Thanksgiving and football go together like mashed potatoes and gravy, that is if you are a sports fan…and we are in this house.
We are Football fans AND Thanksgiving lovers.
So this year, I decided to not focus on a beautifully appointed Thanksgiving table, which is always amazing.
Of course we are always thankful…and not just at Thanksgiving time but all year long.
Instead, let us concentrate on football.
There are always football games on Thanksgiving.
Please bear with me if you are NOT a fan of football, I will give you times to avoid a conflict of football games with your Thanksgiving Dinner.
This year there are three professional football games on Thanksgiving Day; the Bears and Lions at 12 pm, the Raiders and Cowboys at 4:30 pm and the Bills and Saints at 8:20 pm.
Plus, there are two college football games, Fresno State and San Jose State at 3:30 pm and Mississippi and Mississippi State at 7:30 pm.
Also, to keep the “Littles” and “Bigs” occupied while you toil in the kitchen, there are the ‘Parades’ on Thanksgiving Day!
Actually, there are a lot of Parades, most notable is the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, the Gimbels (now called the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Parade) in Philadelphia, the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, and the America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit.
There are many other local parades, but the television times for these Parades are Macy’s, New York City, 9 am to 12 pm, The Philadelphia Parade, considered the nation’s oldest Parade, is at 9 am -12 pm and the Detroit Parade is at 10 am-12 pm (check your local stations.)
The Macy’s Parade is considered the world’s largest parade and Santa Claus rides into town on the last float to kick-off the Christmas season…and it has been announced this year, there will be crowds of people along the parade route.
(There is a movie, “Miracle on 34th Street” commemorating the occasion, staring Maureen O’Hara and John Payne, perhaps you have seen it a time or two.) LOL
So now that you can peel potatoes or stuff the turkey in or around the Parades and football games…Let’s talk football.
As I have stated many times on this blog….I am and always have been a Kansas City Chiefs Football fan, a Kansas City Royals Baseball fan and a Kansas College Basketball fan.
We have lived in many states where there are both college and professional sports teams, but I remain loyal to my roots.
Dallas Cowboys?
Nope!
Houston Texans?
Nope!
Seattle Seahawks?
Nope!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Miami Dolphins?
Jacksonville Jaguars?
Nope! Nope! And Nope!
We have lived in Florida for almost 15 years and no, I have NOT changed my loyalty to the Kansas City Chiefs.
I say all that to say this:
My thanksgiving table is paying homage to the Kansas City Chiefs!
(The Chiefs are not playing on Thanksgiving Day this year.)
In fact, the only team who has not played on a Thanksgiving Day is the Jacksonville Jaguars.
All the other NFL teams have played the Thanksgiving “host regulars”, the Dallas Cowboys or the Detroit Lions in one year or another.
The third game of the day is usually a prime time match-up tossed into the mix as a goodwill gesture for fans who can’t get enough football for the day.
Let’s look at the table.
I started with football field place mats.
There are many football shaped dishes that I have used for many, many years for the play offs and at Super Bowl time.
Did I mention that the Chiefs have played in four Super Bowls and won two of those Super Bowls?
The very first Super Bowl, Super Bowl I…. played on January 15th, 1967 featured the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers. The Chiefs lost 35-10!
Super Bowl 4, Jan 11, 1970… the Kansas City Chiefs played the Minnesota Vikings and won 23-7!
Then there was a huge drought. It took the Chiefs 50 years to come up with a winning team!!!!! Yikes!
Super Bowl 54, February 2, 2020 the Kansas City Chiefs played the San Francisco 49ers and the Chiefs won 31-20!
However the Chiefs came back February 8, 2021 in Super Bowl 55 only to lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-9.
In defense of the Chiefs’ loss, because of Covid, Tampa Bay played in their own stadium whereas Super Bowls are usually played in a neutral stadium.
A home crowd can make a difference, but that is water under the bridge or goal posts. LOL
For football fans out there…I know there are better NFL football records, but as I said, I remain loyal to my team.
The center of the table is another green field in the shape of a platter.
The platter will hold the Smoked Turkey Legs.
At the top of the placemat is a souvenir pennant for each guest to take home.
Which leads me to the goal post dishes on either side of the football field platter.
The 3 dishes beneath each of the goal posts hold nuts, pretzels, olives, celery and pickles
The cookie jar always holds chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies.
The hamburger and hot dog salt & pepper shakers seemed a good choice for this football table.
There are two chip and dip dishes as one can never have enough dips for any football game.
Or chips of course.
