Thanksgiving Traditions: Fun Ways to Celebrate and Give Thanks

Celebrate Thanksgiving with meaningful traditions and fun activities for family and friends.

Looking for Thanksgiving traditions that make the holiday more meaningful and fun? Explore classic Thanksgiving celebration ideas and fun things to do on Thanksgiving Day with kids, adults, family, and friends. From traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu ideas and recipes to games, fall decorations, gratitude activities and crafts, and different ways to celebrate, you’ll find several ideas for gathering, giving thanks, and making memories.

Some of my favorite family Thanksgiving traditions involve making crafts, cooking a Thanksgiving feast, playing games, sharing gratitude, and spending time outdoors with my family. Whether you want to start a new Thanksgiving tradition or find something enjoyable to do before dinner, after the meal, or over Thanksgiving break, choose one or two ideas from this helpful guide that fit your family and energy level.

This list isn’t a list of Thanksgiving activities you must do or traditions you need to complete. Instead, it is a “can-do” list with several Thanksgiving celebration ideas to choose from if you’d like. Use it as a reminder of everything you can do, or not do, up to you. This informative guide also includes Thanksgiving dates and a brief history of the holiday in the FAQ’s below the activity lists. For more holiday traditions you can enjoy with family and friends, explore this list of Christmas Traditions or these fun Easter Traditions.

What Do People Do on Thanksgiving?

Many people in the United States and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing a meal with family and friends, expressing gratitude for the harvest and the food on their table, and appreciating the blessings in their lives. Popular Thanksgiving traditions include watching a parade or football game, playing games, making crafts, and taking a family walk. Others volunteer in their community, host a Friendsgiving, or call loved ones who cannot join them.

How Do You Celebrate Thanksgiving?

To make Thanksgiving meaningful, choose a few activities that bring people together and offer a chance to give thanks. Share what you’re grateful for around the dinner table, decorate a thankful tree, or look through family photos and tell stories. If you’re looking for more fun things to do on Thanksgiving before or after dinner, enjoy a board game, make a gratitude craft, or head outdoors for a fall scavenger hunt. Choose traditions that fit your gathering, with time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Thanksgiving Traditions to Start with Your Family

Explore Thanksgiving tradition ideas and fun ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with kids, adults, family, and friends. Whether you want to continue a favorite family tradition or try something new, you’ll find meaningful ways to give thanks, spend time together, and make lasting memories.

This collection includes fun things to do on Thanksgiving Day, activities to enjoy before the holiday, and ideas for the day after Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend. Choose from these categories to find Thanksgiving celebration ideas that fit your family’s interests, time, and budget. Use the links below to jump directly to the Thanksgiving traditions and activities that interest you most, or browse the full list for fun ways to celebrate with family and friends.

• Thanksgiving Food and Feasting Traditions
• Traditions for Sharing Gratitude and Thankfulness
• Fun Things to Do on Thanksgiving with Family and Friends
• Community and Giving Back: Local Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving
• Seasonal Fun and Outdoor Thanksgiving Traditions
• Traditional Things to Do the Day After Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving Weekend Traditions: Things to Do over Fall Break to Prepare for the Christmas Holiday Season
• Thanksgiving FAQs and History

Start with the section that interests you most, or browse the full list for a new Thanksgiving tradition to try. For a simple celebration, choose one gratitude activity and one game, craft, or outdoor adventure to enjoy together. You don’t need a packed schedule to make Thanksgiving special—leave room for conversation, relaxation, and traditions your family already loves.

Thanksgiving Food and Feasting Traditions:

The first collection of modern and classic Thanksgiving traditions focuses on the foods we prepare to celebrate. Enjoy these Thanksgiving food activity ideas with loved ones:

1. Enjoy a Modern or Traditional Thanksgiving meal:

One of the most classic Thanksgiving traditions is hosting or attending a Thanksgiving meal with a delicious dessert to celebrate with family, friends, and neighbors. Traditionally, families serve a beautiful, home-baked, oven-roasted turkey. However, some modern home chefs have created delicious, creative meal substitutes, including deep-fried turkeys and vegetarian or vegan Thanksgiving menu options, that would make anyone’s mouth water—whether or not they’re a fan of traditional Thanksgiving turkey.

Suppose nobody in your family wants to cook or do the dishes for Thanksgiving this year. In that case, you can reserve a table at your favorite local restaurant or have your meal professionally catered instead. Some families eat a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant as one of their favorite family traditions—and you can, too! For several years, my father’s side of the family (my parents divorced in 1975) traditionally celebrated Thanksgiving by meeting for dinner at the Tick Tock Restaurant in Hollywood.

I fondly remember those Thanksgiving meals and our joyful laughter as we happily sat at our table. Many people in my family were relieved not to spend all day cooking, and over the years we had many great conversations as we gratefully lingered over each delicious course. Unfortunately, the Tick Tock Restaurant closed in 1988, the same year I graduated from Santa Monica High School. Maybe a restaurant near you serves up an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast! Another modern way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to plan a holiday vacation with a new or traditional Thanksgiving sit-down meal.

The Foods Typically Included in a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner:

Traditionally, a Thanksgiving dinner includes roasted turkey as the main dish, with sides such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, and other seasonal vegetables associated with the fall harvest. Desserts such as pumpkin pie and pecan pie are also commonly served. Alternatively, the main dish can be another type of poultry, such as chicken, duck, goose, or venison (deer), or a vegan or vegetarian option, such as a tofurky or vegetable lasagna.

