Thanksgiving gatherings can feel a bit dull once the meal is done. Finding fun activities that work for all ages isn’t as easy as it seems, and hosts often struggle to keep everyone entertained.
Thanksgiving trivia questions are the perfect solution. They ignite conversations, bring out laughter, and make celebrations more memorable.
This blog shares ready-to-use trivia questions that cover history, food, traditions, and fun facts.
Readers will get questions for kids, adults, and mixed groups. By the end, you’ll have everything needed to host an engaging Turkey Day quiz.
Why Thanksgiving Trivia is Perfect for Turkey Day
Thanksgiving brings families together, but the hours between meal prep and dinner can drag. Trivia fills that gap perfectly. It gets people talking and laughing instead of staring at their phones.
The beauty of trivia is its flexibility. Young kids can answer simple questions about turkeys and pumpkins.
Adults can tackle tougher ones about history and traditions. Everyone participates at their own level.
Trivia also breaks the ice when distant relatives gather.
It gives shy guests something to contribute and helps new family members feel included. Plus, it requires zero setup: no boards, no pieces, just questions and answers.
The game works anywhere, too. Play it at the dining table, in the living room, or even during a post-dinner walk.
Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers
Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pie; it’s about gratitude, family, and laughter shared over the dinner table.
These trivia questions will start a fun competition and teach everyone something new about this beloved holiday tradition.
Thanksgiving History and Traditions
1. Who was the U.S. president who made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Abraham Lincoln
2. In what year did the first Thanksgiving take place?
1621
3. Which Native American tribe shared the first Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims?
The Wampanoag Tribe
4. What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
The Mayflower
5. How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?
Three days
6. What was the name of the Pilgrims’ settlement?
Plymouth Colony
7. Which president moved Thanksgiving one week earlier to boost retail sales?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
8. What famous rock marks where the Pilgrims landed?
Plymouth Rock
9. What document did the Pilgrims sign before disembarking the Mayflower?
The Mayflower Compact
10. Which U.S. state was the first to adopt Thanksgiving as an annual holiday officially?
New York
11. Who is credited with convincing Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday?
Sarah Josepha Hale
12. How many passengers sailed on the Mayflower?
102
13. Which Native American famously helped the Pilgrims learn to grow crops?
Squanto
14. What was the main meat likely served at the first Thanksgiving?
Venison
15. What year did the first presidential turkey pardon take place?
1947
16. What does the term “Black Friday” refer to?
The day after Thanksgiving marks the start of holiday shopping.
17. Which U.S. president started the turkey pardon tradition?
Although often credited to Harry S. Truman, the first official presidential turkey pardon was carried out by George H.W. Bush in 1989.”
