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Game Ideas

High Energy Thanksgiving Party Games for Youth, Children, and Adults

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Here’s a collection of party games for the Thanksgiving Holiday that can be used for family gatherings, youth groups, and other Thanksgiving celebrations

Pumpkin Bowling
– Use small pumpkins for this wild and potentially messy variation of bowling as one of your Thanksgiving Party Games.

Pumpkin Seed Toss
– Need a carnival game for Thanksgiving? Participants toss a Bean Bag into the opening of a pumpkin to win prizes in this Thanksgiving themed game. It also includes a small devotional on either “Goals” or “Wholesome speech”

Thanksgiving: Back to Back
– This party game tests the youth on how effectively they can you draw famous Thanksgiving pictures on the back of a team mate with a finger.

Can you pin the missing tail-feather on the turkey?
– This is a Thanksgiving variation of the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game.

Thanksgiving Bingo
– In this Thanksgiving themed variation of “Bingo”, the first person to get all of a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally yells out “Gobble, Gobble, Gobble”

Thanksgiving Twister
– Play a classic game of twister replacing the colored dots with Thanksgiving symbols.

Turkey in a Tree
– Use this high energy outdoor game for Thanksgiving fun involving the whole family.

Turkey Hunt
– Play a classic game of “Hide and Seek,” but call it a turkey hunt to go along with a Thanksgiving Theme.

Pumpkin Puzzles
– While initially intended as a Fall Festival or Halloween game, this messy game can also be used for Thanksgiving as well. Youth will cut up pumpkins and then try to put a cut up pumpkin back together again.

Cluck, Cluck, Gobble
– This Thanksgiving party game is played similar to the classic children’s game “Duck, Duck, Goose” but with some variations to make it a little more sophisticated for youth and adapt it to the Thanksgiving theme.

Kernel Cornucopia
– A variety of games using corn kernels and a concluding lesson on being thankful! The games make an effective object lesson or Children’s Sermon on the topic of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Turkey Feather Relay
– Which team can move their Turkey tail the fastest?

Turkey Toss
– In this game, participants will see how much corn they can feed the turkey to fatten it up for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Tailfeathers Icebreaker
In this wild and wacky game, youth will try to get rid of their tail-feathers by pinning them on someone else.

 

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Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan not only your next Thanksgiving event, but also plan for familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for a variety of common holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Fruit Basket Turnover – Thanksgiving Version

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Game Description
This is the classic fruit basket turnover game modified for a Thanksgiving theme

Game Materials

  • As many chairs as you have youths. Sturdy chairs work best as there might be some wild dashes for chairs and I have seen a flimsy chair collapse before in the wild chaos that ensues when two people are rushing for the same chair.

Game Preparation

  1. Set chairs in circle with the chairs facing towards the center of the circle.
  2. Have the youths sit in the chairs close enough to close all of the gaps.
  3. Select one to stand in the middle of the circle and then remove his or her chair and the circle close the gap.
  4. The person in the center of the circle points to each of the other players and gives them a name, such as “Corn,” “Cranberries,” “Pumpkin,” “Squash,” “Turkey,” or any other food related to thanksgiving. Limit the items so that the youth are divided into 3 or 4 groups and everyone is assigned a label, including the youth in the middle.

Game Play

  • The person in the center will call out a food item related to Thanksgiving.
  • When that food is called, all youths with that label must get up and find an empty set vacated by another youth. The youth in the middle must do the same. Youths cannot sit in the same chair they vacated.
  • The one who ends up without a seat is the now in the middle and call out the name of a food items and attempt to get into a chair.
  • On occasion the youth in the middle can call out “Thanksgiving FEAST.” At this point everyone must get up and find a different seat.
  • As a variation you might also allow the person in the center to call TWO food items.

Variations

  • Place the food items labels on pieces of paper taped to the bottom of the chairs.
  • You can play it so that if you a youth ends up in the center of the circle three times, he or she must perform some kind of “forfeit” such as sing a song, do a dance, tell a joke, pretend they are popcorn popping, sing “I’m a Little Teapot” with actions, etc. You can also wait until the end of the game and bring everyone that has been IT times to the center of the circle to do the forfeit as a group.

Take it the the Next Level
Each time a person ends up in the center they must share something they are thankful for.

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next Thanksgiving celebration and games and activities for other familiar holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for the various holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Thanksgiving Party Games

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Planning a Thanksgiving Party or Thanksgiving Holiday related event or activity for your youth group this year? Having a family get-together or celebration for the Thanksgiving Holiday? If so, here are some fun Thanksgiving games from the “Creative Youth Ideas” archives to add a little wild fun and excitement to any Thanksgiving Celebration!

  1. Cluck, Cluck, Gobble
    Play this updated version of the classic Children’s game “duck, duck, goose” as a Thanksgiving Party game.
  2. Mayflower Memory
    This Thanksgiving game tests your memory.
  3. Pin the Tailfeather on the Turkey
    Can you pin the missing tailfeather on the turkey?
  4. Pumpkin Bowling
    Use vegetables for a wild bowling variation.
  5. Pumpkin Puzzles
    Youth will cut up pumpkins and then try to put a cut up pumpkin back together again. The game can be used as an object lesson illustrating God’s restoration of our lives.
  6. Pumpkin Seed Toss
    Use this Thanksgiving game as a discussion about the power of our words, or about how we choose goals in life.
  7. Tearable Turkey
    How well can you tear out the shape of a turkey behind your back?
  8. Thanksgiving Back to Back
    How well can you draw famous Thanksgiving pictures?
  9. Thanksgiving Bingo
    Add some Thanksgiving holiday fun with a bingo game.
  10. Thanksgiving Twister
    Play a classic game of twister replacing the colored dots with Thanksgiving symbols.
  11. Top Turkey Artist
    How well can you draw a turkey on a piece of paper on top of your head?
  12. Turkey Hunt
    Play a Thanksgiving interpretation of the classic game of “Hide and Seek”
  13. Turkey in a Tree
    Use this high energy game for Thanksgiving fun!