Other dishes may be included depending on regional or personal preferences. As a result, traditional Thanksgiving dinner dishes can vary from family to family and table to table. For example, my family serves potatoes mashed with homemade gravy. In contrast, my husband’s family always included candied yams or sweet potatoes in their traditional Thanksgiving meal. Other families substitute a sweet potato casserole or include at least two of the above!

While some people may tell you that Thanksgiving dinners traditionally include foods similar to those served at the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims did not eat the same foods we put on our Thanksgiving tables today. Instead, they likely had a feast of local fowl, venison, possibly a wild turkey or two, and seasonal foods they could grow, harvest, and prepare with the limited resources available to them.

Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Menu with Recipes:

Celebrate Thanksgiving with delicious traditional foods and dishes. Click on the blue hyperlinked text for the recipe and cooking directions for each traditional Thanksgiving menu item listed below.

• Oven-roasted turkey or vegetarian option.
• Stuffing cooked inside the turkey. Stuffing is traditionally made with cornbread; however, several other delicious variations exist today.
• Potatoes (sweet, gold, red, or yams): mashed, scalloped, baked, roasted, candied yams, etc.
• Turkey gravy – made with freshly roasted turkey drippings.
• Cranberry sauce – try homemade (recipe below), or whole berries, jellied, or another cranberry alternative. Or, try our pumpkin bread made with whole fresh cranberries.
• A seasonal vegetable side dish made with corn, green beans, etc.
• Apple, pecan, or Pumpkin pie for dessert! Make your family’s favorite pumpkin pie recipe with homemade pumpkin puree for a fresh-from-the-garden taste you can’t get out of a can!

2. Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce:

On my Mom’s side of the family, it’s traditional to make homemade cranberry sauce as a Thanksgiving side dish, with the recipe and simple instructions below. I have fond memories of helping my maternal grandma grade orange zest and stirring the fresh cranberries as they popped while the sauce simmered on the stove whenever I got to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at her house. Get the kids to help make and stir this simple, delicious Thanksgiving side dish. Best of all, you can make cranberry sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe:

• 1 12-ounce bag of fresh (or frozen) cranberries
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of liquid (water or orange juice)
• Optional (orange zest, cinnamon stick, cloves)

How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce:

• Combine ingredients in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, stirring the ingredients until the sugar dissolves
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir occasionally for about 10-15 minutes.
• Add in optional extras, such as orange zest, cinnamon, cloves, etc., if desired.
• The cranberries will begin to pop and release pectin, which helps the sauce thicken.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and allow it to cool to thicken.
• Transfer to a bowl or jar and refrigerate until ready to serve.

3. Host a Potluck Dinner:

Instead of cooking the entire meal, host a Thanksgiving potluck by inviting guests to each bring a dish to share! This can make your Thanksgiving dinner more diverse and take the pressure off the hosts. Encourage relatives and other guests to use locally sourced ingredients (if possible) to create their favorite homemade Thanksgiving side dish or appetizer. This Thanksgiving activity gives everyone at the dinner table a farm-to-table experience.

4. Cook a Vegetarian or Vegan Feast:

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, or have a Thanksgiving dinner guest who is, consider preparing a vegetarian feast or including at least a few dishes without animal products. Offering plant-based alternatives, such as lentil loaf or stuffed squash, helps everyone feel included and valued. Many people in my family always appreciate this simple addition.

5. Prepare Something Old and Something New:

Here’s a fun Thanksgiving tradition you can start in your family, or one you might already do. Include at least one heritage dish and one new family recipe in your Thanksgiving meal plan.

Consider including at least one dish made with an old family recipe and another using a recipe you have never tried before, even if it’s just a dessert, side dish, or an hour’s worth of devouring. Cook recipes that honor your cultural or family background alongside your traditional meal, and introduce a fresh dish that blends old traditions with new memories.

6. Bake Homemade Holiday Pies:

Baking holiday pies, such as apple, pumpkin, and pecan, along with other autumn confectionery creations, is a classic Thanksgiving tradition. The sweet aroma of pie baking fills the house with irresistible fall scents.

7. Make Bread Together:

Baking bread with fresh seasonal ingredients is a hands-on activity the whole family can enjoy. As a child, I recall using a food mill to grind wheat berries into fresh flour and kneading bread with my mom in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Today, my daughter and I enjoy making homemade pumpkin puree from the sugar pumpkins we grow and using it to create a delicious, low-fat pumpkin cranberry bread for our Thanksgiving feast. We also enjoy making this delicious pumpkin bread during the Christmas season. Pumpkin and cranberries perfectly complement all our holiday celebrations.

8. Bless the Food: Share a Blessing, Prayer, Seasonal Verse, or Moment of Silence:

Share a blessing, short prayer, seasonal verse, or moment of silence as you gather around the dinner table before eating your Thanksgiving feast. Invite someone to speak for everyone, share a short Thanksgiving blessing or prayer in unison, or take a few moments to silently express gratitude for the abundance of food on the table.

