15 Family Thanksgiving Traditions You Can Start This Year

Thanksgiving is a great time for families! Start one of these family Thanksgiving traditions this year to make lasting memories with your kids.

From making a thankful tree to watching the parade, there’s something for everyone.

Many of us grew up spending Thanksgiving with our families, and making tons of memories around the table, in the backyard, or snoozing on the couch after dinner.

The last few years have taught us the true value of our traditions and that we should keep our minds open to trying new things. Sure, it might seem crazy to get up at the crack of dawn and participate in a turkey trot. Maybe it’s weird to set grandma’s lime green jello salad beside your gourmet roasted turkey.

But, you never know just what family activity might turn out to be a favorite that you go back to every year. That’s how traditions get started.

15 Family Thanksgiving Traditions

American thanksgiving traditions generally include a lot of food. My mouth waters thinking about my granny’s turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry relish, and cauliflower. (Does everyone have cauliflower at Thanksgiving, or just us?)

But it was just too much to do when I started cooking for my own family Thanksgiving. Honestly, I don’t know how the woman did it all!

For my lifestyle, simple traditions are best and still give me plenty of time to make memories with my family.

These family traditions are the perfect way to encourage gratitude in your kids that will last throughout the holiday season.

Donate to the Less Fortunate

A wonderful family tradition for Thanksgiving is to donate food to the local food bank, homeless shelter, or women’s shelter. Most of us have more than enough, so why not help those who don’t?

It’s a great way to teach your kids about giving back, and it warms your heart too. You can do this by donating money, food, or time. If you have extra clothes, you can donate them as well.

Do a Turkey Trot

Get the family up and moving on Thanksgiving morning with a fun Turkey Trot! There are plenty of 5Ks and 10Ks held on Thanksgiving all across the country.

Not only is it a great way to work up an appetite for all that turkey, but you can also support a good cause. Many of these races benefit charities, so it’s a win-win.

Write a Gratitude List

This is a thanksgiving tradition that the whole family can get involved in. On Thanksgiving day, everyone writes down 5-10 things they are grateful for on slips of paper. Then, put all the papers in a jar and read them aloud after dinner.

It’s so nice to reflect on all the good things in our lives, and it’s interesting to see what everyone is thankful for. This tradition always brings up great conversations and sometimes even laughter!

Make a Thankful Tree

This is another Thanksgiving tradition that the whole family can participate in. You’ll need a branch or small tree, some leaves (real or fake), and slips of paper. Write what you’re thankful for on the slips of paper and then hang them on the tree.

This is a great way to decorate for Thanksgiving and it’s also a fun way to see all the things your family is grateful for.

Related: 17 Gratitude Activities for Kids to Encourage Thankfulness

Watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade

There is nothing quite like watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade to get you in the holiday spirit. Make it an event all its own to kick off the day.

Get up early and make some breakfast, then curl up on the couch and watch the parade together. It’s always a lot of fun to spend time with the family and experience a real American tradition, too.

Make a Craft

Get the family together and make some fall and Thanksgiving crafts. There are tons of great ideas out there, from Thanksgiving gingerbread cabins to yarn pumpkins.

Not only is this a fun activity, but it’s also a great way to decorate your home for the holiday. And, you’ll have some lovely memories to share!

Have a Family Game Night

This Thanksgiving tradition is especially fun if you’re visiting with family for the holiday. After a big meal, it’s nice to just relax and spend some time together.

Break out some favorite family games and have a fun game night. This is always a great way to end the day and it’s a tradition that everyone looks forward to.

Related: 58 Fun Thanksgiving Would You Rather Questions for Kids

Invite Someone New to Dinner

In 2018 we spend our first Thanksgiving away from home. Money was tight at the time, and we just weren’t able to make the trip.

Some friends invited us to their home to be with their family. What could’ve been a sad, hard day, turned out to be a fun and memorable Thanksgiving.

You probably won’t look far without finding someone who is lonely and could use some encouragement. Invite them over and give them the encouragement and hope they need.

Make a Special Family Recipe

Is there a traditional recipe in your family that you only have at Thanksgiving? Maybe it’s something your grandmother used to make, or maybe just something you’ve never made yourself.

Take a chance this year and make it yourself! Surprise your family, or give a bit of your own family tradition to a potluck or friendsgiving.

You never know, you might just start a new tradition.

Have a Pie Eating Contest

Pie eating contests aren’t just for festivals or summertime! After Thanksgiving dinner, have a pie eating contest.

Whoever can eat their slice of pie the fastest wins. This is always a really fun way to end the meal and it’s sure to get everyone laughing.

Get out and Exercise

After a big Thanksgiving meal, it’s always nice to get out and move around. Whether you go for a walk, play some touch football, or just run around the backyard, getting some exercise is a great way to burn off some energy.

Recently, my brother-in-law taught us how to play bocce ball, and it’s so much fun! It’s a great way to spend some time with the family, get some fresh air, and burn off some calories!

Have a Movie Marathon

After a busy day of cooking, eating, and spending time with family, sometimes all you want to do is relax. Have a movie marathon! Pick out some of your favorites, make some popcorn, and snuggle up on the couch.

This is always a great way to end the day and it’s a fun way to spend time with the family. If you have a family member (ahem, like my dad) who refuses to even mention Christmas until after Thanksgiving, this is a great time to bring out your Christmas movies!

Plan Your Black Friday Shopping

If you’re one of those people who love to shop on Black Friday, start planning your shopping trip now. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start making your list and mapping out your plan.

Get the whole family involved and see who can get the best deals. This is a fun time to be together and get started on your Christmas shopping. You might also get some good Christmas gift ideas!

Use this Christmas Prep Masterplan to make your season stress-free and fun!

Make the Most of Your Leftovers

A few years ago our family all went out for Thanksgiving dinner instead of preparing it at home. While it was awesome not to cook or clean and the food was delicious, there was one thing missing.

No leftovers. We vowed to never do that again.

There are all kinds of yummy recipes for using up your leftovers in new recipes. But just popping them in the microwave on a paper plate and reheating them works just fine, too.

Our favorite is a sub bun or some sourdough bread with leftover turkey, bacon, lettuce, mayo and cranberry relish. We could eat them for days.

Put Up Your Christmas Tree

When dinner is finished, the mess is cleaned up and naps are taken, it’s the perfect time to decorate your home for Christmas!

This is always a fun tradition in our family. Even if you don’t usually put up your tree until later in the month, getting it up on Thanksgiving weekend is a great way to start the Christmas season. It’s also a fun way to get the whole family involved.

Start a New Tradition with Your Own Family

Do you have any fun Thanksgiving traditions? If not, start one!

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start a new tradition. Whether it’s something small, like making a special dish to share, or something bigger, like going on a family hike, starting a new tradition is a great way to make special memories with your family.

And who knows, maybe your new tradition will become a family favorite!

Share with your friends!