Thanksgiving Pub Quiz Questions — 15 Bar Trivia Questions
These 15 Thanksgiving pub quiz questions are designed for bar trivia nights — a mix of history, food science, pop culture, and genuinely tricky facts that will stump even confident players. Great for Thanksgiving week trivia events.
Pub trivia hosts know the drill: too easy and the room loses interest, too obscure and everyone groans. This set hits the sweet spot — general Thanksgiving knowledge with enough twists and surprising answers to create real debate at the table. Read each question slowly, pause for drama.
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About 15–16 pounds. The National Turkey Federation reports the average whole turkey purchased for Thanksgiving weighs approximately 15 pounds, feeding 10–12 people.
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Uncertain — probably not as the main dish. Governor William Bradford's journal mentions 'fowl,' which may have been ducks or geese. Venison, corn, and fish were more prominent. Modern historians say turkey is likely but not confirmed.
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New York City (Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade). Approximately 3.5 million spectators line the route, with another 50 million watching on NBC, making it the world's largest Thanksgiving parade.
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Tryptophan. Turkey contains L-tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin and melatonin. However, turkey has no more tryptophan than chicken — the post-dinner drowsiness is more likely caused by overeating and alcohol.
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Minnesota. Minnesota raises approximately 40–44 million turkeys per year, followed by North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, and Missouri.
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1954, and it was inspired by Thanksgiving. Swanson created the first TV dinner after overestimating Thanksgiving turkey demand by 260 tons. An employee suggested portioning leftovers into aluminum trays — the frozen TV dinner was born.
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23 mph sustained / 34 mph gusts. The City of New York sets strict wind limits before balloon handlers can walk the route. In 1997, a lamp post knocked by the Cat-in-the-Hat balloon injured four people.
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'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott (1868). The March family's Thanksgiving gatherings appear throughout the novel, set in Concord, MA — also the actual home of Alcott.
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4–5 days. USDA guidelines recommend allowing 24 hours of thawing per 4–5 pounds of turkey in the refrigerator. A 20-pound bird needs Monday-start for a Thursday Thanksgiving.
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The Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game. The Lions have hosted a game every Thanksgiving since 1934 (except 1939–1944 due to WWII). The tradition was started by radio executive G.A. Richards to boost fan interest.
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About 88%. According to the National Turkey Federation, approximately 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, totaling around 46 million turkeys consumed on the holiday.
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A 'rafter' (or 'flock' for domestic turkeys). Wild turkeys gather in rafters; domestic turkey groups are called flocks. A group of baby turkeys is called a brood.
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Abraham Lincoln — sort of. Lincoln's son Tad pleaded for the White House turkey 'Jack' and Lincoln relented informally. The official annual turkey pardon ceremony didn't begin until George H.W. Bush in 1989.
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A Thanksgiving celebration with friends rather than family. The term 'Friendsgiving' was coined around 2007 on social media and entered mainstream culture circa 2011–2012. Merriam-Webster added it in 2020.
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Squanto (Tisquantum). Squanto was a Patuxent man (previously captured and enslaved in Europe) who spoke English and served as an interpreter between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag sachem Massasoit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should a pub quiz Thanksgiving round have?
A standard pub quiz round is 8–10 questions. Use this page as one full round or split it into two mini-rounds of 7–8 questions each.
Should I give point bonuses for tricky questions?
Many hosts award 1 point for any correct answer and offer a 2-point option on one 'double or nothing' question per round. This adds strategy without slowing the game down.
Where can I get a complete printable Thanksgiving trivia kit for a pub night?
CheapTrivia.com sells complete Thanksgiving packs with 40+ questions, a themed picture round with images, answer sheets, and a host script — perfect for bar trivia.
Can I project the questions on a screen at the bar?
Yes — CheapTrivia packs include a digital slideshow-friendly format. You can also print and distribute question sheets for each table.
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