Best Thanksgiving Work Ideas & Games For In-Person and Remote Teams

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! But while everyone’s looking forward to turkey and pie, there’s another reason to get excited—Thanksgiving team building activities for work. Celebrating this holiday in the workplace is a chance to foster a sense of gratitude, give back to the community, and connect on a personal level with coworkers. And honestly, who doesn’t need a little break from the daily grind?

So, let’s dive into some of the best Thanksgiving team building activities that’ll give your team something extra to be thankful for. Whether you’re in the office or remote, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy!

Why Team Building Around Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is more than just food and football—it’s a time for gratitude. Team building activities around Thanksgiving can remind everyone of what they appreciate about their work family, plus it’s a great way to get everyone excited before the holidays kick in.

Encourages gratitude and empathy

Reduces stress and boosts morale

Strengthens team cohesion and communication

Best Thanksgiving Team Building Activities for Work

1. Gratitude Wall

Kick off the season of thanks with a Gratitude Wall. All you need is a large board or wall space where people can post sticky notes with what they’re grateful for, whether work-related or personal.

Encourage team members to share both professional and personal notes of gratitude.

Go virtual! For remote teams, try a digital board like Padlet or Miro where everyone can add their sticky notes.

2. Thanksgiving Potluck (With a Twist!)

Nothing brings people together like food, right? Host a Thanksgiving potluck where each team member brings a dish that’s special to them. But here’s the twist: instead of simply eating, ask each person to share a story behind their dish or why it’s their favorite.

Remote twist: Have everyone share a recipe beforehand, then cook together over a virtual call. It’s like a cooking show but way more fun!

3. Volunteer Together

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to give back. Consider organizing a team volunteer day where everyone can help out at a local food bank, homeless shelter, or animal rescue.

Remote team option: Partner with a charity and encourage everyone to donate or volunteer virtually.

4. Turkey Trot Challenge

Get your team moving with a Turkey Trot! Have everyone participate in a friendly walking or running challenge.

You can track steps with an app like Strava or Google Fit.

Celebrate the top “trotters” with fun prizes, like an extra day off or a gift card.

5. Thanksgiving Trivia

Who doesn’t love a little trivia? Put together a game that includes Thanksgiving-related questions, like the history of the holiday, fun facts about turkeys, and even pop culture references.

Spice it up with a lightning round, where the winner gets an extra dessert or a team shoutout.

6. Thankful for Team Awards

Celebrate your teammates! Host a “Thankful for Team” awards ceremony where you highlight each person’s unique contributions to the team.

Create categories like “Most Likely to Brighten Your Day” or “Best Work-from-Home Setup.”

Make it virtual by presenting the awards over a video call with digital certificates.

7. Office Decor Challenge

Split your team into small groups and hold an office (or virtual workspace) decoration contest with a Thanksgiving theme. Each team can get creative with decorations like pumpkins, leaves, and Thanksgiving-themed art.

Remote version: Have everyone decorate their virtual backgrounds or home workspaces, then vote on the best setup.

8. Gratitude Bingo

Create Bingo cards with various “gratitude” prompts like “thankful for a great teammate,” “appreciates flexible hours,” or “loves the team’s sense of humor.” Have team members mark off squares as they share things they’re thankful for, aiming to complete a row for a prize.

This can also work as an icebreaker to get everyone in a thankful mindset before a meeting or event.

9. Harvest Hunt

Organize a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt where team members search for holiday-related items around the office or in their homes. Include items like a canned good, a pumpkin, or something orange to keep it on theme.

For remote teams, provide clues and let participants snap photos of items around their home for each clue.

10. Thanksgiving Recipe Swap

Invite team members to share a family recipe or their favorite Thanksgiving dish in a virtual recipe swap. Compile all the recipes into a digital cookbook that everyone can access, giving the team a unique way to “share” a meal.

Bonus: Schedule a time to cook one of the recipes together over video call, or encourage people to bring one of the dishes to your Thanksgiving potluck.

11. Team “Thankful Tree”

Set up a small tree or board where team members can hang paper leaves or ornaments expressing what they’re thankful for. Each person writes one thing they appreciate about the team, their work, or a colleague.