9. Offer a Thanksgiving Toast:

Making a Thanksgiving toast with apple cider, sparkling grape juice, wine, or champagne can add a special touch to the holiday gathering. This Thanksgiving family tradition can help set a warm tone for the meal and bring everyone together in a shared moment of appreciation and celebration. It’s a moment to pause, express gratitude, or reflect on the essence of Thanksgiving. 

The toast often happens at the beginning of the meal, when the host or a designated guest stands, raises a glass, and shares a few heartfelt words. However, a toast can happen at any time during the meal, and more than one person can give it, as long as they have something sincere to say. A good Thanksgiving toast blends humor and thankfulness and can include a heartfelt reflection on the blessings you’ve experienced in the past year. It doesn’t need to be lengthy; a concise, sincere message that captures the spirit of gratitude and togetherness will suffice. 

10. Make a wish on the wishbone:

Making a wish on the wishbone is a fun tradition that many families include in their Thanksgiving celebrations, often passing it down through the generations. After carving the turkey and enjoying the meal, someone sets the wishbone aside to dry for a day or two so it’s easier to break. When it’s ready, two people (usually children or guests) each hold one side, close their eyes, and pull.

Invite two family members to pull apart the turkey wishbone while making a wish. The person who breaks off the larger piece will have their wish granted. If the wishbone cracks evenly, both people get their wish! The wishbone symbolizes hope, optimism, and looking forward to the future. Breaking it is seen as a way to attract good luck and fortune in the days ahead.

Making a wish on a wishbone is a popular American custom, especially during Thanksgiving. This practice dates back thousands of years, long before Thanksgiving became a tradition. Its origins trace back to the ancient Etruscans in Italy, around 700 B.C., who believed birds and their bones held mystical powers.

Traditions for Sharing Gratitude and Thankfulness:

Many of my family’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions focus on all we have to be thankful for. As previously mentioned, Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. So, we give thanks for the bounty we receive at harvest—and the bounty (blessings and lessons) we continue to receive throughout the year.

The Thanksgiving traditions below share the theme of filling your holiday celebrations with gratitude. Some of these gratitude activities and crafts are meant to be created and shared in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, while others are ideal for sharing gratitude on Thanksgiving with family and friends.

1. Make and decorate a Gratitude or Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving:

A thankful tree is a Thanksgiving decoration that the whole family can make and decorate together. A gratitude tree is another name for a thankful tree. There are many ways to design and use a theme. The basic idea is to write blessings on paper leaves and hang them on the tree’s branches. They can be as simple as a printable craft you make and hang on a bulletin board, frame, or fridge, or as elaborate as a Thanksgiving table centerpiece.

They all share one thing: cultivating gratitude and nurturing thankfulness. Making and decorating a gratitude tree is a Thanksgiving tradition the whole family can enjoy. Another option is a DIY gratitude mobile. Look at the gratitude tree ideas below, or learn more about the thankful tree tradition and discover even more ideas!

My family loves decorating gratitude trees so much that we have three DIY tutorials that share how to make different thankful trees for Thanksgiving. Two are easy printable crafts that children or adults can create independently or as a group. Another gratitude tree features bare branches and freshly fallen, preserved autumn leaves, while the third has clay leaves inscribed with gratitude.

2. Decorate the Table with Thankful Turkey Thanksgiving Placemats:

Put together these adorable Thanksgiving Coloring Placemats and invite children and other guests to color them with thankful pictures while they wait for dinner! Thankful turkey Thanksgiving placemats make it easy and fun for kids and adults of all ages to illustrate what they are grateful for.

3. Pass Around a Gratitude Jar:

Collect notes of thankfulness and appreciation in a beautiful jar, such as a homemade leaf lantern, a mason jar with a thankful turkey, hearts, or a ceramic blessing jar. Then, read the notes aloud after dinner, sharing everyone’s thankful thoughts and blessings, if desired.

4. Give Thanks Around the Table During Your Thanksgiving Meal:

Many families enjoy sharing what they are grateful for as they sit around the Thanksgiving table and savor a traditional meal together. Designate a talking stick or another item to pass around the table to signal who’s sharing, such as a gratitude jar, and take turns sharing at least one thing you are grateful for. Alternatively, you can take turns writing words of gratitude on leaves. Then share what you write aloud before hanging the leaves on a thankful tree.

Related: I am Grateful FREE Gratitude Journal Printable

5. Go for a Thankful Walk or Gratitude Hike:

Like turkey trot races, this Thanksgiving tradition encourages people to get outside and move their bodies, helping burn off the excess calories a traditional Thanksgiving menu often provides. Take a stroll with the whole family before or after Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy the seasonal sights that make autumn so gorgeous. As you walk, point out things you’re grateful for, like the fresh air, and share them with others if you have company. Don’t forget your cameras for family photos. You might also enjoy sending the kids on a fall scavenger hunt while you are out there. Or look for signs that winter is near!

6. Express Gratitude with Other Thankful Thanksgiving Activities and Crafts:

Here’s a list of Thanksgiving gratitude crafts and activities you can try. Each gratitude craft and activity on the list has a Thanksgiving or fall theme. In contrast, this fun list includes gratitude activities and thankful crafts that you can enjoy year-round to nurture gratitude at home or in the classroom.

Fun Things to do on Thanksgiving with Family and Friends:

The next category of Thanksgiving traditions includes fun activities you can do with family and friends to celebrate the holiday.

