America’s favorite Thanksgiving activities revealed — Games take the #1 spot
You’ve got the stretchy pants ready, the oven steaming hot, and a relative who keeps asking “When’s dinner?”. That’s how you know Thanksgiving is here. The one day when calories don’t count, time slows down, and gratitude arrives with a side of chaos. The turkey, the stuffing, and family recipes followed by gratitude are central to this day. But the laughter, traditions, and the perfectly imperfect moments are what make Thanksgiving feel like home.
To understand what activities beyond dining and gathering truly bring Americans together on this holiday, Playcasino.com team analyzed what people are sharing about their Thanksgiving plans on social media.
Here’s what we discovered.
Key Findings
- Playing games tops the list for this Thanksgiving, with 36.7% of Americans planning to bring out their party games, board games, puzzles or video games
- 24.8% will keep the football tradition alive by cheering on NFL teams or joining a friendly backyard game
- 19.2% of Americans plan to watch a Thanksgiving parade, whether it’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or a local community event
- For 17.3% of Americans, Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a good movie or show. Most common selections include Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Dutch (1991), and Home for the Holidays (1995)
- While almost every American plans to enjoy a good meal, only 10.2% actually plan to cook it, with 4.6% planning to visit a restaurant instead
The most popular Thanksgiving activities
Americans have spoken! These are the most enjoyed activities during Thanksgiving.
#1 Playing Games (36.7%)
Nearly four in ten Americans love some friendly competition on Thanksgiving. The mentions are dominated by games that span multiple generations, including all-time favorites such as trivia, board games, Jackbox, bingo, puzzle tables, and video games. Trivia, board games, and puzzles remain the most popular among all comments mentioning games, with 24% of comments repeatedly referencing these three options.
One family shared that they cover the table in brown butcher paper and set out crayons:
“Everyone ends up drawing turkeys around their hands or playing tic-tac-toe.”
While traditional party and table games still dominate, technology-driven games are finding their way into American traditions, with games like Jackbox and Mario Kart earning a place in families’ hearts.
#2 Keeping the Football Tradition Alive (24.8%)
The tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving dates back to the early days of the sport, but it truly took hold in American hearts in 1934 when the Detroit Lions hosted the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. Since then, every year the NFL has hosted three games on Thanksgiving: one in the early afternoon, one in the late afternoon, and one in the evening.
The American passion for football, combined with the holiday atmosphere and the timing of the games, makes for the perfect tradition, with one in four Americans planning to watch football during Thanksgiving.
Watching football doesn’t necessarily mean dedicating all attention to the game. 13% of people shared that they cook, do puzzles, or simply chat with their families while the game is on. Other families take the tradition to the next level by heading outside and engaging in some “body-slamming,” as one commenter put it. Nearly 3% of commenters mentioned that they plan to play football with their loved ones during the Thanksgiving holiday.
#3 Watching the Thanksgiving Parade (19.2%)
The third most common tradition among American families is to start their Thanksgiving by watching the Thanksgiving parade. Most commonly (17.1%), people refer to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, traditionally held in New York City every year.
Based on the sentiment throughout the comments, this is a highly cherished tradition for those who engage in it. Many shared that the parade holds sentimental value, having watched it almost every year since childhood. While some admit it has become overly commercialized, with nearly every element representing a brand or product, they also confess that they wouldn’t skip watching it.
#4 Turning on a Movie or Show (17.3%)
Passive entertainment still plays a big role, with 17.3% of commenters planning to watch a movie or show. The preference, however, is for holiday-themed or lighthearted titles that the whole family can enjoy, with nearly two out of every three mentions emphasizing that it’s “family and friends TV time.”
Old-time classics such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Dutch (1991), and Home for the Holidays (1995) dominated the feed, while among TV shows, the common favorite remains Friends.
#5 Cooking a Meal to Remember (10.2%)
While food is at the core of Thanksgiving, only 10.2% of Americans plan to participate in the cooking itself. The majority, though, seem to enjoy the process, with common references to “nailing a new recipe” and “family kitchen takeover.”
This year, an alternative to a home-cooked meal is gaining popularity: 4.6% of commenters mentioned that they’ll go to a restaurant and skip the hassle of cooking the main dish, while still preparing a dessert at home.
#6 Engaging in Physical Activities (7.4%)
7.4% of Americans plan to earn their meals by burning off the calories. Family walks around the neighborhood gained the most popularity, with 4.9% of respondents committed to taking a nice walk, while the second most popular activity was Turkey Trotting.
1.8% are planning to participate in community Turkey Trots — fun 5K road races commonly held on Thanksgiving morning across the country, often before the first slice of pie is served.
About This Research
This analysis is based on a sample of 1,127 user comments from Reddit threads discussing Thanksgiving plans for 2025. The data was collected between November 13 and 14 and includes all comments posted within the previous three months. Mentions of plans were categorized by all activities that users mentioned for their plans.
James is a casino games expert on the Playcasino.com editorial team. With many years of professional experience at a leading casino game development company and a passion for playing casino games, James has become a true expert in slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other games.
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