Best Outdoor Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
Thanksgiving is about family, food, and creating memories, and what better way to do that than with outdoor activities that bring everyone together? Whether you’re looking for ways to entertain energetic kids before dinner or want to start a new family tradition, there are plenty of fun options to choose from.
From mini pumpkin hunts to turkey tag and pie-eating contests, these creative outdoor ideas will keep everyone laughing, active, and connected this Thanksgiving.
Miniature Pumpkin Hunt
Just like an Easter Egg hunt, a miniature pumpkin hunt will entertain both kids and adults alike. Hide mini pumpkins in easy and challenging places to appeal to kids of different ages. You can also pair off younger kids with an adult or make teams.
At the end of the hunt, each team counts how many pumpkins they find. The winner takes their pumpkins and receives a fabulous prize, like a gift basket filled with pumpkin cookies and other tasty treats!
Turkey Tag
Tag is always great for getting the kids out playing and burning off some of that energy before they head inside for the big feast.
Turkey tag is just like regular tag, except that the person who is “it” is a turkey. They use a clothespin made into a turkey beak with some feathers glued onto it. To tag someone, you must clip the turkey clothespin to their shirt.
To make the game extra silly, the person “bitten” by the clothespin turkey can only make gobbling noises before they tag someone else with it, at which point the person with the pin becomes the gobbling turkey.
Thanksgiving Day Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is another great way to get outdoors and explore the natural world. Give everyone a list of 30 items to look for, such as a maple leaf, an oak leaf, a black rock, a fern, a water hose, a bicycle, and so on. If you have young children who cannot read, consider creating a list of pictures instead.
Everyone can go out on their own or form small groups to check off the items on their list with a pencil. Alternatively, to make it even more fun, have them take pictures of each item using a smartphone. The first person to return with all the items wins a prize.
Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest
There isn’t much more symbolic of Thanksgiving than pumpkin pie, so why not have a pumpkin pie-eating contest? You’ll need a lot of pies, so this is something you can do ahead of time.
Use your EcoFlow GLACIER Classic Portable Refrigerator Freezer, where you can remove the freezer compartment to create extra refrigerator room for pies. It lasts up to 40 hours wirelessly, so you can bake your pies the day before and keep them at food-safe temperatures.
After dinner and after everyone has had a chance to let their bellies rest after the big meal, head outside to a large table, ensuring there is plenty of water for the contestants. You can participate in the competition in various ways. You can set a time limit of 10 minutes to see who eats the most pieces, or continue eating until only one person is left. You can also make it extra silly by taking away the silverware so competitors have to shove their faces into the pie to eat it.
Scarecrow Creation
Scarecrows are a symbol of fall, and making scarecrows is an excellent outdoor activity for kids and adults during the Thanksgiving season. You can have each family member create a mini scarecrow of their own, or form teams and make life-sized scarecrows.
You’ll need a lot of wooden sticks, old clothes, straw, and burlap sacks to make the bodies. And don’t forget decorations like scarves, hats, buttons, and anything else you can find. Have a couple of family members serve as judges and award prizes for the creepiest, silliest, and weirdest scarecrows.
Be sure to take lots of pictures of everyone creating their scarecrows, using your EcoFlow RAPID Pro-X Power Bank to keep your phone topped up so you won’t miss any memories!
Pumpkin Race
Pumpkin races are just what they sound like: you race a pumpkin to the finish line. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds, which makes it all the more fun!
“Simply” roll the pumpkin from a designated starting line to a finish line. Since pumpkins are never perfectly round, they will roll and topple in every direction. This is where teams can be particularly helpful, especially with young children who may find it challenging, as everyone works together to get the pumpkin across the finish line in the shortest distance and time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Keep Kids Engaged if the Weather Isn’t Ideal?
When the weather isn’t ideal, try creating indoor activities like blanket forts, dance parties, playing board games, doing arts and crafts, or having a baking or cooking day. Alternatively, you could also go to a swimming pool, bowling alley, arcade, or gym.
How Can I Make the Activities Safe for All Ages?
To make outdoor activities safe for kids of all ages, ensure there is a physical space with clear sightlines that are observable, tidy, and secure. Ensure that all children and adults know the safety rules and boundaries of the safe play area.
What Should Kids Wear for Outdoor Thanksgiving Activities?
For outdoor Thanksgiving activities, kids should wear loose, comfortable, moisture-wicking base layers, a warm fleece or flannel middle layer, and a warm sweatshirt or waterproof outer layer, depending on the local weather conditions.
Final Thoughts
From pumpkin hunts to scarecrow building, these outdoor Thanksgiving activities transform an ordinary holiday into a day filled with laughter and creativity. They’re perfect for burning off energy before the big meal, or for keeping kids engaged while the adults finish cooking.
Just don’t forget to capture those fun family moments by keeping your phone powered with the EcoFlow RAPID Pro-X Power Bank, so every smile and silly scarecrow pose is saved for next year’s memories.