Every year, in that happy, sleepy stretch between the pie and the dishes, my family plays charades. It has quietly become my favourite part of the whole day — my uncle doing a truly committed “gobbling turkey,” a cousin acting out “falling asleep after dinner” a little too convincingly, the whole table shouting guesses over each other. I’ve hosted this game for years now, and I know exactly which clues get the room roaring. This is the list I actually use, plus a version you can play right here without printing a thing.
If you just want to start, scroll up and open the game — pick your categories, set a timer if you like, and pass the phone around the table. If you’d rather read, save or print the ideas, they’re all below, grouped by category and by how tricky they are.
How to play Thanksgiving charades
The rules are the same simple fun that makes charades work with a table full of every age. One person is the actor. They take a clue (or the game hands them one) and act it out in complete silence — no talking, no pointing at real objects, no mouthing the word. Everyone else calls out guesses. Whoever gets it goes next.
A couple of small conventions help things along. For a phrase with several words, hold up fingers for the number of words, then act each word in order. Tug your ear for “sounds like.” That’s genuinely all the structure you need.
You can keep it relaxed and just take turns, or split into teams and keep score. In my experience teams get wonderfully competitive after a big meal, and a 60-second timer per turn stops any one person from silently acting out the entire first Thanksgiving while everyone else drifts into a turkey nap.
Thanksgiving food charades
Food is the heart of the holiday and the easiest place to start, because everyone can mime eating with real commitment. Try acting out how you’d cook it or eat it.
Easy ones for younger players: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pumpkin pie, corn on the cob, apple pie, a dinner roll, carving the turkey, a big feast, whipped cream, a slice of pie.
A step trickier: cranberry sauce, sweet potato, green bean casserole, pecan pie, cornbread, yams, leftovers, a turkey sandwich, going back for seconds, hot apple cider.
For a grown-up crowd: butternut squash, brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, a gravy boat, sweet potato pie.
Thanksgiving symbols and things
One recognisable item at a time — simple enough that even the shyest player at the table can pull it off.
Turkey, pilgrim hat, cornucopia, autumn leaves, pumpkin, corn, scarecrow, hay bale, gourd, maple leaf, wishbone, dinner table, candles, a place setting, napkin, oven, apron, rolling pin, harvest basket, acorn, sunflower, pinecone, a cornstalk, a wooden spoon.
Fall and harvest charades
When you want to stretch beyond the dinner table, the autumn season itself is full of easy, physical clues — perfect for little ones.
Falling leaves, raking leaves, jumping in a leaf pile, pumpkin patch, apple picking, a hayride, a corn maze, a bonfire, the harvest moon, an acorn, a cozy sweater, a scarf, a warm blanket, a cup of cocoa, a crisp breeze, migrating geese, changing leaves, a wheelbarrow of pumpkins, a cornfield, sipping cider, a crackling fire, a chilly morning.
The first Thanksgiving
If you’d like a gentle, story-based category — lovely for kids or a classroom — this one keeps things warm and simple.
A Pilgrim, the Mayflower, sailing across the sea, planting seeds, a bountiful harvest, sharing a meal, giving thanks, a log cabin, the first feast, new friends, a long voyage, a harvest festival, a helping hand, rowing a boat, building a home, growing crops, a warm welcome, planting corn.
Things we’re thankful for
This is my secret-weapon category, because it turns a silly game into a genuinely sweet moment — and acting out “a big hug” or “laughter” always gets a smile.
Family, friends, home, food on the table, a warm bed, pets, good health, sunshine, a big hug, laughter, kindness, a good book, music, a cozy home, helping others, saying thank you, holding hands, a family photo, a home-cooked meal, a best friend, a kind word.
Thanksgiving activities and traditions
This category gets the whole table laughing, because everyone recognises the shared rhythm of the day.
Carving the turkey, saying grace, going around the table sharing what you’re thankful for, watching the parade, watching football, the wishbone pull, setting the table, cooking all day, falling asleep after dinner, washing the dishes, taking a family photo, playing games, a turkey nap, a big family gathering, making a hand-turkey, a Thanksgiving toast, greeting relatives at the door, going back for seconds, passing the gravy, pie for dessert, hugging Grandma, a long road trip.