Each place setting has a party favor of a wrist band and pennant.
The glasses are of course labeled with the Chiefs Logo, the Arrowhead, as are the paper dinner plates which sit atop a gold stoneware charger.
Many of the serving bowls are football shaped like the above ‘dessert’ bowl.
The football in the center of the rack above will hold the cranberry orange relish which will be served in the smaller surrounding bowls.
Flatware has brown wood handles and the napkins are NOT linen but paper.
In keeping with the rustic football theme of a green playing field, brown footballs, red, gold and white uniform colors; The Menu will be:
Chips and dips for snacking before the games start.
Relishes: black and green olives, pickles, pretzels, nuts, and celery
Smoked Turkey Legs
Roasted Turkey Breast & Roasted Turkey Wings
Fresh Cranberry/Orange Sauce
Roasted Red Potatoes, Roasted Orange Carrots and Roasted Brussel Sprouts (veggies all on one sheet pan)
Mushroom stuffing (or Dressing as some call it)
Green Bean with Bacon and Onions Casserole
Pistachio Salad
Dinner rolls (shaped like footballs)
Pumpkin Pie (with whipped cream)
Pecan Pie (don’t pecan halves look like footballs?)
Apple Cake (with whipped cream)
Thanks for stopping by today.
Exodus 23:16 … “You shall keep the Feasts of Harvest, of the first fruits of thy labors, of what you sow in the fields.”
Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Below are a few of my fellow table stylists with their thoughts on setting a table for Thanksgiving.
Kari, although I’m not a football fan, I love the table you set in homage to your favorite team! It would definitely delight a Kansas City football fan. You’ve amassed quite a collection of football and Chiefs tableware. My favorite is the cookie jar! I also love the goal post snack bowls. My grown stepsons are football fans, so there are always football games on the TV during Thanksgiving. I enjoy watching the Macy’s parade myself! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!
Kari, this is such an adorable theme, and I am not even a football fan! I understand completely about fan loyalty – if I ever moved to another state, I’d still always be a Cardinals baseball fan! I’m way behind on commenting, but I wanted to tell you how honored I feel that you chose the TFT party as your first link party since you’ve been back to blogging. I read your pancreatic cancer story, and I’m so impressed and inspired, and how you didn’t let your concerns drop in the beginning, when your doctor wasn’t paying enough attention to your concerns – well, that’s a huge lesson for us all.
Kari, what a delightful and fun take on a Thanksgiving table! How incredibly original! We used to be big football fans in our household up in Cleveland until the team left and went to Baltimore. That did us in. We have never been into football since then. that does not mean that I don’t appreciate your adorable table! Cute as can be, and what fun pieces you have to set the table! Even though I am not into football, that doesn’t mean I don’t love to host a Super Bowl party, and these are such cute ideas to incorporate! I am so incredibly thankful that you are here and healthy this year! Happy Thanksgiving to you and the Captain!
Such a cute setup for football lovers! I know it’s hard to distract die-hard fans, but this should do it! My teenage Thanksgivings included going to the traditional morning high school football game between local rival teams. Thanks for the memories! Have a beautiful fall weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Kari, I am so glad you captured the true essence of our Thanksgiving get together. Yes, it is more about football!!! We in Wisconsin are Packer fans, especially in the rural area which we live (not too far from the city of Green Bay.) Football truly does grow on you and I am now watching every game on Sunday night, Monday night and Thursday night football. I really love how you captured the fun of football gatherings. Your game collection is so adorable. Every platter, dip bowl and placemat is like being at a tail-gate party. I really enjoy your tablescape. I really loved having that indoor party when the Chiefs won the super bowl with Patrick Mahomes. Happy Thanksgiving
Hahaha, I was anticipating Alycia’s comment on this tablescape, both of you being rabid Chiefs fans. This is perfect, Kari. In real life, the meal and football are like hand in glove (mashed potatoes and gravy, yes indeed). Your table and your menu both look like the perfect recipe for both excitement and the requisite nap-making that Thanksgiving is so famous for. Thank you for bringing fun to the table on this blog hop. We won’t even discuss the college football scene…..at least not from my state. All I can say is I sure hope we do better in basketball this season than we have football. Happy Thanksgiving, friend!
Kari, what a brilliant theme for Thanksgiving. I cant believe you have so many cute football themed pieces. Since the Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving, we will have Thanksgiving dinner around 1:00 so we can be completely finished with the meal and cleaned up before the Cowboy game starts at 3:30. We usually have dessert at halftime. Have a fun time sharing your football tablescape with your guests.
