9 Games To Play While Waiting For Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving Day is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, an abundance of delicious food. But as any seasoned Thanksgiving host or guest knows, there’s often a little downtime between the preparations and the grand feast itself. Rather than twiddling your thumbs or endlessly checking the oven timer, why not make the most of this precious waiting time with some delightful games?
Today, we’ll explore nine entertaining and family-friendly games that are perfect for keeping everyone engaged and in high spirits while the turkey roasts and the pies cool. From classic board games to outdoor activities and creative challenges, these games are sure to add an extra layer of fun and togetherness to your Thanksgiving celebration. So gather ’round, put on your game face, and let the festivities begin!
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9 Games To Play While Waiting For Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving related game ideas:
Thanksgiving Trivia: Create a list of Thanksgiving-themed trivia questions and challenge your family and friends. Questions can range from historical facts about the holiday to pop culture references related to Thanksgiving. Keep score, and the winner can earn a special dessert or treat.
Ideas for questions to include on thanksgiving trivia:
- Historical Thanksgiving:
- In which year was the first Thanksgiving celebration held?
- Who were the Native American tribes that shared the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
- Which U.S. President officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday?
- What was the duration of the original Thanksgiving celebration?
- Thanksgiving Food:
- What is the main dish traditionally served at Thanksgiving dinners?
- What is the most popular pie flavor for Thanksgiving desserts?
- Which state in the U.S. is the largest producer of turkeys?
- What is the purpose of “turkey pardoning” by the President?
- Thanksgiving Traditions:
- What famous department store hosts an annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City?
- What is the significance of the wishbone tradition?
- What is the name of the rock band that plays during the halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day NFL game?
- In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in October. Why is there a difference in timing compared to the U.S.?
- Thanksgiving Symbols:
- What bird was initially considered as the national bird of the United States before the bald eagle?
- Which fruits are often used to decorate Thanksgiving cornucopias?
- What is the purpose of the cornucopia symbol in Thanksgiving decor?
- Thanksgiving Fun Facts:
- How many feathers does an average turkey have?
- What is the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin pie ever made?
- Which U.S. state holds an annual race featuring giant inflatable turkeys?
- Thanksgiving Movies and TV Shows:
- Name a classic Thanksgiving-themed movie.
- What is the name of the Thanksgiving-themed episode in the TV show “Friends”?
- Which famous actor provided the voice for the character Woody in the animated film “Toy Story”?
- Thanksgiving Around the World:
- What countries celebrate a similar holiday to Thanksgiving, and what are they called?
- In which country is Thanksgiving celebrated on the second Monday in October?
Thanksgiving Bingo: Create bingo cards with Thanksgiving-related images or words. As you wait for dinner, take turns calling out clues, and players mark their cards accordingly. The first person to get a bingo wins a small prize.
Categories to include on a thanksgiving bingo card:
- Thanksgiving Dishes:
- Turkey
- Mashed Potatoes
- Gravy
- Stuffing
- Cranberry Sauce
- Pumpkin Pie
- Green Bean Casserole
- Sweet Potatoes
- Cornbread
- Brussel Sprouts
- Thanksgiving Activities:
- Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Playing Touch Football
- Making a Turkey Handprint Craft
- Going on a Family Walk
- Playing Board Games
- Watching Football Games
- Sharing What You’re Thankful For
- Taking a Group Photo
- Baking Desserts
- Watching the Thanksgiving Evening News
- Thanksgiving Desserts:
- Apple Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Whipped Cream
- Pumpkin Bread
- Apple Crisp
- Chocolate Cake
- Berry Cobbler
- Cheesecake
- Ice Cream
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Thanksgiving Decorations:
- Cornucopia
- Pilgrim Hats
- Autumn Leaves
- Pumpkins
- Gourds
- Indian Corn
- Pilgrim Figurines
- Tablecloth
- Candles
- Place Cards
- Thanksgiving Traditions:
- Saying Grace Before the Meal
- Turkey Trot Race
- Setting the Table
- Telling Stories of Thankfulness
- Passing the Wishbone
- Cooking Together
- Giving Thanks to Essential Workers
- Watching a Thanksgiving Movie
- Playing Charades
- Sharing Family Recipes
Charades: Write down Thanksgiving-themed phrases, actions, or famous Thanksgiving movie titles on slips of paper. Take turns acting out or miming these clues while others try to guess what you’re portraying.
Pictionary: Similar to charades, but in this game, players draw pictures of Thanksgiving-related items, actions, or phrases, while the rest of the group guesses what’s being illustrated. You can use a whiteboard or drawing app for this game.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of Thanksgiving-related items or clues hidden around your home or yard. Divide into teams or compete individually to see who can find all the items or solve the riddles first.
Ideas for a thanksgiving scavenger hunt:
- Thanksgiving Ingredients Hunt:
- Create a list of Thanksgiving dinner ingredients, both common and unique.
- Participants search the kitchen and pantry to find each ingredient.
- You can include items like turkey, canned cranberry sauce, pumpkin puree, or even spices like sage or nutmeg.
- Thanksgiving Decor Hunt:
- Hide Thanksgiving-themed decorations around your home or yard.
- Participants search for items like mini pumpkins, decorative corn, paper pilgrim hats, or fall-themed candles.
- Turkey Trot Scavenger Hunt:
- Organize a mini “turkey trot” around your neighborhood or backyard.
- Create a list of items participants must find during their trot, such as a red leaf, a feather, or a pinecone.
Two Truths and a Lie – Thanksgiving Edition: Each person takes a turn sharing two true Thanksgiving-related facts about themselves and one false one. Others try to guess which statement is the lie.
Thanksgiving Mad Libs: Provide a Thanksgiving-themed Mad Libs worksheet, and ask everyone to fill in the blanks with nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more. Then, read the hilarious and often nonsensical stories aloud.
Card Games: Classic card games like Uno, Crazy Eights, or Go Fish can keep guests entertained while waiting for the meal. You can also play card games with a Thanksgiving twist, such as using a special Thanksgiving-themed deck.
DIY Craft Station: Set up a craft station with supplies for making Thanksgiving-themed crafts, such as making place cards, decorating pumpkins, or creating handprint turkeys. This can be a fun and creative way to pass the time.
These games can add an extra layer of fun and bonding to your Thanksgiving celebration while keeping everyone entertained as the delicious aromas of the meal waft through the air.
Korra The Explorer
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