175 Most Engaging Thanksgiving Conversation Starters (+ Free Printable)
Thanksgiving conversation starters add fun and meaning around the feasting table this year!
At Thanksgiving, we gather around and have meaningful conversations with those we love…or at least that’s the goal!
Sometimes it’s a little more like a scene from a Saturday Night Live skit. (You know the one where Adele is singing and people are bringing up difficult topics.)
Not this year!
What do you talk about at the Thanksgiving table?
Conversation starters for Thanksgiving are amazing for several reasons:
- It’s a golden opportunity to catch up with loved ones.
- They help bring community together.
- Good conversations inspire and motivate, as well as encourage laughter!
*Keep reading to get the free Thanksgiving conversation starters printable cards and more ideas for your Thanksgiving meal.
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Fun Family Thanksgiving Conversation Starters
First, use these fun dinner Thanksgiving questions with your family.
1. What are you most thankful for this year?
2. What’s your favorite family Thanksgiving tradition?
3. Can you share a memorable Thanksgiving story from your past?
4. If you had to describe Thanksgiving in one word, what would it be?
5. What’s your favorite fall bucket list activity that you look forward to each year?
6. If you were in charge of the Thanksgiving menu, what new dish would you add?
7. Describe the perfect Thanksgiving weather.
8. If you could do Thanksgiving anywhere in the world, where would it be?
9. How do you like to give back to your community during the holiday season?
10. What’s your favorite fall-inspired scent or smell?
11. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving decoration or centerpiece?
12. What’s a Thanksgiving tradition you’d like to start in the future?
13. If you could have a conversation with the Pilgrims, what would you ask them?
14. What’s a dish you’d like to learn how to cook for future Thanksgivings?
15. If you could spend Thanksgiving with any historical figure, whom would it be and why?
16. If you could invite any living famous person to Thanksgiving dinner, who would it be and why?
17. What’s the best dish you’ve ever eaten?
18. What’s one thing you are looking forward to in the coming year?
19. What’s your earliest Thanksgiving day memory?
20. What’s a skill or fun hobby you have picked up or gotten better at this past year?
21. What’s a random act of kindness someone has done for you recently?
22. What’s a goal you have for the upcoming year?
23. If you could time travel to any Thanksgiving in history, which one would it be?
24. Describe your perfect way to spend Thanksgiving day.
25. Share a funny or embarrassing Thanksgiving-related story.
Related: This or That Questions and Best Get To Know You Questions
Thanksgiving Conversation Starters for Kids
Kids love fun and funny things to talk about!
26. What’s your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving?
27. If you could choose any dessert for Thanksgiving, what would it be?
28. What’s the silliest thing you’re thankful for?
29. What’s the best part about Thanksgiving- the food or spending time with family?
30. If you were a turkey, what would you do to avoid getting caught for Thanksgiving?
31. If you could have a pet turkey, what would you name it? (Play the Turkey Name Game)
32. What’s the best Thanksgiving craft or art project you’ve ever made?
33. What’s something kind you’ve done for someone recently?
34. What’s the silliest Thanksgiving joke or riddle you know?
35. If you could invite a favorite book character to Thanksgiving, who would it be?
36. What’s the best book about Thanksgiving you’ve read?
37. What is a fun Thanksgiving day activity you like to do?
38. What do you like to do after your Thanksgiving day meal?
39. If you had to spend Thanksgiving in a fantasy world, where would you go?
40. What’s a Thanksgiving food you’ve never tried that you are going to try this year?
41. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving memory so far?
42. Who do you always want to spend Thanksgiving with?
43. Finish the sentence: It’s not Thanksgiving without ______________.
44. If you could have any superpower for the day, what would it be and why?
45. What’s the best movie you have watched this year?
46. Has anyone inspired you to get better at something this year?
47. In what way have you grown or improved the most since last Thanksgiving?
48. What’s your favorite thing about school?
49. If you could go back to the first Thanksgiving, what do you think it would be like?
50. How will you help someone else during this holiday season?
Related:
- Photo Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
- Free Printable Thanksgiving Mad Libs
- Fun Trivia Questions For Kids
Teens Thanksgiving Conversation Starters
Encourage your teens to share their thoughts during your Thanksgiving gathering.
Pro Tip: Put their phones away!
51. What’s one thing you’ve accomplished this year that you’re really proud of?
52. What four dishes must be included in your perfect Thanksgiving feast?
53. If you could invite anyone to your Thanksgiving meal, who would it be and why?
54. Who has been a really good friend to you this year and how have they shown friendship?
55. What’s a book, movie, or song that you’ve enjoyed this year?
56. How do you think technology has changed the way we celebrate Thanksgiving compared to the past?
57. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself this past year?
58. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
59. What teacher, coach, or mentor has inspired you this year, and how?
60. What would happen if you spent a week without your phone?
61. If you could attend a Thanksgiving feast in a different era, which era would you choose?
62. If you could spend Thanksgiving volunteering for a specific cause, what would it be and why?
63. What is something that has made you laugh in the past week?
64. What is a skill you have that you think you could teach others?
65. In what way have you changed the most in the past year?
66. What do you wish that adults understood better about teenagers today?
67. What’s a modern convenience that you could give up if you had to?
68. What do you most like to do for fun?
69. What do you like to do on a lazy day?
70. What has been your favorite experience of the past year?
71. If you had a time machine, what historical event would you visit?
72. What is something unique about you?
73. Have smartphones made life better or harder? Why?
74. What is a Thanksgiving dish that you would rather not eat ever again?
75. What is something you hope to be able to do on Thanksgiving break while you are off from school?
Also, check out Best Trivia for Teens and Debate Topics for Teens.
Gratitude Questions
Discover the role that gratitude plays in others with these questions focused on gratitude.
“When you look at life through the eyes of gratitude, the world becomes a magical and amazing place.”
Jennifer Gayle
76. What’s your favorite way to show someone you’re thankful?
77. What’s something you’re thankful for that happened at work/school?
78. What’s something you’re thankful for that your sibling or friend did?
79. How can you better show gratitude to your family in the upcoming year?
80. What’s the best piece of advice about gratitude you’ve ever received?
81. What’s a book, movie, or TV show that you’re thankful for this year?
82. What’s a unique or quirky thing you are thankful for?
83. What is a simple pleasure you are grateful for?
84. Name 5 things you are most grateful for this year?
85. Is there a gratitude activity you enjoy doing?
86. Have you ever tried to keep a gratitude journal or gratitude list?
87. Finish this sentence: I am grateful that I _________________.
(See also gratitude affirmations.)
88. Share a time when you felt truly appreciated or thanked by someone.
89. What’s a creative way to express gratitude that you’ve seen someone do?
90. How has your idea of gratitude changed over the years?
91. How do you think technology has changed the way we express thanks and appreciation?
92. What’s something you’re thankful for that you think often goes unnoticed?
93. How do you think expressing gratitude impacts relationships?
94. How has practicing gratitude changed your perspective on life?
95. What’s a recent challenge you faced that you now feel grateful for experiencing?
96. What’s a skill or talent you possess that you’re grateful for?
97. What’s an aspect of nature that you feel thankful for and why?
98. What’s a personal accomplishment that you’re genuinely proud of and thankful for?
99. What’s something you took for granted in the past but now feel grateful for?
100. How do you cultivate gratitude during challenging times?
Try out this 30-Day Gratitude Challenge and also find Powerful Gratitude Quotes.
Conversation Questions About Thanksgiving Food
We all love questions about food…especially on Thanksgiving! Use these fun food table topic questions during your meal.
101. What’s the all-time best Thanksgiving dish? Use three words to describe it.
102. Are there any unique family recipes that have been passed down for generations?
103. If you could choose only one dish to eat on Thanksgiving, which one would it be?
104. Do you prefer traditional Thanksgiving dishes or experimenting with new dishes?
105. Do you like Thanksgiving leftovers? Is there a specific dish you have for leftovers?
106. What’s a Thanksgiving dish you’ve always wanted to try cooking yourself?
107. What’s a Thanksgiving dessert you can’t imagine Thanksgiving without?
108. Are there any cultural or international foods you incorporate into your Thanksgiving feast?
109. Share a funny or memorable cooking mishap you experienced on Thanksgiving.
110. Would you be okay with eating at a restaurant or having your Thanksgiving meal catered?
111. What’s a side dish you love that may get overlooked on the Thanksgiving table?
112. Share a funny food memory you have about Thanksgiving.
113. Complete the sentence. I can always count on ____________ bringing ____________ to our Thanksgiving meal.
114. Do you serve a dish that is not a customary Thanksgiving dish (that your family loves for your Thanksgiving meal)?
115. Are there any regional or local foods that you include in your Thanksgiving celebration?
116. What dish would you like to add to your Thanksgiving menu next year?
117. Do you like to fill up on the savory Thanksgiving dishes or save room for dessert?
118. What do you want your first bite to be and your last bite to be during your Thanksgiving meal?
119. Would you rather skip dessert or skip the turkey?
120. What Thanksgiving dish holds special memories or reminds you of someone you love?
Related:
