Family game night

103 Thanksgiving Charades Ideas

Thanksgiving charades fills the gap between the turkey and the pie. Everyone is in one room, nobody wants to move far, and there's plenty to act out: carving the turkey, the parade, the football game and the food coma that follows.

Here are 103 ideas in six themed lists, each marked easy, medium or hard. Start with the kids' list while dinner cooks, and save the grown-up list for after dessert.

Last updated: October 19, 2026

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Easy Thanksgiving charades for kids

Easy 18 ideas

Simple fall and harvest words. A turkey's gobble counts as a great clue.

Turkey
Gobble Gobble
Pumpkin
Pilgrim
Scarecrow
Squirrel
Acorn
Pinecone
Falling Leaves
Feather
Owl
Tractor
Basket
Parade
Football
Scarf
Hay Bale
Wishbone

Thanksgiving food charades

Easy 18 ideas

Everything on the table, from the stuffing to the leftover sandwich the next day.

Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Dinner Rolls
Cornbread
Mac and Cheese
Corn on the Cob
Deviled Eggs
Whipped Cream
Apple Cider
Turkey Leg
Leftover Sandwich

Thanksgiving actions and traditions

Medium 19 ideas

The things families do every year. Most are easy to act out with big, clear movements.

Carving the Turkey
Saying Grace
Sharing What You're Thankful For
Breaking the Wishbone
Watching the Parade
Watching Football
Playing Touch Football in the Yard
Setting the Table
Basting the Turkey
Mashing Potatoes
Raking Leaves
Jumping in a Leaf Pile
Running a Turkey Trot
Napping on the Couch
Going Back for Seconds
Washing a Mountain of Dishes
Packing Up Leftovers
Making a Hand Turkey
Pardoning a Turkey

Thanksgiving history and symbols

Medium 16 ideas

From the Mayflower to the corn maze. These take more imagination, so they suit older kids and adults.

Mayflower
Plymouth Rock
The First Thanksgiving
Cornucopia
Harvest
Harvest Moon
Pumpkin Patch
Corn Maze
Hayride
Thankful Tree
Fall Wreath
Gourd
Pilgrim Hat
Gratitude
Feast
Centerpiece

Thanksgiving movies, TV and football

Medium 15 ideas

Holiday films, the parade and game day. Signal “movie” or “TV show” first to help your team.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Free Birds
Addams Family Values
Miracle on 34th Street
Home for the Holidays
Thanksgiving Day Parade
Giant Parade Balloon
The National Dog Show
Touchdown
Halftime Show
Detroit Lions
Dallas Cowboys
Turkey Bowl
Marching Band

Hard Thanksgiving charades for adults

Hard 17 ideas

The parts of the holiday nobody puts on a greeting card.

Food Coma
Avoiding Politics at Dinner
The Kids' Table
Friendsgiving
Thawing a Frozen Turkey
Deep-Frying a Turkey
Setting Off the Smoke Alarm
Stuck in Holiday Traffic
Delayed Flight Home
Loosening Your Belt
Hosting Twenty Relatives
Pretending to Like the Casserole
Awkward Small Talk
Black Friday Shopping
Doorbuster Deal
Cyber Monday
Leftovers for a Week

How to play Thanksgiving charades

Before dinner, write the ideas on slips of paper and put them in a bowl (or a clean pie dish).
Split into two teams and sit on opposite sides of the table or the living room.
Take turns acting out a slip in silence while your team guesses. One minute per turn keeps things moving.
Score a point per correct guess. The losing team does the dishes, or the winners get the first slice of pie.

How to Play Charades →

Tips for a game everyone enjoys

Let kids make the slips while the turkey roasts. It keeps them busy and gets them excited to play.
Start with the kids' and food lists, then move to movies, history and the grown-up list as the evening goes on.
Add your family's own traditions: the cousin who always burns the rolls, or the annual touch-football game.
Too full to stand up? Play the phone version from the couch, with one person guessing and everyone else giving clues.

Thanksgiving charades: frequently asked questions

What are good Thanksgiving charades ideas?

Turkey, pumpkin pie, carving the turkey, the Mayflower, watching the parade, breaking the wishbone and food coma. Pick food and traditions for kids, and movies and funny situations for adults.

What are easy Thanksgiving charades for kids?

Turkey, pumpkin, pilgrim, scarecrow, squirrel, acorn, falling leaves and a turkey's gobble. They're short, visual and easy to act out with sounds.

When is the best time to play charades on Thanksgiving?

While the turkey roasts, or between dinner and dessert. Everyone is together, and a game gives guests something to do besides watching the oven.

Which Thanksgiving movies can you act out?

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Free Birds, Addams Family Values and Miracle on 34th Street, which opens with the Thanksgiving Day parade.

How many players do you need?

Four or more for team charades, split into two teams. In the phone version, two players are enough: one guesses and the other gives clues.