Thanksgiving trivia: 70 questions and answers for adults and kids

The short answer: this thanksgiving trivia set has 70 questions with answers: 50 in five themed rounds for teens and adults, plus 20 easy questions for kids.

• Rounds: the first Thanksgiving, presidents, food, parades and football
• Answers listed below each question
• Free printable with answer lines
• A separate answer key
• Next step: Get the free Thanksgiving trivia (we email it to you); want more? The Meal Planner & Grocery List is $3.99.

This thanksgiving trivia set has 70 questions with answers: 50 in five themed rounds for teens and adults, plus 20 easy Thanksgiving trivia questions for kids. Play it at the table between dinner and pie, at a classroom party or over an office potluck. Every question is listed below with its answer, numbered to match the printable. Get the free download for the PDF with answer lines and a separate answer key.

How to host Thanksgiving trivia

1. Make teams of three to six, with kids and adults mixed together.
2. Give each team a printed sheet and a pen. Write a team name at the top.
3. Read the questions aloud one at a time. Allow about 20 seconds each.
4. Swap sheets after each round and let teams mark each other's answers.
5. Play the kids' round between adult rounds so nobody feels left out.
6. Use a number question as a tiebreaker: closest guess wins.

If you only have time for a short game, play rounds 3 and 4. They are the most fun for mixed ages.

Round 1: The first Thanksgiving trivia

1. The 1621 harvest feast at Plymouth is often called the first Thanksgiving. Which ship brought the Pilgrims there in 1620? The Mayflower
2. In which present-day US state is Plymouth? Massachusetts
3. Which Native American nation joined the Pilgrims at the 1621 harvest feast? The Wampanoag
4. What was the name of the Wampanoag leader at the 1621 feast? Massasoit (also called Ousamequin)
5. Which Patuxet man, who spoke English, helped the colonists plant corn? Squanto (Tisquantum)
6. About how many days did the 1621 harvest celebration last? Three
7. Name the "Three Sisters" crops grown together by many Native American nations. Corn, beans and squash
8. What is the famous rock in Plymouth said to mark the Pilgrims' landing? Plymouth Rock
9. Which meat is recorded as part of the 1621 feast because the Wampanoag brought five of them? Deer (venison)
10. Which governor of Plymouth Colony sent men "fowling" for the feast? William Bradford

Round 2: Presidents and history trivia

11. Which president issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789? George Washington
12. Which president proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863, during the Civil War? Abraham Lincoln
13. Which writer and magazine editor campaigned for years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday? Sarah Josepha Hale
14. Sarah Josepha Hale also wrote which famous nursery rhyme? Mary Had a Little Lamb
15. Which president moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in 1939, a change nicknamed "Franksgiving"? Franklin D. Roosevelt
16. In what year did Congress set Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November? 1941
17. In what year did Thanksgiving become a US federal holiday, along with Christmas? 1870
18. Which founding father wrote that the turkey was "a much more respectable bird" than the bald eagle? Benjamin Franklin
19. Who wrote the poem that became the song Over the River and Through the Wood? Lydia Maria Child
20. Norman Rockwell's famous painting of a family turkey dinner is called what? Freedom from Want

Many of the dates in this round come from the long road to a fixed national holiday. The National Archives explains how Congress established the fourth Thursday of November in 1941, after Roosevelt's change in 1939 left states celebrating on two different days.

Round 3: Thanksgiving food trivia

21. What is a male turkey called? A tom (or gobbler)
22. What is a female turkey called? A hen
23. What is a baby turkey called? A poult
24. What is the fleshy flap that hangs over a turkey's beak called? The snood
25. According to the USDA, what internal temperature must a cooked turkey reach to be safe? 165°F
26. Which state grows the most cranberries in the US? Wisconsin
27. Which state raises the most turkeys in the US? Minnesota
28. Green bean casserole was created in 1955 in the test kitchen of which company? Campbell's
29. Which side dish is often topped with mini marshmallows? Sweet potato casserole
30. What is stuffing usually called when it is baked in a dish instead of inside the bird? Dressing

Question 25 is a good reminder for the cook, too. The USDA says turkey is safe when a food thermometer reads 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, thigh and wing.

Round 4: Parades, football and pop culture trivia

31. Which department store runs the famous Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City? Macy's
32. In what year was the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held? 1924
33. Which NFL team has hosted a Thanksgiving Day game almost every year since 1934? The Detroit Lions
34. Which Texas NFL team also traditionally hosts a Thanksgiving game? The Dallas Cowboys
35. What is the name of the running race many towns hold on Thanksgiving morning? A turkey trot
36. What is the busy shopping day after Thanksgiving called? Black Friday
37. What does the US president "pardon" each year before Thanksgiving? A turkey
38. In the 1973 TV special, which Peanuts character serves toast, popcorn and jelly beans for Thanksgiving dinner? Charlie Brown (with Snoopy and Linus)
39. In what month do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving? October (the second Monday)
40. What do two people pull apart to make a wish after the turkey dinner? The wishbone

