47 Entertaining & Joyful Party Games for Thanksgiving in 2024

It’s almost time to prepare the menu for Thanksgiving dinner, but you should also start rounding up your ideas for party games for Thanksgiving. The holiday doesn’t only have to be focused on the meal portion. You can celebrate the entire day with fun party games for Thanksgiving. Whether you’re hosting your friends or family on the day of or a few days before, party games can make the gathering more engaging and fun. 

So, how do you throw a fun Thanksgiving party? Have a few activities for guests to do while dinner is being prepared and make the day feel more like a party gathering than just a meal. According to WTSP, 29% of people prefer Thanksgiving dinner to be served between four and five in the evening, while 14% prefer between five and seven at night. 

Guests tend to arrive about an hour before dinner. However, you can invite guests to show up earlier in the day in order to join in the activities and party games for Thanksgiving you planned. If you’re looking to host the most memorable Turkey Day, consider these entertaining party games for Thanksgiving. 

Jump to Section

• Thanksgiving Games for Adults
• Funny Party Games for Thanksgiving
• Family Party Games for Thanksgiving
• Indoor Party Games for Thanksgiving
• Outdoor Party Games for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Games for Adults

1. Turkey Scratch Off 

How do you entertain adults on Thanksgiving? Simple and easy party games for Thanksgiving where they can win prizes will always go over well. You can make Turkey scratch offs where one or a few reveal a symbol that means the guest wins a prize. Guests can purchase scratch offs and the winners get the pot or you can have physical prizes like little trinkets and goodies. 

2. Price is Right Game

This is one of the simplest party games for Thanksgiving for adults so it can be played before dinner as guests wait for the meal. Have guests guess the cost of common Thanksgiving ingredients' prices without going too high or too low. Whoever gets the most amount of guesses correct and is closest to the actual price, wins a prize.

3. Host a Bake Off

If you have a lot of bakers in your family or friend group, they will love this competitive party game for Thanksgiving. Host a bake off where each participant brings their best holiday dessert. Everyone can taste test and vote on their favorite treats. In the end, everyone wins because they get to sample a variety of desserts.

4. Thanksgiving Heads Up

Heads up is one of the most classic group party games for Thanksgiving, so why not play the holiday version for this party? This party game for Thanksgiving is fun to play after the meal while everyone sips and hangs out. Write Thanksgiving-themed words or short phrases on notecards. Then, all players hold a notecard to their foreheads and ask the others questions to try to figure out who or what they are.

5. Thanksgiving Taboo

Thanksgiving versions of your favorite board games tend to go over well. With this party game for Thanksgiving, your team will have to guess a word without using certain words or phrases as clues. These party games for Thanksgiving will be fun to play before dinner is served or to wind down afterward.

6. Thanksgiving Murder Mystery

For friends who like engaging and interactive party games for Thanksgiving, host a murder mystery. Everyone will come to the dinner as their character and mingle beforehand and during dinner. After the faux murder takes place after dessert, everyone will have to figure out who committed the murder and what their motive was.

7. Punch It

This is one of the most simple Thanksgiving activities where everyone wins. To set up the punch game, you’ll need plastic cups, tissue paper, a board, gluesticks and small prizes. Put prizes in each cup and glue pieces of tissue paper over the opening to conceal it. Once everything is set up, you can play a game to decide the order and guests can punch through the tissue paper to see what they won!

8. Forbidden Words Game

For these Thanksgiving games for adults, set up a few “forbidden words” theme to the holiday like “turkey,” “pie,” or “pumpkin.” Guests can’t say these words throughout the day and evening and if they do, they’re out. Or, they take a shot or sip of their drink. The last one remaining who hasn’t said any of the forbidden words (most likely the most sober) wins.

