1. Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch
A Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch is an enjoyable way for team members to contribute a dish and share in the holiday spirit together. Each employee brings their favorite dish or dessert – whether it’s typical of their country or hometown, or even a family recipe – and the team enjoys a festive meal with a variety of options. The best part? You can even exchange recipes for your favorite dishes!
- Time estimate: 1–2 hours
- Group size: 10–30 people
- Great for: Team bonding, fostering a sense of community, and celebrating diverse cultures within the team.
2. Thanksgiving Gratitude Jar
This activity can be started at the beginning of the week, so that all team members have time to write something they are grateful for on a piece of paper. After writing it down, place the papers in a jar. At the end of the week, gather your group and read the notes aloud, promoting appreciation and positivity within the team. You can write anonymously to ensure openness and allow vulnerability to come out.
- Time estimate: 20–30 minutes
- Group size: Any size
- Great for: Boosting morale and cultivating a culture of gratitude.
3. Team Cook-off Challenge
Host a friendly cooking competition where team members work in small groups to create Thanksgiving-themed dishes. Prepare the recipes beforehand, assign a crew to go shopping for ingredients and select judges (or assign the whole team for the job). After preparing the dishes, everyone has a taste of all the meals and judges vote on the best ones based on creativity, taste, and presentation.
- Time estimate: 2–3 hours
- Group size: Up to 20 people
- Great for: Teamwork, creativity, and enhancing communication.
4. Pumpkin Decorating Contest
A Pumpkin Decorating Contest is a fun, creative team-building activity perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s inclusive, a crowd-pleaser, and it encourages participants to unleash their artistic skills while promoting a playful atmosphere. Teams can decorate pumpkins in any way they see fit – by using paint, markers, accessories, or even carving them. This is a non-competitive way for employees to bond and also a great way to embrace the holiday's spirit.
- Time estimate: 1–2 hours
- Group size: Up to 30 people
- Great for: Fostering creativity and team bonding.
5. Thanksgiving Charity Drive
A Thanksgiving charity drive is a meaningful activity that allows your team to give back to the local community by collecting donations for a cause everyone cares about. Whether it's food, clothing, or toys for those in need, this collaborative effort has a positive impact in society and fosters a sense of gratitude and camaraderie. It’s an opportunity for employees to work together towards a common goal while helping others.
Time Estimate: 1-2 weeks for preparation (including collection time)
Group Size: Any size
Great for: Building a sense of purpose and promoting social responsibility.
6. Pie-Tasting Contest
A pie-tasting contest adds some flavor to your Thanksgiving activities. Team members can either bake their own pies or bring store-bought ones, but it’s much more fun when they gather beforehand for a pie-baking session. Then, the tasting event starts where everyone votes on their favorites. This casual, friendly competition encourages interaction and lots of delicious treats to enjoy.
Time Estimate: 1-2 hours
Group Size: Up to 30 people
Great for: Team bonding and fostering creativity (especially in pie-making!).
7. Thanksgiving Creative Centerpiece Design
Encourage your team to test their creativity with a Thanksgiving centerpiece design challenge. Teams can work together to craft fall-inspired table arrangements using natural materials like pumpkins, leaves, pinecones, and candles. This activity promotes collaboration, creative thinking, and attention to detail. The best part? These centerpieces can then be used in your own Thanksgiving office celebration or event.
Time Estimate: 1-2 hours
Group Size: Up to 30 people
Great for: Boosting creativity and enhancing teamwork.
8. Turkey Trot
The Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving tradition that can be adapted for team-building. It consists of a run or walk that encourages employees to get active while celebrating the season and usually takes place in parks or city streets. Distances vary, ranging from 5K to longer runs, and the aim is to promote community spirit.Teams can join a local Turkey Trot event or organize one in the office parking lot or nearby park. The focus is on participation, not competition, making it a great way to promote health and wellness within the team.
Time Estimate: 1-2 hours
Group Size: Any size
Great for: Encouraging healthy habits, boosting team spirit, and fostering a sense of community.
9. Employee Appreciation Day
Designating a day during Thanksgiving week as Employee Appreciation Day can work wonders for boosting morale. This is usually celebrated on the first Friday of March. However, Thanksgiving is a fantastic excuse to show some appreciation for your team. Use this time to recognize and thank employees for their hard work, whether through awards, personal notes, or small celebrations. The key is to make each team member feel valued, helping build stronger connections and loyalty within the company.
Time Estimate: Half-day event
Group Size: Any size
Great for: Strengthening company culture and enhancing employee engagement.
10. Thanksgiving Bingo
Thanksgiving Bingo is an interactive activity that gets your team involved in some holiday-themed competition. Create bingo cards filled with Thanksgiving-related items or actions—such as “ate pumpkin pie” or “watched a football game”—and let everyone play during an assigned time in the team’s schedule. This game is an easy way to inject some holiday spirit into the day, while also offering a relaxed way for coworkers to interact.
Time Estimate: 30-60 minutes
Group Size: Up to 20 people
Great for: Promoting interaction and boosting team morale.
11. Thanksgiving This or That
This is a simple yet engaging activity where participants are presented with a series of Thanksgiving-themed choices, such as "Pumpkin pie vs. Apple pie" or "Football or Parades". This game helps to break the ice, encourage conversation, and learn more about your teammates' preferences. It’s a great way to socialize without any pressure, which is ideal for team bonding.
Time estimate: 10-20 minutes
Group size: Up to 30 people
Great for: Enhancing communication, team-building, and team bonding.
