In the world of digital marketing, engaging your audience is the key to success. What better way to captivate your customers than through Thanksgiving contests?

This article is your go-to guide for the most innovative and effective Thanksgiving contest ideas, to promote your brand and attract new potential customers.

Why read this article?

Discover how incorporating Thanksgiving contest ideas can skyrocket your brand engagement and foster customer loyalty. Dive into a treasure trove of strategies proven to enhance your business profile during the festive season.

What you’ll learn:

– Elevate brand visibility with creative contest concepts.

– Boost customer interaction and loyalty effortlessly.

– Leverage the power of user-generated content for organic growth.

– Drive sales and conversions through strategic Thanksgiving promotions.

– Transform seasonal engagement into year-round brand advocates.

This Thanksgiving, let your business shine with these carefully curated contest ideas that promise not only joy for your audience but also substantial benefits for your brand.

10 Thanksgiving Contest Ideas

The following is a list of engaging Thanksgiving contest ideas to promote your business, brand, or company that convert buyers into loyal customers and boost your sales:

1. “Share your favorite Thanksgiving recipe for a chance to win!”

Encourage participants to share their favorite Thanksgiving recipes, creating a sense of community and excitement around the holiday.

By offering a chance to win a prize, such as a gift card or a cooking utensil set, you incentivize engagement and attract potential clients.

Participants can submit their recipes through social media platforms or your website, and you can select a winner based on creativity, uniqueness, or taste.

This contest not only promotes your business but also provides valuable content for your audience, as they can discover new recipes to try during the holiday season.

2. “Thanksgiving photo or Selfie challenge – showcase your festive vibes”

Tap into the visual nature of social media by hosting a Thanksgiving photo or selfie challenge. 

Encourage participants to share their festive vibes by posting pictures of their Thanksgiving decorations, home, table settings, or even their Thanksgiving-themed outfits.

This contest allows participants to showcase their creativity and enthusiasm for the holiday while promoting your business. You can select winners based on the most creative, heartwarming, or visually appealing photos.

Consider offering prizes such as a holiday-themed gift basket or a discount on your products or services.

3. “Create and share a Thanksgiving-themed DIY project”

Engage your audience’s creativity by hosting a Thanksgiving-themed DIY project contest. 

Encourage participants to create and share their own Thanksgiving crafts, decorations, or recipes. This contest not only promotes your business but also provides valuable content for your audience, as they can discover new DIY ideas for the holiday season.

Participants can submit their projects through social media platforms or your website, and you can select winners based on creativity, originality, or usefulness. Consider offering prizes such as a DIY craft kit or a personalized holiday-themed item.

Recommended Read: 200 Thanksgiving Giveaway Ideas For Building A Strong Customer Base In 2023

4. “Share your most embarrassing Thanksgiving memory or costume for a prize”

Create a fun and lighthearted contest by asking participants to share their most embarrassing Thanksgiving memory or costume.

This contest encourages storytelling and engagement, as participants can share humorous anecdotes or photos from past Thanksgiving celebrations.

You can select winners based on the most entertaining or relatable stories. Consider offering prizes such as a gift card to a local restaurant or a Thanksgiving-themed novelty item.

This contest not only promotes your business but also creates a sense of camaraderie and laughter among your audience.

5. “Thanksgiving gratitude challenge – post the Most Inspiring or Moving Story”

Foster a sense of gratitude and positivity by hosting a Thanksgiving gratitude challenge. 

Encourage participants to share their most inspiring or moving stories of gratitude, whether it’s about a person, an experience, or a life lesson.

This contest not only promotes your business but also creates a space for reflection and appreciation.

Participants can submit their stories through social media platforms or your website, and you can select winners based on the most heartfelt or impactful stories.

Consider offering prizes such as a donation to a charity of the winner’s choice or a personalized gratitude journal.

6. “Design a Thanksgiving-themed logo for our business”

This contest invites participants to showcase their creativity by designing a Thanksgiving-themed logo for your business.

The logo should capture the essence of Thanksgiving and align with your brand identity. Participants can use their artistic skills to create a unique and eye-catching logo that represents the spirit of gratitude, togetherness, and celebration.

The winning logo will be used in your promotional materials and will receive a special prize. To participate, contestants can submit their logo designs through your website or social media platforms.

The deadline for submissions will be clearly communicated, and the winner will be selected based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and overall visual appeal.

This contest not only engages your audience but also provides an opportunity for talented designers to showcase their skills and potentially gain exposure for their work.