9. Thanksgiving Chameleon

Chameleon is one of the most fun party games for adults. It requires guests to think on their feet. In this game, everyone gets clued in on a word, except the chameleon (the imposter). Each player says a word related to the main theme and the chameleon has to try to say a similar word to the theme to blend in. If the chameleon doesn’t get guessed, this slithery serpent wins the round.

Funny Party Games for Thanksgiving

10. Make a Turkey

Allow your guest to get creative with this artful party game. Have everyone decorate a turkey with markers, glitter, colorful feathers and other craft supplies. They can make the designs as silly as they want. Plus, if you’re looking for Thanksgiving decoration ideas, you can display everyone’s turkey once they’ve finished.

11. Would You Rather

This is one of the easiest party games for Thanksgiving that will elicit tons of laughter. Put together some ridiculous and funny would you rather questions with some themes around Thanksgiving. Then, ask guests to choose which situation they’d rather do. These are the most fun party games for Thanksgiving to play at the dinner table while enjoying your meal.

12. Turkey Leg Wrap Game

In this funny party game for Thanksgiving, you’ll transform some of your guests into DIY turkey legs. Have teams race to see who can wrap someone in brown burlap and place a white chef's hat the fastest. This fun game can stand alone or be part of a relay of party games for Thanksgiving.

13. Thanksgiving Charades

This classic party game for Thanksgiving will get everyone on their feet. Break into two teams and have one person try to act out a Thanksgiving-themed word. Their team has a minute to guess correctly and the team with the most correct guesses wins.

14. Pictionary

The drawing version of charades, Pictionary, is one of the classic group party games for Thanksgiving. Separate into teams and try to guess each others' picture-drawn clues within the time limit. No words! Also, if you're following the rules closely, you aren't allowed to draw symbols (like dollar signs) or numbers.

15. Mini Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Host a miniature version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Get a bunch of craft supplies, plus cardboard boxes and balloons. Have every guest or group of guests decorate their own mini float during this set of cute party games for Thanksgiving. Then, put on a mini parade through the house featuring your designs.

16. Pumpkin Pie Catch

If you're looking for funny party games for Thanksgiving that are all about teamwork, this is the game for you. One person will hold an aluminum pie pan on top of their head and try to catch the pieces the other person throws. Use craft felt in different colors to represent the bottom crust, the pie filling, the top crust and the whipped cream. The first pair to assemble their pie wins.

17. Hit a Thanksgiving Piñata

Who says piñatas are only for birthdays? Piñatas are party games for Thanksgiving too and will have everyone laughing as they watch friends and family take a swing. Tie the piñata to a tree and allow everyone to have their turn to try and break it open. In the end, everyone gets some candy to snack on.

18. Disguise a Turkey

Test everyone’s creative skills in these party games for Thanksgiving. Print out pictures of a turkey and set out various craft supplies. The goal of the game is to make the turkey blend in with something in the house, like a picture or the sofa. Then, guests can go on a turkey hunt and the last one found wins.

19. Yam Jam

This fun relay race will have everyone laughing from start to finish. The goal of the Yam Jam is to carry a yam or sweet potato on a spoon from one side of the room to the other and pass it off to the next person in line. If you drop your yam, you have to start at the beginning. The first team to finish the relay wins. These are similar to the egg-and-spoon games but are less messy party games for Thanksgiving

Family Party Games for Thanksgiving

20. Set Up a Thanksgiving Photo booth

Make a variety of props and disguises, like turkey feather masks and pumpkins on sticks. Then, have everyone pick their props and take pictures with a Polaroid to help remember the day. You can tape the pictures onto the wall during the party for everyone to admire. You can also create a family Instagram account and invite all the guests to the closed group and share the images with them via email after the holidays. 

21. I Spy Thanksgiving

Kids will love playing a Thanksgiving version of I Spy. You can make a printout of Thanksgiving-themed images and a list of items to find. This family party game for Thanksgiving will help occupy kids and keep them sitting down so you can get some much-needed cooking done.

