8 unique and intentional ideas for an outside-the-box Thanksgiving

Try these eight outside-the-box Thanksgiving ideas for an intentional and unique celebration! 

Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s come at a breakneck pace every year. Holiday whiplash, anyone? Whether it’s anxiety over having enough spending money for everyone’s Christmas presents, hosting at your place, or navigating awkward run-ins with distant family members, holiday stress can come before the celebration even starts. 

With a little less focus on football and turkey, these eight ideas will simplify and spice up your Thanksgiving this holiday season.

Choose a themed meal or order takeout

This one may seem too outside-the-box, or frankly, too inside-the-box. My family meets once a week for a family dinner cooked by my grandma. We cater or order takeout for big holidays as a way to give her a break. For the hostess with the mostest who practically lives in the kitchen, sometimes a night off is the biggest gift. 

Take-out isn’t for you? Try creating a themed Thanksgiving where you serve specific dishes that are different from your typical American fare. Pick a dish based on your ancestry or try a passed-down recipe from earlier generations.

Gratitude jar or affirmation circle

Cue the warm fuzzies! Everyone writes one thing they are grateful for on a leaf-shaped card and adds it to a giant jar. Read aloud before dinner. Turn this activity into a game by having guests guess who wrote each answer.

Try an affirmation circle with your family! Each person picks another at the table (or across from them) to say three nice things about. This provides family members with an opportunity to share sincere reasons why they love and appreciate each other.

Mystery dish cook-off

Got a competitive family? Assign the chefs of the family one ingredient that they must include in their dish. No questions asked, but whoever’s dish tastes the best, wins!

More of a sweet tooth? Do a pie swap. Ask family members to bring any kind of pie and whichever chef has the most eaten from their pie tin wins. The best part is everyone can go home with dessert. 

Hoping to skip bland flavors this year? Have one guest secretly bring an unexpected dish. Everyone guesses who brought it. Whoever guesses correctly wins a prize or takes home the most leftovers. 

Craft and sip table 

Keep a separate table stocked with simple crafts (leaf pressing, watercolor place cards, coloring sheets, etc.) for kids and adults to unwind. Crafts are a great way for subtle breaks throughout the evening for introverts. It’s also a creative way to get the little ones involved without exiling anyone to the kids’ table. 

Silent first bite

With our busy lives, appointments, endless notifications, and responsibilities, it’s easy to forget that silence is the language of God. This unique idea is a way to stay in the present moment and offer up our gratitude to the Lord. 

After serving, everyone takes the first bite in silence — just one minute to truly savor. Then, the chatter returns.

Neighborhood thank-you notes

Tell your neighbors how much you appreciate them with handwritten notes! This is an unexpected sweet gesture (not to mention singles-friendly) that spreads gratitude and fosters connection. 

Friendsgiving for one 

Embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving and give back to others. Prep an extra plate, beautifully packaged, and deliver it to someone spending the holiday alone.

Signature mocktail or cocktail

This idea allows guests of all ages to sip and savor while making memories. Create a family signature drink (with and without alcohol). Include a garnish bar and custom name such as “The Spiced Soul” or “Maple Manor Merriment.”