19+ Things to do Over Thanksgiving Break
Local mom Kristina Hernandez shares her list of things you can do as a family over Thanksgiving break, including volunteer opportunities, events, and even local hiking spots. Whether you are on your own or have family visiting for Thanksgiving, this is the list you need for a great holiday weekend.
That week of Thanksgiving is often very busy for families as they get ready for the big day, doing the necessary shopping, and trying to stay sane. Then they have the added pressure/task of finding entertaining things to do with the kids and extended family and friends who may be visiting. We usually have family as well that come here to Greenville for the holidays so it’s necessary to find things to do that appeal to everyone.
Luckily, there is no shortage of things to do during the break! Make sure to call ahead to places to make sure they are open. Places like the Greenville Zoo are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Greenville! Find things to do, restaurants, pies and more in our Greenville Thanksgiving Guide.
Fun ways to spend your Thanksgiving break
Volunteer
I feel like volunteering during Thanksgiving is a good way to physically show children how to be compassionate, caring, and grateful. There are many people in our area who have no one to celebrate the holidays with or who need a little extra help to get that Thanksgiving meal on the table. I want to be the one to make that happen.
We volunteer through our church on Thanksgiving morning to deliver meals to area residents but there are other opportunities as well:
Miracle Hill puts together a huge Turkey Fry the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Usually, this event requires the help of more than 100 volunteers to pull off the event. However, due to COVID-19, this year they are asking for help with donations of turkeys and other items. See their website for info on the event and how you can help.
Gobbler Grab is another place where you can donate a frozen turkey to go to a family in need. They are collecting turkeys on November 19, 2021 from 7 – 8:30 pm and November 21, 2021 from 10 am – 1 pm at Simpsonville United Methodist Church.
You can buy a meal for a local family through the Harvest Hope Food Bank for $15 – more info here.
Greer Soup Kitchen, 521 E. Poinsett Street, Greer – they are taking volunteers all week. Call 864-968-0323 to volunteer and for specific times.
Shop a Flea Market
Feel like wandering through eBay or Craigslist in real life? Check out the Barnyard Flea Market in Greer, only open on the weekends. It has everything you could possibly need in one place and is just plain fun to walk through.
Go Hiking
November is a beautiful time to get outside and hike around the area. It’s good for the kids to get out energy and fun to show visitors our beautiful state. Here are just a sample of trails in the Upstate and Western North Carolina to explore, just be sure to check them out so they are appropriate for members of your family who are going hiking:
Hiking Guide for Families, Big Kids, & Little Kids
Run a Turkey Day Race
This is a brilliant idea – run a race in the morning of Thanksgiving and eat whatever you want at Thanksgiving dinner.
Most of these races benefit local charities. Runners and walkers also earn cool swag like race t-shirts, finisher medals, and giveaways. In most cases, strollers are welcome. Register sooner than later though: Due to COVID-19, the number of participants may be limited.
Enjoy The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
If you have extended family with kids staying at your place, send them over to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, a gem in the city with hours’ worth of fun and entertainment for children. They currently have the special exhibit, The Great Outdoors, plus special Thanksgiving-themed crafts that week. They are closed Mondays and on Thanksgiving.
Try an Escape Room
Escape Artist Greenville offers a Christmas-themed escape room called “Yuletide Magic.” And it’s for the whole family, which is unusual since most escape rooms are for adults and older kids/teens. Book your tickets here.
Go to a Zoo
The Greenville Zoo is perfect for a trip with family if you want to stay local. And the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia is awesome for a day-long trip. The Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville is also worth the drive.
If you have a Greenville Zoo membership, you get into the WNC Nature Center for free and pay half price at the Riverbanks Zoo.
Enjoy Christmas Lights
The Upstate Holiday Light Show, the Christmas House in Inman, the Anderson Christmas Lights, and several others all start on Thanksgiving evening. Check out our list of Places to See Christmas Lights in the Upstate to schedule your trip. Some of these are free while others require an admission fee.
Go get your Christmas Tree
Some families get their Christmas tree and start decorating it right after Thanksgiving. It’s a fun thing for kids to do as well to search for the tree and decorate it together. Here are several Christmas tree farms in the area that open at Thanksgiving where you can find your perfect tree.
Go Ice Skating
The ice rink in downtown Greenville is open not only the week of Thanksgiving but also from 2-9 pm on Thanksgiving Day. This is a fun way to enjoy family time and also a great way to bring visitors to downtown Greenville and show them the sights! $10/adult, $8/kid, which includes skate rental. Tickets for specific dates & time slots are available for advance purchase on-line. Because capacity at the rink is limited due to COVID-19 precautions, walk-up tickets will only be available when space allows. Check out our live video of the ice rink for more info!
Take A Ride on Santa’s Sleigh
You can grab a 15-minute magical ride on Santa’s Sleigh in downtown Greenville starting the night before Thanksgiving. The sleigh ride starts outside Grill Marks downtown and can hold about 15 people. Tickets are $10/ages 12+, $5/ages 3-11, free/ages under 3. Due to COVID-19 precautions, riders should sign-up for their ride in advance.
Play Inside
It can be chilly that week of Thanksgiving and there are a ton of things to do indoors: trampoline parks, bounce houses, libraries, museums, arcades, paint-your-own-pottery, and roller skating and ice skating rinks. While many are closed Thanksgiving Day, they are open the other days of the week (just be sure to call in advance before bundling everyone up and heading out to one of them).
Hop on a Train
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Bryson City, NC is running both their super popular Polar Express train and the Winter Nantahala Gorge Excursion all during the week of Thanksgiving (except Thanksgiving Day). This is a great trip to create wonderful memories for your family.
Support Small Businesses
Check out the Holiday Market at Five Forks on Saturday, November 21 and shop local artisans, crafters, food vendors, and more. You can also skip the crowds on Black Friday and head out on Saturday to one of these local businesses that offer unique gifts for your family for Small Business Saturday. Local crafters and vendors will also be set up at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery’s Holiday Mini-Flea November 27 -29, 2021.
What’s your plan for Thanksgiving break?
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