Thanksgiving Day events in San Diego

Turkey Day is near! (Photo by stevevoght via Flickr)

I’m sure many of you are just as eager as I am for Thanksgiving to arrive. The lingering scent of turkey filling the home while pies are prepared and families coming together around a heart-warming meal creates the perfect Thanksgiving Day.

Even though Thanksgiving is usually associated with tossing a football around, sneaking pieces of pumpkin pie and taking the belt buckle down a notch, San Diego offers a variety of family events on this thankful day. For many families, Turkey Day is an all day event, but if the mood strikes or there’s time before the meal, check out some of these events being hosted around San Diego:

Catch the light show (Photo by ronnie44052 via Flickr)

Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds

Thanksgiving Day is the official opening of the Holiday of lights.  What better way to end a great once-a-year meal than to jump right into the holiday spirit with this amazing light display. This unprecedented display is the largest animated light show on the west coast that visitors can drive through.

The Holiday of Lights offers over 400 twinkle lit displays including Candy Cane Lane, Toyland, San Diego County Fair, Treasures by the Lake, Del Mar Racetrack, the Twelve Days of Christmas and Elves at Play. Admission prices are set per car starting at $14 per vehicle with five or less people.

Doors open at midnight for Black Friday Sales

Get started early on Black Friday savings. The premium outlets in Carlsbad and Las Americas in San Ysidro are opening their doors at midnight beginning Friday November 27.  After a good hearty meal, what’s a better excuse than to work off the calories while snagging awesome deals?

There is bound to be a gift available for even the pickiest relative or friend with the Carlsbad outlet offering 90 different stores and Las Americas bundling up an astonishing 125 stores. After the leftovers are stored away and one more piece of pie could make your stomach explode, put on some running shoes, a light jacket, and prepare to throw in some elbow moves; there are deals to jump on starting at midnight.

Leave the cooking to someone else (Photo by Tracy Hunter via Flickr)

Thanksgiving Day buffet cruise

Preparing a large and grand Thanksgiving meal is not for all of us. I refuse to touch a cold, wet, uncooked turkey.  For those who might not be into a whole day of slaving over a hot stove, Horn Blower Cruises offer an alternative. This Thanksgiving buffet style meal includes being greeted with a boarding glass of champagne and escorted to a table. The traditional Thanksgiving buffet display will be decorated in the holiday spirit and tasty dishes such as traditional herb stuffing, creamy whipped mashed potatoes with pan gravy, and green beans with toasted almonds along with complimentary coffee, tea, soda and juice.

This meal is fit for a king or queen and the price tag matches.  For letting Horn Blower cruises take over the hassles of the kitchen and clean-up, ticket prices range from $49.20 to $82.00. The hefty price could be worth it considering there is no clean up and you can spend the entire day enjoying the company of others rather than getting gizzards stuck under your fingernails. Boarding begins at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and the ship sets sail from 3:30 until 6 p.m.

Work up an appetite with a 5K run/walk

Nothing can make a meal more satisfying than a nice light workout to start the day. Let’s be honest; that turkey isn’t going to eat itself and all the hard work someone put into cooking it should be appreciated. Three or four servings later and the first thought that pops into many minds: Man, I got to go to the gym.

Get the workout done first and help out great programs in San Diego.  There are plenty of 5k runs to pick from in San Diego on Thanksgiving Day. The Turkey Trot in Oceanside will be benefiting the Oceanside School District and giving away medals for winners in each age division. They even have a running division dedicated to local Oceanside Residents. Father Joe’s Thanksgiving day 5k will take place in Balboa Park and includes a free continental breakfast.

However you spend Thanksgiving Day, make sure to have fun, enjoy any time off, join in on local events and be thankful for what you have.