Ideas:

• Encourage participants to incorporate traditional Thanksgiving elements such as turkeys, pumpkins, cornucopias, or autumn leaves into their logo designs.
• Offer a prize that is relevant to the contest, such as a gift card for a Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant or a Thanksgiving-themed gift basket.
• Share examples of well-designed logos to inspire participants and give them an idea of the level of creativity expected.

Recommended Read: 100+ Thanksgiving Marketing Ideas That Transform Browsers Into Buyers

7. “Doodle Thanksgiving – Show your creative side and win a prize”

In this contest, participants are invited to unleash their creativity by doodling or drawing their own Thanksgiving-themed artwork.

The contest aims to celebrate individual artistic expression and provide a platform for participants to showcase their talent.

Participants can use any medium they prefer, whether it’s pencil and paper, digital art, or even a doodle on a napkin.

The artwork should reflect the spirit of Thanksgiving, incorporating elements such as family, gratitude, food, or autumn colors.

To enter the contest, participants can share their artwork on social media using a specific hashtag or submit it through your website.

The winner will be selected based on creativity, originality, and adherence to the Thanksgiving theme. The prize could be a gift card to an art supply store or a personalized art print.

Ideas:

• Create a gallery on your website or social media platforms to showcase the submitted artwork and encourage participants to share their entries with friends and family.
• Offer a “People’s Choice” award where participants can vote for their favorite artwork, increasing engagement and creating a sense of community.
• Collaborate with a local art organization or artist to provide additional exposure for the winning artwork.

8. “Create and post a Thanksgiving-themed TikTok or Reel video, and tag us!”

This contest taps into the popularity of short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels to engage participants and promote your business.

Participants are encouraged to create and share a Thanksgiving-themed video on their TikTok or Reel accounts, showcasing their creativity and incorporating elements of Thanksgiving.

The video can be funny, heartwarming, or informative, as long as it aligns with the Thanksgiving theme. To enter the contest, participants should tag your business account in their video and use a specific hashtag provided by us.

The winner will be selected based on the creativity, entertainment value, and relevance to the Thanksgiving theme.

The prize could be a gift card, a discount on your products or services, or a feature on your social media platforms.

Ideas:

• Provide participants with a list of popular Thanksgiving-related trends or challenges on TikTok or Reels to inspire their video creations.
• Share examples of successful Thanksgiving-themed videos to give participants ideas and encourage them to think outside the box.
• Collaborate with influencers or content creators in the same niche to promote the contest and increase participation.

Recommended Read: 50 Thanksgiving Advertising Ideas That Convert Your Target Audience Instantly

9. “Thanksgiving trivia contest for a gift card”

This contest challenges participants’ knowledge about Thanksgiving through a trivia competition. 

Participants will be presented with a series of Thanksgiving-related questions, ranging from historical facts to fun traditions and cultural aspects.

They can submit their answers through your website or social media platforms. The participant with the highest number of correct answers will win a gift card as a prize.

This contest not only engages participants but also educates them about the history and significance of Thanksgiving. It encourages interaction and creates a sense of friendly competition among participants.

Ideas:

• Offer different difficulty levels for the trivia questions, catering to both casual participants and those who are more knowledgeable about Thanksgiving.
• Share interesting facts and trivia about Thanksgiving on your social media platforms leading up to the contest to generate excitement and encourage participants to learn more.
• Consider offering smaller prizes or recognition for participants who achieve certain milestones, such as answering a certain number of questions correctly.

10. Family Thanksgiving photo competition – funniest or most creative wins.

This contest invites participants to capture and share their favorite moments from their family 

Thanksgiving celebrations through photographs. Participants can submit their photos through your website or social media platforms, showcasing the fun, joy, and togetherness of their Thanksgiving gatherings.

The photos can be funny, heartwarming, or creatively staged, as long as they capture the essence of a memorable Thanksgiving experience.

The winning photo will be selected based on criteria such as creativity, composition, and the ability to evoke emotions. The prize could be a gift card, a family-themed experience, or a personalized photo album.

Ideas:

• Encourage participants to include a short caption or description with their photos, sharing the story behind the moment captured.
• Create a dedicated hashtag for the contest to make it easy for participants and their friends and family to find and engage with the submitted photos.
• Consider displaying the submitted photos in a physical or virtual gallery to showcase the diversity and beauty of Thanksgiving celebrations.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, these Thanksgiving contest ideas are not merely activities; they’re powerful tools to fortify your brand.

Backed by research, these strategies amplify engagement, foster loyalty, and generate organic growth. Implement them to transform this festive season into a lasting celebration for both your customers and your business.