60 Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers for All Ages

Need a Thanksgiving game that works for children, teens, parents and grandparents without complicated setup? These 60 Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers are arranged from factual holiday history to easy food and table questions. Read them from a phone, print the page, or use the quick team format below.

Thanksgiving history and traditions

1. On which day of the week is U.S. Thanksgiving celebrated?
   Thursday.
2. Which Thursday in November is U.S. Thanksgiving?
   The fourth Thursday.
3. Which president designated November 26, 1789, as a day of national thanksgiving?
   George Washington.
4. Which president issued the influential 1863 Thanksgiving proclamation?
   Abraham Lincoln.
5. Which magazine editor spent years campaigning for a national Thanksgiving holiday?
   Sarah Josepha Hale.
6. What was the original name of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
   The Macy’s Christmas Parade.
7. In what year did the Macy’s parade begin?
   1924.
8. What kind of attraction first appeared in the parade in 1927?
   Giant character balloons.
9. Which cartoon character was the first giant character balloon?
   Felix the Cat.
10. In what year was the parade first televised nationally?
    1947.
11. Which city hosts the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
    New York City.
12. What sport is strongly associated with Thanksgiving Day in the United States?
    American football.
13. What do many families call the Friday after Thanksgiving?
    Black Friday.
14. What is the Monday after Thanksgiving commonly called?
    Cyber Monday.
15. What phrase describes pausing to share something you appreciate?
    Giving thanks or sharing gratitude.

Food and kitchen trivia

1. Which bird is the traditional centerpiece of many Thanksgiving dinners?
   Turkey.
2. What is a male turkey commonly called?
   A tom or gobbler.
3. What is a baby turkey called?
   A poult.
4. Which tart red berry is commonly served as a sauce?
   Cranberry.
5. What orange squash is used in a classic Thanksgiving pie?
   Pumpkin.
6. Is a pumpkin botanically a fruit or a vegetable?
   A fruit.
7. Which pie is made with nuts that grow on native North American trees?
   Pecan pie.
8. What bread-based side dish is also called dressing?
   Stuffing.
9. Which root vegetable is often mashed and topped with marshmallows?
   Sweet potato.
10. What savory sauce is usually made from meat drippings?
    Gravy.
11. Which green vegetable appears in a casserole often topped with crispy onions?
    Green beans.
12. Which creamy side dish is made from boiled potatoes?
    Mashed potatoes.
13. Which spice is commonly paired with cinnamon in pumpkin pie spice?
    Nutmeg, ginger, cloves or allspice; any one earns the point.
14. What should frozen turkey be allowed to do safely in the refrigerator before cooking?
    Thaw.
15. What is the safest tool for checking that turkey is properly cooked?
    A food thermometer.

Easy questions for kids

1. Which season includes Thanksgiving in the Northern Hemisphere?
   Autumn or fall.
2. What sound is a turkey famous for making?
   Gobble.
3. What colorful plant part falls from many trees in autumn?
   Leaves.
4. Which color is strongly associated with pumpkins?
   Orange.
5. What do people often break before pulling apart a wishbone?
   The dried wishbone from a bird.
6. Which horn-shaped basket symbolizes plenty?
   A cornucopia.
7. What does the word harvest mean?
   Gathering crops that are ready.
8. Which grain is shown in many harvest decorations and can be popped?
   Corn.
9. Which Thanksgiving dessert has a crust and a spiced orange filling?
   Pumpkin pie.
10. What do guests usually say before leaving a Thanksgiving meal?
    Thank you.
11. What activity uses clues to find hidden fall objects?
    A scavenger hunt.
12. What game asks players to act without speaking?
    Charades.
13. What game asks players to draw while teammates guess?
    Pictionary.
14. What word means feeling thankful for something good?
    Gratitude.
15. Which meal comes after breakfast and lunch?
    Dinner.

Fun table and pop-culture questions

1. What two-word phrase describes a long sleepiness after a large holiday meal?
   Food coma.
2. What is the name for a meal that combines breakfast and lunch?
   Brunch.
3. What kitchen appliance is commonly used to roast a turkey?
   An oven.
4. What do you call a meal where every guest brings one dish?
   A potluck.
5. Which utensil is used to carve a roast turkey?
   A carving knife.
6. What container catches turkey drippings in the oven?
   A roasting pan.
7. What is the day before Black Friday?
   Thanksgiving Day.
8. Which game can use questions with two funny choices?
   Would You Rather.
9. Which survey-style game asks teams to guess the most popular answer?
   Family Feud.
10. Which drawing game works well with fall words?
    Pictionary.
11. What do many hosts write beside dishes to help guests with allergies?
    Ingredient or allergen labels.
12. What is a short rest between dinner and dessert often called?
    A break or pause.
13. What do people often place in the center of a Thanksgiving table?
    A centerpiece.
14. Which warm drink is commonly made from apples and spices?
    Apple cider.
15. What is a friendly final-round question with no wrong answer?
    What are you thankful for?

Three ready-to-use ways to play

1. Fast family table round

Ask ten easy questions while people wait for dessert. Each person answers one question before passing to the next player. No score is necessary.

2. Mixed-age team challenge

Put at least one child and one adult on every team. Alternate history, food and easy questions. This prevents one age group from controlling the game.

3. Classroom exit-ticket game

Use five questions at the end of a lesson. Students answer individually, then compare in pairs. Treat disputed historical points as an invitation to check a reliable primary source.

Make the game inclusive

Thanksgiving traditions and history are not identical for every family or community. Avoid asking guests to defend personal beliefs or family circumstances. Accept Canadian Thanksgiving answers when a question is clearly adapted for Canada, and use “harvest gathering” language for groups that prefer a non-religious version.

The short historical answers above were checked against the Library of Congress Thanksgiving primary-source collection and its Macy’s parade history. For another no-print option, try our Thanksgiving Family Feud questions or Thanksgiving Would You Rather questions.

For a quiet vocabulary challenge, use our Thanksgiving word scramble puzzles with answers.

Prefer wordplay to facts? Try these Thanksgiving riddles for kids and families, with answers and team rules.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions should I use?

Use 10 for a quick table game, 20 for a 15–20 minute round, or all 60 for a longer party with breaks.

How do I make Thanksgiving trivia easier for kids?

Use the kids section, allow two answer choices, and pair each child with an older teammate.

Can I use these at school or church?

Yes. Choose neutral food, nature and gratitude questions, and skip anything that does not fit your group.

Do I need prizes?

No. A paper “Turkey Trivia Champion” sign, first choice of dessert, or simple applause works well.

Editorial note: This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed for usefulness, clarity and factual accuracy. Historical facts were checked against the linked Library of Congress resources.