12. Play Outdoor Sports
Get outdoors and prepare to move while you enjoy the crisp fall air by organizing a friendly match of Thanksgiving-themed outdoor sports. You could go for a traditional game of football, organize a soccer match, or even something like a tug-of-war. This physical activity promotes teamwork and friendly competition, all while providing a break from the holiday prep.
Time estimate: 30-60 minutes
Group size: Up to 30 people
Great for: Team-building and boosting morale.
13. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Themed Event
The famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved tradition in the U.S.. You can bring the spirit of the parade to your office or event by hosting a themed party where teams create their own mini parade floats or design costumes inspired by the colors, balloons, and performers they see parading in NYC. This activity can involve crafting, dancing or, if you take it to the next level, even putting on a performance. It’s a chance to be creative while celebrating the parade's festive spirit.
Time estimate: 1-2 hours
Group size: Up to 20 people
Great for: Boosting creativity, collaboration, and team spirit.
14. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
A Thanksgiving scavenger hunt is a standout way to get everyone engaged and celebrating. Participants work in teams to find items related to the holiday—such as a pumpkin, a turkey decoration, or a pie. You can choose to either organize it around the office, outdoors, or virtually, which keeps it adaptable to any setting. This activity promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking, with plenty of room for creativity.
Time estimate: 30-60 minutes
Group size: 4-20 people
Great for: Enhancing communication, problem-solving, and team-building.
15. Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt
Turn Thanksgiving into an adventure game by organizing a themed treasure hunt. Teams follow clues and solve puzzles to locate hidden items, like pumpkins, seasonal treats, or Thanksgiving decorations. You can even tie the hunt to company history or values for a personalized touch. This activity is highly adaptable and ensures everyone is actively engaged in teamwork and problem-solving.
Time estimate: 30-60 minutes
Group size: Up to 20 people
Great for: Team-building, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
16. Thanksgiving Hackathon
A Thanksgiving Hackathon combines innovation with the holiday spirit by challenging teams to come up with creative solutions or ideas ranging from crafting a holiday drink to designing a digital Thanksgiving-themed app, or developing new charitable initiatives. This is ideal for teams looking to combine creativity and productivity with festive fun.
Time estimate: 2-4 hours
Group size: 4-10 people per team
Great for: Fostering innovation, collaboration, and boosting team morale.
17. Thanksgiving Team Trivia
Bring everyone together for a Thanksgiving-themed trivia contest! Create questions about the holiday’s history, fun facts, or pop culture references tied to Thanksgiving traditions. Teams compete to score the most points, making it a fun way to spark friendly competition and encourage knowledge sharing. Some examples of questions are: “In Full House, who makes Pam’s famous pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving?” or “Who makes a surprise appearance at Thanksgiving in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air?”
Time estimate: 30-45 minutes
Group size: Up to 30 people
Great for: Enhancing communication and team-building.
18. Online Gratitude Session
This is a simple, effective activity for remote groups. Gather your team virtually to share what they’re thankful for this year. Each participant can express appreciation for colleagues, accomplishments, or personal milestones, promoting a positive atmosphere. To add structure, use prompts like “What’s one thing you’re thankful for about our team?” or “Who on the team has inspired you this year?”.
Time estimate: 30-45 minutes
Group size: Groups of any size
Great for: Building trust and boosting team morale.
19. Virtual Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
This online activity challenges team members to find Thanksgiving-themed items around their homes (like a pumpkin or a cooking utensil) within a set time. Incorporate creative or funny prompts to keep the energy high. The host tracks points and announces the winner, making it a fun and engaging virtual experience.
Time estimate: 30-60 minutes
Group size: Up to 30 people
Great for: Enhancing problem-solving and energizing remote teams.
20. Charades
Here’s a Thanksgiving twist on the classic game of charades! Teams act out holiday-related prompts like "carving a turkey" or "Black Friday shopping" without speaking, while others guess. This activity sparks laughter and communication among teammates. Take it to the next level with categories like history, pop culture, movies, and traditions!
Time estimate: 1 hour
Group size: Up to 15 people
Great for: Boosting creativity, communication, and team bonding.
21. Thanksgiving Mixology Class
In this interactive session, a professional mixologist (or a talented team member) guides everyone through making Thanksgiving-themed drinks, such as spiced cider cocktails or pumpkin spice mocktails. Participants can sip and enjoy their creations while socializing and comparing their mixology skills.
Time estimate: 45-60 minutes
Group size: Up to 20 people
Great for: Creativity, team bonding, and relaxation.
Why Choose Team-Building Activities For The Festive Season?
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on the value of your team and express gratitude for their hard work. It’s a season that naturally lends itself to practicing appreciation and the timing is ideal to foster connections, in and out of the workplace.
While employees enjoy celebrating at work, they also want to balance their time with family and friends, making it essential to choose activities or icebreakers that are efficient and adaptable for both in-person and virtual settings.
From exciting events like a Thanksgiving Treasure Hunt and a Pie-Tasting Contest to more reflective ideas like a Thanksgiving Gratitude Jar or a fun-filled Employee Appreciation Day, there are multiple options to celebrate the spirit of the season. For outdoor lovers, a Turkey Trot promotes fitness and teamwork, while a delicious Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch encourages sharing and team bonding.
The key to planning successful Thanksgiving team-building activities is to focus on creating moments of fun, entertainment, creativity, and gratitude that have a positive impact on your team.
Ready to set the stage for a festive end of year but need help organizing a memorable experience? Our TeamOut experts are here to assist. Schedule a free call today, and let’s make this Thanksgiving a standout one for your team!
.png)
