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All the Thanksgiving festivities are so fun, but sometimes by the time the weekend comes we need something to do but don’t want to expend too much energy. Whether you’re still with extended family and friends or just hunkered down with your immediate family, here are 18 fun family activities for Thanksgiving weekend that are simple, frugal, and will give you a way to continue to connect this holiday season.
18 Fun Family Activities for Thanksgiving Weeken
1. Use construction paper to make handprint turkeys or leaf turkeys, and let kids or adults write what they’re thankful for on them.
2. Decorate fall or Thanksgiving-themed cookies. See my post on how to have a cookie decorating party for my favorite methods!
3. Have each person make their own flavor of mini pies and award a winner!
4. Serve up a DIY hot chocolate bar and let kids add marshmallows, cinnamon, chocolate chips, or whipped cream.
5. Play Thanksgiving Bingo or Thanksgiving Trivia.
6. Have an indoor scavenger hunt with a Thanksgiving theme.
7. Play board games or have a card game tournament.
8. Have a movie marathon—go ahead and prepare for Christmas with one of my 30 favorite Christmas movies.
9. Play Thanksgiving pictionary or charades with Thanksgiving foods, traditions, or animals.
10. Do a puzzle together—500 pieces are perfect for a family to do in one day.
11. If the weather is nice, search for fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones, or signs of wildlife outside.
12. Paint rocks with fall or Thanksgiving themes and hide them around the yard or neighborhood.
13. Play backyard football or have a “turkey bowl” if you have a large crowd.
14. Go pumpkin bowling: use small pumpkins as bowling balls and empty water bottles as pins.
15. Play cornhole or other lawn games.
16. Hide small pumpkins or gourds around the yard for a festive hunt.
17. Explore local parks, trails, or neighborhoods to enjoy fall colors.
18. Draw fall-themed pictures or write what you’re thankful for.
Do you have any ideas for fun family activities for Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments!
