Thanksgiving Table Topics: 100 Questions to Spark Real Conversation

Thanksgiving brings family, food, and the occasional awkward silence between relatives who haven't caught up since last year. The solution? Table Topics—simple conversation starters that work for family dinners, Friendsgiving gatherings, and Toastmasters meetings alike.

Below are 100 Thanksgiving Table Topics organized into five categories. Use them to fill silence, spark laughter, and create memories that last longer than the leftovers.

If you need a wider range of ideas beyond just Thanksgiving, check out our Table Topics Questions ultimate guide, which covers every category.

Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving

Ease into dinner with these family-friendly openers. They're warm, engaging, and perfect for getting everyone talking before the food coma sets in.

• What's your earliest Thanksgiving memory?
• Which Thanksgiving tradition do you look forward to most?
• What new tradition would you like to start?
• What food instantly says “Thanksgiving” to you?
• Who taught you to cook your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
• What's one thing you learned this year that made you proud?
• What's your favorite Thanksgiving smell?
• If you could host Thanksgiving anywhere in the world, where would it be?
• Which family member makes Thanksgiving special for you, and why?
• What small thing made a big difference for you this year?
• What life lesson did you learn in the last 12 months?
• What song or playlist says “holiday season” to you?
• What's your favorite way to spend the day after Thanksgiving?
• What do you wish people talked about more during the holidays?
• Share a story about a memorable Thanksgiving guest.
• Which Thanksgiving dish is underrated?
• Which dish is overrated?
• What's a fun fact about yourself that most people here don't know?
• What's your favorite holiday beverage?
• If you could magically clean the kitchen after dinner, would you?

Gratitude-Themed Thanksgiving Table Topics

Thanksgiving centers on gratitude—but your prompts don't need to feel stale. These questions help people share meaningfully without the corporate icebreaker vibe.

• What's one thing you're grateful for this year that surprised you?
• Who outside this room are you especially grateful for?
• What challenge are you thankful you went through?
• What unexpected moment brought you joy this year?
• What from your childhood are you grateful for?
• Who made a positive impact on your year without realizing it?
• What skill did you develop this year that you're grateful for?
• What kindness did someone show you recently?
• What piece of advice changed your life this year?
• What simple thing are you grateful for today?
• Which holiday tradition are you grateful your family passed down?
• What mistake are you grateful you learned from?
• What book, movie, or podcast made your year better?
• What small daily habit are you grateful you started?
• Share one person who always makes you feel supported.
• What's your favorite Thanksgiving memory, and why?
• What about your health are you grateful for?
• What opportunity are you grateful you took?
• Which modern convenience are you grateful exists?
• Share something from this month that made you smile.

Funny Thanksgiving Table Topics

Laughter keeps the table lively. These humorous prompts lighten the mood and keep everyone engaged between courses.

• If the turkey could talk, what would it say about this dinner?
• What's the most chaotic Thanksgiving you've experienced?
• Which Thanksgiving food would you ban forever?
• If you had to eat one Thanksgiving dish for a year straight, what would it be?
• What's the funniest thing that's happened at a Thanksgiving you attended?
• Which family member is most likely to burn the turkey?
• If mashed potatoes were a personality type, what would they be?
• What Thanksgiving dish would you compete with on a cooking show?
• If you could replace the turkey with any food, what would it be?
• Which celebrity would cause the most drama if they joined your Thanksgiving?
• What would you rename Thanksgiving if it needed a rebrand?
• Which dish would win “Best Supporting Food” at the Thanksgiving Oscars?
• Which dish would win “Worst Attitude”?
• If your family wrote a Thanksgiving movie, what genre would it be?
• If pies could vote, which pie would be elected president?
• Who at the table is most likely to steal leftovers?
• Which Thanksgiving food would make the worst perfume scent?
• What's the pettiest thing you'd argue about with a relative on Thanksgiving?
• Which dish is the biggest Thanksgiving scam?
• Would you rather peel 100 potatoes or wash 200 dishes?

Creative & Unconventional Thanksgiving Table Topics

For the deep thinkers and storytellers. These prompts keep the table engaged long after the stuffing is gone.

• If you could redesign Thanksgiving from scratch, what would it look like?
• What futuristic tech would improve Thanksgiving most?
• If you could invite any historical figure, who would add the most spice to dinner?
• What new tradition would you add to Thanksgiving?
• Which fictional character would be the worst Thanksgiving guest?
• Which fictional character would be the best?
• If Thanksgiving had a soundtrack, what would be the opening song?
• If your life were a Thanksgiving dish, what dish would it be?
• What's the boldest food experiment you'd attempt on Thanksgiving?
• If your family held a Thanksgiving talent show, what would you perform?
• What tradition from another culture would you add to Thanksgiving?
• If you could teleport to any Thanksgiving in history, which would you choose?
• What mythical creature would make Thanksgiving more interesting?
• If Thanksgiving tables could talk, what secrets would yours spill?
• If the wishbone guaranteed any wish, what's your pick?
• If gratitude were a superpower, what would your ability be?
• What invention would make Thanksgiving cooking easier?
• What new Thanksgiving dessert should become a classic?
• What's the most unconventional Thanksgiving you could imagine?
• If your pets ran Thanksgiving, what would the menu look like?

How to Use Thanksgiving Table Topics

At the Dinner Table

Place questions in a bowl and let people draw at random, go around the table in a circle, or let someone choose a question for the person next to them. There's no wrong way to spark conversation.

For Toastmasters Meetings

These work perfectly for holiday-themed meetings. Prepare 15–20 questions to allow room for volunteers and alternates. For more ideas, explore our Funny Table Topics and Table Topics Questions collections.

How Many Questions Should You Prepare?

For family gatherings, 10–20 questions work well. For Toastmasters, prepare at least 15–20.

Making It Feel Natural

Keep it casual. Say something like, “Let's try something fun before dessert,” and jump right in. People respond well to low-pressure conversation starters.

Avoiding Controversy

Stick to fun, safe, and positive prompts. Save debates for another day—Thanksgiving is about connection, not contention.

Keep the Conversation Going

Thanksgiving thrives on connection, comfort, and conversation. These Table Topics help you spark meaningful dialogue, fill awkward silences, and create memories that outlast the leftovers.

For more conversation starters, explore our full collection of Table Topics Questions to keep conversations engaging year-round.