Thanksgiving is not just all about pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes and turkeys. It’s also about carving out time for exciting activities. Whether you’re celebrating alone, with family, significant other or friends, there’s something for everyone. Here are Thanksgiving fun activities to enjoy, no matter how you intend to celebrate the holiday.

3 Tips for Celebrating Thanksgiving Alone

Being alone can be a respite for some, but it can get lonely when you have no choice but to spend the holidays with your loved ones. Fortunately, there are ways you can celebrate even if you’re alone.

1. Try Gratitude Journaling

Thanksgiving is the ideal time to reflect and practice gratitude. It can be a powerful mindfulness practice, allowing you to engage more deeply with your internal experiences. If you’re not the writing type, use digital apps like Notion, Diarium or Day One. Here are some prompts to get you started:

• What’s one thing you often take for granted?
• What are the three most important things you’re thankful for?
• What made you smile today?
• What’s a happy memory from your childhood?
• What qualities do you like about yourself?
• Write a gratitude letter to someone special.
• What brings you joy?

2. Cook Your Favorite Dish

One of the best Thanksgiving fun activities you can give yourself is nourishing your body. Take this opportunity to recreate your mom or grandmother’s Thanksgiving dish. If you don’t know how to make it, hop on a call with your distant family — catch up, play online games and ask for the recipe. Let your loved ones watch you cook, too. 

3. Entertain Your Inner Child

Thanksgiving is typically associated with fun times. This isn’t the reality for many, especially for individuals who come from a dysfunctional family or have unpleasant childhood memories. Take this opportunity to make your inner child happy. 

Start by listing what you loved doing as a kid — do you love watching movies? Perhaps you want to rewatch Mean Girls or The Princess Diaries. Did you enjoy scrapbooking in your free time? Did reading fictional books make you alive? Do these activities and experience the joy that comes with it.

3 Thanksgiving Fun Activities to Do With Family

Here are some exciting activities aside from cooking and eating your favorite holiday meals.

1. Play a Board Game

Gather everyone around the table and play exciting board games. With so many options, choosing which ones will appeal to everyone can be challenging. Luckily, The New York Times rounded up the best board games that kids and adults will both enjoy. Here are some must-tries:

• Wavelength: Ideal for ages five and up, Wavelength focuses on communicating ideas by association. Where — on the scale of round to sharp — is the pygmy hippo Moo Deng? How beautiful or ugly is it to end a day with a full-body massage? These are some of the potential discussions that this game can spark.
• Mysterium: This card encourages you to work together to solve a murder case. It requires one person — a ghost — to tell the murder story via vision cards. The remaining players — or psychics — are tasked to solve the case. This is ideal for ages 10 and up.
• Monopoly: Everyone loves a classic board game, and you cannot go wrong with Monopoly.

2. Enjoy a Nature Walk

A nature walk with your family allows everyone to appreciate nature together. A change of scenery offers relief, providing a much-needed mental reset. A 30-minute walk can help improve your heart health, boost your immune system and decrease your risk of certain chronic diseases. Moreover, it can help improve everyone’s mood, making it ideal just before the dinner feast. 

3. Host a Pie-Baking Contest

If your kids are competitive like you, consider hosting a pie-baking contest. It adds fun to your usual cooking preparation, as all your family members are involved. You can team up as a couple, or have one parent to pair with a child. Have the whole family vote for their favorite during dinnertime. Don’t forget to prepare a thoughtful gift for the winner to motivate everyone to do their best.

3 Activities to Do With Your Significant Other

With so many things going on this holiday season, sometimes all you need is downtime with your partner. Here are some amazing activities you can do together:

1. Prepare an Intimate Dinner at Home

When was the last time you and your partner prepared a meal together? Rather than ordering takeout, take this time to create a dish from scratch, may it be pumpkin pie or turkey. Add thoughtful, romantic touches, such as your favorite linens and dinnerware. You can also engage in an at-home paint-and-sip event to make the holiday more memorable.

2. See a Movie

Watch a movie at the theater, just like in the old days. Many holiday films are released over Thanksgiving, making it an ideal time to catch a new movie with your partner. After the movie, continue your date with a stop for drinks to discuss your favorite scenes in the film.

3. Run a Turkey Trot

A turkey trot is a fun way to bond and get healthy with your loved one. Run a 5K or 10K race to boost your mood and appetite for the feast. Many races give out turkeys as prizes, so keep your eye on that, especially if you and your significant other have no plans to make your own turkey at home!

3 Tips for Spending Thanksgiving With Friends

These tips are for when you’re away from home but have nearby pals to celebrate with.

1. Volunteer

Thanksgiving celebrates the spirit of giving back. Check if there are events in your local community and sign up. Alternatively, you and your squad can initiate a program. You can create care packages for people in shelters or cook meals for homeless people.

2. Play a Gratitude Game

Pick-up Sticks is a well-loved childhood game. Why not play it with your friends, but with a twist? Each time you pick up a stick, you must name something you’re thankful for according to the stick’s color. For example, you can assign red to a person, yellow to a place, and green to experience.

3. Have a Potluck Party

A simple, potluck party allows everyone to showcase the dish they’re most proud of. You can add a twist to this party. For instance, ask everyone to bring a food that starts with their first name. Ensure there’s a variety of options for a fun-filled celebration.

Enjoy Thanksgiving With These Fun Activities

Your Thanksgiving deserves to be celebrated in the most fun way possible. Incorporate these ideas into your day to make the most out of it.