55 Must-Try Friendsgiving Games & Ideas to Make Your Celebration Unforgettable
What games do you play at Friendsgiving?
Not sure what to do before or after the amazing feast?
Friendsgiving Games and Ideas will help you host your best Friendsgiving yet.
Friendsgiving! It’s “friends” and “Thanksgiving” mashed together for a celebration with your favorite crew. While we aren’t sure where it got its official start, it’s thought to have originated with the TV show Friends, Twitter, or even a Bailey’s Irish Cream ad campaign.
There are games for everyone and every age on this list. Pick and choose what your guests will enjoy! Keep reading for tips on hosting your own Friendsgiving.
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Fun & Easy Friendsgiving Game Ideas
If you have kids, these Friendsgiving game ideas will occupy their time as well.
1. Guess How Many
Fill a clear jar with candy corn. Make sure you know exactly how many pieces of candy are in the jar.
Have each guest guess how many candy corn pieces are in the jar. The person with the closest guess wins the treat!
2. Thanksgiving Would You Rather Cards
Would you rather…sleep in or go Black Friday shopping? Dress up for Thanksgiving dinner or wear stretchy pants?
Use Thanksgiving Would You Rather Printable Cards to have a lively conversation with your guests. Ask everyone the question and listen to all the answers.
For a fun variation, have participants stand on a line or rope. For each would you rather question, they will step on one side of the line or the other based on their choice.
Related:
3. Fall This or That Printable
Corn maze or hayride? Flannel shirt or hoodie sweatshirt?
Ask this or that questions for quick and fun conversation.
Print off the free Fall this or That printable and have party-goers circle their responses. Or play with a party guest and guess their responses. Assign points for each correct guess.
Check out more this or that questions.
4. Thanksgiving Photo Scavenger Hunt
Print off this free Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt. Have participants use their phones to find and take pictures of everything on the list.
Set a time limit and the person or team done first is the winner. Share the photos with everyone!
Also, see free nature scavenger hunts.
5. Thanksgiving Trivia
What year was the first Thanksgiving? What is the most popular Thanksgiving pie?
Test your Thanksgiving Trivia knowledge and learn fun new facts. Use the free printable cards to invite friendly competition into your Friendsgiving.
Fall trivia is also a seasonal favorite. Or try NFL football trivia and pop culture trivia.
6. Thanksgiving Minute to Win It Games (For Adults & Kids)
To add active games to your Friendsgiving festivity, try out Thanksgiving minute to win it games.
Players try to beat the clock and finish the game in a minute.
Shake Your Tail Feathers Minute To Win It Game:
- Each player needs an empty tissue box filled with craft feathers.
- Tie the box around each waste so the tissue box is on each player’s backside.
- Players must shake until all of the feathers fall out of their tissue box within the minute.
See more Easy Minute To Win It Games to play!
7. Thanksgiving Riddles
What smells the best every Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: Your nose!
Post Thanksgiving riddles around your Friendsgiving event and see who can guess the correct answers!
Related: Animal Riddles and What Am I Riddles and Answers
8. Thanksgiving Charades
Get everyone moving and laughing with Thanksgiving charades.
- Write out Thanksgiving words and phrases on pieces of paper.
- Put the papers in a bowl.
- Divide into teams.
- The team to go first will pick a piece of paper from the bowl and act out the word until their team guesses it. If using a timer, keep going until the timer runs out!
- Keep playing until everyone has had a turn.
- The team with the most correct guesses, wins!
Thanksgiving charades words and phrases ideas: carving the turkey, pumpkin pie, grateful, parade, football, wishbone, gobble, friends, family, pilgrim, setting the table, eating too much, mashed potatoes, etc…
Check out this fun charades ideas list for kids too!
9. What’s On Your Phone Game
Use your phone and this printable for a fun What’s on your Phone Game. The player with the most points is the winner!
10. Thanksgiving Scattergories
Use this fun and creative word game to play Thanksgiving Scattergories. Write a word that matches the clue and begins with the corresponding letter.