22. The Dice Game

If you’re looking for party games for Thanksgiving to bring you closer, look no further than the dice game. All you need is two die and a corresponding printout. With this party game for Thanksgiving, you roll one dice to select a person and the other to get an action, such as "tell a funny story, a favorite memory or give a compliment".

23. Turkey Feather Match

Party games for Thanksgiving that the kids will love include the turkey feather match. Print out a large black-and-white image of a turkey. Add a color sticker to each feather that corresponds with the color of a craft feather. Kids will have to match the color of the sticker to a feather to dress the turkey up.

24. Turkey Tag

What are some do-it-yourself Thanksgiving games? Turkey Tag is a fun way to spend the holiday. During the game, everyone has a turkey pin pinned to them. Then, players have to run around, avoiding having their pin snatched. The last player with their pin wins.

25. Make Clothespin Puppets

Another way to use clothespins for a holiday game is to turn them into puppets. Using craft supplies like markers, googly eyes and feathers, turn clothespins into holiday-themed puppets. Then, use them to put on a fun little show.

26. Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Make a funny story during this classic family party game for Thanksgiving. Print out a Thanksgiving Mad Libs card and take turns filling in the blanks. Once the story is complete, read it out loud and laugh at your silly creation.

27. Thanksgiving Trivia

Test your knowledge of the holiday in party games for Thanksgiving with a bit of history and nostalgia. Break into teams and test your Thanksgiving trivia. You can test based on categories like history and traditions. Plus, you can use some of your own family memories as some of the questions.

28. Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe

Give a classic game a bit of a fall twist with this party game for Thanksgiving. Get three mini white pumpkins and three mini orange pumpkins and use them as the pieces for a game of tic tac toe. Challenge your friends and family to this fun life-size version to see who can win the most games.

Indoor Party Games for Thanksgiving

29. Floral Arranging Contest

Indoor party games for Thanksgiving can explore creativity in a new way. Have an assortment of real, faux or dried flowers laid out on a table. Guests can make their own flower arrangements, and everyone else can vote on their favorites. Plus, they can take their arrangements home as a memento.

30. Count Your Blessings Tree

You’ll feel grateful after playing this party game for Thanksgiving. Draw a tree with large leaves on the branches. On each of the leaves, write down something you’re grateful or thankful for. You can display everyone’s blessings tree for the party to admire by pinning them on the wall. If you're a creative bunch you can use brown paper to create the tree trunk and branches on the wall, then paste your leaves on the branches. 

31. Football Bingo

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is topped off by major football games, so why not play a game during the game? These party games for Thanksgiving are essentially simple bingo games but with a gridiron twist. You can fill your own squares and mark them off as they occur during the game.

32. Make Turkey Fortune Tellers

You’ll need construction paper and markers only for this party game for Thanksgiving. Fold the construction paper into fortune tellers and write funny fortunes on the inside. Challenge guests to have their fortunes read before and after dinner.

33. Ice Breaker Question Game

What are some icebreaker party games for Thanksgiving office parties? A simple question game will always work well for a holiday work party. Get colorful popsicle sticks and write ice breaker questions on each one. Pass the sticks around and pick one before answering the question you choose.

34. Shake Your Tail Feathers

This silly party game for Thanksgiving will have everyone laughing. Put craft feathers in an empty tissue box. Then, tie the tissue box around a player's waist. The goal of these party games for Thanksgiving is to shake and shimmy until the feathers are out of the tissue box. 

35. Pass the Turkey

This party game for Thanksgiving is similar to hot potato. You’ll need a stuffed or paper turkey. Stand in a circle and have everyone pass a turkey around to music. Whoever has the turkey when the music stops is out for the round. Continue the game until there’s only one winner.

36. Turkey Bowling

Paint plastic cups brown and make them look like turkeys. For this indoor party game for Thanksgiving, you’ll need ten turkey bowling pins. You can fill them with beans to make the cups heavier. Then, use a bouncy ball to try to knock down all the pins.