Animals and nature
Great for kids because they’re so physical — think of the one signature movement, like a turkey’s waddle or a squirrel’s frantic digging.
Turkey, squirrel, deer, owl, goose, duck, rabbit, fox, chipmunk, a gobbling turkey, a scurrying squirrel, a flying goose, a hooting owl, a leaping deer, a waddling turkey, a puffed-up turkey, migrating birds, a sleepy bear, a hopping rabbit, a honking goose.
Parade and football charades
Two of the most beloved Thanksgiving traditions, and both are a gift for charades — big, physical, and instantly recognisable.
A giant balloon, a marching band, a parade float, a drum major, confetti, a cheerleader, throwing a football, a touchdown, kicking a field goal, a quarterback, blowing a whistle, the halftime show, a baton twirler, a huge crowd, catching a pass, a cartwheel, waving a flag, a big cheer, doing the wave, a referee.
Easy Thanksgiving charades for kids
Playing with little ones? Keep the clues short, familiar and physical. My go-to starter set: turkey, pumpkin, pie, corn, a scarecrow, falling leaves, a big hug, mashed potatoes, a gobbling turkey, carving the turkey, a family photo, and jumping in a leaf pile. In the game above, just set the audience to “Kids” and it filters to exactly these.
Harder Thanksgiving charades for adults
Want a real challenge after dinner? Reach for the trickier multi-word clues: going around the table sharing what you’re thankful for, the halftime show, a bountiful harvest, a grateful toast, butternut squash, a nut-hunting chipmunk. Set the audience to “Adults” in the game and it leans into these automatically.
Tips to make Thanksgiving charades more fun
Split into teams and keep score — it turns a nice after-dinner activity into a proper family tournament, and the trash talk between rounds is half the fun. Add a 60-second timer so nobody hogs the floor while everyone’s in a food coma. Let everyone toss a few personal clues into the mix (“Dad falling asleep in his chair,” “the great gravy disaster of last year”) — the game above has a box for exactly that, and homemade clues get the biggest laughs of the night. And with a mixed-age table, alternate easy and hard clues so the six-year-old and the grandparents both get their moment.
Print your Thanksgiving charades cards
Prefer paper? The game will generate a printable sheet of cut-out cards you can fold and drop into a bowl — no screens at the table. Tap “Print charades cards” in the game to download them.
FAQ
How do you play Thanksgiving charades?
One player acts out a Thanksgiving word or phrase in complete silence while everyone else guesses. No talking, no pointing at objects and no mouthing the word. When someone guesses correctly, the next player takes a turn. You can play in relaxed turns or split into teams and keep score, and a short timer for each turn keeps the energy up.
What are good Thanksgiving charades ideas?
The best ideas fall into a few reliable groups: food like turkey, pie and mashed potatoes; symbols like a cornucopia or a pilgrim hat; traditions like carving the turkey or watching the parade; things you’re thankful for like family and friends; and fun actions like a gobbling turkey or falling asleep after dinner. Mixing categories keeps every round fresh.
What are easy Thanksgiving charades for kids?
Stick to short, familiar and physical clues: turkey, pumpkin, pie, corn, scarecrow, falling leaves, a big hug and carving the turkey. Setting the audience to Kids in the online game filters the clues down to exactly this kind of easy, recognisable prompt.
Can I play Thanksgiving charades online for free?
Yes. The game on this page is completely free, needs no app or sign-up, and works on a phone, tablet or computer. Choose your categories, turn a timer or team scoring on if you like, and pass the device around the table.
Is Thanksgiving charades good for the classroom?
It’s one of the best group games there is because only one person acts at a time while everyone watches and guesses, so there’s no waiting around and nothing to set up. The gentle “first Thanksgiving” and “thankful for” categories make it a lovely, age-appropriate fit for a classroom, and you can split the class into teams to keep the energy high.
Is Thanksgiving charades good for a big family gathering?
Absolutely. It works with any number of people, needs no equipment, and gets every generation involved — perfect for that sleepy stretch after the meal. For a big group, split into teams and keep score to keep everyone engaged.
My name is