Also, play this fun Scattergories game with categories and lists!
11. Finish That Phrase: Friendsgiving Game Idea
Thanksgiving Finish That Phrase is played like this:
- Have one player make the answer key by filling in the printable.
- All other players then fill in their own copy.
- Compare each player’s printable to the original answer key.
- The player with the most points is the winner!
12. Thanksgiving Mad Libs
Use these Thanksgiving Mad Lib printables to create fun stories about Thanksgiving.
Fill in the gaps on the pages OR work with another person to have them fill in each blank for you without reading the story.
This is a great activity to entertain kids, but also fun to play with adults!
13. Thanksgiving Family Feud
Split into teams or families and play a friendly game of Thanksgiving family feud. The goal is to get all the survey guesses right before you get three strikes!
Find out more on how to play and get great family feud ideas.
14. Thanksgiving (Friendsgiving) Bingo
Play this Friendsgiving-themed bingo game with everyone at your party.
15. Thanksgiving Conversation Starters (Printable Cards)
What is your favorite sitcom Thanksgiving scene? If you described Thanksgiving in one word, what would it be?
Catch up and keep good conversations rolling with Thanksgiving Conversation Starters. Print out the free cards, place them in a bowl, pass, and answer!
16. Thanksgiving Heads Up
It’s simple to play Thanksgiving Heads Up:
- Players place an elastic headband on their hands and slip a game card (index cards work) with a Thanksgiving themed word written on it. (Don’t peek at the word!)
- The rest of the group has to either act out what is on the card or use words to describe what’s on the card.
- Once the player guesses his/her card, another player goes!
Example words: Turkey trot, football, cornucopia, Black Friday, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, napping, raking leaves, carving a pumpkin, thankful, eating a turkey leg, etc…
17. Turkey Leg Wrap Upmeme
You won’t want to miss seeing your friends do this!
Be the quickest player to wrap your partner in burlap and place a chef’s hat on their head to make them look like a turkey leg.
Play this silly Friendsgiving game as a relay race or with a partner.
18. Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Provide pumpkins and art supplies for a creative decorating competition. Let guests vote on the best pumpkin and have a prize for the winner!
Only adults participating? Give the contest a theme or specific rules to make it more interesting.
19. Fall Photo Booth
Create a Thanksgiving photo booth opportunity using fun Friendsgiving props. Consider using a phone tripod to make it even easier.
Pro Tip: Have guests share their favorite photos in an online album.
20. Thanksgiving Scratch Off Cards
Who doesn’t like the chance to scratch off a ticket and win a prize?
21. What Is Your Turkey Name?
Stuffed Leftover Pilgrim!?!
Do you know what your turkey name is? Find out and put it on your name tag for Friendsgiving.
Warning: Once you have your turkey name, you have to go by that for the rest of Friendsgiving!
22. Thanksgiving Emoji Guessing Game
The goal is to guess the Thanksgiving-themed words and phrases all written with Emojis. The person with the most correct answers wins!
Friendsgiving Gratitude Games
Time with those you care about is the perfect time to focus on gratitude. Use these Friendsgiving gratitude games and activities for adults and kids.
23. Gratitude List
Hang a large poster board for a gratitude list at your Friendsgiving event. Guests can add to the gratitude list things they are grateful for throughout the day.
24. Gratitude Jar
Place a jar and slips of paper on the table. Encourage everyone to write down something they are grateful for.
We did this at our Friendsgiving last year and the person who wrote the most gratitude leaves won a prize. Someone wrote down every person in his family on a different leaf and they were all touched by his gratitude!
25. Gratitude Circle
Practicing gratitude boosts happiness. Sit in a circle and take turns sharing what you’re thankful for. You can also use a ball to toss to the next person.
26. Gratitude Guessing Game
Have guests write down what they’re thankful for without revealing their names. Then, read the responses aloud and try to guess who wrote each one.