Kari, such a cute idea. Everyone around your table will have fun. Hope your team wins!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kari, your table is absolutely precious! What a fun idea, and I am amazed at your collection of football serving dishes. I was in Kansas City last weekend, and everywhere we went people were decked out in their Chief’s attire, The menu you have planned sounds most scrumptious. I hope you have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Kari, absolutely love your setting. We are fans of all your teams, except for K-State, which is second to K.U. in our family. There was one exception and that was my grandmother who was always for K-State since it used to be considered a farm college and grandma came from a farming community. lol Anyway, I loved this table setting. My grandmother would have loved it to, as she always had a beautiful table setting for all occasions.
yep!! We watch a lot of football on Thanksgiving!! Your table is adorable!! I love the football field placemats!! I need to get some of those! We are big football enthusiasts as well – have to be here in Canton Ohio – where Pro Football started – and not to mention that all three of my kids graduated from Ohio State so we are huge Buckeye fans. Your passion for the Chiefs is fun and your guests will have a blast! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
This is such a cute idea. I’m sure we’ll definitely watch Mississippi State v. Ole Miss because we have family roots in Starkville. I can remember as a child always watching the Detroit Lions play football on Thanksgiving. Honestly, this cute table has brought a smile to my face. I love all the Kansas City stuff you have on it, too, especially the little cookie jar! I hope y’all enjoy your Thanksgiving football watching party ;P
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ricki Jill
Kari, I admire your football enthusiasm! We watch more college than pro football and I agree, it’s not Thanksgiving with a game or two on the tube. So thankful that we have sports to watch again after last year. You have your menu and table all covered and have done your team proud! Always happy to hop with you and join you at the table. Happy Thanksgiving and Football. ♥
Kari, when it comes to football, I say NOPE to all of it, but I appreciate your devotion as a fan! Your table theme is so cute. Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving and happy football watching!
Kari, what a fun seasonal tablescape! I knew Alicia would adore it. And, I’ve forwarded the link to my SIL who is also an avid KC fan; even after all these years living in DC. You have so many cute pieces. Here we wait until the day or two after Thanksgiving to go into football mode. That’s when my alumna mater usually plays my husband’s. Every other year, we frequently bundle up and head up to State College to watch the game in person. That means packing up football tableware for over the top tailgating.
Kari, Your tablescape is probably the most unique in the hop. I’m still scrolling through! And….you are a fountain of knowledge! I am so impressed. All the info about the parades was interesting and the teams playing and the schedules.
Your football accessories for entertaining are delightful.
Your menu sounds wonderful. How cute to have rolls shaped like footballs. I also love the idea of mixing the three roasted vegetables all in one pan.
I will be thinking of you and all the games you will be viewing on Thanksgiving and during the holidays. Whew. That keeps your mind busy.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.
Kari, I’m not a football fan but my dad was. So I can embrace your table – and your faithful following to the chiefs. I have even been know to turn on the TV Thanksgiving Day just because it reminds me of my dad.
Love your alternative table and the sweet memories it brings into my life!
I knew from the first picture that Alycia would love this table, and I do as well! It’s fun, playful and even though I’m not a football fan, I would love to have a seat at this table. Thank you for inspiring me to look at tablestyling in a different way. Have a Happy and restful Thanksgiving!
Thanks Sandra…even though I have dessert planned, I wish I had one of your beautiful desserts! LOL Thanks for stopping by.
Very cute table Kari. You have it all covered from the darling table accessories to the yummy food. We are not sport’s fans however I do appreciate seeing your wonderful presented Football tablescape. Your guests will love this. Thinking outside of the box is always fun and creative. Wishing you and your cheering guests a lovely blessed Thanksgiving.
Right back at ya Linda…wishing you and your guests a spectacular day. Thanks for stopping by.
Kari, we are all big football fans in our family! Not so much pro, but we root big for the Alabama Crimson Tide…Roll Tide Roll 🅰️
Your table is so much fun, who wouldn’t love being invited for Thanksgiving?! You are a loyal fan and you have done your KC Chiefs proud with this table. You have thought of every possible detail to make your table perfect for your favorite team.
I love that you thought outside of the box with a fabulous and creative table. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
Thanks Pam….we will celebrate our Thanksgiving dinner a few days early with special friends before we take off across the state in our motorhome for a college basketball tournament. Yikes! Thanksgiving in a basketball stadium, most likely eating hot dogs and popcorn! Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!!
