40 Free Printable Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers

Last updated on June 25th, 2025 at 01:56 pm

Thanksgiving is all about family, gratitude, food, and of course, fun. While turkey and pumpkin pie may get all the glory, a good Thanksgiving trivia game can bring laughter, learning and friendly competition to the dinner table.

This post will walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of your Thanksgiving trivia. From how to use the game to where to download the free PDF, we’ve got all the holiday party ideas you need.

Why Play Thanksgiving Trivia?

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that brings people of all ages together. What better way to bridge generations than with a family trivia challenge? Whether you’re playing with kids, grandparents or your friends at Friendsgiving, a trivia game is:

Interactive – It keeps guests engaged beyond eating and watching football.

Educational – Especially with Thanksgiving trivia for kids, it’s a fun way to learn about history, traditions and facts.

Inclusive – No physical ability is required, everyone can participate.

Memorable – Creating traditions like a yearly Thanksgiving trivia game adds charm and anticipation to the holiday.

The printables on this page are for personal, non-commercial use only. You are welcome to print and share them as many times as you like for school, home, or daycare activities, but please do not resell, alter, or redistribute them as your own.

Here Are Your Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers

Question: What year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?

Answer: 1621

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Question: Which Native American tribe helped the Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving?

Answer: Wampanoag

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Question: Which U.S. President made Thanksgiving a national holiday?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

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Question: Which month was the first Thanksgiving celebrated in?

Answer: November

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Question: How long did the first Thanksgiving feast last?

Answer: Three days

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Question: What is the name of the ship the Pilgrims sailed on?

Answer: The Mayflower

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Question: What meat was likely not served at the first Thanksgiving?

Answer: Turkey

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Question: Which U.S. state is the top producer of turkeys?

Answer: Minnesota

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Question: What day of the week is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?

Answer: Thursday

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Question: What is the Friday after Thanksgiving commonly called?

Answer: Black Friday

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Question: What large department store sponsors the famous Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City?

Answer: Macy’s

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Question: Which balloon character was the first to appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Answer: Felix the Cat

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Question: What is the name of the Native American who acted as an interpreter for the Pilgrims?

Answer: Squanto

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Question: Which U.S. president tried to cancel Thanksgiving during the Great Depression?

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt (He tried to move it, not cancel it, which caused controversy)

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Question: What traditional bread-based dish is typically served as a side during Thanksgiving?

Answer: Stuffing

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Question: What is the name of the dessert that combines pecans and corn syrup?

Answer: Pecan pie

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Question: In what year did Thanksgiving become a national holiday in the U.S.?

Answer: 1863

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Question: Which U.S. state was the first to adopt Thanksgiving as an annual holiday?

Answer: New York

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Question: What popular sport is commonly watched on Thanksgiving Day?

Answer: Football

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Question: What animated TV special has been a Thanksgiving tradition since 1973?

Answer: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

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Question: What utensil is traditionally used to break the turkey wishbone?

Answer: Hands

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Question: What sound does a male turkey make?

Answer: Gobble

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Question: What are female turkeys called?

Answer: Hens

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Question: What are baby turkeys called?

Answer: Poults

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Question: What berry is commonly made into a sauce for Thanksgiving dinner?

Answer: Cranberry

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Question: What was the Pilgrims’ original destination before landing at Plymouth Rock?

Answer: Virginia

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Question: Which president moved Thanksgiving up one week to help boost the economy?

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Question: What food is known to make people sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal?

Answer: Turkey (due to tryptophan)

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Question: What pie is traditionally associated with Thanksgiving?

Answer: Pumpkin pie

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Question: What do Americans typically call the main meal on Thanksgiving?

Answer: Thanksgiving dinner

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Question: How many Pilgrims were on the Mayflower?

Answer: 102

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Question: What U.S. city is home to the oldest Thanksgiving parade?

Answer: Philadelphia

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Question: What percentage of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

Answer: About 88%

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Question: What state raises the most cranberries in the U.S.?

Answer: Wisconsin

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Question: What is the fleshy growth under a turkey’s neck called?

Answer: Wattle

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Question: What is the red part on top of a turkey’s beak called?

Answer: Snood

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Question: What is the name of the rock the Pilgrims are believed to have landed on?

Answer: Plymouth Rock

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Question: What famous explorer is sometimes incorrectly credited with founding Thanksgiving?

Answer: Christopher Columbus

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Question: What is the main ingredient in traditional Thanksgiving gravy?

Answer: Turkey drippings

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Question: What country also celebrates Thanksgiving, but in October?

Answer: Canada

How to Use These Thanksgiving Trivia Questions

You don’t need any special equipment to play. Just print out the trivia sheet, grab a pen or pencil and gather everyone around. Here are some creative ways to use your printable Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers:

Dinner Table Challenge

Place a few questions at each person’s seat. Take turns answering between courses.