Funny Conversation Topics for Friends
121. If Thanksgiving were a sport, what would be the official rules?
122. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
123. Share your most epic Thanksgiving fail story.
124. What’s a word you can never spell correctly on the first try?
125. If you were a Thanksgiving parade balloon, what would you be?
126. If you could swap one traditional Thanksgiving dish with something unconventional, what would it be?
127. What is your favorite sitcom Thanksgiving scene?
128. What’s a Thanksgiving-themed pickup line that’s sure to get a laugh?
129. What would be a funny Thanksgiving-themed challenge for a reality show?
130. If you had to invent a new Thanksgiving tradition involving rubber ducks, what would it be?
131. How do you prepare to eat a large Thanksgiving meal?
132. If you could only use one emoji for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
133. What’s the weirdest food combination you secretly love?
134. If you could make a new holiday, what would it celebrate?
135. What’s your funniest childhood memory?
136. What’s a song you can’t help but dance to, no matter where you are?
137. If you could swap lives with a celebrity for Thanksgiving day, who would it be and why?
138. What’s the craziest goal on your bucket list?
139. Who is most likely to eat too much on Thanksgiving and feel or get sick?
140. What if you could spend all Thanksgiving afternoon with just one person? Who would you spend it with and why?
Related: How Well Do You Know Me Questions and 21 Questions Game.
Interesting Thanksgiving Conversation Topics for Adults
141. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever done?
142. If you could travel anywhere in time, where and when would you go?
143. What is a book that has inspired you?
144. If you had unlimited resources, what passion project would you pursue?
145. What’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn?
146. Share a memorable experience from a trip you’ve taken.
147. What’s your favorite way to relax and unwind?
148. What’s a piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
149. Discuss a hobby or interest you are passionate about.
150. What has made you frustrated in the last year? How did you handle it?
151. Describe a moment you stepped out of your comfort zone.
152. What has brought you a lot of joy in the past year?
153. How have you learned to better take care of yourself in the past year?
154. What’s a movie or TV series you would recommend and why?
155. If you were to write a book, what genre would it be?
156. What’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?
157. How do you unplug from technology and social media?
158. What wellness goal or personal goal do you have for the next year?
159. What is something you like or enjoy about the person sitting to your left?
160. What recent technological advancement fascinates you?
161. What is something that didn’t go well for you this year, and how will you plan for that in the future?
162. If you could have Thanksgiving dinner with three people, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Related:
Random Thanksgiving Dinner Conversation Starters
Finally, end with some meaningful, clever, and funny conversation starter questions.
163. What is your ideal day off like?
164. Do you have any irrational fears? What are they?
165. If you had an extra $100 to spend on yourself every week, what would you do?
166. What is something you’ve tried, that you will never try again?
167. If you won $1 million dollars, what is the first thing you would buy?
168. What is a hidden talent that you have that no one knows about?
169. Who is one person you want to get to know better in the new year?
170. How have you changed the most in the past 10 years?
171. If you could spend one day all by yourself, where would you go and what would you do?
172. Are you familiar with the Enneagram? If so, tell me about your experience with it.
173. If you could have any job, what would you do?
174. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?
175. If you had to leave your home and never come back, what three things would you take with you?
More Thanksgiving Icebreaker Questions and Activities
Break the ice and keep the conversation flowing with these question games.
Table Topics Questions
Table topics questions game is perfect for Thanksgiving because it encourages everyone to share their thoughts and opinions.
Place the printable Thanksgiving conversation starter cards below in a bowl. Players take turns drawing a card and answering the question.
Thanksgiving Trivia
Test everyone’s knowledge of this beloved holiday!
Split into teams and take turns answering Thanksgiving trivia questions. This activity is a great way to involve everyone and spark friendly competition.
Also, enjoy fall trivia at your Thanksgiving gathering.
Thanksgiving Would You Rather
Would you rather….swim in a bathtub of cranberry sauce or gravy?
These fun would you rather questions are a perfect addition to any Thanksgiving!
Get the free Thanksgiving would you rather printable!
Numbers Game
Use the numbers questions game to play. Players pick a number from the list and they answer the corresponding question.
Gratitude Jar
A gratitude jar is a simple but meaningful activity. Focus on the positive and show gratitude for things we take for granted.
Place a jar and slips of paper on the table. Then, encourage everyone to write down something they are grateful for. Take turns reading the slips of paper aloud.
Free Thanksgiving Conversation Starters Cards
Grab even more fun questions below!
What’s Next?
We host a Friendsgiving each November, and I look forward to using these Thanksgiving conversation starters and questions to add to our Fun Friendsgiving Games.
*Next, try out fall this or that for another fun Thanksgiving or fall party game.
Make your Thanksgiving conversation awesome this year (without needing Adele).
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We have a lot of great questions and trivia to connect with friends and family!