Updated: February 20, 2024

20 Thanksgiving Games for Work and Office Celebrations

You found our list of fun Thanksgiving games for work.

Thanksgiving games for work are fun activities that celebrate the holiday season. For example, employees might participate in a turkey relay race, Thanksgiving trivia, or a cranberry race. The purpose of these games is to create team bonds and add some holiday cheer to the office environment. These games are also known as “company Thanksgiving games” and “fun Thanksgiving office activities.”

These Thanksgiving games for work are similar to virtual Thanksgiving ideas, Thanksgiving team building activities, and gratitude activities.

thanksgiving-games

This list includes:

  • company Thanksgiving games
  • easy Thanksgiving games for work
  • fun Thanksgiving games
  • entertaining Thanksgiving games for work
  • fun Thanksgiving games for work
  • fun Thanksgiving office activities

Let’s get to it!

List of Thanksgiving games for work

From Turkey Relays to Wreath Making, here is our list of the best Thanksgiving games to play at the office.

1. Turkey Relay

A Turkey Relay is an exciting break from routine work. To host this exercise, gather a set of fake turkeys and serving trays. Next, set up a relay race track. Participants split up into equal teams.

The starting player must complete their part of the race while holding the tray with the fake turkey. Folks will pass the turkey to teammates as they complete the relay. If runners drop the turkey, then they need to restart their part of the race. The team that finishes the race first wins! This game enhances teamwork and introduces a fun, competitive spirit.

2. Thanksgiving Trivia

Thanksgiving Trivia is one of the most fun Thanksgiving games that creates an interactive atmosphere in the workplace. To start, create a list of trivia questions related to Thanksgiving. Examples include the history, traditions, and iconic dishes. Groups can work together and test their knowledge about this beloved holiday.

Here are examples of questions:

  • Which NFL team has played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934? Answer: The Detroit Lions
  • What year did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade start? Answer: 1924
  • What year did Thanksgiving become an official US holiday? Answer: 1863
  • What is the difference between stuffing and dressing? Answer: Stuffing goes inside the turkey, and dressing cooks in a roasting pan

Whichever team answers the most questions correctly wins! This game provides entertainment and will educate participants about Thanksgiving.

Similarly, here are Christmas trivia questions.

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3. Cranberry Race

Cranberry Race is a hilarious Thanksgiving game set to liven up any workplace. To host this experience, start by making a mini racing course on a table. Then, give each participant a cranberry. Folks will roll the cranberry across their finish line using only their noses! Whoever finishes the task the fastest wins. This icebreaker is a funny way to nurture team spirit.

4. Pumpkin Toss

Pumpkin Toss is a fun and engaging Thanksgiving game. To play this game, set up a target area and divide employees into teams. Each team takes turns tossing small pumpkins toward the target. Players earn points based on accuracy. The team that earns the most points wins!

Pumpkin Toss encourages friendly competition and teamwork. Entertaining Thanksgiving games for work also provide a much-needed break from the daily work routine.

5. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

A Gratitude Scavenger Hunt allows employees to find things they are thankful for in the workplace. When planning this event, create a list of clues with specific tasks or items related to showing appreciation. For instance, a gratitude wall, a photo of a loved one, or a favorite book. Participants find and photograph these clues, emphasizing gratitude and teamwork. The player or team that finishes this list first wins!

A Gratitude Scavenger Hunt is an excellent way to promote positivity and camaraderie. Plus, this fun game brings laughter and light-hearted competition to the office.

Here are more gratitude activities for teams.

6. Pie-Eating Contest

A Pie-Eating Contest can be a fun and engaging activity to include in your list of company Thanksgiving games. For this activity, purchase several different types of pies. Folks can sign up for the contest ahead of time. Then, set a timer for ten to fifteen minutes. Colleagues who eat the most pie before time runs out win a prize!

This friendly competition adds an element of excitement to your office’s Thanksgiving celebration. Be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand!

7. Craft-Making Session

Crafts are a fun and interactive way to celebrate Thanksgiving at work. This activity allows employees to express their creativity and promotes teamwork. Materials like paper, glue, paint, and Thanksgiving-themed items are great for these crafts. You can set a time limit and give prizes for the most unique or beautiful crafts.