Round 5: Turkeys, harvest and fall trivia

41. Can wild turkeys fly? Yes, for short distances
42. What sound does a male turkey make? A gobble
43. What is the scientific name for a bird's wishbone? The furcula
44. According to tradition, who gets their wish when the wishbone breaks? The person holding the bigger piece
45. What is another name for a cornucopia? The horn of plenty
46. Is a pumpkin botanically a fruit or a vegetable? A fruit
47. Which nut is used in a classic Southern Thanksgiving pie? Pecan
48. A male turkey's bare head can change color. Name one of the colors. Red, white or blue
49. What is the full moon closest to the start of fall called? The harvest moon
50. Thanksgiving always falls on which day of the week in the US? Thursday

Thanksgiving trivia for kids: 20 easy questions

These easy Thanksgiving trivia questions for kids work for ages 4 to 9. Read them aloud and accept close answers.

1. What bird do many families eat on Thanksgiving? Turkey
2. What month is Thanksgiving in the US? November
3. What sound does a turkey make? Gobble gobble
4. What orange vegetable-like fruit goes into a popular Thanksgiving pie? Pumpkin
5. What red sauce is served with turkey? Cranberry sauce
6. What is the name of the Pilgrims' ship? The Mayflower
7. What season is it at Thanksgiving? Fall (autumn)
8. What do leaves do in the fall? Change color and fall off the trees
9. What sport do lots of families watch on Thanksgiving? Football
10. What is a word for saying you are glad for something? Thankful (or grateful)
11. What do you pour over mashed potatoes? Gravy
12. Which big city has a famous Thanksgiving parade with giant balloons? New York City
13. What yellow vegetable grows on a cob? Corn
14. What do you call the bread mix that goes in or with the turkey? Stuffing
15. How many legs does a turkey have? Two
16. What do turkeys have on their tails that they fan out? Feathers
17. What do you call food that is saved and eaten the next day? Leftovers
18. What fruit is cider made from? Apples
19. What day of the week is Thanksgiving? Thursday
20. Name something you are thankful for. Any answer counts!

Pick a trivia format before you hand out the questions

The list has 50 general questions and 20 easier questions for kids. You do not have to play all 70 in one sitting. Choose a format that fits the guests and the time available, then keep the answer key with the host until the round is scored.

These are hosting options, not tested time estimates. A short round is often easier to fit between dinner and dessert than the whole list. Let guests pass or play as a team if writing or recalling an answer under pressure is uncomfortable.

A simple score and tie rule

Give one point per correct answer and zero for a blank or incorrect answer. Choose in advance whether a partly correct multi-part answer earns a point, and apply the same rule to every team. For a tie, ask one unused question to every tied team at the same time; if they remain tied, share the win rather than inventing a disputed fact on the spot.

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Keep a score line for each round and add it only after reviewing that round's answers. Paper Mate InkJoy gel pens can cover the answer sheets, while Amazon Basics letter-size clipboards are optional for guests without table space. Use existing pens and a firm surface first; any purchased supplies belong in the hosting budget.

Keep history questions separate from the legend

When an answer involves an official date, check the source rather than treating a familiar story as proof. The National Archives account of Congress establishing Thanksgiving explains the fourth-Thursday decision. Keep that history discussion separate from the score if guests want to explore it further.

For a break between rounds, choose another Thanksgiving party game. The Thanksgiving hosting guide keeps the meal timeline and the game plan together.

Tips for a fun, fair trivia game

• Mix ages. A team with a grandparent, a parent and a child usually beats a team of adults, because each person knows different things.
• Keep phones away. Collect phones in a basket, or make anyone caught searching do the dishes.
• Accept close answers. Give the point for "Lincoln" without the first name, or "Plymouth" without the state.
• Explain answers. The best part of trivia is the story behind each answer. Britannica's history of Thanksgiving Day is a good place to read up before the game.
• Be thoughtful about history. The 1621 feast is part of Wampanoag history too. Round 1 includes questions about the Wampanoag people and their leaders so kids learn more than one side of the story.

Keep the day running smoothly

Trivia works best when the host is not stuck in the kitchen. Plan the meal ahead with our Thanksgiving menu template and how to plan Thanksgiving dinner guide, then use the Meal Planner and Grocery List to sort your shopping by aisle. For the day itself, the Meal Planner & Grocery List: Thanksgiving Edition includes a Thanksgiving Day timeline, so you can plan a trivia round while the turkey rests, plus a guest and dish sign-up for potluck-style dinners. For more family activities, try our Thanksgiving games with free bingo cards and our free Thanksgiving word search puzzles.

Trivia fans who like clues can also try our free Thanksgiving crossword. The history puzzle covers the Mayflower, Plymouth and the Wampanoag.

The Holiday Season Bundle includes the meal planner plus a Christmas budget and gift planner, a sinking funds tracker, a bill tracker and a cleaning schedule, so you can plan from Thanksgiving straight through New Year's.

Watching football after dinner? Our sports trivia list has a full football round, including Thanksgiving Day game questions.

Need another round? Our music trivia has 50 questions with answers for game night.