1. Make an Embroidered Thanksgiving Tablecloth:

Make an embroidered Thanksgiving tablecloth you can reuse year after year with this fun idea. A hand-embroidered tablecloth with everyone’s names hand-sewn into it makes a lovely homemade keepsake and a festive holiday decoration for the family member hosting dinner, as you add members to the family. Since a hand-embroidered Thanksgiving tablecloth can be passed down through the generations, it can become a treasured heirloom and a cherished family tradition for years to come.

How to make a hand-embroidered tablecloth:

• First, find a white, 100% cotton tablecloth that will fit your family table.
• Next, ask each family member to carefully sign it with their name, a short prayer, or a thanksgiving blessing.
  • Use a disappearing ink fabric marker if you plan to sew it right away; the ink fades away in 12-36 hours, or can be removed with water.
  • If you won’t be embroidering over their name right away, have family members sign the tablecloth with a permanent marker so you have plenty of time to stitch over it later.
• Trace what they have written with a needle and embroidery thread using your favorite hand-sewing stitches.
• Alternatively, have family members sign with permanent ink and leave it as is, without going over what they wrote with a needle and thread. This option may not look as lovely as hand-embroidered names and blessings, and the ink can fade slightly over the years if you plan to turn it into a keepsake, but it still works.

2. Attend (or Watch) the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is the quintessential Thanksgiving Day parade. It’s a beautiful tradition, with floats, balloons, and performances on Manhattan’s streets. However, if taking the whole family to New York City is not part of your travel plans this year, consider watching it on TV or attending a local Thanksgiving Day parade!

3. Take Family Photos:

It’s fun to take family photos when everyone gets together for the holidays. Capture the moment with yearly snapshots to see how everyone grows and changes over time. Take a photo of everyone gathered around the table. You can even hire a local professional photographer to take everyone’s photo if you’d like.

Another great idea is to invite everyone to take candid photos with their mobile phones over the weekend, then encourage them to share them with each other to create a digital group album. Best of all, you can use your favorite photograph or photographs to make Christmas cards to send to friends and relatives for the holidays.

4. Look Through Family Photo Albums:

Another fun thing people do on Thanksgiving is look at family photos together. There are several fun reasons to pull out the photo books. Even though most photo albums are digital these days, sharing photos is still fun. It’s a great way to pass the time, keep everyone updated on life events, learn about family history, or have a good laugh!

As a kid, I remember poring over the photographs in my grandmother’s photo album during our Thanksgiving visits. As I flipped through the pages, I loved hearing stories about my ancestors and seeing who they were.

I also remember being invited to Thanksgiving dinner at my boyfriend’s house in college, and his mother brought out the family photo albums to show me his baby pictures. He wasn’t that happy about it at first. However, he noticed that looking at pictures helped me and his mother relax and get to know each other. This makes Thanksgiving a great time to share photos for many reasons.

5. Make Thanksgiving Crafts:

Spend time connecting with your children over the break with traditional Thanksgiving crafts. Try traditional Thanksgiving gratitude crafts, such as a gratitude jar or thankful tree, on this list of activities. Alternatively, click the creator of each homemade Thanksgiving craft below for step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving craft ideas kids can make!

• DIY Thanksgiving Placemats | Rhythms of Play
• Turkey Mason Jar Lantern | Rhythms of Play
• Harvest Pumpkin Watercolor Art Activity | Rhythms of Play
• Burlap Handprint Turkey Placemats | Meaningful Mama
• Gratitude Mobile | Rhythms of Play
• Turkey Leaf Craft Activity Ideas | Rhythms of Play
• Handprint and Footprint Turkey Craft | A little Pinch of Perfect
• Thanksgiving Apple Turkey Craft Activity | I Heart Crafty Things
• Clay Gratitude Leaves | Rhythms of Play
• Thanksgiving Thankful Turkey Craft Kit | Amazon

6. Play Thanksgiving Board Games:

A classic family Thanksgiving tradition is playing Thanksgiving games or hosting a family game night. Board games are a great way to pass the time with the family while you wait for a delicious Thanksgiving meal to cook. Please make sure someone is in the kitchen to help the chef or chefs when needed. Choose classics or themed games, such as gratitude games. Try the Thanksgiving gratitude games in THIS post, or look at the list of thankful games HERE. Or, pick a new board game for the whole family to enjoy!

Related: Social-Emotional Development Games for Kids

7. Watch a Thanksgiving Movie:

Cozy up with seasonal favorites after dinner. When I was a child, one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions was watching “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” with my brothers every year when it aired on Television. Check your local listings to see when it airs this year, or buy a copy! Alternatively, watch a movie about a family coming together for Thanksgiving, like “Home for the Holidays,” which conveys the importance of gratitude, or your favorite Thanksgiving-themed movie.

8. Enjoy a Movie Marathon:

If you’re not in the mood for a Thanksgiving movie, enjoy a movie marathon (or a TV series marathon) while you wait for dinner. This is a fun Thanksgiving activity for kids and adults. You can also host a sleepover movie marathon with friends or family for a fun Thanksgiving weekend activity.

Related: The Best Fall Nature Crafts

9. Watch or Play Football:

For some families, football games and Thanksgiving go together like the mashed potatoes and gravy on their dinner plates. You can enjoy this classic Thanksgiving tradition in several ways. Host a family football game, or turn on the TV to watch the kickoff with the whole family while waiting for your Thanksgiving feast to cook.

