Create an Itinerary Full of Family Activities on Thanksgiving Day

Be intentional in how you celebrate the holidays this year by creating a Thanksgiving itinerary full of fun family activities!

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure here.

MAKE YOUR THANKSGIVING A DAY TO CELEBRATE

Don’t let your Thanksgiving holiday be focused on a big meal and figuring out where everyone will sleep, instead turn it into an all-day celebration!

No need to break the bank or make it complicated—just keep it fun and centered on gratitude.

Here are 10 things you can do to celebrate the entire day of Thanksgiving with intention.

10 FAMILY ACTIVITIES ON THANKSGIVING

1. Eat a special breakfast

Mark the occasion with something you don’t normally eat. Cinnamon rolls, donuts, monkey bread, French toast, egg casserole, quiche…find lots of recipes here.

2. Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The parade usually starts at 9 and wraps up around 12 with Santa waving hello to mark the start of the Christmas season. We usually like to have it on in the background just to make our morning more festive.

3. Do a few gratitude activities

Focus on what the Bible teaches us about what we have to be thankful for with the October and November gratitude activities in my Holiday Activities for Christian Families printable pack:

4. Set out a few snack trays

Because Thanksgiving dinner is usually a huge undertaking, set out a few snacks for lunchtime to keep everyone busy and still hungry for an early dinner. Premade snack, fruit and veggie trays are perfect! Warm apple cider is also a great way to keep guests cozy!

5. Decorate a tablecloth or make Thanksgiving crafts

These throwaway tablecloths are perfect for keeping little ones busy, and a few simple crafts are fun too!

6. Start on a puzzle or play a card game

This is a great activity for adults to have to pass the time while waiting for dinner to be served. A deck of cards or a table with board games is a quick add to your Thanksgiving itinerary.

7. Make phone calls to loved ones

Someone can’t make it to dinner? Call/text or leave a video message to tell them you’re thankful to have them in your life.

8. Family chain prayer

If your family gathering is small, a great way to acknowledge that the holiday is about gratitude, is to have a chain prayer where each child takes turns to tell what they are thankful for before the meal is served.