50 Fun Thanksgiving Trivia Questions
Thanksgiving is one of America's oldest and most beloved holidays. The annual celebration has a storied and somewhat dark history of overcoming extreme hardship to thrive in a new life, often at the expense of others—in this case, European settlers and Native Americans. The holiday has become a cultural touchstone for most Americans and is one of the biggest travel days of the year and the official start of the holiday season. So, you already know your Halloween trivia—now it's time for Thanksgiving 2023 trivia (and get ready for Christmas trivia too!).
From the food to the family time to the football to the floats at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, here are 50 Thanksgiving trivia questions and answers to impress your guests in between stuffing your faces with stuffing. Yes, you do need some Thanksgiving activities for kids to keep all guests entertained, after all!
Related: 24 Retro-Inspired Thanksgiving Recipes That Deserve a Comeback
50 Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers
Question: How long was the first Thanksgiving celebration?
Answer: Three days
Question: What meats were served at the first Thanksgiving celebration?
Answer: Venison, swan, duck and goose were likely—not turkey!
Question: What seafood was served at the first Thanksgiving feast?
Answer: Lobster, oysters, fish and possibly eel
Question: Who was the first President to pardon a turkey?
Answer: John F. Kennedy
Question: Which President made turkey pardoning an annual event?
Answer: George H.W. Bush
Question: How many calories on average are consumed, per person, at Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: 4,500
Question: How much did the world's most expensive Thanksgiving dinner on record cost?
Answer: $150,000 at New York City's Old Homestead Steakhouse
Related: Best Thanksgiving Jokes
Question: When was the first Thanksgiving football game?
Answer: 1876
Question: When was the first Thanksgiving NFL game?
Answer: 1920
Question: Who was the first President to receive a ceremonial Thanksgiving Turkey?
Answer: Harry S. Truman
Question: How many women were at the very first Thanksgiving celebration?
Answer: Five
Question: Which President made Thanksgiving a permanent national holiday?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln
Question: Which President first ordered a national day of Thanksgiving?
Answer: George Washington
Related: 150 Thanksgiving Quotes
Question: Which President refused to celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
Question: Which President declared two Thanksgivings in one year?
Answer: James Madison
Question: Which President tried to make Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November to help boost the economy for the holiday season?
Answer: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Question: Which President officially made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of every November?
Answer: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Question: Which President received a live raccoon as a Thanksgiving present?
Answer: Calvin Coolidge
Question: What Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
Answer: The Wampanoag
Question: Which Native American friend to the settlers acted as an interpreter?
Answer: Squanto
Question: In what month did the very first Thanksgiving celebration likely take place?
Answer: September
Related: 50 Thanksgiving Game Ideas
Question: How many turkeys are prepared for Thanksgiving in America each year?
Answer: About 46 million
Question: What percent of Americans skip turkey on Thanksgiving?
Answer: About 12 percent
Question: When was the first Turkey Trot?
Answer: 1896
Question: Where was the first Turkey Trot?
Answer: Buffalo, New York
Question: How many Americans prefer Thanksgiving leftovers to Thanksgiving dinner?
Answer: About 80 percent
Related: What Is Thanksgiving?
Question: When is Thanksgiving in Canada?
Answer: The second Monday in October
Question: About how many pumpkin pies are consumed every Thanksgiving?
Answer: About 50 million
Question: What happens at Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts every Thanksgiving?
Answer: A "National Day of Mourning" for Native Americans who died at the hand or plague of European settlers
Question: Black Friday is the biggest day of the year for what trade profession?
Answer: Plumbers
Question: Do Americans prefer apple pie or pumpkin pie?
Answer: Apple pie
Question: What turkeys actually gobble?
Answer: Male turkeys
Related: Our Ultimate Ranking of All 10 Friends Thanksgiving Episodes
Question: Sarah Josepha Hale, who campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a national holiday, wrote what famous song?
Answer: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
Question: When was green bean casserole introduced to Thanksgiving dinners?
Answer: 1955
Question: During which Revolutionary War battle did troops have a day of Thanksgiving?
Answer: The Battle of Saratoga
Question: What city has the oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Answer: Philadelphia
Question: Which city's Thanksgiving Day Parade ends with Santa Claus getting a key to the city?
Answer: Detroit
Question: What 18-minute monologue is performed on many rock and classic rock stations every Thanksgiving?
Answer: Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant"
Question: What year did Adam Sandler release "The Thanksgiving Song?"
Answer: 1992
Related: Thanksgiving Movies
Question: What year did the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first have balloons?
Answer: 1928
Question: On average, how many people attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade each year?
Answer: About 3.5 million
Question: How many people participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade each year?
Answer: About 8,000
Question: Black Friday isn't the only holiday the day after Thanksgiving. What's the other?
Answer: Native American Heritage Day
Question: What popular song's real title is "The New England Boy's Song About Thanksgiving Day"?
Answer: "Over the River and Through the Woods"
Question: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, how much does the heaviest turkey on record weigh?
Answer: 86 pounds
Related: Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving
Question: How much does the average Thanksgiving turkey weigh?
Answer: About 15 pounds
Question: What state consumes the most turkey every Thanksgiving?
Answer: California
Question: When did canned cranberries first come about?
Answer: 1912
Question: What meat is the most popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving?
Answer: Ham
Question: Statistically, what is Americans' favorite Thanksgiving side dish?
Answer: Stuffing
Check out…
101 Trivia Questions for Kids
101 Disney Trivia Questions
100 Movie Trivia Questions
7 Ways To Redirect a Heated Conversation This Thanksgiving, According to a Therapist
