Why Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Virtual Team?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 Best Virtual Thanksgiving Activities for Work<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 19 Best Virtual Thanksgiving Party Games and Ideas<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 Tips, Tricks, & Considerations for Planning Virtual Thanksgiving Ideas for Work<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remote teams need opportunities to connect to stay engaged and learn more about one another. If you want to boost morale, improve engagement, and demonstrate care for your team, a virtual Thanksgiving party is a great team building event to host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But beyond connecting virtual teams, planning a meaningful Thanksgiving event is a fun opportunity to thank employees and remind them that they matter most while having a blast! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanksgiving reminds us that friends, wellness, and appreciation are part of the magic of life. The activities below are designed to fully emphasize to your team that you are grateful for them and that you care about them, and the communities they live and work in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This holiday is about gratitude, and employee recognition is critical for helping your team members feel appreciated and valued. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to host an event where managers and team members share appreciation messages<\/a> detailing what they\u2019re most grateful for about each team member. You can also surprise and delight your folks with appreciation gifts<\/a> that show just how thankful you are! <\/p>\n\n\n\n For a lot of people, Thanksgiving doesn\u2019t always involve virtual parties or warm home-cooked meals. Encourage your team to use a half- or full-day to volunteer in their local communities. During this season, many communities have soup kitchens and opportunities to help provide warm meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volunteering is good for mental health and can help demonstrate that your company cares about the team members and the communities they belong to. At your virtual party, you can encourage folks to share their experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In honor of your team or on behalf of the company, donate to a local charity this season. Charities or soup kitchens that work to make the holidays special for the community are a great place to start. Get your team involved by encouraging them to each source one or two charity ideas, then you can all vote which to donate to! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone loves games \u2014 and no virtual party is complete without a few fun activities. In the list below, we\u2019ve included some unique activities for your Thanksgiving virtual party, including a few fun spins on familiar favorites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When your party kicks off and your team is joining one by one for those first few minutes, you\u2019ll want to have Thanksgiving ice breakers ready to go. With the increase in remote working styles, there are fewer opportunities for \u201cwater cooler\u201d conversations between team members. Icebreakers are a great way to warm folks up and get the conversation flowing early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try these Thanksgiving icebreakers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 What\u2019s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner dish to eat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 What\u2019s your favorite Thanksgiving dish to make?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Who does the cooking in your house?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 What is your favorite Thanksgiving dessert?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Do you have a favorite fall season or Thanksgiving movie?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Do you starve all day as you wait for dinner or do you eat all your regular meals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use these or create your own Thanksgiving-themed icebreakers! If you\u2019re still running out of ideas, this list of 160 ice breakers<\/a> should do the trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Is there a better crowd-pleaser than trivia? Play in teams or pose questions to the group and have them race to submit answers in chat. Trivia is a great way to get the blood pumping and inspire some friendly competition. Plus, you\u2019ll also learn a ton about the history of the holiday!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for some Thanksgiving trivia ideas? Create your own or try these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 When was the first Thanksgiving feast held? Answer: November 1621<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Where did the Pilgrims first land when arriving on America\u2019s shores? Answer: Provincetown, Massachusetts<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 What Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims? Answer: The Wampanoag<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 What city has the oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade? Answer: Philadelphia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Do male or female turkeys gobble? Answer: Male<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t called \u201cThanksgiving\u201d for nothing. In America, the Thanksgiving holiday is associated with reflecting on the past year and giving thanks. Gratitude is a great habit to develop within your team. In fact, expressing gratitude has long been associated with greater happiness, more positive emotions, and strong relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why not include a gratitude workshop<\/a> at your virtual Thanksgiving party? In this session, you and your team will reflect on how to manage the good with the bad and learn how they can coexist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a do-it-yourself version of this event, carve out five to 10 minutes of your party to have folks write down what they\u2019re grateful for this year. You can have people write it in chat or invite them to come off mute and share with the team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your Thanksgiving virtual party is a great time to kick back and just have fun with the team. A virtual escape room<\/a> is a unique way to spend time with one another. As a bonus, virtual escape rooms promote team building without feeling forced. As you work together to solve problems, find clues, and collaborate to escape, your team will be practicing useful workplace skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are options for every team. Whether your team wants to explore an underwater research laboratory or California during the gold rush, you\u2019ll have a blast while bonding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Food is inextricably linked