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Before we start with our Friendsgiving games and activities for families and kids, let’s find out first what Friendsgiving is all about:
What Is a Friendsgiving?
Friendsgiving is a Thanksgiving celebration with friends as opposed to with your family.
Where Did Friendsgiving Come From?
There is no official origin story for Friendsgiving. Some might say a hit TV show came up with the celebration, but there are a few other, more official theories about who (or what) started the feasting frenzy:
- Friends
In November 1994 the first Thanksgiving episode of the tv show “friends” aired.
Even though the word “Friendsgiving” is never mentioned in Monica’s apartment, the concept can be dated back to it.
According to Merriam-Webster, the first time written word “Friendsgiving” was found in 2007 on Twitter.
- Bailey’s Irish Cream
In 2011 Bailey’s Irish Cream promoted its ad campaign, “Friendsgiving with Baileys”.
These and more facts about the history of Friendsgiving can be found here.
What Do You Do at Friendsgiving?
A lot of times Friendsgiving is hosted as a pot-luck-dinner. Everyone is bringing their favorite dish to have a big feast together.
Mostly the host will set up a nicely decorated dinner table for everyone to enjoy the food in a nice environment with good company.
Depending on the menu there will be turkey with plenty of turkeys, side dishes, and pie just like at Thanksgiving dinner.
Besides having dinner and good conversations some people might watch football together or prepare Thanksgiving activities for everyone to enjoy and maybe even win small prizes.
In case you are thinking about hosting your own Friendsgiving, you might like these fun Friendsgiving activities:
- Pie Eating Contest
- Simple Card or Family Board Games
- Craft Activities
- Party Games
- Turkey Pinata
Fun Friendsgiving Game Ideas
Do you plan on hosting your own Friendsgiving event at home or at your school? Then you will love the following game ideas for Friendsgiving.
They are great for any Friendsgiving get-together or can be even used for your regular Thanksgiving party or gathering.
Also, don’t forget to check out our Friendsgiving decoration and prize ideas at the end, to round up your event.
Let’s get started!
Friendsgiving Games for Kids
I like to share the following Friendsgiving games for children with you.
But don’t be surprised some of these work just as well for grown-ups.
Kids Friendsgiving Game Ideas
Picture Thanksgiving bingo is a great start to begin the game round after having dinner with your friends.
I used pictures for this game on purpose so even young children can participate.
Why not let your children go on a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt while you are still preparing the meal or while your friends are settling in?
This Friendsgiving game is a big hit with my kids and can be played even with younger children.
Use this ABC Thanks printables to remind kids they have plenty to be thankful for.
You can turn them easily into a game by setting a time and who ever is finished first or has the most to be thankful for is winning.
Bowling is a perfect interactive Friendsgiving activity for kids to enjoy.
In the following tutorial, you can learn how to turn drinking cups into turkeys and make a fun Friendsgiving bowling game out of it.
November is still considered fall and pumpkins will not be missed on any Thanksgiving decoration.
In the following Friendsgiving game tutorial you will learn how to make this fun pumpkin toss stand for your pumpkin toss activity.
Feed your turkey a great Friendsgiving game for toddlers.
With the help of googly eyes and some colorful leaves, you can turn your recycled bottle into a turkey and create a colorful Friendsgiving sensory bin for them.
Find out more here.
Did you play twister before?
If not then you can get the chance to now with this pumpkin twister game for your next Friendsgiving.
A sack race can not be missing at a good Friendsgiving gathering.
If instructions are needed you can find them below.
Are your kids wiggly during the holidays and are tired of sitting still?
Then try this balloon tennis game for Friendsgiving.
All you need is fly swatters and balloons.
The goal of the game is to keep your balloon in as long as possible in the air by only using the fly swatter.
This game is an easy-to-make DIY Friendsgiving game kids and even adults will enjoy!
Learn here how to turn a simple large paper bag into a turkey and a fun game.
Find the full instructions in the tutorial below.
We love relays in our house. Mainly because we are all very competitive individuals.
This turkey relay is perfect the perfect activity for Friendsgiving with kids.
Get some colorful feathers and a turkey baster and you are good to go.
Did you enjoy our fun party game ideas for Friendsgiving?
Then check out our popular DIY Thanksgiving Card Ideas, Thanksgiving Quotes, Gratitude Sayings, Giving Phrases, or Thankful Quotes.
Family Friendsgiving Game Ideas
There are so many fun activities your family can do at Thanksgiving. We love playing games at our parties and winning prizes.
Friendsgiving Family Game Ideas
Make a pumpkin decorating contest, if it is carving or no carving, so the whole family can participate.
Here are over 15 easy no carving pumpkin decoration ideas for you.
Do you like playing charade? Then check out this free printable Thanksgiving charade game for Friendsgiving.
Your friends will enjoy playing it for sure!
Play a game of turkey trivia at your friendly gathering. Simply print out these cards and you are good to go.
Grab some skittles or m's a dice and your free printable Friendsgiving gameboard and you are good to go.
