.
In each round of this clever game, one turkey is designated as Pete, and everyone knows which turkey is Pete save for one participant. Cover each square with M&Ms and challenge the guesser to eat as many M&Ms as they can without choosing the one from Pete's square.
Another way to keep your youngest guests busy during dinner prep (or while the adults play their own games after dinner) is with this Feed the Turkey game, which involves putting pom-pom balls into a plastic bottle decorated like a turkey with tongs.
With 20 total clues, this Thanksgiving-themed printable scavenger hunt challenges kids to think and gets them moving (and it all leads to a special surprise at the end).
Corinne SullivanContributing WriterCorinne Sullivan is a digital writer and editor who covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, holidays and more.