Your Crimson Tide has reason to celebrate….unfortunately our Kansas college football team has struggled over the years, although we did go to the Orange Bowl one year a long time ago. LOL
However, our Big 12 conference college basketball team is quite another story and Rita (Panoply, West Virginia Mountaineers) and I are cheering for the Big 12 teams collectively…. UNLESS the Jayhawks are playing the Mountaineers and then Rita and I are arch rivals. Lovingly of course. LOL
Blessings always my friend
Kari
What a fun table! We are big Football Lovers! We cheer for our Home Teams and now for the Arizona Cardinals too. I enjoy watching the KC Chiefs!
Enjoy your Thanksgiving and all the accompaniments you are going to enjoy around this fabulous and fun table!
Happy Tuesday!
Thanks Nancy and our Pastor is originally from Arizona, so we hear about the Cardinals and the Wildcats a lot! LOL. We will be having our Thanksgiving dinner a few days early around a football game of course.
Thanks for stopping by my friend and Happy Thanksgiving!
Go team go! I LOVE this Kari! Fall is all about football at my house and Thanksgiving is no exception! What a fun table setting for Thanksgiving, after all, aren’t we fans thankful that we have football!!! You have so many cute football and KC Chiefs things…I must tell you that I was relieved when I saw your non traditional table as mine is non traditional too and I was beginning to worry I’d made a mistake after visiting so many beautiful traditional tables on our hop! Great table Kari, and I hope you have a lot of fun with your Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving plans!
Jenna
I hear ya Jenna on the casual table. You can’t get more casual than setting a football table, now can you? Actually, our Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated at a Kansas Jayhawk basketball tournament in Orlando this year. We are taking the motor home across the state and probably eating hot dogs at the game. LOL.
However, we will. be making the smoked turkey legs and all the trimmings, etc; and having friends over before the actual day of Thanksgiving. After all, the date on a calendar doesn’t matter, it is what is in your heart.
Enjoy your coastal Thanksgiving my friend.
Kari
I enjoyed your football table. I am not a football fan myself but my son was a huge KC fan. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 22 and was buried with his Kansas City hat. Every year we put up our Christmas tree with his Hallmark Joe Montana in his KC uniform and our KC hat collection has grown to several in his memory. We live in Canada so our Thanksgiving is in October and is quite low key in comparison to yours. Enjoy your day, your parades and your football. Maybe next year your team will be there.
I am so sorry for your loss Diane. I almost lost my life to pancreatic cancer last year but for the Grace of God, He brought me through it. Thank you for sharing your son’s love of KC Chiefs football…you and yours will be in our thoughts and prayers this Holiday season, as we know how difficult it can be without our loved ones. 1Thessalonians 4:17-18
I am sure over the years, you have accumulated quite a stash of Chiefs’ memorabilia in honor of your son. God Bless you!
Thank you for your kind wishes.
Kari
THANK YOU FOR REMAINING LOYAL TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE you for that! As a Kansas City native, the Chiefs have been a part of my life for all my years on earth. I worked for the organization for a number of years, too, and that is one of my fondest memories. Our lower level is dedicated to the Chiefs, and I make SURE to pay homage on my blog when possible each year! In fact, when I saw your tablescape I recognized many of the elements!!! (You are a brave and hearty soul to wear your red & gold proudly in the land of the Jaguar!) What is Thanksgiving without football??!?!?! What is LIFE without football??? To marry the 2 is only natural, and I laud you for it!!!!!!! Well done! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! GO, CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Alycia not only for your comments, but for being a Chiefs fan. (I was worried Monday night that we would come up with a win over the Packers… but we did prevail.) Go Chiefs!
And I don’t care what Seattle says (we lived there for two years) WE, in KC, are the 12th player and the loudest in the NFL. Seahawks only came up with the 12th man after KC had been touting it for years. LOL
I had Season tickets to the Chiefs, the Royals and the Jayhawks (basketball) for years and when the Captain and I married, he said he would have to learn to love sports as much as I did or he would become a March widower. LOL
In fact, we will celebrate Thanksgiving in Orlando this year as the Jayhawks will be in a basketball tournament over on that side of the state!
I hear ya on being a Chiefs fan for years and years. Remember when the coaches wore suits and Hank Stram always wore his hat? Yes, those were the early days and we, you and I, were there!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kari
What a FUN table!! You have it all when it comes to football! The favors are so cute and I am sure your guests will have an exciting day cheering for their favorite teams. This was fun to see a non-traditional table and I hop you have a wild and festive day!!
Thanks Patti…sometimes it is cool to think outside the box. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Thanksgiving!