Take turns rolling the dice and adding the matching color to your turkey, the first player to finish its turkey is the winner.
Pretty self-explaining, isn't it?
Materials:
- Free Printable Thankful & Kindness Games
- Bag of Skittles
Every player can take 5 or 1 Skittle of each color.
Then each participant goes around telling how kindness for others made you feel or how you can show it to others with the corresponding color.
After they answered the question you get to eat the Skittle, if you want.
This Pictionary games is created with the vocabulary of thanksgiving.
It is a combination of a crossword puzzle and the word search.
Your students or friends at home can learn these words through the game.
Are you a fan of the game "Would You Rather"? Then you will enjoy this Thanksgiving edition.
Print them out prior to your Friendsgiving event and enjoy them with your friends.
Is it still warm outside where you life?
In that case this turkey tag game is perfect to bring some action to your Friendsgiving.
After having a delicious meal you can burn plenty of energy while enjoying the company.
Attach some feathers to cloth pins prior to your gathering to prepare the game ahead of time.
Now either build teams or every player plays for himself.
Attach the the feather pins at your back of your sweater or shirt. It is the goal for others to catch them and snap them from you.
It is such a fun Friendsgiving game even adults can participate in. Have fun!
Do you like the game tic-tac-toe?
Then set up a fun pumpkin tic-tac-toe game area.
Use your couch table and everyone can play with orange and white mini pumpkins a match of Friendsgiving tic-tac-toe.
Are you familiar with the rules of the game musical chairs?
Place chairs in the middle. It should be one chair less than the participants.
Then start music and let the players walk around the chairs. Once the music stops every player has to sit down on a chair.
The standing person is out.
Remove now one chair and play again. This goes on till you have one single winner!
Let's have a race even if it is cold outside.
Use a small pumpkin and place in on top of your head. Now start racing towards a finish line without having the pumpkin fall on the ground.
Can you do it?
This one is pretty self-explanatory but... Karaoke is always a fan's favorite activity with friends.
Find some great songs and sing Karaoke together after your Friendsgiving meal.
Introduce kids ages 5 and up to the iconic mystery board game.
The Clue Junior game features classic Clue gameplay and a broken toy mystery theme to enjoy for the whole family or with friends on Friendsgiving!
Fun family game for kids to challenge parents. Gather your friends together, it's kids vs. parents in this edition of the Taboo game.
Card Game for Kids and Families and perfect for family Friendsgiving to approach playtime together.
This card game is hilarious and the perfect Friendsgiving party game.
Transform your and your friends’ awkward and embarrassing experiences into silly memories and add a dollop of humor to your next game night!
Catch Phrase is a great game for large gatherings, since as many people can play as want to and it gets super competitive.
The mashine will give you a word to explain to your team. It is the goal to guess it as fast as possible under the time limit.
If you have the time and are crafty learn here how to make your own turkey pinata.
Your family and friends will enjoy hitting the turkey for sure!
Pin that turkey is a fun game for everyone to play at Friendsgiving.
Hang up your DIY turkey out of cardstock.
Now all you have to do is pinning feathers to your turkey blindfolded.
That sounds pretty easy doesn't it? But you will laugh, it is harder then you imagine!
These Fall Festival Games, Fall Bingo, Explore Changing Leaves, or Fall Sensory Activities.
More Friendsgiving Ideas
Here you will find free Friendsgiving printables and food ideas to round up your family event!
- Friendsgiving Party Printables
- Free Printable Friendsgiving Invitations
- Turkey Cookies
- Best Potluck Recipies
Friendsgiving Craft Table
As promised above here are some more Friendsgiving craft activities for your gathering:
- Thanksgiving Painting Ideas
- 60 Fun Turkey Jokes
- Free Printable Pilgrim Hat Template
- Turkey Glitter Jar
- DIY Turkey Crafts
- Acorn Template
- Squirrel Printables
- Pumpkin Outlines
- 15 Easy Pumpkin Art Ideas
- Fall Salt Painting
- Hedgehog Outlines
- Maple Leaf Templates
- Corn Printouts
- Pumpkin Craft Template
- Apple Craft Template
- Hedgehog Craft Ideas
- Scarecrow Projects
- Preschool Apple Crafts
- 100 Pumpkin Crafts
- Fall Crafts
- Pumpkin Decoration Ideas
- November Crafts
If these weren’t enough Friendsgiving activity ideas for you, go check out our amazing Thanksgiving Activities next.
Friendsgiving Books for Kids
It gives children the chance to calm down and entertain themselves while the adults can prepare food or enjoy good conversations.
Here are some great book recommendations for your Friendsgiving book corner:
Dynomike is depressed because he won’t be celebrating with a big Thanksgiving feast this year. Just when he thinks his celebration is ruined, Dynomike gets something to really be thankful for.
A funny book about Taylor the turkey who has a lot of gas.
Friendsgiving Decorations
Time to decorate your house for Friendsgiving.
Here are some adorable Friendsgiving decorating ideas for your location:
Did you enjoy our Friendsgiving party ideas? Here are more easy Friendsgiving party games for you to get inspired!