10. Call Family and Friends:

Contact family and friends who can’t join you on Thanksgiving. Call them so everyone can catch up with those missing from the festivities.

11. Set up a Puzzle Table:

Doing a puzzle with family is a fun Thanksgiving activity for people of all ages. Either set it up beforehand or retrieve your favorite puzzle from the game closet when family arrives. You can also gift a new one to your family or the hosts of the meal. Next, gather with friends and family to start putting it together and pass the time while you wait for your Thanksgiving feast. Working on a jigsaw puzzle throughout the day not only passes the time, but also keeps hands busy, conversation flowing, and minds distracted from hunger.

12. Share Family Stories:

Share funny and meaningful family memories while spending time with loved ones during the holiday break. Hearing stories while dinner cooks and around the Thanksgiving table is how many children learn more about relatives they don’t really know. Pass on the stories that matter most, and encourage other family members to do the same.

13. Host a Pie Baking Contest:

Hosting a pie-baking contest is a fun way to invite family and friends to bake and bring their best pie. A Thanksgiving pie competition adds a delightful, engaging twist to the festivities. Whether sweet or savory, traditional or innovative, it can be either. This friendly competition can be organized with categories such as ‘Best Traditional Pie,’ ‘Most Creative Pie,’ or ‘Best Overall,’ and everyone at the gathering can participate in tasting and voting for their favorites. 

This Thanksgiving activity not only encourages culinary creativity and the sharing of beloved family recipes, but also provides an inclusive activity for all ages, from toddlers to the elderly. The pie competition fosters a fun, communal atmosphere and offers a delicious way to celebrate each participant’s tasty talent, making Thanksgiving even more memorable.

14. Go to Thanksgiving Services:

Many churches, synagogues, temples, and other places of worship hold a unique service on or around Thanksgiving. Find one near you to attend with the whole family.

15. Host a Friendsgiving:

Celebrate with friends either before or after Thanksgiving Day. Friendsgiving is a modern, informal twist on the traditional American Thanksgiving holiday, where friends gather to celebrate and share a meal. The term combines the words “friends” and “Thanksgiving” to create “Friendsgiving.” This variation of the traditional Thanksgiving celebration is about sharing good food with great company while expressing gratitude for the people who enrich our lives beyond family.

The celebration usually centers around a shared meal, often in a casual, potluck-style setting where each guest contributes a dish or drink. While some groups stick to classic Thanksgiving foods, such as roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, others opt for non-traditional or themed menus, including tacos, vegan dishes, or international cuisine.

Unlike traditional Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving is typically held before or after Thanksgiving Day, often the weekend prior, so it doesn’t interfere with “Friends” who have family plans. It has also gained popularity among people who may be far from family and unable to travel home for the holidays, or who prefer a more relaxed, inclusive holiday experience.

16. Plan a Destination Vacation and Make it a Family Tradition for Thanksgiving:

Don’t you think starting a Thanksgiving destination-vacation tradition with your family would be a fun way to spend the holiday? It’s a Thanksgiving experience gift the whole family can enjoy year after year! My brother and I will never forget the year our father took us to Disneyland for Thanksgiving vacation. We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel and had a table reserved for Thanksgiving Dinner in the grand ballroom. Unfortunately, I don’t think Disneyland still offers this, but it was so much fun!

If you’d like to cook your own traditional Thanksgiving meal as a part of your Thanksgiving traditions, consider renting a house, condo, or cabin with a full kitchen, and plan to buy food and a few cooking essentials. I know a few families who make a destination vacation a family tradition rather than hosting a family meal at home, and they swear by it. Some families choose the same vacation spot each year, like the family ski cabin. Others prefer a new Thanksgiving destination. You might also enjoy these Fun Family Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday.

Community and Being of Service (Giving Back): Local Things to do for Thanksgiving:

This category includes Thanksgiving activities you can do in your city or town, as well as ways to serve or give back to the community.

Related: Best Fall Art Projects

1. Support Local Farmers:

A fun thing to do just before or after Thanksgiving is to visit a local farm. We are told that the pilgrims served locally grown, freshly harvested foods for their first Thanksgiving, and we can, too! Just as the pilgrims did, you can also give thanks for the harvest’s bounty by serving locally harvested and raised food on your Thanksgiving table.

My family enjoys incorporating locally grown, organically produced foods into our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. So, we visit a local farm (or the Farmers’ Market) before Thanksgiving to pick fresh, local foods for our Thanksgiving meal. It has become a family tradition that we enjoy every year.

Make gathering fresh, locally raised and grown foods for your Thanksgiving dinner a family tradition. If traveling to a local farm to collect fare for your feast is impossible, take the family to your local farmers’ market to purchase organically grown and raised foods.

2. Enter a Thanksgiving “Turkey Trot” or Another Race or Fall Harvest Event:

A turkey trot is a running race that typically takes place on Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, or during the Thanksgiving weekend across the United States. Participating in one is a healthy, charitable way to start the day. This tradition began to combat the “stuffed” feeling many Americans experience after indulging in a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Enter a turkey trot near you to burn off extra calories from the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Invite your family to join you if they are willing. A little friendly family competition keeps a family happy and healthy. Find a turkey trot near you HERE!

