How to Make Thanksgiving Poppers: DIY Party Crackers for Your Holiday Table

Thanksgiving poppers (also known as party crackers or bon-bons) are a festive way to add excitement and conversation to your holiday table. These DIY decorations combine a satisfying “pop” sound with hidden surprises inside, perfect for breaking the ice and getting everyone talking at your Thanksgiving gathering.

Traditionally popular at Christmas celebrations in England, these crackers are easy to make and completely customizable.

Whether you fill them with conversation starters, gratitude prompts, or small treats, Thanksgiving poppers transform an ordinary place setting into an interactive experience your guests will love.

Plus, making them yourself means you can match your table décor perfectly while staying within budget!

What Are Thanksgiving Poppers?

Thanksgiving poppers are decorative paper tubes that make a loud “POP!” sound when pulled apart from both ends—similar to the snap of a firecracker.

Inside each popper, you can tuck conversation starters, jokes, gratitude prompts, or small gifts. The element of surprise, combined with the startling pop, creates a memorable moment that gets guests laughing and engaging with each other.

The tradition originated with Christmas crackers in England, but these festive additions work beautifully for any holiday gathering.

Making your own Thanksgiving poppers gives you complete control over the design and contents, ensuring they complement your table setting and suit your guests perfectly.

How to Make Thanksgiving Poppers

Materials You’ll Need

• Cardboard tubes (empty toilet paper rolls work best, or paper towel rolls cut in half)
• Cracker snaps (available on Amazon—this is what makes them pop!)
• Kraft paper and scissors
• White paint and paintbrush
• Twine or ribbon
• Strips of paper and a nice pen
• Clear tape

Steps for Making Thanksgiving Poppers

Decorate Your Paper

Start by cutting pieces of kraft paper that are long enough to wrap around your cardboard tube with extra length on each end—about twice the width of the tube.

This extra length creates the twisted ends that give poppers their classic look.

Before rolling, decorate the paper with white paint to create a festive design. You can paint dots, stripes, leaves, or simple patterns. Set the papers aside to dry completely—this usually takes 30-60 minutes depending on how thick you’ve applied the paint.

Pro tip: Make a few extra decorated papers in case you want to create additional poppers or need to replace one.

Write Your Conversation Starters

While your decorated papers are drying, prepare the conversation starter strips that will go inside each popper. Cut small strips of paper (about 1 inch by 4 inches) and write one prompt on each strip using a nice pen.

Fill your Thanksgiving poppers with these engaging conversation starters:

Gratitude-Themed:

• What tradition are you most grateful for this year?
• Share one thing that made you smile this week
• What’s the best advice someone at this table has given you?

Fun & Lighthearted:

• Who is the funniest person at the table and why?
• What’s your most irrational fear?
• What color is your toothbrush?

Get-to-Know-You:

• If you could have lunch with any celebrity, who would it be?
• What are your travel plans for the holidays?
• What would you do if you won the lottery?

Future-Focused:

• Do you have any resolutions for the new year?
• What’s one skill you’d like to learn?
• Where’s somewhere you’ve never been but would love to visit?

If you’re not keen on your penmanship, you can always type the Thanksgiving conversation starters onto paper, and print them out instead.

Create Perforation Marks

Once your decorated papers have completely dried, it’s time to create perforation marks that make the crackers easier to open. This step ensures your Thanksgiving poppers will snap cleanly when pulled.

Lay a cardboard tube in the center of the paper and trace down both sides, marking where the ends of the tube line up on the paper. Fold the paper just past this line, then cut small triangular notches down the side of each fold. When you unfold the paper, you’ll have a line of diamond shapes going down each side—these act as perforations.

Assemble Your Thanksgiving Poppers

Now for the fun part—putting it all together!

1. Place a cracker snap inside the cardboard tube so the strings hang out of each end.
2. Position the tube at one end of your decorated paper and secure with a small piece of tape.
3. Roll the tube in the paper and tape the seam closed.
4. Tie a piece of twine or ribbon around one end of the paper along the perforated line, gathering the excess paper to create a twisted end.
5. Roll or fold one conversation starter strip and slide it into the open end of the tube.
6. Tie the other end of the cracker shut with twine, enclosing your surprise inside.

Repeat this process for each place setting at your table!

How to Use Your Poppers

When it’s time to open the Thanksgiving poppers, have your guests grab each end firmly and pull in opposite directions. The cracker snap will create a satisfying “POP!” and the paper will tear along the perforations, revealing the conversation starter inside.

Some hosts like to have everyone pull their poppers simultaneously for maximum excitement, while others prefer to go around the table one by one so everyone can hear each person’s conversation starter. Choose whichever approach fits your gathering’s vibe!

Creative Thanksgiving Popper Ideas

While conversation starters are perfect for encouraging discussion, you can customize your Thanksgiving poppers with different contents:

Alternative Fillings:

• Gratitude prompts (“Name three things you’re thankful for”)
• Thanksgiving trivia questions
• Silly jokes or puns
• Small candies or chocolates
• Lottery scratch-off tickets
• Paper crowns (traditional for Christmas crackers!)
• Fortunes or inspirational quotes
• Table assignment cards for formal dinners

Design Variations:

• Use seasonal colors like deep orange, burgundy, or forest green paper
• Add gold or copper paint instead of white for an elegant look
• Tie with ribbon that matches your table linens
• Attach small name tags to assign seats
• Decorate with pressed leaves or small sprigs of herbs
• Use patterned scrapbook paper for a different aesthetic

Tips for Success

• Test first: Open one cracker snap by itself before assembling all your poppers to make sure they work and to hear how loud they are.
• Paint lightly: Thin coats of paint dry faster and won’t crack when you roll the paper.
• Size matters: If using paper towel rolls, cut them in half—full-length rolls create awkwardly large poppers for a table setting.
• Make extras: Create a few additional poppers for unexpected guests or in case one doesn’t pop properly.
• Prep ahead: You can assemble Thanksgiving poppers up to a week in advance and store them in a box until your gathering.
• Kid-friendly option: If young children will be present, you can skip the cracker snaps entirely and just have them tear open the decorated tubes for their surprises.

Why Thanksgiving Poppers Work

Beyond the obvious fun factor, Thanksgiving poppers serve a practical purpose at holiday gatherings.

They naturally encourage interaction between guests who might not know each other well, giving everyone something to talk about beyond the usual small talk.

The element of surprise and the communal laughter after the loud pop helps break down social barriers and creates a more relaxed atmosphere.

For hosts, these DIY party crackers are an affordable way to add a special touch to your table without breaking the budget. Most of the materials are inexpensive, and if you’re creative, you might already have everything you need at home.

The handmade quality also adds a personal warmth that store-bought decorations simply can’t match.

Have you tried making poppers before? We’d love to hear your favorite conversation starter ideas or creative filling suggestions in the comments below! What gets your guests talking at holiday gatherings?

The post How to Make Thanksgiving Poppers: DIY Party Crackers for Your Holiday Table appeared first on Curbly.