Martha Stewart isn’t a “Grammy” or “Nana.” She’s not even a “Mimi” or “Gigi.” So, what is she?
We all know what a turkey is in bowling, but have you ever heard of turkey bowling?
No, it’s not a new Thanksgiving recipe you’ve never heard of before. And it’s not some viral video of a real-live turkey rolling a bowling ball down a bowling alley (though I’m sure that video exists somewhere).
It is, however, exactly what it sounds like.
Turkey bowling is one of the most hilarious and entertaining Thanksgiving games you’ll ever see — and it involves using a frozen turkey as a bowling ball and 2-liter bottles (dressed as turkeys) as bowling pins.
@erikatheeducator Turkey Bowling Tradition- Staff Favorite!! 🦃❤️ #schoollife #elementary #staff #teacherscanhavefuntoo #turkeybowling #teachersoftiktok #teachers #fyp #turkey #thanksgiving ♬ It's Tricky - RUN DMC
But if that sounds a little too outlandish for your taste, then there’s a more practical version of the game.
Instead of using 2-liter soda bottles as bowling pins, you can use toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls or solo cups dressed up like turkeys — and a mini pumpkin instead of a frozen turkey for the bowling ball.
And if your child has a plastic bowling set, you can even dress those pins up like turkeys and use that.
READ MORE: 20 kid-friendly Thanksgiving traditions worth starting with your family this year
Either way, the goal remains the same. Roll the frozen turkey (or pumpkin) towards the “pins” and try to knock down as many as you can in two tries or less. If you get them all on the first try, it’s called a “strike.”
And, just like regular bowling, three strikes in a row is referred to as a “turkey.”
How to Take Part in Turkey Bowling This Thanksgiving
First things first — you need to create your turkey bowling pins. And trust me, this part is half the fun (especially if you've got kids who love crafts).
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to get your creative juices flowing:
- Grab your 2-liter soda bottles, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls or solo cups.
- Paint the “pin” brown to resemble the body of a turkey.
- Cut out a bunch of orange, red and yellow feathers using construction paper.
- Glue the feathers to the back of the “pins” to complete the turkey’s body.
- Glue a pair of googly eyes on the front and use markers to create turkey faces.
- If you want to get fancy, add some orange paper for beaks and red for those iconic turkey wattles.
- If using a bottle, you can add a tiny bit of water or sand to the bottom for extra weight.
Once you have your pins, figure out what you want to use as a bowling ball.
The most popular options are frozen turkeys (if using larger, sturdier pins) and mini pumpkins (if using smaller pins). If you don’t have either of those, then any ball from your child’s toy chest will work fine.
You can get as creative as you want with the rules, but here are a few basic ones to get you started:
- Each player gets two rolls per turn to knock down as many pins as possible.
- If you knock down all 10 pins on your first roll, that's a strike — worth 10 points plus the pins you knock down in the entire next frame.
- If you knock down all 10 pins using both rolls, that's a spare — worth 10 points plus the pins you knock down on the first roll of the next frame.
- If you don't get all the pins down in two rolls, your score is simply the number of pins you knocked down that turn. Each pin equals one point.
- Play for 10 frames total (or however many rounds you decide on before starting).
- The player with the highest score at the end wins.
- Reset all the pins between each player's turn.
- Players must roll the ball (no throwing or tossing it).
- You can play individually or split into teams for some friendly competition.
To make it more fun, you can reward extra points for two strikes in a row (which can be called a “gobbler”) and three strikes in a row (traditionally known as a “turkey”). Any split can be called a “wishbone.”
10 Other Creative Thanksgiving Games for the Family
Turkey bowling is just one of the many Thanksgiving games you can enjoy with your family this year.
If you're looking for more ways to keep everyone entertained (and maybe burn off some of that pumpkin pie), then you’ll love the list of Thanksgiving games for kids we’ve compiled below.
Because let's be honest — Thanksgiving isn't just about the food.
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It's about spending quality time with the people you love (and who love you), creating memories that'll last long after the leftovers are gone and maybe getting a little competitive in the process.
Whether you've got a house full of energetic kids, teenagers who are too glued to their phones or adults who just want an excuse to act like kids again, these Thanksgiving games for the family are perfect!
10. Thanksgiving advent calendar
The gratitude game works just like an advent calendar — except we’re counting the days to Thanksgiving.
In addition to a small treat or prize, each day reveals a prompt that encourages your family to reflect on what they're thankful for — and the reward is only given once that day’s activity is complete.
