Home > Thanksgiving Entertaining

Thanksgiving Games for Families

Everyone loves Thanksgiving! This is a time when family and friends gather to enjoy a shared feast and express their gratitude for all the things they are thankful for. If you're seeking a way to inject some extra fun into this special day, why not try some Thanksgiving themed family games? By adding games to your Thanksgiving, you'll create a beloved tradition that the whole family can enjoy! Here are some ideas:

Paring Apples

This is a simple game that can make the task of peeling apples a lot more fun! You'll need apples, as well as paring knives for adults and safety peelers for children. The object of the game is simple -- the person who peels the longest unbroken length of apple skin is the winner!

Broom Dancing

This simple game needs only a broom to be played! Each person will perform their own individual broom dance. The next person must replicate their dance exactly. This is fun because you can easily come up with some crazy movements for the next player to copy. Plus, it's more challenging than it looks to copy someone's exact movements. A camcorder is a must for this fun Thanksgiving family game!

Touch Football

For the more active, why not try touch football? The family can be divided into teams and makeshift goals can be created with almost anything. In touch football, the goal is to make a touchdown, of course. However, rather than tackling the person with the ball, you'll use a gentle tag instead.

Family Themed Trivia

This is a great way to teach children more about their family in a fun way. Create a list of questions for everyone to answer about events and people in your family. The person who gets the most answers correct is of course, the winner! Good questions include things like, “How old was Becky when she got her ears pierced,” or “How many years have Aunt Milly and Uncle Bill been married?”

Classic Card Games

There are a variety of great card games that you can play on Thanksgiving. Try Old Maid or Uno for children, or teach them to play games like crazy eights or hearts. Basically any card game that your family enjoys can be a great diversion on Thanksgiving. Often you can even find playing cards with a Thanksgiving theme!

Family Story Hour

This isn't so much a game as it is an activity. Each family member can take turns telling a story of their choosing that has something to do with family history. These stories can be funny, embarrassing or heartfelt. Another idea is to create a story. One person will say the first line, and each family member will add the next sentence.

As you can see, there are a multitude of great games out there to entertain your family on Thanksgiving. You can even make up your own games with a little imagination and creativity. Try it -- your family will thank you!