20 fun activities you can make into new Thanksgiving traditions

If sports aren’t your family’s thing, but you still want to have a competition of some sort on Thanksgiving, try a board game tournament. You can do a round-robin style tournament with multiple games or opt for an elimination series with the same game. 

If you’ve got lots of readers in your family, have a holiday book swap. Ask everyone to bring any books they’ve enjoyed over the past year. Guests can leave with something new to read and discuss any books others have read, too. 

Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday for a bonfire. Spice it up a little bit by roasting marshmallows, too. It gives you another chance to enjoy the outdoors before it gets too cold, and everyone can get involved by roasting marshmallows and making a s’more. 

Breaking the wishbone is only exciting for about one minute. Once it’s broken, everyone forgets and moves on. Make it more interesting this year and every year after by offering a prize. 

Thanksgiving signifies the official kickoff to the Christmas season. Mark the occasion in your home by sitting down with everyone to watch a Christmas movie. It can be the same one each year or a way to watch new Christmas movies or classics that some haven’t seen. 

Thanksgiving is a time when you and your loved ones can celebrate all holidays. This year, add holiday karaoke to your Thanksgiving traditions. Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holiday songs are all on the table. 

If you’re having a smaller Thanksgiving meal or you’re going to someone else’s house to celebrate, spend Thanksgiving Day baking as a family. On Black Friday, you can spread holiday cheer early by bringing your confections to friends, family, and neighbors. 

Get into the fun of holiday shopping by creating a gag gift list. Assemble a list of the absolute worst gift items possible and see who can come up with the most cringe-worthy assortment. Pass out prizes for the winners. 

Another great way to kick off the Christmas season is to spend Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday at a tree farm. You don’t even need to purchase a Christmas tree — you can just look around and get into the holiday spirit. 

Thanksgiving also signifies the unofficial end to fall. Soak in the last bits of the season by doing some leaf peeping. Take a walk, go for a drive, or grab a drink somewhere with a view. 

Really get into the Thanksgiving spirit by making a list of underrated blessings. It’s all well and good to be grateful for your home and family, but think outside the box for this one and list things like your favorite artisan coffee order or having the week off work between Christmas and New Year’s Day to put in perspective how blessed you really are. 

If you have the time, go around the table at Thanksgiving dinner and give each person a personal toast. Tell your loved ones why you’re grateful for them and give them a little boost of love going into what can be a challenging time of year for many. 

If you haven’t started already, host a Friendsgiving this year. It can be a little earlier in the season if necessary or after Thanksgiving as a hybrid holiday get-together. Make it a potluck or go out to eat so it’s low-stress and simply a way to spend time with the people you actually choose to spend time with. 

There are so many fun holiday crafts, and once December hits, there’s barely any time to actually do them. After you’ve carved the turkey, carve out some time this Thanksgiving to sit down and make the cute items you’ve been saving on Pinterest for years. 

If you don’t know what to do with all your Thanksgiving leftovers, host a leftover cookoff. Give each family member one leftover to use and have them devise a unique way to repurpose it. It’ll give you a brand new Thanksgiving meal all over again. 

If you want to work off some of the calories you just ate, go on a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt. It can be for items around the house or even around the neighborhood. 

This year, create a family gratitude jar. When you think of it, write down things you’re thankful for throughout the year. They can be general or specific — just be sure to write them down and put them in the jar. Next Thanksgiving, read through everything you had to be thankful for in the past year. 

Spice things up this Thanksgiving by making a signature cocktail. It’s a fun way to add some variety to your meal, especially if you tend to make the same sides year after year. 

If possible, get out and volunteer on Thanksgiving. There are loads of places looking for help on the holiday, so get your entire family together to bond over time spent giving back. It’s another way to gain perspective and gratitude. 

If you’re going to be spending the holiday with lots of extended family, start your Thanksgiving by having a special breakfast with your immediate family. It’s a great way to connect and ensure those closest to you know how grateful you are for them.