While San Francisco’s 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Run and Walk (more commonly known as the Turkey Trot) is no longer accepting sign-ups, you can still register for other Turkey Trots around the Bay Area, including Oakland, San José, Novato, Petaluma, Concord and Walnut Creek.
While runners are timed, these races are pretty low-pressure and are mostly about getting folks moving at whatever speed works best for them. While you’ll have to pay a registration fee to race —with most proceeds going to local charities — you’ll be rewarded with either a medal or jersey for your efforts, on top of the sheer fun of the race.
And if you don’t want to do any running yourself, a fun alternative is hanging out near the finish line and cheering runners on as they come in.
Be transported by drinks at a themed bar
If you’re wondering “but why a themed bar?”, let us explain: You may not always be a fan of say, tiki torches — or Harry Potter — but the commitment of themed bars to their bit comes in pretty clutch when you want to be transported to a whole different vibe, far away from Thanksgiving.
Two such suggestions for San Francisco alone: Enjoy a piña colada next to the indoor lagoon of The Tonga Room & Hurricane Room at the Fairmont Hotel, or watch a Harry Potter-themed drag show at Wizards & Wands (and yes, they have Butter Beer) in the Marina District.
And if you can wait a day, a host of pop-up holiday-themed bars are also coming to the Bay Area, to fast-forward you far beyond Thanksgiving and into the festive season — although several of them are only open on Friday.
And finally … escape to the movies
Ready to defy gravity with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked For Good?
How about Berkeley’s own Andy Samberg voicing an awkward teenage lynx in Zootopia 2?
Or perhaps you’d rather see Brendan Fraser playing an American living in Japan, acting out multiple roles in Rental Family?
All AMC and Cinemark theaters in the Bay Area are open Thursday and through the holiday weekend. Several independent theaters, like Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco, Mountain View and Santa Clara, Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre and El Cerrito’s Rialto Cinemas will also have showings on Thanksgiving.
KQED’s Nisa Khan contributed to this report.
