Thanksgiving is all about making memories with your family! Here are 25 ideas for fun family Thanksgiving traditions that’ll you’re sure to love.
I love Thanksgiving! I don’t know that I can say it’s my favorite holiday because of how much I love Christmas, but it comes in a close second for sure.
For me, Thanksgiving in three words is family, food, and of course thankfulness.
Every family celebrates Thanksgiving their own way. For some it may be a fancy dinner that you dress up for, while for others it may be feasting on paper plates while watching the football game. How you celebrate doesn’t matter. The important part is making memories with your family.
Today I thought I would share some fun family Thanksgiving traditions. As my kids get older I want us to have some traditions that they can expect and look forward to each year, so it’s been fun making this list and getting ideas!
Here are some of my favorites! (Big thanks to my Instagram followers for contributing several of these ideas!)
25 Fun Family Thanksgiving Traditions
{Photo by Tim Mossholder from Pexels. // This blog post contains affiliate links.}
1. Run together at a “Turkey trot” 5k.
Preferably before eating Thanksgiving dinner haha.
2. Have a designated table cloth where everyone writes what they are thankful for and signs and dates it each it year.
3. Have fun as a family playing competitive card games like Blackjack and Spoons.
4. Take a family walk.
My family loves doing this!
5. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade on TV.
6. Make a “Thanksgiving basket” filled with fruit and baked goods and deliver it to an elderly friend.
7. Have a fall scavenger hunt with the kids.
I love how this one includes all the senses!
8. Help your kids dress up and reenact the first Thanksgiving.
9. Make a habit of inviting someone over for dinner who doesn’t have a family in the area.
I’ll always remember the family who did this for me when I was in college!
10. Watch the first Christmas movie of the season together.
The perfect activity for when you’re all stuffed from eating and just feel like lying around!
11. Set up a table with card-making supplies and let everyone make a thank-you card for someone they appreciate.
12. Play a family game of football with everyone included, even the little kids.
13. Place three kernels of corn at each person’s plate . . .
. . . At dinner, pass around a bowl and have each person place their kernels in the a bowl while they say three things they are thankful for.
14. Make monkey bread for breakfast!
This is probably my husband Pablo’s favorite tradition. I use this recipe.
15. Choose a fun centerpiece to use year after year.
I shared a picture of my mom’s trusty turkey centerpiece in this post.
16. Watch football on TV together.
17. Read some favorite Thanksgiving books aloud.
18. Make a Thankful tree.
I love this free printable!
19. Take a nice family photo.
You can use it later for your Christmas card!
20. Spend some time singing together.
21. Make thanksgiving/fall crafts with the kids.
I pinned a bunch of ideas to my Thanksgiving board here.
22. Have a blast with some fun party games!
23. Make donations to a food drive.
24. Go get a Christmas tree and/or decorate for Christmas that evening!
25. Start your Christmas shopping together in the evening or plan out your shopping for the next day.
What fun family Thanksgiving traditions do you have? I’d love to hear what your family does! 🙂
Have a happy Thanksgiving!!