7 Fun and Easy Thanksgiving Activities for Families to Make Happy Memories

Holiday hosting shouldn't feel like a traffic jam in your kitchen with chaos everywhere and you questioning all your life choices. You want everyone to have fun, make memories, and stay out of your way while you get the meal on the table. We're sharing 7 low-prep, high-joy Thanksgiving activities that keep everyone engaged so you can actually enjoy the day instead of just surviving it.

Stop letting Thanksgiving chaos steal your joy—hit subscribe and get easy activities that create connection without adding to your hosting stress.

In this episode

• Two gratitude activities that work for shy guests and chatty ones alike (one involves candy, one becomes a keepsake)

• Quick icebreakers that get teens, grandparents, and new partners laughing together in minutes

• Bonus hosting hacks: cozy extras and a quick fix for your garbage disposal that'll save your sanity

Make Thanksgiving Memorable For All The Right Reasons With These 7 Activities—And 1 Bonus!

Activities That Actually Bring People Together

Thanksgiving is about more than just eating—it's about connection. And the best way to create that? Give people something to do together that isn't just sitting around making small talk.

These activities work for all ages, keep everyone entertained, and (most importantly) keep people out of the kitchen while you're trying to cook.

The Name Game (aka The Sticky Note Game)

This party favorite is so easy and always gets people laughing. All you need is sticky notes and a pen.

Here’s how to play:

• Write a famous person or character on a sticky note for each player (dead or alive, fictional or real—anything goes)

• Stick it to their forehead so they can't see it

• Players walk around asking "yes" or "no" questions to figure out who they are

It's quick, it's silly, and it gets teens, grandparents, and new partners talking within minutes.

Do You Really Know Your Family?

The ‘Do You Really Know Your Family?’ card game is perfect for ages 8 and up. It's full of silly challenges and trivia-style questions that surface the best family stories and teach you things you didn't know about each other.

Plus, it requires zero prep from you. Just open the box and let the chaos begin.

Grab a puzzle!

If you want a low-key activity that people can drift in and out of, set up a jigsaw puzzle. Put it on the coffee table, a side table, or anywhere people naturally gather.

Some people (me) will hyperfixate on it all day. Others will drop a few pieces here and there. Either way, it gives people something to do with their hands while they talk, which somehow makes conversation easier.

Try this Thanksgiving jigsaw—family-friendly, low prep, and keeps people out of your hair.

Flag Football

Channel your Season 3 Friends vibes and work up an appetite with a family-friendly game of flag football.

This tackle-free outdoor sport is reliably fun, great for groups, and gets everyone moving.

Bonus: fresh air and a calorie burn before pie. Everyone wins.

Gratitude Activities That Don't Feel Forced

Want a gratitude activity that's actually meaningful? Here are a few that won't feel forced:

The M&M Gratitude Game

Grab the printable M&M Gratitude Game from Happy Go Lucky Blog. Each M&M color gets a conversation starter, so even shy guests have an easy way to share what they're thankful for. Plus, candy. Always a win.

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of gratitude-themed items or activities for people to find or complete around the house or yard. Give everyone a bag to collect their finds. Bonus points if you let the kids decorate the bags beforehand—keeps them busy while you're cooking.

DIY Gratitude Tree

Make a DIY family gratitude tree like this one from Mom Endeavors. Use brown craft paper or cardboard for the trunk, cut out leaf shapes (or find a template online), and have everyone write what they're thankful for on the leaves. Tape them to the trunk and watch your tree fill up with gratitude. It becomes this beautiful visual reminder of all the good stuff, and kids love adding to it.

Gratitude Jars

Grab small jars or containers and let people decorate them with paint, stickers, whatever. Place them on the table and have everyone write what they're grateful for on slips of paper throughout the meal. Read them aloud at the end—it's sweet without being cheesy.

The Signature Tablecloth Tradition

This one's my favorite: buy a plain tablecloth and have every guest sign it at their seat during the meal each year. Over time, it becomes a living record of everyone who's shared your table. You'll see names of neighbors who moved away, friends who've become family, and that one year your cousin brought a date who's now your favorite person at Thanksgiving.

Pro tip: Either cover it with a clear plastic tablecloth protector to keep it clean, or get the signatures embroidered on so they don't fade.

These aren't just cute activities. They're the things that make people feel connected and remembered—which is kind of the whole point of the holiday, right?

More Traditions Worth Stealing

Here are a few more ideas from Jenny that we love:

Skip the Obvious Gratitude

Everyone shares what they're thankful for at the table, but let's assume we're all grateful for health, home, family, and friends. Instead, ask people to share something specific—like a moment from this year that made them laugh, or a small thing that brought them unexpected joy. You'll get way better stories.

The Post-Dinner Walk

Take a family walk between dinner and dessert. It resets everyone's energy, gives the food babies a chance to settle, and honestly? Getting outside for 15 minutes might be the only thing that saves you from a food coma before pie.

The Sampler Approach to Dessert

When it's time for dessert, ask for "The Sampler" and get yourself all of the desserts. This is not the time for restraint. This is Thanksgiving.

Ditch the Kids' Table

Instead of automatically separating kids and adults, think about who actually bonds best and let them sit together. Maybe your teen thrives next to the storytelling uncle. Maybe the new girlfriend clicks with your chatty aunt. Seating by connection instead of age makes the whole meal better.

Memorable Thanksgiving Gathering

Look, Thanksgiving doesn't have to be just turkey and small talk. Mix in some activities that actually get people engaged and you'll have a way better time.

Try icebreaker games where people guess who's who based on sticky notes, or break out a card game like "Do You Really Know Your Family?" that surfaces the best stories. Set up a puzzle on a side table—people will drift over, drop a few pieces, and end up bonding without the pressure of forced conversation.

Want to get people moving? A friendly game of flag football (no tackling, just laughs) gets everyone outside and resets the energy. Or keep it mellow with a post-dinner walk before pie.

The point is: break the mold of "everyone sits awkwardly until it's time to eat, then sits awkwardly some more." Give people things to do together and watch your gathering go from obligation to actually enjoyable.

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!

Love,

CK & GK

Sources & Mentions

• Check out the PureWow article on Thanksgiving activities by Emma Singer and Stephanie Sengwe

• The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

Bios

Caitlin brings her signature blend of humor and practical advice to help overwhelmed moms navigate the challenges of hosting—including Thanksgiving dinners that don't end in tears (yours or theirs). With Jenny, who brings real talk about keeping your sanity while creating memories.