Team Trivia Battle

Divide into teams: adults vs kids, couples vs singles, etc. Use the Thanksgiving trivia with answers to score each round.

Trivia Jar

Print and cut each question into strips. Place them in a bowl or jar and draw one at a time.

Kids’ Corner

Filter out the easier questions and use them as Thanksgiving trivia for kids as part of a Thanksgiving activity table.

Classroom Activities

Teachers can incorporate our printable Thanksgiving games into lesson plans during the holiday week.

Virtual Game Night

Hosting a remote celebration? Email the Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers PDF to everyone, or you can simply share the link to this post so your friends can download their own copies and play via video call.

Download Your Free PDF

Need all 40 questions and answers in one place? We’ve got you covered. We’ve created a pretty and print-ready version you can download in seconds.

This includes:

• 40 questions

• Answer key for hosts

• Colored theme for a more lively printout

You can print as many copies as you need. This printable is great for classrooms, family reunions, and holiday parties.

Ways to Categorize This Thanksgiving Trivia

Want to challenge guests of all ages? Try breaking your trivia into difficulty levels. This makes your Thanksgiving trivia game even more fun.

Easy (For Kids): Questions about turkeys, food, and basic history.

Medium (Family-Friendly): Topics that cover fun facts about the holiday, parades, and traditions.

Hard (For History Buffs): In-depth questions about U.S. Presidents, the Mayflower, and early colonial life.

Mixing categories allows everyone to feel involved and gives your guests a chance to shine in their area of expertise.

Printable Format Ideas

When you’re planning a printable Thanksgiving game activity, the design can make a big difference. Here are a few options to consider:

Full Page Printout: Perfect for classrooms or family trivia nights. Everyone gets their own sheet to fill out.

Half Sheet or Postcard Style: Great for inserting into Thanksgiving cards or including at table settings.

Cut-Out Cards: Use scissors to cut each question and use them for trivia jars or scavenger hunts.

Table Talk Cards: Laminate your trivia cards and reuse them every year as part of your holiday decor and game night tradition.

Whatever format you choose, be sure to print a few extras; guests will want to take them home.

Thanksgiving Trivia Game Prizes & Ideas

Make the game even more fun by offering small prizes. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just something to make people want to play.

Here are some budget-friendly prize ideas:

• Mini pumpkin pies

• Thanksgiving-themed candles

• Scratch-off lottery tickets

• Hot cocoa mix in jars

• First dibs on dessert

You can also reward the losers with something funny, like dishwashing duty or a silly turkey hat.

More Thanksgiving-Themed Game Ideas

If your group loves trivia, they’ll probably enjoy other printable Thanksgiving games too. Here are a few activities to pair with your trivia night:

• Thanksgiving Bingo: Use food items, family traditions, or Macy’s Parade features.

• Thanksgiving Word Search or Crossword: Great for kids or quiet moments after dinner.

• Thanksgiving Charades: Act out turkey-related words or phrases.

• “Who Am I?” Sticky Note Game: Write Thanksgiving characters or foods on sticky notes and place them on guests’ foreheads.

You can find free printables for these games online or create your own themed sets.

Make it a Family Tradition

One of the best things about family trivia is how easy it is to make it an annual tradition. As Thanksgiving comes around each year, guests will look forward to the trivia game. You can:

– Keep a running scorecard from year to year

– Have a different person host the game each year

– Add new questions each year (or rotate through a question bank)

– Keep past years’ trivia sheets in a scrapbook

These kinds of traditions will strengthen family bonds and give everyone something to look forward to beyond the big meal.

How Teachers Can Use This Thanksgiving Trivia for Kids

Teachers, this one’s for you! Thanksgiving week is a great time to shake up the classroom routine with some fun learning. Use our Thanksgiving trivia for kids as:

• A warm-up or exit ticket activity

• A full-class quiz game with teams

• Part of a holiday celebration

• An assignment for early finishers

Pair the trivia with a Thanksgiving coloring sheet or writing prompt for a complete lesson.

Hosting a Trivia Night at Home

Want to take your Thanksgiving trivia game to the next level? Here’s how to host a full-blown trivia night:

– Prep Your Questions: Use the free printable and group your questions by difficulty or theme.

– Design Your Space: Set up a table with buzzers (or bells), scorecards, and fall decor.

– Assign a Host: The host reads the questions and keeps score. Consider using a microphone for extra flair.

– Keep It Moving: Limit each round to 10 questions to keep the game going.

– Celebrate the Winners: End with a small award ceremony or certificate for the trivia champ.

This adds an element of fun and structure to your holiday.

Make Thanksgiving Fun & Meaningful

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect, reconnect, and rejoice, and nothing does that like quality time with friends and family and laughter. With our printable Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers, you’re not just killing time, you’re creating memories.

Whether you’re printing out the Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers PDF for a classroom, family dinner or virtual gathering, you’ll have a fun activity ready to go. Have fun, and Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🦃