How To Make a Thanksgiving Turkey Pinata

A Thanksgiving turkey piñata is a great project in the week leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. This piñata version of a Thanksgiving turkey is meant to be stuffed with candy. Breaking it open may be the highlight of your Thanksgiving dinner for the kids. Here’s how to make a Thanksgiving turkey piñata:

Materials and supplies:

Two orange balloons, one large and one small

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 cups flour
• 2 bowls
• Old newspapers
• Balloon
• Tape
• Glue
• Black marker
• White paper
• Yellow construction paper
• Tissue paper in orange, brown, red, and yellow
• Airtight container

1. Make the paper mache mixture. The piñata shape is formed by a balloon covered in paper mache. Mix 1 1/2 cups of warm water with two cups of flours. Stir until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Cover the balloon in paper mache. A large balloon holds more candy than a smaller one, but it also takes more work because the finished piñata will be larger, so choose the balloon size wisely. Blow up the balloon and set it on top of a large bowl to keep it stable. Now, tear newspapers into strips that are about 1 1/2” thick. The exact size isn’t important. One by one, dip the strips into the paper mache mixture, and place it over the balloon. Overlap the strips slightly with each other, and keep going until the entire balloon has been covered except for a 2 inch square at the top of the balloon to allow the piñata to be filled with candy.
3. Let the piñata dry. Place the piñata in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours. If you have leftover flour paste, you may want to save it in an airtight container, because you’ll be using it again.
4. Add a second layer of newspaper. You’ll want at least two, or possibly three, layers of newspaper on the piñata. When you’re done adding the newspaper layers, let it dry for at least 24 hours before decorating your Thanksgiving turkey piñata.
5. Decorate the Thanksgiving turkey piñata. First, tape the smaller orange balloon to the larger end of the paper mache-covered balloon. This is the turkey’s head. Cut circles from white paper, draw black eyes on each circle, and tape them to the head of the turkey. Then cut a yellow triangle and attach it as a beak. Cut multiple feather-shaped pieces from the multicolored tissue paper, form a fan shape with them, and tape them to the end of the turkey as a tail. Then cut strips from the same tissue paper and glue them to the piñata body, covering the entire body with tissue paper feathers.
6. Fill the piñata. Pop the balloon through the small opening you left at the top of the balloon. Fill the piñata with candy, and then cover the opening with tissue paper, taping it on tightly. Making a Thanksgiving turkey piñata is a great family tradition to start this year. It’s a great way to get the kids into the holiday mood in the week leading up to Thanksgiving.