This activity is an excellent way for the team to destress, bond, and create stunning art pieces. Plus, you can decorate the office with these crafts after the session!

8. Stuff the Turkey

Stuff the Turkey is among the most fun Thanksgiving office activities. To play this game, divide participants into teams. Next, give each team a large inflatable turkey and a bag of small balloons. The goal is to stuff as many balloons as possible into the turkey within a set time limit. The team that gets the most balloons into the turkey wins!

This game promotes teamwork, communication, and creativity. Plus, this exercise adds an element of lighthearted competition to the workplace.

9. Pumpkin-Carving Contest

A Pumpkin-Carving Contest is one of the most fun Thanksgiving games for work. To organize the contest, gather a variety of pumpkins and carving tools. Employees can form teams and get a set amount of time to carve their pumpkins into creative designs. Once the time is up, have the team vote for their favorite pumpkin. The winning group can receive a small prize. This activity promotes teamwork, creativity, and friendly competition.

Here is how to do an online pumpkin carving contest.

10. Cornhole Tournament

A Cornhole Tournament is a fun and engaging activity to include in your Thanksgiving party. To set up the tournament, divide employees into teams of two. Next, provide each team with a cornhole board and bags. The goal is to toss the bags onto the board and score points by landing them in the hole or on the board. The first pair to reach 21 points without going over wins the round. Winners can go head-to-head in the tournament bracket until one pair wins the whole contest!

This game encourages teamwork and friendly competition. Plus, this exercise is a great way to unwind, bond, and enjoy some lighthearted fun during the holiday season.

11. Thanksgiving Pictionary

Thanksgiving Pictionary is a fun team building game to play in the office. This game is easy to set up, as all you need is paper, pens, and a list of Thanksgiving words. Players take turns drawing Thanksgiving-themed clues while their team guesses. Examples of clues include a pilgrim hat, fall leaves, and a cornucopia. Groups that guess the most drawings correctly win!

This activity brightens up the workday and is a great icebreaker. Further, this exercise helps get folks in the festive spirit while promoting creativity.

12. Autumn Leaves Catch

Autumn Leaves Catch is a fun Thanksgiving game that is great for work. To play this game, gather a group of colleagues and head outside to a nearby park or open space. A host throws leaves into the air while the others try to catch as many as they can before they hit the ground. Whoever snags the most leaves wins! This game encourages camaraderie and allows teams to enjoy the beauty of autumn.

13. Cider Sampling Contest

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, hosting a Cider Sampling Contest can be a fun and engaging activity. To set this exercise up, ask participants to bring in their favorite cider brands or flavors. Next, put each cider in a plain cup.

Folks can taste each cider blind, rating them on taste, aroma, and overall appeal. Tasters can vote for their favorite ciders and find the best! You can also award prizes to workers who identify the most ciders correctly. This contest encourages teamwork and allows folks to discover new cider varieties.

Along the same lines, here are food tasting events for teams.

14. Thanksgiving Duck Duck Turkey

Duck, Duck, Turkey can add a fun twist to your office Thanksgiving celebration. Colleagues can sit in a circle and have one player walking around outside the circle. The walking player tags “ducks” until they tap a “turkey.”

The turkey chases the tapper around the circle. If the tapper sits down in the empty spot without getting tagged, then the turkey becomes the tagger. Otherwise, the first tagger goes again. This game fuels laughter, reduces work stress, and promotes team spirit.

15. Fall Colors Hunt

In Fall Colors Hunt, employees search their work area for items representing fall colors. To play this game, set a timer for five to ten minutes. Folks can run around the office and grab as many yellow, orange, red, or brown items as possible. Whoever grabs the most objects first wins!

This challenge sparks creativity and team spirit. This exercise is a simple yet dynamic way of brightening the Thanksgiving season at your workplace.

16. Thanksgiving Wreath Making

Thanksgiving Wreath Making is a fun and creative activity for coworkers. Team members can bond and engage in a hands-on project.

To make a Thanksgiving wreath, start by gathering materials. Examples include a foam wreath base, fall-themed decorations like leaves, acorns, mini pumpkins, and some glue or floral wire. Participants can arrange the decorations on the wreath base and secure them in place. To spread holiday cheer, hang the finished wreaths around the office. This exercise is a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving together while fostering creativity.