18. Which U.S. state raises the most turkeys annually?
Minnesota
19. What day of the week is Thanksgiving always celebrated in the United States?
Thursday
20. In what year did the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade occur?
1924
21. What was the original purpose of the first Thanksgiving celebration?
To give thanks for the harvest and survival of the settlers
22. How many turkeys are typically eaten each Thanksgiving in the U.S.?
About 46 million
23. What year did Thanksgiving become a fixed national holiday on the fourth Thursday of November?
1941
24. Which Native American tribe’s leader attended the first Thanksgiving feast?
Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag
25. What do many people do after Thanksgiving dinner besides watch football?
Express gratitude or share what they’re thankful for
Thanksgiving Food and Feasting
26. What is the centerpiece dish of most Thanksgiving dinners?
Turkey
27. What red sauce is commonly served with turkey?
Cranberry sauce
28. What traditional dessert is made from a gourd-based filling?
Pumpkin pie
29. What dish combines green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy onions?
Green bean casserole
30. What sweet dish features marshmallows and yams?
Sweet potato casserole
31. What nut is the main ingredient in a popular Thanksgiving pie?
Pecan
32. What part of the turkey is pulled apart for good luck?
The wishbone
33. What bread is often used to make stuffing?
Cornbread
34. What do you call a turkey stuffed with a duck and a chicken?
A turducken
35. What’s the most common Thanksgiving side dish in the U.S.?
Mashed potatoes
36. What’s the traditional beverage served warm with spices during Thanksgiving?
Apple cider
37. Which sauce is made from the drippings of cooked turkey?
Gravy
38. What was NOT served at the first Thanksgiving feast?
Pumpkin pie (no sugar or oven)
39. What spice blend is essential for pumpkin pie flavor?
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
40. What popular Thanksgiving dish is sometimes made with canned cream soup?
Green bean casserole
41. What type of pie besides pumpkin is a Thanksgiving favorite?
Apple pie
42. What dish made from leftover turkey is commonly eaten the next day?
Turkey sandwiches
43. What color scheme is often used for Thanksgiving table settings?
Warm autumn colors like orange, red, and brown
44. What popular Thanksgiving side is made from mashed and seasoned corn?
Creamed corn
45. What is the term for Thanksgiving stuffing cooked inside the turkey?
Dressing
46. What’s a common vegetarian substitute for turkey?
Tofurky
47. What utensil is traditionally used to carve the turkey?
Carving knife
48. What kind of salad includes whipped cream, fruit, and coconut?
Ambrosia salad
49. What is the ideal internal temperature of a fully cooked turkey?
165°F (74°C)
50. What type of bread is often served with Thanksgiving meals?
Dinner rolls
51. What vegetable was originally a symbol of abundance and often served at early feasts?
Corn
52. What is the most common pie crust type used for pumpkin pie?
Pastry crust
53. What sweet treat made with nuts and syrup became a Southern Thanksgiving staple?
Pecan pie
54. What’s a popular side dish made with cornmeal and baked in a skillet?
Cornbread
Pop Culture and Modern Turkey Day Fun
55. What cartoon special features Charlie Brown struggling to make Thanksgiving dinner?
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
56. Which “Friends” episode features Joey wearing a turkey on his head?
“The One with All the Thanksgivings”
57. What 1987 comedy film follows two men trying to get home for Thanksgiving?
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
58. What balloon character has appeared the most in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Snoopy
59. Which NFL team has played every Thanksgiving since 1934?
The Detroit Lions
60. What sport is most commonly watched on Thanksgiving Day?
Football
61. Which famous city hosts the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the U.S.?
Philadelphia
62. What was the first balloon ever featured in the Macy’s Parade?
Felix the Cat
63. What animated show features chaotic Thanksgiving dinners in nearly every season?
The Simpsons
64. What 2003 animated movie stars a turkey trying to stop Thanksgiving from ever happening?
Free Birds
65. What sitcom coined the term “Slapsgiving”?
How I Met Your Mother
66. What do many Americans do to kick off the holiday season after Thanksgiving?
Go shopping on Black Friday.
67. Which U.S. president was the first to pardon two turkeys instead of one?
Barack Obama
68. What annual tradition features floats, bands, and balloons on Thanksgiving morning?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
69. What’s the most-watched TV event on Thanksgiving Day?
NFL games
70. Which movie features a chaotic Thanksgiving meal with family drama and laughter?
Home for the Holidays
71. What popular online shopping event follows Black Friday?
Cyber Monday
72. What social media trend encourages people to post daily gratitude?
#ThankfulChallenge
73. What Thanksgiving dish was the inspiration for Swanson’s first frozen dinner in 1953?
Leftover turkey
74. Which U.S. president compared Thanksgiving to “a day of healing and gratitude”?
Joe Biden
75. Which actor voiced the turkey Reggie in “Free Birds”?
Owen Wilson
76. What band performed during the first televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade?
The University of Michigan Marching Band
77. Which Thanksgiving special involves Snoopy serving toast and popcorn?
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
78. What’s a common post-dinner activity other than watching TV?
Playing family board games
79. What is the name of the parade broadcast nationwide on NBC each Thanksgiving morning?
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
80. What modern event involves running a short race before eating the feast?
A Turkey Trot
81. What streaming platform often releases Thanksgiving cooking specials?
Netflix
Ready to take the challenge offline? Click here to get the trivia PDF!
Winding it Up
Thanksgiving trivia questions turn ordinary gatherings into lively celebrations.
They create moments of laughter, surprise, and connection that everyone remembers long after the leftovers are gone.
Now it’s your turn to put these questions to work. Print them out, save them on your device, or just bookmark this page.
When Turkey Day arrives, you’ll be ready to entertain your guests and make this year’s celebration stand out.
Got a favorite trivia question we missed? Drop it in the comments below. Let’s build the most exciting Thanksgiving quiz together!