Digital alternative: Use an online whiteboard or tool like Padlet to create a virtual “thankful tree” for everyone to contribute to.

12. Charity Raffle or Auction

Host a charity raffle where team members can donate small items, services (like coffee-making for a week), or unique experiences (like lunch with a manager). Proceeds go to a charity chosen by the team, adding a philanthropic element to the festivities.

This can be a fun way to give back and make a difference in the community, all while sharing some laughs over creative “raffle prizes.”

13. Storytelling Circle: Thanksgiving Edition

Have a storytelling circle where each person shares a favorite Thanksgiving memory, a family tradition, or a funny Thanksgiving story. It’s a great way to learn more about each other and spark new conversations.

This can be a lighthearted activity that gets everyone in a festive spirit, whether in-person or over video call.

14. Thanksgiving Craft Workshop

Host a Thanksgiving-themed craft session where team members can create something festive, like homemade gratitude cards, pumpkin decorations, or even DIY turkey centerpieces.

For remote teams, send out craft kits ahead of time or provide a list of simple supplies. Then, gather over video call to work on the projects together.

15. Guess the Gratitude

Each team member submits one thing they’re grateful for, and the organizer reads each one aloud anonymously. The team then tries to guess who wrote it. It’s a fun way to learn more about each other’s lives and interests.

This activity works well as a light, team-bonding exercise and gives everyone a chance to share personal insights.

16. Care Package Project

Assemble care packages for local charities, hospitals, or schools. Each team member can contribute an item, and you can collectively build the packages.

For remote teams, have each person send a small gift, like a cozy pair of socks or a holiday snack, to a shared location.

17. Letters of Gratitude

Take a few moments to write heartfelt thank-you letters. Each person can write a letter to a team member, expressing what they appreciate about their work and friendship.

Virtual twist: Use a digital platform like Canva to create beautiful letters, and email them as surprises!

Virtual Thanksgiving Team Building Activities

If your team’s remote, don’t worry! Thanksgiving team building activities for work can be just as engaging online. Here are some virtual-friendly options:

1. Thanksgiving Game Night

Set up a Thanksgiving-themed game night using Internet Game to bring the team together for some virtual fun. Choose from a variety of multiplayer games that are easy to join, perfect for remote or in-office teams.

Thanksgiving Twist: Add a holiday challenge, like giving a shoutout to the top scorer or sharing a funny Thanksgiving memory for the lowest score.

2. Online Cooking Class

Bond with your team over a virtual cooking class where everyone learns to make a Thanksgiving dish. It could be a classic like pumpkin pie or something more unique, like cranberry salsa.

3. Virtual Thank-You Circle

Start a video call where each team member shares something they’re thankful for. It’s a simple yet powerful way to connect on a personal level and spread a bit of positivity.

4. Thanksgiving Pictionary

Bring out the laughs with a round of Thanksgiving-themed Pictionary. Use an online drawing tool like Internet Game or Zoom’s whiteboard feature and have everyone guess each other’s turkey, pie, or pilgrim drawings!

FAQs

1. How can we include everyone in Thanksgiving team building activities for work? Make sure to consider everyone’s preferences, dietary restrictions, and schedules. Providing both in-person and virtual options can ensure everyone feels included.

2. Can we celebrate Thanksgiving without being too personal? Absolutely! Thanksgiving is about gratitude, which can be expressed professionally. Focus on team achievements, shared goals, and the company’s successes.

3. What’s a good Thanksgiving team building activity for a small team? A virtual thank-you circle or a Thanksgiving trivia game works well for smaller groups. These are intimate activities that encourage everyone to participate.

4. How do we keep Thanksgiving celebrations inclusive? Recognize that not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving the same way. Opt for activities that focus on gratitude and team appreciation rather than specific cultural or religious themes.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday—it’s a chance to reflect, connect, and bring a little more gratitude into the workplace. With these Thanksgiving team building activities for work, you’re set to create lasting memories that’ll carry over into the new year. So, whether it’s sharing a meal, giving back, or simply saying thanks, take this time to build and bond with your team. Because when everyone feels valued and appreciated, that’s something truly worth celebrating.