17. Pin the Wattle on the Turkey

When looking for easy Thanksgiving games for work, consider Pin the Wattle on the Turkey. For this exercise, print out a large cutout of a turkey. Then, print several paper turkey wattles and stick double-sided tape to the backs. Folks will put on a blindfold, spin around a few times, and then put the wattle onto the turkey cutout. Whoever gets the placement the closest wins! This game fosters concentration and is sure to make players laugh.

18. Gratitude Jar

Setting up a gratitude jar at work is a simple yet impactful exercise. This activity fosters a culture of appreciation and positivity among colleagues. To set up a gratitude jar, find a visible and accessible location in an area like the break room or reception area. Then, place a decorated jar or container along with some slips of paper and pens nearby.

Employees can write down what they are thankful for and add their papers to the jar. For instance, teams could share a small achievement or a kind gesture from a coworker. Contributions can be anonymous if folks prefer. Periodically, collect the slips of paper and read them aloud during team meetings or gatherings. This exercise is a great way to share and celebrate the collective gratitude of the team.

19. Turkey Bowling

Turkey Bowling puts a fun Thanksgiving twist on this classic exercise! To host a game of Turkey Bowling at work, you will need some empty plastic bottles and a small toy turkey. First, set up the plastic bottles in a triangle at one end of a hallway or open area. Then, mark a starting line a few feet away from the pins. Each player takes turns rolling the turkey toward the pins, aiming to knock down as many as possible. You can keep score by counting how many pins each player knocks down with each roll. After a set number of rounds, the player with the highest score wins the game. This exercise is a fun and festive way to celebrate Thanksgiving with coworkers!

20. Thanksgiving Word Scramble

Hosting a Thanksgiving Word Scramble game is easy and fun for the whole office. First, create a list of Thanksgiving-related words or phrases, such as turkey, pumpkin pie, and cornucopia. Then, scramble the letters of each word to create a puzzle. You can write the scrambled words on a whiteboard or piece of paper and give out copies to each employee.

After sharing the puzzle, set a timer for five to ten minutes. Employees can unscramble as many words as possible within the time limit. Afterward, review the answers together as a group and see who unscrambled the most words correctly. The player who solved the most puzzles wins! This simple exercise is a great way to get the team in the Thanksgiving spirit while exercising their brains!

Here are more word games for adults.

Final Thoughts

Playing Thanksgiving games can create lasting memories among colleagues. These exercises also foster a positive and collaborative work environment. These games allow employees to step away from their desks and spend time with each other in a relaxed setting. Moreover, these activities can help break down barriers between different departments. When planning your office’s Thanksgiving celebration, consider these fun-filled game ideas.

Next, check out our posts on holiday icebreaker questions, virtual holiday party ideas, and holiday team building ideas.

FAQ: Thanksgiving games for work

Here are frequently asked questions about Thanksgiving games for work.

What are some fun Thanksgiving games for the office?

Some of the most fun Thanksgiving games for work include the Pie-Eating Contest, Cranberry Race, and Turkey Relay.

How can you plan a fun Thanksgiving work party?

Planning a fun Thanksgiving work party involves several steps.

Here are a few tips to consider:

  • Choose games that the whole team will enjoy.
  • Provide all necessary materials.
  • Decorate the office to match the season.
  • Play fun holiday music.
  • Create an atmosphere where folks will feel comfortable participating.

These steps will help you host a fun and memorable holiday party.

What are some easy to organize Thanksgiving games for work?

Thanksgiving Trivia and Pin the Wattle on the Turkey are easy-to-organize options. These games require minimal preparation but still provide plenty of fun.

How can Thanksgiving games improve team building at work?

Thanksgiving games can improve team building by encouraging collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.

Are there any DIY Thanksgiving game ideas for the workplace?

Several of these activities are great DIY options. For instance, the Craft-Making Session allows workers to make decorations for the whole office. Another option is the Thanksgiving Word Scramble, which you can plan yourself.

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Author:

CEO at teambuilding.com.
I write about my experience working with and leading remote teams since 2010.

LinkedIn Michael Alexis

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