27. Gratitude Candy Game
Pass out a fun size bag of Skittles to each guest. Each person picks out one or two skittles. Based on the color picked, they share the corresponding thing they are thankful for.
- Red: A person you are thankful for.
- Orange: A place you are thankful for.
- Yellow: A thing you are thankful for.
- Green: An experience you are thankful for.
- Purple: A blessing you are thankful for.
28. Gratitude Relay Game
Split players up into teams. Each player has to say something they appreciate before passing a “gratitude baton” to the next person.
Another variation: Player 1 runs to pop a balloon by sitting on it and must say something they are thankful for or answer the gratitude prompt inside the balloon. The team member runs back to the team and the next person goes.
29. Gratitude Tree
Draw a tree on a large poster board and use pre-cut leaves to fill up the tree with gratitude!
See more easy Gratitude Activities for kids and adults!
Related:
Friendsgiving Games For Adults
Friendsgiving is a time for adults to gather together and relax. These Friendsgiving games will have everyone letting their hair down.
30. Friendsgiving Drinking Game Ideas
Watch a recording of the Macy’s Day Parade and come up with drinking rules.
For example, “Take a drink when you see a float with a celebrity on it.”
Or make up fun drinking rules for a football game or a Thanksgiving movie you are watching.
31. What Do You Meme?
What Do You Meme? is a fun twist on Apples to Apples using memes that will have everyone laughing. This pack is the Friends edition, but any of these games are hilarious.
32. OFF TOPIC Friendsgiving
Pick a prompt. Fill in the blank anonymously and guess who wrote what! This hilarious Friendsgiving dinner party game will have everyone laughing.
33. Who In The Room? Party Game
What do your friends really think about you? Find out with the Who In The Room Party Game!
Read the question out loud. On the count of three, everyone points to who they think best fits the question’s description!
34. OFF TOPIC Adult Party Game
Players pick a topic list and get a letter. Then they write answers that begin with that letter. The person with the most answers wins.
Example topics:
- “Things your mom was right about.”
- “Guilty pleasure”
- “Say hello to my little _______.”
Grab OFF TOPIC here!
35. Who Is Most Likely To Questions
Who is most likely to…get into a fight on the internet? spill a secret? be asked for ID at the liquor store?
Check out Who is Most Likely Questions for Friends and find out what your friends really think about you!
More Questions for Adults:
- Two Truth and a Lie
- Fun Questions to Ask
- Best Ice Breaker Questions
- What If Questions
- Thought Provoking Questions
Friendsgiving Food and Drink Games
Friendsgiving is all about great food and drinks. Include food games and friendly competition to make your Friendsgiving even more memorable.
36. Dessert Competition
Who doesn’t love trying delicious Thanksgiving desserts?
Have guests bring their very best Thanksgiving dessert. Guests can taste-test all the participating desserts and vote on their favorite.
Pro Tip: Participants can also bring copies of their dessert recipes to share!
37. Pie Eating Contest
Have a good ole pie-eating contest! See who can eat a piece of pie the fastest or a whole pie!
38. Guess the Dish
Blindfold participants. Then, have them taste the various Thanksgiving dishes and guess what they are.
Related: Healthy Recipes for Fall
39. Autumn Mixology
Set up a DIY cocktail station with fall-inspired ingredients for guests to create their own drinks.
40. Autumn Beer Tasting
Sample a variety of fall and pumpkin-themed beers. Vote on the favorites!
Related: Candy Trivia Questions and Answers
Outdoor Activities & Games To Play at Friendsgiving
Enjoy these fun ideas for outdoor games to play at Friendsgiving.
41. Turkey Pinata
Stuff a turkey pinata with candy and Thanksgiving treats and prizes. Take turns hitting the pinata until it breaks open!
Adult twist: Fill with mini bottles of alcohol and other adult treats.
42. Pumpkin Bowling
Use mini pumpkins as bowling balls and try to knock down pins.
43. Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe
Draw out a large tic-tac-toe board on the sidewalk with chalk. Use mini white and orange pumpkins to play tic tac toe.