3. Invite Someone New to Dinner:

Extend hospitality to friends, coworkers, or neighbors who don’t have family nearby by inviting them to dinner.

4. Serve Those in Need: Volunteer at a Local Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen:

On Thanksgiving, a lovely tradition is to take the time to serve those in need. Sign up as a family to volunteer at a homeless shelter, a local soup kitchen, Meals on Wheels, or other organizations that serve food to those in need. They always appreciate extra helping hands to ensure everyone gets fed on Thanksgiving.

5. Donate to a Food Bank:

Collect and deliver non-perishable food to your local food bank before the holiday.

6. Send Care Packages:

Ship holiday treats to loved ones who are far away or military personnel.

7. Deliver Food to Neighbors:

Share pies, bread, or leftovers with elderly or isolated community members.

8. Make DIY Meals for the Homeless:

Assemble bagged meals with sandwiches, fruit, and snacks for people experiencing homelessness.

9. Write Thank You Notes to Service Workers:

Express gratitude to first responders, mail carriers, or hospital staff by writing thank-you notes or baking cookies or pies. This is a great Thanksgiving activity for families with children.

Seasonal Fun and Outdoor Thanksgiving Traditions:

The traditions below include seasonal activities you can do in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and over the fall break, such as decorating with fall-themed decor. This category also includes seasonal outdoor activities that kids and adults can enjoy.

1. Decorate for Thanksgiving or Harvest with Fall Decor:

Decorate the house with fall themes. Many people decorate for harvest in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Use the DIY and ready-made Thanksgiving decoration ideas below to add a festive touch to your home and Thanksgiving celebrations.

DIY and Ready-made Thanksgiving Decorations:

• Decorate with gourds and pumpkins from your local pumpkin patch
• Thankful Turkey Printable Thanksgiving Placemats to Color
• Turkey leaf mason jar lanterns (pictured below)
• DIY Thankful trees
• Indian corn wreath DIY
• How to make a canning jar lid pumpkin
• Thanksgiving table runner
• Thanksgiving decorations
• Lighted fall garland
• Fall wreath

2. Go to a Fall harvest Celebration or Autumn Fair:

Another fun thing to do in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving is to attend a harvest celebration or fair. Check your local family resource guide or search online for a nearby harvest fair.

3. Enjoy Outdoor Fall Leaf Activities:

Rake leaves and jump in, or invite kids to enjoy these other creative outdoor leaf activities. Playing in the beautiful autumn foliage is a great way to celebrate the season.

4. Read Children’s Thanksgiving books and Books About Fall with Children:

I compiled a list of children’s Thanksgiving gratitude books that inspire thankfulness, along with entertaining and educational fall books that are fun to read with kids.

5. Take a Family Walk or Bike Ride:

A family walk or bike ride is a refreshing way to balance feasting with movement. With so much good food to eat on Thanksgiving, heading outdoors for some much-needed exercise should be on every family’s holiday to-do list.

6. Go on a Scavenger Hunt:

Hide clues or fall-themed items around the yard for kids to find. Or enjoy one of these fall scavenger hunt ideas.

7. Collect Nature’s Treasures to Make Crafts:

Head outdoors to search for acorns, leaves, pinecones, sticks, and other natural treasures for crafts. Browse this list of fall nature crafts and art activities to gather inspiration.

8. Go Apple or Pumpkin Picking:

Extend the harvest season into your celebrations. Traditional ideas include visiting a local pumpkin patch, corn maze, or apple orchard.

Traditional Things to Do the Day After Thanksgiving:

Here are a few Thanksgiving traditions that people typically do on the day after Thanksgiving. The final two Thanksgiving celebration ideas are modern-day traditions that some families in the United States choose to observe.

1. Enjoy Turkey Leftovers in a New Way:

After Thanksgiving, enjoying leftovers is a delightful family tradition that extends the holiday’s culinary pleasures. The abundance of food prepared for the Thanksgiving feast often leaves a generous supply of leftovers, creating an opportunity for creative culinary endeavors in the days that follow. 

Transforming these remnants into new meals not only reduces food waste but also revives the holiday flavors. Popular leftover dishes include turkey sandwiches, salads, soups, and casseroles. These dishes are easy to prepare and offer a comforting reminder of the holiday’s warmth, abundance, and togetherness. 

Leftover turkey dinner is one of my favorites! Maybe it’s because I typically only make a turkey with all the fixings once a year. So, my family savors every last bite. We love to fry leftovers in a cast-iron pan to warm stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, make fresh turkey sandwiches, and use the leftover bones and flesh to make turkey stock and soups. 

After Thanksgiving dinner, make it a tradition to put the leftover turkey carcass in a stockpot to make homemade poultry stock for leftover turkey soup. And don’t forget the tradition of making homemade turkey sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving- yum! This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions. I love fresh turkey sandwiches. What is your favorite recipe to eat Thanksgiving leftovers? Let me know in the comments below!

2. Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving tradition):

One of America’s best-known traditions after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. However, the US is not the only country that enjoys this tradition, Thanksgiving or not. In 2026, Black Friday falls on Friday, November 27. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early, often at midnight or earlier, to offer sales, lowered prices, and deals that companies claim you won’t find any other day of the year. However, cyber sales often run throughout November, culminating in Cyber Monday, which reduces the lines that form at midnight at many stores nationwide.