to this holiday. Sharing a meal together will infuse your virtual party with an authentic Thanksgiving feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a simple option for a shared dinner, send DoorDash<\/a> or UberEats<\/a> gift cards to the team and have everyone schedule their deliveries for party time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to kick things up a notch, try a live virtual cooking class! That way everyone can enjoy the same meal while learning a few fun cooking techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These cooking classes include kits that are mailed to each home so no one has to head to the grocery store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Homemade Pizza:<\/a> Shape your dough, add toppings, and end this class in pure pizza bliss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Handmade Cavatelli Pasta<\/a>: High energy and educational, this class will show you and your team the ins and outs of making traditional pasta without any tools except your hands! This art form takes years to master, but you and the team can have a blast learning the ropes in just around an hour. Bon app\u00e9tit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip: Be sure to consider allergies before scheduling.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to food, you\u2019ll want to spend time during your party on fellowship. This or That is a fantastic game to spark conversation and learn more about teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simple and requiring little to no explanation, all you\u2019ll do is pose questions to the group and see which option each person picks! Alliances may form, and debates may spark, but either way, this fun game uncovers which team members are more alike than they may seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some Thanksgiving-themed This or That questions to try with your team:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Turkey or ham?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Pumpkin pie or pecan pie?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Football or Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day parade?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Scented candles or carved pumpkins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Cozy blankets or warm sweaters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Host a dinner or attend a dinner?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Apple pie or apple cider?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Appetizer or dessert?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Sweet or savory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a fun challenge, have your team pair up and guess what they think their partner will say to these questions. The odds are good, 50-50 chance of being right! <\/p>\n\n\n\n This virtual comedy show<\/a> is one of the most engaging and joy-filled classes you\u2019ll find. These corporate comics share work-friendly jokes that are ridiculously funny. Your team will have a blast! From silly games to stand-up comedy \u2014 you\u2019ll experience it all. But don\u2019t get too comfortable in the audience, there\u2019s an improvisation portion where your team can join in on the silly games, skits, and jokes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But here\u2019s the best part: One of the comedians can also prank your team by pretending to be an expert in your field who\u2019s there to add an educational component to the party. As he speaks with authority, he\u2019ll slowly start to incorporate incorrect facts and information. Watch the puzzled faces of team members as they wonder why you\u2019d ever invite someone who knew so little. Teams are delighted when he reveals it was all a prank!<\/p>\n\n\n\n They say laughter is the best medicine, so give your team the gift of laughter this season! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The game charades is usually a great option for any virtual party or team building event. It\u2019s simple, easy to explain, and a whole lot of fun. This season, make it extra special by going with Thanksgiving or fall-related words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can create your own list of Thanksgiving words, and capture them on paper or in an online randomizer<\/a>. To play as a group, select one player at a time to be the actor. Send that person a private chat with the randomly selected Thanksgiving word and have them act it out for the team to guess. Whoever guesses the answer right first in chat or out loud wins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving-themed charades:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Carving the turkey<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Eating dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Baking pies<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Leaves<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Apple cider<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Family<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Setting the table<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Football<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Wishbone<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Leftovers<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add to this list or create your own! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Adults can draw and color, too \u2014 plus it\u2019s a great stress reliever! If you\u2019re not familiar with a hand turkey<\/a>, it\u2019s just a fun and easy way to draw a turkey. Has your team been stressed lately? Make this activity a relaxing coloring experience then take turns showing and sharing. Are your folks always looking to raise the stakes? In that case, have teammates vote for their favorite creation and give the winner a prize! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual scavenger hunts<\/a> are a lot<\/em> of fun. In fact, it\u2019s one of the best activities you can do remotely as a team. To play, make a master list of fall-themed items your team members might have around the house or neighborhood. You\u2019ll want to make a fairly long list of potential items. Set a timer for a few minutes and the first team member to collect the most items and sit back down in front of the camera wins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ideas for fall-themed items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A leaf changing color<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A fork<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A fall-scented candle<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A pumpkin (real or fake)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 An acorn<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A pinecone<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A pie tin<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Something orange<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Something brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Something