44. Yam Race: Friendsgiving Games
Give participants a yam and a spoon. Players must use the spoon to roll the yam to a certain point and back. The first one back is the winner!
45. Firepit S’mores
If your Friendsgiving is on a chilly November day, warm up around the firepit. Roast s’mores for a Friendsgiving treat!
46. Cranberry Sauce Pong
Similar to beer pong, but with cups of cranberry sauce and no drinking involved.
(Or play regular beer pong too!)
47. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Outdoor Movie
Borrow a projector and put a sheet on your garage door to play A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving during your Friendsgiving event.
48. Kickball
Adults and kids love a good game of kickball and we play this every year at our Friendsgiving.
All you need is a good kickball and a way to mark your bases. Then, divide into teams and play!
49. Cornhole
Play this classic yard game at your Friendsgiving this year.
50. Thanksgiving Bean Bag Toss
Kids enjoy this version of a Thanksgiving bean bag toss!
51. Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest
See who can spit the pumpkin seeds the farthest!
52. Touch Football (Friendsgiving Games)
Friendsgiving is not complete without a game of touch football!
53. Ladder Toss
Ladder toss is a simple game to set up. And anyone can play.
54. Flickin Chicken Friendsgiving Games
It’s not a turkey, but I couldn’t resist adding this game to the outdoor list for Friendsgiving!
Can you get your chicken on the target after eating all that turkey?
55. Pumpkin Races
Use larger pumpkins to create a unique relay experience.
- Carry the pumpkin as quick as you can to the specified mark.
- Sit on your pumpkin and answer a given prompt (for example : what’s your favorite Thanksgiving food, what are you grateful for, etc…)
- Pick your pumpkin back up and race to the finish line to hand over your pumpkin to the next player.
Related:
How To Host Friendsgiving: Expert Tips
Hosting a Friendsgiving gathering has become increasingly popular. Friends are eager to come together to celebrate their chosen family.
Choose A Date And Location
Choose a date and time that will work for your guests. Friendsgiving is often planned before the actual Thanksgiving day.
Keep in mind the number of guests and the weather, and pick a location for your event.
We typically host Friendsgiving at our house where we can keep the food warm. A park or rented venue would also work well.
Food and Drink Ideas For Friendsgiving
Plan the menu and make it as easy as possible.
- Use an online signup platform to organize a potluck.
- Have everyone bring their favorite Thanksgiving dish.
- Opt for a themed meal with non-Thanksgiving foods.
- Have plenty of options for guests with food sensitivities or preferences.
- Use this free Thanksgiving menu template to plan ahead.
For our Friendsgiving, we provide the turkey and drinks while everyone else brings the sides and dessert.
Friendsgiving Decoration Ideas
No Friendsgiving celebration is complete without festive decorations.
Set the mood by decorating your space with seasonal accents like autumn leaves, pumpkins, and fall flower arrangements. Or decorate for your theme.
Use a mix of disposable and reusable dinnerware, such as eco-friendly plates, cups, and utensils, to minimize cleanup.
Friendsgiving Themes
Want to opt for a theme for your Friendsgiving? Ideas include:
- Autumn or harvest
- Pumpkins
- Around the World
- Game Night
- TV Shows
- Gratitude
- Pajama Friendsgiving
- Shared hobbies
- Costume party
- Trivia night
Friendsgiving Gifts For Games
If you are giving prizes for games, have a variety that fits your party theme. Use these Friendsgiving party favor bags for your gifts.
- Friendsgiving Squad T-shirt
- Pumpkin Candles
- Candy
- Gift Cards
- Bottle of wine with a Thankful and Grateful Wine Bag
- Fall beer
- Pie
- Funny turkey socks
- Door signs or fall decorations
- Turkey hat
For kids, have a grab bag with fall-themed coloring books, toys, and candy.
What’s Next?
Host your own gathering and use these Friendsgiving games to bond, laugh, and create lasting memories with people who make life fun!
Next, check out these How Well Do You Know Me Questions and use them too.