If you are curious about its origins, the Philadelphia Police Department originally called it “Black Friday” because the large number of shoppers caused traffic accidents and sometimes even violence.

Another reason many believe the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday is that retailers have finally moved out of the red, going from a financial loss to a profit. In other words, most retailers start earning a profit after this day, so they offer sales to pass savings on to consumers in time for Christmas and reduce remaining stock before the New Year.

3. Opt Outside! (get outside on the day after Thanksgiving):

My immediate family loves the Opt Outside initiative (#OptOutside). We love to enjoy Opt Outside every year on the day after Thanksgiving. As nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, we have always spent the day enjoying the great outdoors instead of heading inside to shop on Black Friday.

However, Opt Outside officially began in 2015 as a response to consumerism. It started when outdoor retailer REI decided to close its stores on Black Friday and challenged everyone to Opt Outside (#OptOutside) instead (source). In other words, the company encouraged people to get outside, do what they love outdoors, and enjoy the holiday weekend with family instead of shopping on Black Friday.

It has since evolved to support causes like environmental welfare, inclusivity, and responsible creation, production, and distribution. In other words, Opt Outside encourages people to choose nature over retail therapy. Today, REI (and a few other awesome companies) continue to close their stores on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, and instead pay each employee to spend time outdoors with family and friends.

Maybe you and your family will opt out and join us for an outdoor adventure this Black Friday. Enjoy the great outdoors on the Friday after Thanksgiving with any of these fun outdoor activities!

Thanksgiving Weekend Traditions: Things you can do over the Fall Break to Prepare for the Christmas Holiday Season:

Here are a few more fun things people do during fall break, the day after Thanksgiving, and for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

1. Start a Holiday Gift-Giving Tradition:

Prepare for the holiday gift-giving season on Thanksgiving by planning a Christmas gift exchange with friends and relatives. This approach lets family and friends join in the spirit of giving without feeling pressured to buy gifts for everyone. Planning it around Thanksgiving gives everyone ample time to handcraft or find thoughtful gifts, adding excitement and anticipation to the holiday season. 

One popular method is drawing names, where each person draws another person’s name and buys a gift specifically for them, often with a set budget to keep things fair and manageable. For more ideas, read Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas. A family gift-giving tradition is a beautiful way to ensure everyone feels included and to reduce the stress and expense of holiday shopping, so you can focus more on the joy and meaning of the season.

2. Prepare for the Christmas Shopping Season and Holiday Gift-Giving:

The days leading up to and following Thanksgiving are an ideal time to start Christmas shopping and prepare for the holiday gift-giving season. Whether you scour stores for the perfect gifts for your loved ones or prefer to make homemade gifts for Christmas. Thanksgiving weekend and fall break are an ideal time to consider what you will be gifting this year. The fall break is a great time to make a general plan to gather or make DIY gifts for family, extended relatives, co-workers, and friends.

3. Consider Creating Homemade Gifts for Loved Ones:

If you’ve ever wanted to make homemade gifts for Christmas, the late fall is a great time to start. Browse through these DIY gift ideas for inspiration and begin gathering craft supplies to create gorgeous, handmade gifts for family, extended relatives, and friends.

4. Cut down your own Christmas Tree:

One of my family’s favorite new Thanksgiving traditions is getting a permit to cut down our Christmas tree for our home the day after Thanksgiving (or on a weekend before or after). We encourage you to join us!

Find a local Christmas tree farm near you, or get a permit and a map to head into the woods and cut down a tree where it’s allowed. If those options aren’t available in your city or town, consider visiting your favorite local Christmas tree lot to find a tree to decorate instead. Or try any of these other ideas–>Christmas Traditions.

5. Start decorating for Christmas!:

Some people start decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving, and others put up their trees for Thanksgiving to decorate with the family. However, in the weekend after Thanksgiving in the United States, most people take out their Christmas decorations and start decorating if they haven’t already.

Join the fun! Get the Christmas lights and other decorations out of storage to start bringing the light of Christmas to your neighborhood. Check out this list of Christmas traditions for ideas and creative DIY inspiration.

6. Make DIY Christmas ornaments:

Late fall is an ideal time to start making Christmas ornaments and other DIY Christmas decorations to adorn your home, schoolroom, or office. Browse this list of homemade Christmas ornaments for inspiration and gather the supplies you need.

Thanksgiving Tradition FAQs:

Have questions about Thanksgiving traditions, when the holiday is celebrated, or how it began? These FAQs explore the meaning of Thanksgiving, the dates in the United States and Canada, and the holiday’s history—including common misconceptions about its origins.

What is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is a holiday in the United States and Canada that we celebrate to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. This fall holiday is known as “Turkey Day” because the traditional Thanksgiving menu features turkey as the main dish (or a vegetarian or vegan alternative). We give thanks not only for the bounty we have received at harvest and the food on our table during the holiday season, but also for the gifts and blessings we receive throughout the year.

What are Thanksgiving traditions?

Thanksgiving traditions vary from family to family and household to household, reflecting how people celebrate Thanksgiving at home, in their culture, or in their community. Thanksgiving traditions are the rituals, routines, and festive holiday rhythms we share with family and friends that create meaning and bring joy during the Thanksgiving holiday season and over the fall break.