@day.michellexo My favorite game that we played 🦃🫶🏼 #fyp #thanksgiving #holidaygames #foryou ♬ original sound - dayanna
Here’s a list of activities to add to your advent calendar:
- Write a thank you note to your favorite teacher.
- Draw a picture of your best friend and tell them why they're awesome.
- Share your favorite memory from this year with the family.
- Name three things that made you smile this week.
- Give someone in your family a big hug and tell them why you love them.
- Draw a picture of your favorite place to play.
It's a simple way to get everyone in the Thanksgiving spirit, spark meaningful conversations, and remind your family what the holiday is really all about.
9. Thanksgiving word search
If you've got kids who love puzzles (or adults who need a quiet activity while the turkey's in the oven), a giant Thanksgiving word search is the perfect low-key game.
You can buy pre-made ones online — there are tons of free printables and even giant poster-sized versions that the whole family can work on together. Or, if you're feeling creative, you can make your own.
Making a homemade word search is easier than you think.
@ubelli My family loved doing these puzzles last year during the holidays. Highly recommend these puzzles, they are perfect for all ages. #thanksgivingdecor #thanksgivinggames #thanksgiving ♬ Little Sparrow - Paul Alan Morris
Just grab a piece of poster board, draw a giant grid and fill it with Thanksgiving-themed words like "turkey," "grateful," "family," "harvest," and "love." Then fill in the empty spaces with random letters.
Set it up on the dining room table or tape it to the wall, hand out some markers, and let everyone circle words as they find them — or take turns and the next person can’t start until one is found.
8. Pin the feather on the turkey
Remember pin the tail on the donkey? Well, this is the Thanksgiving version.
The concept is simple: draw or print out a large turkey without its tail feathers, blindfold each player, spin them around a few times, and see if they can pin (or tape) a feather in the right spot.
Whoever gets closest to where the feathers should actually go wins.
@krystenapoimboeuf Daycare thanksgiving games! Pin the wattle on the turkey! #thanksgiving #games #daycare #homedaycare #daycareprovider #fyp ♬ original sound - Krystena
It's silly, it's loud, and it's guaranteed to have everyone laughing — especially when someone pins their feather on the turkey's head or completely off the poster.
Pro tip: Play this game before dinner, not after. Trust me, spinning around on a full stomach is nobody's idea of a good time.
7. Shake your tail feathers
This one's hilarious, high-energy, and guaranteed to get everyone moving (and laughing so hard they can barely breathe).
Fill an empty tissue box with leaves or paper cut outs that look like feathers, attach it to each player's waist with a belt or ribbon (so the box sits right at the small of their back like a tail) and set a timer.
The goal? Shake, wiggle, jump and dance around until all the feathers fall out of the box.
@chrisriceny “Shake Your Tail Feathers” is the most fun #TurkeyDay activity. It’s our tradition and we play it EVERY year. Try it and have a blast!! #thanksgivingideas #fungames #familynighr ♬ Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
The first person to empty their box wins.
Sounds easy, right? Wrong. It's way harder than it looks, and watching your family members flail around like actual turkeys trying to shake out those last few stubborn feathers is absolutely priceless.
6. Thanksgiving turkey hunt
Think Easter egg hunt, but make it Thanksgiving.
Instead of hiding eggs, you're hiding plastic turkey figurines or paper cutouts all around the house (or yard, if the weather's nice). Then you let the kids loose to find as many turkeys as they can.
Whoever finds the most wins a prize.
@jennysimonsays “All the turkeys have escaped. You must find them or our Thanksgiving meal will be ruined.” #thechildhoodtheydeserve #parentchildrelationship #bondingwithyourkids #momsoftiktok #memorymakingmom #turkeyhunt #kidsgames ♬ original sound - Jenny | Parenting Simplified
But if you want to make it more exciting, you can number or mark each turkey so certain ones are worth more points or come with special prizes.
For example, the golden turkey could be worth 10 points, the red turkey earns you first pick of dessert, and the tiny hidden turkey that's nearly impossible to find wins a special prize.
You can even make it like a scavenger hunt and start with a clue as to where the first turkey is. Each turkey thereafter comes with another clue — until they’ve found the final turkey.
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5. Thanksgiving scattergories
If your family loves a good brain teaser (and a little friendly competition), Thanksgiving scattergories is about to become your new favorite game.
The rules are simple: pick a letter of the alphabet, set a timer for two or three minutes, and have everyone write down Thanksgiving-related words that start with that letter across different categories.
