I’m so excited to share this massive collection of Parks and Recreation trivia with you. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably rewatched this hilarious show about a dozen times and still find yourself quoting Leslie Knope in everyday conversations.
Last weekend, my friends and I had a Parks and Rec themed game night, and I was shocked at how many obscure details everyone remembered! From Ron Swanson’s secret jazz persona to Andy’s alter ego Burt Macklin, we were laughing for hours while testing our knowledge.
In this article, I’ve put together over 100 trivia questions covering everything from the main characters to the quirky town of Pawnee. Whether you’re planning a Parks and Rec themed party or just want to test your knowledge, these questions range from super easy to “only true fans will know” difficult.
Character Trivia Questions
The characters of Parks and Recreation are what make the show so memorable. From Leslie’s boundless enthusiasm to Ron’s grumpy libertarianism, these questions will test how well you know the beloved Pawnee crew.
- What is Leslie Knope’s favorite food?
- Answer: Waffles
- What is Ron Swanson’s secret jazz musician alter ego?
- Answer: Duke Silver
- What was Andy Dwyer’s band called?
- Answer: Mouse Rat (previously called Scarecrow Boat, among many other names)
- What is Tom Haverford’s real name?
- Answer: Darwish Zubair Ismail Gani
- What is April Ludgate’s nationality on her mother’s side?
- Answer: Puerto Rican
- What is Ben Wyatt’s favorite film franchise?
- Answer: Star Wars
- Which sport did Chris Traeger claim to have the world record in?
- Answer: Running
- What type of animal is Champion, April and Andy’s pet?
- Answer: A three-legged dog
- What are the names of April’s weird friends?
- Answer: Orin and Derek
- What was Jerry/Garry/Larry/Terry Gergich’s real first name?
- Answer: Garry
- What is Donna Meagle’s catch phrase?
- Answer: “Treat yo’ self”
- What is the name of Ron Swanson’s ex-wife who works at the library?
- Answer: Tammy 2 (Tammy Swanson)
- What is Jean-Ralphio’s sister’s name?
- Answer: Mona-Lisa Saperstein
- What government position did Leslie ultimately achieve in the series finale flash-forward?
- Answer: Governor of Indiana (and possibly President, though this is implied rather than confirmed)
- What instrument does Duke Silver (Ron) play?
- Answer: Saxophone
- What is Andy Dwyer’s alter ego FBI agent name?
- Answer: Burt Macklin
- What was Leslie’s campaign slogan when she ran for city council?
- Answer: “Knope We Can”
- What is Craig Middlebrooks known for?
- Answer: His excessive shouting and passionate outbursts
- What food does Ron Swanson call “the food that was created by the gods”?
- Answer: Bacon
- What is Ann Perkins’ profession?
- Answer: Nurse
If you enjoyed these character questions, you might also like our collection of random questions to ask a guy for more conversation starters!
Pawnee and Setting Questions
The town of Pawnee, Indiana is practically a character itself in Parks and Recreation. These questions will test your knowledge of the quirky town, its history, and its unusual landmarks.
- What is Pawnee’s town slogan?
- Answer: “First in Friendship, Fourth in Obesity”
- What town is Pawnee’s rival?
- Answer: Eagleton
- What is the name of the miniature horse that is beloved in Pawnee?
- Answer: Li’l Sebastian
- What is the name of the local newspaper in Pawnee?
- Answer: The Pawnee Journal
- What is the name of Tom and Donna’s annual day of indulgence?
- Answer: Treat Yo’ Self Day
- What is the name of the wealthy family that founded Sweetums candy company?
- Answer: The Newports
- What animal is famously depicted in the Pawnee mural “The Spirit of Pawnee”?
- Answer: A white settler triumphantly hunting a Native American
- What is the name of the Pawnee public access TV show where Leslie frequently appears?
- Answer: “Pawnee Today”
- What is the name of Pawnee’s sister city in Venezuela?
- Answer: Boraqua
- What is the name of the popular local restaurant where the staff frequently eats?
- Answer: JJ’s Diner
- What does Pawnee’s town charter state about women?
- Answer: Women are not allowed to speak in public or own property
- What is the name of the horrible Pawnee perfume company?
- Answer: Dennis Feinstein Perfumery
- What is Paunch Burger’s famous meal challenge?
- Answer: The Dinner for Breakfast Burger Combo Challenge
- What is the Pawnee raccoon problem referred to as?