37. Catch the Turkey

Catch the turkey will have everyone acting sneaky and suspicious. Each guest will get a turkey pin they have to secure to their clothes. Players will then try to swipe the turkey pin without the person noticing. If you’re caught, you have to give up your pin. This is a good game to play while socializing or relaxing before dinner. The player with the most pins at the end wins.

38. Decorate Pumpkins

After styling your Thanksgiving nails, take your artistic skills one step further. You can turn the classic pumpkin carving into competition party games for Thanksgiving. Set out a few pumpkins with craft supplies and allow guests or teams to decorate the pumpkin as they choose. Everyone can vote for their favorite at the end and the pumpkins can be displayed as decor. Try not to go too spooky, as Halloween is in the past. Include floral patterns and Thanksgiving themes over scary faces. 

Outdoor Party Games for Thanksgiving

39. Classic Sack Race

Who doesn’t love a classic sack race? These active party games for Thanksgiving will have everyone cheering and laughing. Slip into some burlap sacks and then bounce from one side of the yard to the other. This game would be fun to do as part of a relay race.

40. Candy Corn Ring Toss

Use a couple of small orange cones for these party games for Thanksgiving. Paint white and yellow stripes on them to look like candy corn. Then, set them out in the yard and have players toss a ring to win points. The further away a cone is, the more points it's worth.

41. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Spend the time before dinner engaging in a photo scavenger hunt. Print out a list of photo prompts to use during this party game for Thanksgiving. Then, every player or team of players has to gather each photo on the list. The first person or team to get every photo wins. Plus, everyone will have photo memories from the day.

42. Thanksgiving Relay Race

This outdoor party game for Thanksgiving will have teams running around the yard. Break into teams and compete to be the fastest in games like the three-legged race, hula hoop pass and wheelbarrow race. The Thanksgiving relay race will quickly become a favorite holiday tradition as guests cheer on their teams during a fun medley of party games for Thanksgiving.

43. Pumpkin Patch Balloon Stomp

You’ll need a bunch of orange balloons for these party games for Thanksgiving. Blow up a bunch of orange balloons of different sizes and shapes. Then, set them out like a pumpkin patch. Players have to stomp as many balloons as they can in one minute. You can either have the winner be the person who stomped the most balloons. Or write a point value on paper and stick it inside the balloon and add up the points to determine the winner.

44. Flag Football

Football is a classic Thanksgiving game, so why not host your own game of flag football? Have your guests break into two teams and wear football flags around their waists. Then, play a classic game of backyard football. You can even take bets on who wins the game or have the winners of the football game get to have a sneak peek of dessert.

45. Bean Bag Toss

You can buy a bean bag toss game for one of your outdoor party games for Thanksgiving. Or you can make your own board with plywood and use themed bean bags. Test your guests’ aim as they toss bean bags into the holes of the board to try to get the most points.

46. Bob for Apples

Bobbing for apples is a classic party game for Thanksgiving. Fill a large tub with apples and water. Then, have guests try their best to pick up apples using only their teeth. The game is much harder than most think and will elicit laughs from the players and the audience. Hosting this game outside ensures minimal water damage to a home’s interior. Cut the leftover apples up and toss them in a fresh Thanksgiving salad!

47. Dress a Scarecrow

For this game, players will have to dress a scarecrow as fast as they can. Break into teams of three or four and give each team a scarecrow and some old clothes. Teams have to work together to get all the clothes on a scarecrow and create a fun outfit before the other teams.

Many people look forward to Thanksgiving for the delicious food, no matter if they're with the family at the house or at one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving. But now they’ll look forward to playing these fun party games for Thanksgiving. Invite friends over for a casual gathering or host a more formal event with your extended family. No matter who’s coming over to enjoy the feast, playing entertaining games together will make the day even more memorable. These party games for Thanksgiving are sure to become a new tradition.

For even more fun Thanksgiving gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!