The Ultimate Thanksgiving Scattergories Game (+FREE Printable Game Card!)

These Thanksgiving Scattergories categories will have everyone racing the clock, stretching their brains, and sharing laughs around the dinner table. Scattergories is a fun and fast-paced game that brings the whole family together.

Who Can Play?

All ages! Thanksgiving Scattergories is a versatile and engaging activity that works for family game night, school celebrations, Friendsgiving parties, or even a friendly competition after Thanksgiving dinner.

Scattergories: Game of Categories

Objective

Score points by coming up with unique words that fit within specific categories. All answers must begin with a designated letter and be submitted before the timer runs out!

Supplies Needed

• A 3-minute timer (your phone works great!)
• 20-sided letter die or this online letter generator
• Category lists below
• Free printable answer sheet
• Writing utensils

How To Play Thanksgiving Scattergories

1. Roll a letter using your die or use the online generator. (Skip tricky letters like Q, U, V, X, Y, Z.)

2. Set the timer for 3 minutes.

3. Each player writes a word that fits each category and starts with the chosen letter.

4. When time’s up, compare answers. Unique answers = 1 point. If multiple players write the same word, it’s 0 points for everyone who duplicated it.

5. After one or more rounds, the player or team with the most points wins!

Additional Rules

• Articles (a, an, the) don’t count as the first letter.

• Don’t just slap on adjectives to force a match!

• Bonus points for multi-word answers (e.g., “Pumpkin Pie” for P).

• When in doubt, vote as a group.

Thanksgiving Categories & Lists (For All Ages)

These fun and festive Thanksgiving-themed categories will keep players on their toes! Use one list per round or reuse the same categories with different letters.

List 1: Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Something soft
2. A food everyone loves
3. A dish everyone pretends to like
4. A cooking utensil
5. A table decoration
6. A type of pie
7. Awkward dinner topic
8. Something you might hear at the dinner table
9. Thanksgiving side dish
10. Fall vegetable
11. Someone you might sit next to
12. Something hot

List 2: Gratitude

1. A person in your life
2. A simple pleasure
3. A modern convenience
4. A holiday tradition
5. Something in nature
6. A skill or talent
7. Something weird to be thankful for
8. A favorite food or drink
9. A book, movie, or song
10. A personal accomplishment
11. Something you use every day
12. Something that makes you laugh

List 3: Fall Activities

1. Something done at a pumpkin patch
2. A cozy indoor activity
3. A fall sport or game
4. Something involving leaves
5. A fall tradition
6. Something you wear in the fall
7. A fall-themed event
8. A type of fall drink
9. Something you do on a fall walk
10. A messy fall activity
11. Something you eat in the fall
12. Something kids love in fall

List 4: November

1. Something brown
2. A weather word
3. Something you wear in November
4. A November feeling
5. A seasonal food
6. A school activity
7. Things to wrap up in
8. Places to nap
9. An animal you might see
10. A sound you associate with November
11. Something people prepare for
12. A type of soup

List 5: Football

1. A football team
2. A football position
3. A game day snack
4. Something a coach might say
5. A famous football player
6. Something fans wear
7. A football-related sound
8. Something a football player wears
9. A team color
10. A football phrase or chant
11. Something yelled at the TV
12. A place where people watch the game

List 6: Thanksgiving Day Parade

1. A balloon character
2. A marching band instrument
3. A type of performer
4. Something kids get excited about
5. A celebrity you might see
6. A float theme
7. A sound from the parade
8. A song played in the parade
9. Something flying through the air
10. Something that happens on live TV
11. A colorful decoration
12. Something that could go hilariously wrong

List 7: Thanksgiving Travel

1. A relative’s house
2. A city or state
3. A warm-weather destination
4. A snowy place
5. Somewhere you drive to
6. Somewhere you fly to
7. A cozy place to stay
8. A place with great food
9. Somewhere with a family tradition
10. A location with a long travel time
11. A spot perfect for relaxing
12. Somewhere unexpected for Thanksgiving

List 8: Family

1. Name of a family member
2. Place where a family member lives
3. Family pet
4. A funny family saying or activity
5. A family game or contest
6. A post-dinner ritual
7. A family tradition
8. Serious family member
9. A family “rule” or quirk
10. Fun family member
11. Something everyone looks forward to
12. A family memory

Related: Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

List 9: Fall Decorations

1. Something on the table
2. A front porch item
3. A scented item
4. A type of candle
5. A handmade decoration
6. A store-bought decoration
7. Something with leaves
8. A sign or saying
9. Something with a turkey on it
10. Something made of wood
11. Something orange
12. Something that reminds you of the first Thanksgiving

Related: Thankful Turkey Activity

List 10: In The Kitchen

1. A food spill
2. Something you might burn
3. A word to describe the turkey
4. A spice you might use
5. Something you do after Thanksgiving dinner
6. A difficult dish to make
7. Something kids do to help
8. Something you wear while cooking
9. A Thanksgiving ingredient
10. An accident that could happen
11. Something you might smell
12. A word to describe what the kitchen looks like

More Thanksgiving Games You Don’t Want To Miss!:

Free Printable Scattergories Game Card

Want a grab-and-go version? Download the free Thanksgiving Scattergories printable to make setup super simple! Keep a few on hand for classroom parties, holiday travel, or dinner table fun.

Fun Scattergories Game Variations

This Scattergories game can be changed and adapted for the group.

• Team Play: Pair players up, especially younger kids, for teamwork and shared laughs.

• Create your own list: Let kids make a list based on what they love about Thanksgiving!

• Adjust Speed: Shorten the time limit to 1 or 2 minutes for a rapid-fire challenge.

• Allow matching answers to score points: Unlike the traditional rules, players can still earn points even if they have the same answer as someone else.

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