What To Do on Thanksgiving in Atlanta: 13 Fun Things Beyond Shopping (2024)

When the Thanksgiving turkey has been carved, the last piece of pumpkin pie has been eaten, and the adults wake up from a nap, you may start to look for what to do on Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta.

So if you’re going a little stir crazy, or you just want to work off some of that Thanksgiving menu, here are our favorite things to do on Thanksgiving Day in Atlanta, Georgia. (Plus, you can continue to enjoy this list the entire holiday season!)

What To Do on Thanksgiving in Atlanta: 13 Fun Things Beyond Shopping

RUN A HALF MARATHON, 5K, OR MILE AND DASH

Let’s take the annual backyard touch football game a step further. Is a marathon on your bucket list? Why not do it with your family?

Kick off your Thanksgiving with the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash. It’s an Atlanta tradition!

Runners and walkers will earn their turkey as they start their race under Atlanta’s iconic Olympic rings. Stick around for a post-race celebration inside Georgia State Stadium. You’ll want to bring your medal and your bragging rights to Thanksgiving dinner.

A note here to our runner friends that Savannah’s Turkey Trot is back again this year!

GO FOR A HIKE

Fall is here, bringing with it cooler temps and falling leaves! There are lots of great places in and around Atlanta for hiking, plus we’ve got a post on 125+ Best Places for Hiking in Georgia (Kids & Beginners) if you need more ideas! Here are three of our favorites:

  • Sope Creek Trail in Marietta takes you to a babbling creek and historic mill ruins.
  • In addition to hiking at Amicalola Falls State Park, you can enjoy the amazing waterfall. All the Georgia State Parks are open on Thanksgiving Day for hiking. (They’re also open on Christmas and New Year’s Day.)

Read More: Georgia Leaf Watch: 13 Best Georgia State Parks for Fall Leaf Color

BRING OUT THE BOARD GAMES

While Thanksgiving dinner is cooking, bring out your favorite board games! Maybe you could even start a tradition and buy a new one each year for the occasion.

Our family favorites include Catan, Exploding Kittens, and some good, old-fashioned Gin Rummy.

And although it’s not a board game, never underestimate the fun of charades! This game always ends in laughter. You can even make it Thanksgiving-themed! (Turkey, eating dinner, gobbling, setting the table, baking pies, etc.)

WHAT TO DO ON THANKSGIVING? GO BIKING

Whether you just want to ride along a paved path or hit the mountain bike trails, you’ll find many places around metro Atlanta to enjoy a bike ride. Here is a list of our favorite bike trails, and we’ve shared a few other examples below.

  • The Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna is a paved trail that goes all the way to Alabama. This popular trail has lots of great stops along the way.
  • There are several different sections of the Atlanta BeltLine to explore. Along each route, you’ll find local art as part of the Art on the Beltline Project.

HANG AROUND THE HOUSE WITH THE FAMILY

If Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving isn’t on TV, does this day of the year even exist? It’s the best Thanksgiving movie. Or maybe you have another favorite? Why not have a movie marathon?

You can also make a Thanksgiving craft with the little ones. Craft a family photo album to hold those family thanksgiving day photos!

VOLUNTEER AS A FAMILY

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, and what better way to do that than to spread the love and give back?

Volunteering is a great way to spend this special holiday. We’ve gathered 13+ Great Atlanta Volunteer Opportunities for Kids and Their Families to help you choose the right one for your crew. Hands on Atlanta also offers volunteer matching if you need extra help finding the right one.

GO ICE SKATING

Atlanta has several different ice rinks, so you can choose the right one for you and your crew! Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly adventure, or a quiet date night, there are plenty of great rinks to choose from in and around our great city.  

Get in the holiday spirit with a day on the ice on Thanksgiving Day — most are open on Thanksgiving. Here’s our post on Ice Rinks in Atlanta, so you can find the right one for you.

VISIT GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Did you know the Georgia Aquarium is open on Thanksgiving Day? It is!

The Georgia Aquarium houses 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water and more than 100,000 animals including four whale sharks — the largest fish on the planet. This attraction is popular for a reason — there is so much to see and do here.

Fun for the kids, but also a lot of fun for the adults — this is a perfect family-friendly outing on Turkey Day.

Get Your Guide offers Georgia Aquarium tickets in advance so you can skip the line upon arrival!

Read More: Georgia Aquarium: Atlanta’s Beloved Attraction Lives Up to the Hype

SEE A MOVIE

After a day of turkey, it’s time for a night of popcorn!

Thanksgiving is a great day to catch a new film at the theater. Phipps Plaza and Atlantic Station are just a couple of the theaters that are open on Thanksgiving Day. (But there are plenty more!)

PLAY A LITTLE FOOTBALL

Grab a few of your family members and start a football game in the backyard!

Hey, we know most pigskin lovers prefer watching football over playing it…but start a half-time Thanksgiving tradition that gets your family and friends outside soaking up some fresh air and Vitamin D.

SEE HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Thanksgiving night is a perfect time to see Holiday Lights in Atlanta! Get the holiday season started right with a trip to see holiday lights in and around our city.

This is one of the most popular evenings for holiday lights, so if you plan to go to a paid light attraction — make sure you have advanced reservations.

Some of our favorite big lights displays include Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens, the Lakeside Lights at Lake Lanier, and Rock City Christmas.

GO ON A SCAVENGER HUNT

Purchase a ClueTown Book before the holiday and explore the city with a scavenger hunt!

Solve puzzles to move on to the next stop. There are different ClueTown books for different areas of the city – so you can pick the one that suits you best. Piedmont Park, Decatur, Georgia Tech, Suwanee, and Emory University are just some of the options you’ll have to choose from.

TAKE A PIC WITH SANTA

Ok, so this IS a retail store, but they have lots of fun kids’ activities that will get them out of the house and doing something.

While the information for 2024 has not been published yet (their site says info coming soon), in the past, kids have been able to play with RC trucks, play at a laser arcade, and do a craft at Bass Pro Shops Santa’s Wonderland on Thanksgiving Day.

And – of course – you can get your picture taken with Santa! The best part? It’s all free.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR GEORGIA HOLIDAY

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What To Do on Thanksgiving in Atlanta: 13 Fun Things Beyond Shopping (2024)