- Answer: The Raccoon Infestation
- What is the name of the Pawnee mall?
- Answer: Pawnee Mall
- What annual festival features a contest to find the smallest horse?
- Answer: The Harvest Festival
- What is the name of Ron Swanson’s favorite steakhouse?
- Answer: Charles Mulligan’s Steakhouse
- What is the name of Pawnee’s most disgusting waterway?
- Answer: The Pawnee River (described as “The Mouth of Hell”)
- What is the name of Pawnee’s local library system, which Ron and Leslie despise?
- Answer: Pawnee Public Library
- What is the most notorious landmark in Pawnee that tourists like to drink from?
- Answer: The water fountain (nicknamed “the mouth”)
Want more fun trivia like this? Check out our 90s movie trivia for another nostalgic challenge!
Episode and Plot Trivia
Let’s see how well you remember the specific episodes and plot points that made Parks and Recreation so memorable!
- In which season does Leslie Knope get elected to the City Council?
- Answer: Season 4
- What was the name of Leslie’s book about Pawnee?
- Answer: “Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America”
- What political figure does Leslie idolize and eventually meet?
- Answer: Joe Biden
- What did Andy and April spontaneously do at their dinner party?
- Answer: Get married
- Which character moved to Washington D.C. to work for Congressman Murray?
- Answer: April Ludgate
- What was the name of Tom’s failed entertainment company with Jean-Ralphio?
- Answer: Entertainment 720
- What was the name of the episode where Li’l Sebastian died?
- Answer: “Li’l Sebastian”
- What does Leslie give Ben when she proposes to him?
- Answer: The Knope 2012 campaign button
- What caused the government shutdown at the end of Season 2?
- Answer: The town’s bankruptcy
- What historical event does Leslie recreate for Ben’s birthday?
- Answer: The signing of the Pawnee Charter
- What was the name of Ben’s disastrous teen mayor initiative?
- Answer: Ice Town
- What does Jerry accidentally reveal about his daughter when the staff visits his house?
- Answer: That she was conceived before Jerry and his wife were married
- What does Leslie build for Ann as a going-away present?
- Answer: Ann’s Dream House (a scale model of their future dream homes next to each other)
- What does Ron build for Leslie as a wedding present?
- Answer: A handcrafted wooden picture frame
- What does Tom rename his restaurant after “Tom’s Bistro”?
- Answer: He doesn’t rename it – it remains “Tom’s Bistro”
- What was the name of the unity concert organized in the final season?
- Answer: The Pawnee-Eagleton Unity Concert
- What does Leslie do after she’s recalled from the City Council?
- Answer: She becomes the Regional Director of the National Park Service Midwest Branch
- What does Ben invent that becomes wildly successful?
- Answer: The Cones of Dunshire (board game)
- What health crisis does Chris face that makes him even more health-conscious?
- Answer: He gets the flu (which he’s never had before)
- What reality show does Andy briefly appear on?
- Answer: “America’s Next A Cappella Sensation”
Love these show-specific questions? You might also enjoy our cartoon trivia questions for more TV fun!
Relationships and Connections
The relationships between characters made Parks and Recreation special. These questions focus on the friendships, romances, and family connections throughout the series.
- Who was Ann Perkins’ first boyfriend on the show?
- Answer: Andy Dwyer
- Which characters get married in a surprise ceremony at the end of Season 6?
- Answer: Leslie and Ben
- Who does Donna eventually marry?
- Answer: Joe
- What relation is Ethel Beavers to Ron Swanson?
- Answer: None (she’s the court stenographer who recorded Ron and Tammy’s sex memoir)
- What is the name of April’s sister?
- Answer: Natalie
- Who does Tom eventually marry?
- Answer: Lucy
- What are the names of Leslie and Ben’s triplets?
- Answer: Stephen, Sonia, and Wesley
- What was Ron’s childhood best friend that he had to kill?
- Answer: A pony named Bucephalus
- Which celebrity does Donna reveal she has a physical relationship with?
- Answer: Ginuwine
- Who is revealed to be the father of Diane’s children?
- Answer: Her ex-husband
- What relation is Jean-Ralphio to Dr. Saperstein?
- Answer: Son
- What is the name of Jerry/Garry’s wife?
- Answer: Gayle
- Which character do both Ann and April have romantic relationships with?
- Answer: Andy Dwyer
- What is the name of Chris and Ann’s son?
- Answer: Oliver
- What is the name of the woman Ron meets at Ed’s hardware store?
- Answer: Diane Lewis
- Who officiates Leslie and Ben’s wedding?
- Answer: Ron Swanson
- What family member of April’s marries an elderly man?
- Answer: Her grandmother
- Who does Craig end up with in the flash-forward?
- Answer: Typhoon (Ron’s hairdresser)
- What is the name of Ben’s ex-girlfriend who comes to Pawnee?
- Answer: Shauna Malwae-Tweep
- Who becomes Andy’s assistant when he plays Johnny Karate?
- Answer: April
For more relationship questions to ask your friends, check out our questions for couples that can spark interesting conversations!
Behind the Scenes Facts
Let’s explore some fascinating behind-the-scenes information about the making of Parks and Recreation!
- Which cast member was originally only meant to appear in a few episodes but became a main character?
- Answer: Chris Pratt (Andy Dwyer)
- Which actor wrote and directed several episodes of the show?
- Answer: Amy Poehler
- What show was Parks and Recreation originally conceived as a spin-off from?
- Answer: The Office
- Which real-life politician played themselves on the show multiple times?
- Answer: Joe Biden
- Which actor was a writer for the show before becoming a cast member?
- Answer: Rob Lowe (just kidding, this is false – the correct answer is none of them)
- How many seasons did Parks and Recreation run for?
- Answer: 7 seasons
- Which actor also played a role on The Office before joining Parks and Recreation?
- Answer: Rashida Jones
- Which Parks and Recreation actor went on to star in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy?
- Answer: Chris Pratt
- What was the original title for the show before it became “Parks and Recreation”?
- Answer: Public Service
- Which character wasn’t in the original pilot?
- Answer: Rob Lowe’s character Chris Traeger (and Adam Scott’s character Ben Wyatt)
- What year did Parks and Recreation premiere?
- Answer: 2009
- Which character was based on a real-life politician according to the creators?
- Answer: Leslie Knope (partially inspired by politicians like Hillary Clinton)
- What did the cast and crew call the fake documentary film style?
- Answer: “Documentary-style single-camera”
- Which real musician appeared as himself on the show and was revealed to be related to Donna?
- Answer: Ginuwine
- How many Emmy nominations did Parks and Recreation receive during its run?
- Answer: 14
- Which actor improvised many of their character’s most famous lines?
- Answer: Chris Pratt
- What was the filming location for the exterior shots of Pawnee City Hall?
- Answer: Pasadena City Hall
- Which NBC president was a huge supporter of the show despite its initial low ratings?
- Answer: Kevin Reilly
- What real-life condition did actor Rob Lowe incorporate into his character Chris Traeger?
- Answer: Hypochondria/health obsession
- What was the final scene filmed for the entire series?
- Answer: A group scene in the Parks Department office
Fascinated by behind-the-scenes facts? Our deep topics to talk about list has more thought-provoking conversation starters!
Why Parks and Recreation Trivia is Perfect for Fans
Parks and Recreation isn’t just a show—it’s practically a personality trait for die-hard fans! Testing your knowledge with trivia questions is the perfect way to celebrate this beloved sitcom while spending quality time with friends who share your enthusiasm.
I’ve found that Parks and Rec trivia brings out the competitive spirit in even the most laid-back friends. My sister (who claims to be the biggest Leslie Knope fan ever) nearly flipped the table when she missed a question about Li’l Sebastian! These questions aren’t just entertaining—they’ll help you appreciate all the brilliant details and running jokes that made this show so special.
Looking for more ways to challenge your friends? Check out our collection of interesting questions to ask a guy for your next game night!
Final Thoughts
Wow, that was a lot of Pawnee knowledge packed into one article! I hope these trivia questions brought back fond memories of all the hilarious moments from Parks and Recreation. From Leslie’s waffle obsession to Ron’s woodworking and everything in between, this show gave us some of television’s most unforgettable characters.
The next time you’re having a game night with friends or just want to reminisce about one of the best sitcoms ever made, pull out these questions and see who really knows their Parks and Rec stuff. I’d love to know how many you got right without peeking at the answers!
Did any of these questions stump you? Or do you consider yourself the ultimate Parks and Recreation fan who knew them all? Let me know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this trivia, why not check out our other television-themed question collections, like our video game trivia questions or 80s movie trivia questions for more nostalgic fun!