Thanksgiving Party Activities

This annual holiday is observed as a day to commemorate the Pilgrim's harvest of 1621, to give thanks for blessings great and small, and to have fun!  The festivities need not be elaborate…just an opportunity for some fun quality time. One important thing to remember when playing games is that all the children should be "rewarded" equally for participating or winning.

Visit Thanksgiving Party Theme ideas section of our Party Ideas. Many of these classic games can be converted to tie in to a Thanksgiving/harvest theme with a simple name or prop change. Try one of the following:

• "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" – "Pin the Wattle on the Turkey"
• "Duck, Duck, Goose" – "Turkey, Turkey, Stuffing"
• "Hot Potato" – "Hot Turkey" (with a stuffed animal turkey)
• "Musical Hats" – "Musical Pilgrim Hats"
• "Bingo" – use candy corn as game pieces
• "Dress Up Relay" – Use simple scarecrow, Native American or Pilgrim costumes.
• "Ring Toss" – "Ring around the Gourd" (assign different point values to different sizes of gourds, pumpkins or dried Indian corn.
• "Three Legged or Sack Races" – Add an autumnal touch by creating an obstacle course using pumpkins, corn stalks, and bales of hay.
• Turkey Calling Contest – Host a turkey calling contest, complete with lots of squawking, flapping, wattle shaking, and pecking. Give each participant a prize with a fun distinction: "loudest turkey", "most authentic", "most likely to be spared", "cutest turkey", etc. This activity can also be turned into a relay race with the class split into two teams. Loud, but fun! (Ages 4-Adult)
• Turkey Bowling -  The turkey will definitely be tenderized after participating in this game! Use a frozen turkey in place of a bowling ball (one that comes packaged with a handle attached) in a size that is appropriate for the age of the children. The frozen turkey is hurled at a set of bowling pins (use the real thing, tall wooden blocks or plastic milk bottles filled with stones). One parent helper can reset the pins after each turn. This game is a big hit with every crowd! (Ages 5-Adult)
• Balloon Popping Contest – Divide the children into two equal groups. Place two bags of inflated harvest colored Balloons about 25 yards away . These balloons should be over-inflated to make popping easier. At the sound of a bell, the first two relay contestants, one from each team, run to the bag, and remove one balloon. Each must sit on it until it pops. Once the balloon pops, the players run back to the starting line and tag the next player in line. The first team to complete the course wins. If you have children who are afraid of the sound of popping balloons, offer a grown-up stand-in. Not a quiet game…but a guaranteed favorite! (Ages 4-Adult)
• Pass the Corn – Divide the children into two teams and have them form two lines. You will need two cobs of dried Indian corn. At the signal to "go", the corncob is to be passed from child to child. The catch is that they can use any part of their bodies except their hands. If the corn touches the ground at any time, it must go back to the beginning of the line again. Whichever team manages to get the corn to the end of the line first wins the game. The corn can also be used in a relay, with the kids putting the corn between their knees, and racing "crab" style". (Ages 4-10)
• If the games can be played outside, "hay" fights are great fun!

• Create Pilgrim hats that double as snack holders. For each Pilgrim hat, use one black Stadium Cup, one 6" circle of black cardboard, a gold or yellow "buckle" made from cardstock paper, and tape or sticky pads. Fill the pilgrim hat with a dry snack (popcorn, pretzels, wrapped candies). Attach the circle base and buckle. They make great table decorations!
• Make feather Native American headdress napkin rings to add glorious fall color to your table. Cut toilet paper tubes into 1 ฝ" wide rings. Paint designs in festive fall colors on the "rings". Add construction paper or real feathers. Allow each child to make a set for his/her family if time permits.
• Create personalized thanksgiving placemats. They can be used at the party and then sent home for Thanksgiving dinner. Use Tissue Leaves or leaves cut from construction paper. Give each child 8-10 leaves, and have them write one thing that they are thankful for on each leaf. Glue the leaves to a 12" x 18" piece of paper and laminate. Clear contact paper also works well for the purpose of "laminating".
• Make turkeys out of pinecones. Add colorful feathers, wiggly eyes, and cut and bend pipe cleaners for the beak, wattle, and feet.
• Use uncooked popcorn to create beautiful fall mosaics. The popcorn can be painted after the glue dries if desired.
• Cover tables with orange Flat Paper. Add baskets of markers to the tables, and allow the children to draw on the decorative table covers if they finish other activities faster than anticipated. This activity is always a hit!

• Brown paper lunch sacks
• Green paint pen
• Raffia
• Tissue Leaves in autumn colors
• Plenty of small pieces of paper (approx. 3" x 4" size).