red<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 An oven mitt<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A thank you card<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 An apron<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A board game<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A spoon<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 A cookbook<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for ideas to award the winner? Check out these creative prize ideas<\/a> for your scavenger hunt! <\/p>\n\n\n\n After a long, busy year, give your team space and time for a stress-relieving fall painting class<\/a>. It\u2019s the perfect way to prepare for the season. In this instructor-led course, your team will be guided through a painting activity and finish with a masterpiece of their own making. With kits mailed on your behalf to each team member\u2019s home, this activity is a breeze to plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your team is high-energy, this online game show<\/a> activity is right for you! Rack up points, race to the top of the leaderboard, and battle it out in this wild game of wits. Led by an energetic Zoom host, you\u2019ll have a memorable event that allows you to participate too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Have any savvy cooks on the team? Invite them to host a cook-along! Decide on a dish as a team or have everyone make their own thirty-minute creations. Take turns describing your dishes and explaining the process. After the meeting, follow up with a complete list of all the recipes shared by the team during the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not every day you get to paint glassware. With this unique team activity, you\u2019ll have fun, be creative and put an unexpected twist on simply painting on a canvas. This glassware-based art class<\/a> is an engaging virtual experience, hosted by an expert artist who shares tips and tricks for creating stunning glass projects. Craft kits are mailed to each home and include all kinds of art supplies to help your team members bring their creative visions to life! With no planning necessary, this Thanksgiving team building activity is delightfully stress-free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This activity requires a little preparation for the host. Ahead of the party, invite team members to share pictures of their food creations. At the event, you\u2019ll share photos and encourage team members to come off mute or type in chat their best guess for the chef behind the meal in the photo. The player with the most correct answers wins! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your team loves a good happy hour, they\u2019re sure to enjoy learning how to make three fall-themed cocktails<\/a> from a professional mixologist. The instructor will mail home kits with everything your team needs, so it\u2019s easy to plan for you and stress-free for colleagues. Remember, not everyone drinks so double-check that this activity is right for your team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your team is good with delayed gratification, this is the activity for you! Traditionally, a time capsule is a physical storage container of objects that you bury for discovery in the future. A digital time capsule can be a fun twist and a thoughtful way to encourage gratitude and reflection throughout the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In your first year, keep it simple and have employees submit one to two photos from the past year and a few lines about what they\u2019re most grateful for at work. Add these items to a word document and keep it safe until next year. If you\u2019re using Zoom<\/a>, you can create a whiteboard and have folks all add what they\u2019re grateful for live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next year, revisit the document together, reflect on memories and discuss how things have changed, then make another! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Get to know your team with a fun round of Never Have I Ever, the Thanksgiving edition. The game is simple, and your team will catch on fast. Players take turns going around the virtual room sharing something they\u2019ve never done. If anyone else in the room has done it, they raise their hands or use the \u201cRaise Hand\u201d feature or a fun emoji reaction if you\u2019re playing on Zoom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a great activity to warm folks up. As the host, you can kick it off by doing a few with the team before going around the room. Try these Thanksgiving Never Have I Ever questions or create your own!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Never Have I Ever\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tasted turkey<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Ran a Thanksgiving Day 5K or turkey trot<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Cooked a Thanksgiving Dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Stuffed a turkey<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tried cranberry sauce<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Burned a meal while cooking<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Had a pumpkin spice latte<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tasted apple pie<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether folks can draw or not, a virtual round of Pictionary is an engaging (and hilarious) activity to add to your agenda this season. No one needs to be an artist, just encourage players to take turns doing their best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Privately message the artist their randomly selected word. Then you can use the Zoom whiteboard feature to allow everyone to see what\u2019s being drawn, or have players set up their cameras with paper in view for all to see! For more help on how to use Zoom, read our Guide to Zoom<\/a>. Any players who aren\u2019t drawing compete to guess the right answer first in chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some Thanksgiving concepts to try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Turkey<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Changing seasons<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Autumn<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Thanksgiving dinner<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Dessert<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Apple pie<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Ham<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Football<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Grandparents<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Celebrate<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Gratitude<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Harvest<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Bread<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Home<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use this list or create your own! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanksgiving is no doubt a meaningful holiday to many, but you may want to take time during your event to educate or remind employees about its complicated history<\/a> and emphasize that November is National Native American Heritage Month<\/a>.As a team, you can watch educational videos on Native American history<\/a>, then have a group discussion to reflect on any learnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your agenda is already full, use the invitation or follow-up email after the party to share facts and encourage the team to learn more about the holiday\u2019s origin. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your team is bound to be made up of people from all different countries and groups, and you should create space to celebrate those differences and learn more about one another. Ahead of the meeting, ask if anyone would like to volunteer to share more about how their family celebrates the holiday and how culture influences their practices. What foods do they eat? What cultural traditions (if any) does their family have on Thanksgiving?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s a win-win: The volunteer gets to share more about who they are while the rest of the team benefits from the experience of hearing about various cultures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world where everything is digital, your people will really appreciate receiving a physical thank-you card in the mail. If your team size isn\u2019t too big, try writing a quick handwritten note in each card! Keep it short if you need to, one sentence per employee. Let them know that you appreciate them for everything they do \u2014 challenge yourself to name at least one specific thing! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your virtual office Thanksgiving party doesn\u2019t have to be boring or hard to plan. The activities above are sure to bring the right balance of fun and reflection! You can have an engaging team building event this season using these ideas while keeping what matters most top of mind: gratitude and gratefulness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Planning a virtual Thanksgiving party for work? Our guide walks you through the food, fun, & activities for a festive, virtual office Turkey Day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"virtual](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/virtual-thanksgiving-1024x621.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Virtual Team?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3 Best Virtual Thanksgiving Activities for Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Host a Recognition Event to Thank Employees<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2.<\/strong> Give Employees Time to Volunteer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"employees](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/employees-volunteering-1024x538.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3.<\/strong> Donate to a Charity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
19 of the Best Thanksgiving Virtual Party Games and Ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Use Thanksgiving Icebreakers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"favorite](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/favorite-thanksgiving-foods.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2.<\/strong> Thanksgiving-Themed Trivia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3.<\/strong> Attend a Gratitude Workshop<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"team](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/team-members-toasting-virtual-thanksgiving.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4.<\/strong> Try a Virtual Escape Room<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"team](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/virtual-escape-room-1024x624.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5.<\/strong> Share a Virtual Dinner Together<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6.<\/strong> Play \u201cThis or That\u201d (Thanksgiving Edition)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"tri](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/tri-flavored-pie.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n7.<\/strong> Attend a Virtual Comedy Show<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8.<\/strong> Play Thanksgiving-Themed Charades<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"team](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/team-members-playing-charades.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n9.<\/strong> Draw Hand Turkeys<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10.<\/strong> Host a Thanksgiving Virtual Scavenger Hunt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"falling](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/falling-leaves.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n11.<\/strong> Paint Fall Masterpieces Together<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12.<\/strong> Compete in an Online Game Show<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"online](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/online-game-show-1024x624.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n13.<\/strong> Host a Live Virtual Cook-Along<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
14.<\/strong> Paint Festive Glassware<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
15.<\/strong> Play \u201cGuess Who?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
16.<\/strong> Mix Delicious Fall Cocktails<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"fall](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/fall-cocktails.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n17.<\/strong> Create a Thanksgiving Time Capsule<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18.<\/strong> Play \u201cNever Have I Ever\u201d (Thanksgiving Edition)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"large-group-ice-breakers-featured-image\"](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/large-group-ice-breakers-featured-image-1024x538.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n19.<\/strong> Play Thanksgiving Pictionary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"team](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/team-member-playing-pictionary.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTop 3 Tips, Tricks, & Considerations for Planning Virtual Thanksgiving Ideas for Work <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Celebrate Native American Heritage Month<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2.<\/strong> Celebrate Different Cultures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3.<\/strong> Mail Home Thank You Cards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"virtual](\"https:\/\/teambuildinghub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/virtual-office-party-1024x585.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n