One of the most classic Thanksgiving traditions is cooking a turkey dinner accompanied by an elaborate feast of side dishes. A Thanksgiving meal typically includes classic side dishes, such as green bean casserole, and all the fixings (or vegetarian alternatives) to share with family, friends, and neighbors. Thanksgiving is often called “Turkey Day” because many people serve turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, even though not everyone eats turkey to celebrate.

The list above includes several classic Thanksgiving celebration ideas and unique traditions you can try with your family this year. Meaningful Thanksgiving family traditions, like the festive ideas below, can make the holidays more meaningful and memorable for everyone. You might also enjoy this list of Christmas Traditions.

When Is Thanksgiving or Turkey Day?

Thanksgiving Day, also known as “Turkey Day,” falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States and the second Monday in October in Canada. In 2026, the dates are:

• United States: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
• Canada: Monday, October 12, 2026.

Both holidays offer an opportunity to give thanks for the harvest and gather with loved ones. My family has enjoyed Thanksgiving traditions with family and friends in both countries—quite a few of us are dual citizens. Celebrating in both places gives us even more opportunities to appreciate all we have to be thankful for.

How did Thanksgiving originate?

The first Thanksgiving was said to have taken place in the fall of 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, when Wampanoag people and English colonists celebrated a successful harvest. However, several truths and mistruths surround the story of Thanksgiving and why we celebrate it.

For example, many of us are taught that the first American Thanksgiving meal was a three-day feast the Pilgrims and Native Americans shared after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. Unfortunately, this story is not entirely true.

Unfortunately, it is seen by many today as a “story” told to the American people to whitewash the history of the brutalities committed against the indigenous peoples that inhabited these lands long before us.

What is the real story behind Thanksgiving? Ancient earth-based societies celebrated the harvest with a giant feast in early or late fall, long before the holiday known as “Thanksgiving” began in North America.

For example, many ancient Celtic people in Northern European countries celebrated the fall harvest with three elaborate feasts: Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain. Later, Christians would enjoy a large meal on Martinmas to commemorate the bountiful harvest. Other similar seasonal cultural events, where people trade and share food, have been celebrated in different parts of the world in autumn since the early days of agriculture, and possibly even before that.

Thanksgiving Fact or Fiction: truths and misconceptions:

What is the true story behind Thanksgiving? Well, the Pilgrims indeed had trouble growing food and suffered from terrible famines and numerous diseases, and many of these early American settlers died as a result. It is also true that the Wampanoag Indians taught some early American colonists how to grow crops like corn, allowing the early settlers to harvest food.

The lies begin when “the story” claims the colonists held a Thanksgiving feast to thank Native Americans for their help. I remember hearing this Thanksgiving story at school as a child and believing it. However, this story isn’t entirely true. Author James Barker dispels many Thanksgiving myths and outlines its history in “Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday.”

In this, the first in-depth study of the most American of holidays, James Baker sweeps away lingering myths and misconceptions to show how this celebration day was born and grew to be an essential part of our national spirit.

Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday (Revisiting New England)

The Story of Thanksgiving:

Barker’s book clarifies that the “Story of Thanksgiving” and the “iconic” imagery of the Pilgrims and Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts, became associated with Thanksgiving at the end of the 19th century and during the early decades of the 20th century. As the United States took in more non-English-speaking immigrants, many schools sought to instill in students an understanding of the country’s heritage.

Unlike the fictional “Story of Thanksgiving,” original short stories about early American History most often emphasized reunions between estranged or long-parted relatives, while rarely, if ever, mentioning Pilgrims and Indians.

Although some Thanksgiving stories aren’t necessarily true, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t honor it as a time to “give thanks.” Instead, we can leave the harmful “stories” behind and create new ones filled with gratitude for the lessons we keep learning on our path toward enlightenment.

At the same time, we remind ourselves and our families that mistakes are how we learn to improve because there are no mistakes, only opportunities to learn how to do better next time.

Today, we can create stories of community, connection, and diversity and celebrate Thanksgiving for what it should be—a time to be grateful, serve, and share our abundance with others, especially those in need. So, make a fresh start this autumn with any of the Thanksgiving tradition ideas listed above!

Make Memories with Thanksgiving Traditions

Whether you revisit favorite Thanksgiving traditions or try something new, choose activities that give your family time to connect, give thanks, and enjoy the holiday together. A shared meal, a gratitude craft, a game, or an outdoor walk after dinner can become a tradition everyone looks forward to each year.

I hope you enjoyed learning about Thanksgiving traditions and fun activities you can do to celebrate. The traditions we share with our friends and family hold the most meaning and create vivid memories to last a lifetime.

Which Thanksgiving tradition does your family love most, and which new idea would you like to try? Share in the comments below!

For more fun things to do on Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the season, explore our fall bucket list.

Learn more about Rhythms of Play on our About page, or meet the author of this guide to Thanksgiving traditions, Nell Regan Kartychok.

If you liked Turkey Day Ideas, then you may also enjoy these seasonal celebration Ideas:

• Winter Solstice Traditions
• Family Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday
• Spring Equinox Traditions
• Fun Easter Traditions to Start with Your Family
• Summer Solstice Traditions
• Fall Autumnal Equinox Traditions