Have a great fun and tested game idea you have used before? Please share it with others on the “Creative Youth Ideas” website by dropping me an email or by posting it as a comment!

 

 

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Game Ideas

Thanksgiving Game Ideas

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Creative Thanksgiving Ideas Looking for some interesting games for your Thanksgiving event?

  1. Cluck, Cluck, Gobble
    Play this updated version of the classic Children’s game “duck, duck, goose” as a Thanksgiving Party game.
  2. Mayflower Memory
    This Thanksgiving game tests your memory.
  3. Pin the Tailfeather on the Turkey
    Can you pin the missing tailfeather on the turkey?
  4. Pumpkin Bowling
    Use vegetables for a wild bowling variation.
  5. Pumpkin Puzzles
    Youth will cut up pumpkins and then try to put a cut up pumpkin back together again. The game can be used as an object lesson illustrating God’s restoration of our lives.
  6. Pumpkin Seed Toss
    Use this Thanksgiving game as a discussion about the power of our words, or about how we choose goals in life.
  7. Tearable Turkey
    How well can you tear out the shape of a turkey behind your back?
  8. Thanksgiving Back to Back
    How well can you draw famous Thanksgiving pictures?
  9. Thanksgiving Bingo
    Add some Thanksgiving holiday fun with a bingo game.
  10. Thanksgiving Twister
    Play a classic game of twister replacing the colored dots with Thanksgiving symbols.
  11. Top Turkey Artist
    How well can you draw a turkey on a piece of paper on top of your head?
  12. Turkey Hunt
    Play a Thanksgiving interpretation of the classic game of “Hide and Seek”
  13. Turkey in a Tree
    Use this high energy game for Thanksgiving fun!

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Teaching Illustrations

Leftovers

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Lord, don’t let my attitude of gratitude be like leftover turkey. I don’t want to give you “recycled” thanks like turkey soup or turkey casserole. I don’t want to say the same old words without thinking, like turkey burgers or turkey salad. May I never pull cold words out of a freezer. May each day be a new day of thankfulness. May each day be a “holyday” to gather with family and friends–in thought and prayer. You said that Your mercies are new every morning. May my thankfulness be fresh and new and warm every morning, too. May I daily choose the ingredients of my thankfulness and spend as much time in preparation as carefully as I chose the ingredients and prepared the special dishes. May my thankfulness be a pleasing aroma to You, like the enticing odors of a Thanksgiving dinner.

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Food for Thought

A Grateful Man

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“Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
–Henry Ward Beecher

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Game Ideas

Cluck, Cluck, Gobble

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Game Description
This Thanksgiving party game is played similar to the classic children’s game “Duck, Duck, Goose” but with some variations to make it a little more sophisticated for youth and adapt it to the Thanksgiving theme.

  • Instead of “Duck”, use “cluck, cluck” and make the motion for a chicken by flapping your elbows like wings.
  • Instead of “goose” make a “gobble, gobble” sound and grab the skin under the chin and pull it down reflecting the “wattle” of a Turkey (The red fold of skin that hangs beneath a turkey’s chin.)

This adds silly motions and humorous sounds to the game.

Game Materials
No materials are needed for this game. Players may either sit in chairs, stand in a circle, or sit on the ground.

Game Play

  1. Players sit in a circle facing inward.
  2. One player walks around the outside of the circle. As he or she passes each person in the circle he / she must tap them GENTLY on the head and make the motions and sounds for either the chicken or the turkey.
  3. When the person outside the circle makes the sounds and motion for a “Turkey”, the tapped player must leave his place in the circle and chase the person who just tapped him around the outside of the circle.
  4. The first person back to the empty spot just vacated gets to fill it.
  5. If the person doing the tapping succeeds, the the person replaced now begins the process again, walking around the circle making the sounds and motions until he or she selects another person to be the turkey.
  6. If the person doing the tapping fails three times, they are required to walk around inside the center of the circle – “the oven” and make turkey sounds. This adds to the confusion. (to speed up the process of elimination, you can have anyone who fails more than once to go to the center)
  7. You can continue the game until only 3 or four persons remain as part of the circle. Declare these the winners and give them an appropriate prize for Thanksgiving.

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

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Humor

Too Much Turkey

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I ate too much Turkey, I ate too much corn,
I ate too much pudding and pie.
I’m stuffed up with muffins and too much stuffin’
I’m probably going to die.

I piled up my plate and I ate and I ate.
But I wish I had known when to stop,
For I’m so crammed with yams, sauces, gravies, and jams
That my buttons are starting to pop!

I’m full of tomatoes and french fried potatoes
My stomach is swollen and sore,
But there’s still some dessert so I guess it won’t hurt if
I eat just a little bit more!

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Food for Thought

Pilgrims

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“The Pilgrims came to America not to accumulate riches but to worship God, and the greatest wealth they left unborn generations was their heroic example of sacrifice that their souls might be free.”
–Harry Moyle Tippett

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Teaching Illustrations

Be Thankful

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Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those
Who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection