5 things to do on Thanksgiving in Atlanta
For many, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a roasted turkey and a dinner table surrounded by friends and family. For others, Thanksgiving can be more than just dinner.
Here are five ways you can add a twist to you classic holiday activities:
1. Volunteer with your kids
Giving back to the community is a great way for families to express humility and bond with others in need this Thanksgiving. There are plenty of organizations in metro Atlanta that are still looking for volunteers.
If you can’t find a place to volunteer on turkey day, donating your time doesn’t have to be a holiday-only activity. There are several opportunities to volunteer in metro Atlanta during the entire year.
- Where to lend a helping hand this holiday season
- Homeless for the Holidays: How to help the people who need it most
- 7 millennial-friendly volunteer opportunities in Atlanta
2. Forget the turkey and dine out
Tired of stressing yourself out cooking Thanksgiving dinner every year? This year, let someone else do the work for a change. Many metro Atlanta restaurants will be closed this Thanksgiving, but there are some that will be open. Note that some restaurants require a reservation, so be sure to call ahead.
3. Show your out-of-town friends the best of Atlanta
Hosting out-of-towners over the holiday weekend? Show them that there’s more to Atlanta than meets the eye. Take them on a tour of Ponce City Market, the Atlanta BeltLine, the Georgia Aquarium or under-the-radar Atlanta hotspots.
- How to get free admission to Atlanta’s top attractions
- Gotta Get Away: 21 things to see in Georgia in 2021
- Escape to Margaritaville’s Snow Island this holiday season
- 5 hip hotels for a staycation in ATL
Our picks this week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is your No. 1 source for things to do, see, make, buy and eat through the holidays. Here are our recommendations:
LISTEN: What’s on Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ holiday playlist?
DRINK: Here’s the holiday spirit Atlanta’s sipping this Christmas
DO: Seven places to show off your ice skating moves in and around Atlanta
VISIT: Full AJC holiday guide for things to do, buy and enjoy
For our full coverage of holiday events around metro Atlanta, check out the AJC’s Things to Do page.
4. Go Black Friday shopping
If you’ve had your fill of Thanksgiving dinner and want to get moving, you can count shopping as a type of cardio. Black Friday seems to start earlier and earlier every year.
Holiday hours for Thanksgiving, Black Friday at metro Atlanta malls:
- Phipps Plaza
- Lenox Square
- Town Center at Cobb
- Mall of Georgia
- Cumberland Mall
- Perimeter Mall
- North Point Mall
5. Take a hike
If you're looking to burn a few calories after Thanksgiving dinner, nothing is better than taking a hike up one of Georgia's outdoor trails. And the weather is more than agreeable for a brisk holiday hike. Read more of the Atlanta weather forecast for Thanksgiving Day here.
- 5 easy hikes to Atlanta's hidden waterfalls
- Five of the best mountain views in Georgia
- 5 must-hike mountain trails in Georgia
- Georgia state park lands on list of best fall foliage spots