Categories could include things like "Thanksgiving foods," "things you're grateful for," "Thanksgiving traditions," "words that describe turkey," "fall activities," or "things you see at Thanksgiving dinner."
@african.amelanin What better way to end the break then to play games! Scattergories is the perfect one for students all levels! You can even play too! Have fun and relax before break!
♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim
So if the letter is "P," you might write down "pumpkin pie" for food.
The catch is that you only get points for answers that nobody else wrote down. So if three people wrote "pumpkin pie," none of them get points for it. But if you're the only one who wrote "pecan tart," you score.
4. Thanksgiving pictionary
If you've got aspiring artists in the family (or people who can barely draw a stick figure), Thanksgiving pictionary is going to be a hit either way.
The concept is classic pictionary, but with a Thanksgiving twist.
Write down a bunch of Thanksgiving-related words or phrases on pieces of paper — "turkey," "mashed potatoes," "Black Friday," "Mayflower," "cornucopia," "football game” — and toss them in a bowl or hat.
@mrsmarcellina Most fun Thanksgiving ever! #thanksgiving #pictionary #sisters #family ♬ original sound - marcelle
Split everyone into teams (or play individually if you've got a smaller group), and take turns drawing while your team tries to guess what you're sketching.
Other ideas for words include “wishbone,” “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” “carving the turkey,” “leftovers,” “apple pie,” “charity,” “cranberry sauce” and “Thanksgiving blessing.”
3. Thanksgiving charades
If pictionary isn't your family's thing, then Thanksgiving charades might be the perfect alternative.
The setup is the same as pictionary: write down a bunch of Thanksgiving-related words or phrases on pieces of paper and toss them in a bowl. Split into teams and take turns acting whatever's on your slip.
The only catch is that you can’t talk — you can only use your hands and other body motions.
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Some of the best (and funniest) charades moments happen when someone gets something nearly impossible to act out, like "cranberry sauce" or "being grateful." That’s when the laughs come into play.
You can use the same word list from pictionary or come up with new ones.
Things like "unbuttoning your pants after dinner," "arguing over football," "burning the rolls," or "sneaking pie before dinner" are sure to be difficult (but funny).
2. Grateful dice game
This one's simple, sweet, surprisingly fun and all you need is one (or two) dice.
Before you start playing, assign each number on the die to a different gratitude prompt or action. Then pass the die around the table, and whatever number you roll, you have to do or say.
Here's an example of how you could set it up:
- Say something or someone you're thankful for and why.
- Share your favorite Thanksgiving memory.
- Compliment the person sitting to your left.
- Name something that made you laugh this week.
- Share one goal you're grateful you accomplished this year.
- Give someone at the table a hug and tell them why they're special.
@yourtherapysource Gratitude Dice Game Free #yourtherapysource #schoolbasedot #schoolbasedtherapist ♬ original sound - Your Therapy Source
You can customize the prompts based on your family's vibe — make them silly, sentimental or cringe.
And if you're using two dice, you can come up with even more creative combinations (like rolling a 7 means everyone has to share, or rolling doubles means you pick someone else to answer).
1. Candy corn ring toss
And last but not least, we've got candy corn ring toss — a simple, colorful game that's perfect for kids (and competitive adults who refuse to lose at anything).
The setup is pretty easy: grab a small traffic cone or any cone-shaped object, paint it to look like a giant candy corn (orange on the bottom, yellow in the middle, white on top), and use glow sticks as your rings.
Bend the glow sticks into circles, snap them to make them glow, and you're ready to play.
@rustoleumbrands Ready to get into the #Halloween spirit with this fun and easy DIY candy corn ring toss? @Angelina ✨ DIY • Home Decor shows us how to create our very own using hard plastic traffic cones! #YardGames #HalloweenParty ♬ Halloween Story - Official Sound Studio
This game is perfect for outdoor play if the weather's nice, especially as it starts getting dark. But it's also great indoors because, let's be honest, you're not breaking any windows with a glow stick.
Set up multiple cones at different distances for varying difficulty levels, or have players stand farther back for each round to make it more challenging.
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This Thanksgiving, don't let your celebration end when the last slice of pie disappears.
Whether you're rolling frozen turkeys down the hallway, shaking feathers out of tissue boxes, or gathering around the table for a round of gratitude dice, these Thanksgiving games will keep anyone entertained.
After all, the turkey might be the star of the dinner table, but these Thanksgiving games? They're what'll make this Thanksgiving truly special.
