San Francisco undoubtedly has a limitless array of options and events to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with your kids. It has many attractions and is also a top gastronomic destination, so there is no need to prepare for your own Thanksgiving dinner. So, why not skip the long grocery store lines and take a break from those topsy-turvy piles of dishes?
Celebrate Thanksgiving Day meaningfully as you tour your kids around the beautiful city of San Francisco with so many events and fun things to do, then bring them to a kid-friendly restaurant for dinner time! There are a whole bunch of amazing events happening around the Bay Area. Make use of the holiday to a few of San Francisco’s top attractions before heading out to any feasting options, where you can find a traditional meal with turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and all of the fixings.
So, if you are thinking of fun ideas to spice up your kid’s usual holiday routine, check out our top 15 things to do on Thanksgiving Day in San Francisco with kids!
Virginia-McGee Totland
1644 Virginia St., Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone Number: (510) 982-6801
November 17, 2024
Sunday | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Join Jen Altman from JBN and Rabbi Steph from Jewish Gateways, for a Thanksgiving-themed morning of singing dancing and making art event in San Francisco Bay Area. The suggested donation for this event is $18 to help cover costs. No one is turned away, so please give what you can. We know babies can be unpredictable, so please show up when you can. You do not need to be a member of any organization to attend this event.
They will be taking photos at the events for future publicity and images will be used without names. If you prefer not to participate, please tell a Jewish Baby Network staff person at the event. Their programs are designed for families with children aged 0-36 months but bring the whole family. Grandparents and extended family are welcome, too.
The Cow Palace
2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City, CA 94014
E-mail: office@dickensfair.com
November 23 – December 22, 2024
Saturday – Sunday | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Note: Open on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair is a one-of-a-kind immersive adventure into Victorian London ~ an elaborate holiday party with hundreds of costumed players performing and interacting with patrons in over 140,000 square feet of theatrically-lit music halls, pubs, dance floors, and festive shops. It is perpetually Christmas Eve at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair!
The Fair transports you to the London of Charles Dickens – a city of winding lanes filled with colorful characters from both literature and history – all in a festive mood. The Dickens Christmas Fair is a treasured Bay Area tradition since 1970 and a splendid way to celebrate the holidays. Enjoy new immersive experiences, and a live steam train as you arrive in the Victoria Station lobby.
Coyote Point Park
1701 Coyote Point Dr., San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone Number: (650) 437-2217
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 6:30 am – 10:00 am
A Runner’s Mind, the Bay Area’s local run specialty store, is proud to present the 10th annual Gobble Wobble. Join everyone at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo on Thanksgiving morning for a 5K and 10K celebrating friends, family, and community as we ARM up and give thanks!
Awards will be presented to the Top 3 finishers in each Division (Non-Binary, Woman, and Man). First Place for each age group (ten year age categories) will also be awarded a prize. Sign the little ones up for the Kids’ Dash. Money raised from the $5 registration fee will support the Lakas Shimizu Foundation.
City Team San Francisco
164 6th St., San Francisco, CA 94103
E-mail: info@thecityeats.org
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
The annual Thanksgiving Giveback is a POTLUCK-style meal Prep. All individual volunteers must bring a warm or cooked store-bought dish. Requested items are cooked protein (rotisserie chicken or ham), green beans/veggie casserole, sweet potato casserole, pasta salad, macaroni ‘n cheese, stuffing, and pumpkin or apple pies. Each dish must feed at least 10 people.
They covered the turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, and mashed potato. If food needs to be warmed up, please have your dish onsite no later than 8 a.m. so that their team can put your food in the oven. Please bring a wagon, boxes, and/or duffle bags to pack and transport ready-packed meals.
College of Marin Indian Valley Campus
1800 Ignacio Blvd., Novato, CA, 94949
Phone Number: (866) 626-6004
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 7:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join everyone for the Special 25th Anniversary Run which includes 1 Mile, 5K, and 10K run. Allow yourself some guilt-free indulgence this Thanksgiving Day by spending the morning burning off the calories you will replace later with pumpkin pie!
The Turkey Trot runs on the roads out and back through the beautiful IVC campus and along Ignacio Blvd and finishes on the IVC fields. So register early, this race really fills up and will sell out!
Polo Field, Golden Gate Park
1232 John F Kennedy Dr., San Francisco, CA, 94121
Phone Number: (415) 294-0860
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Come kick off a great Thanksgiving with an invigorating fun run or walk in the park at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco — before the parades, football games, feasting commence, and lots of fun things to do with kids. Embrace the tradition of burning a few calories before eating yourself silly.
The San Francisco Turkey Trot menu includes your choice of the following: Turkey Trail Trot (RUN) 5 Miles, Pilgrim Promenade (WALK) 3 Miles, and Kids Gobbler Chase 100 Meters. All kids and adults must be pre-registered for the event. This event is produced for registered runners only.
Exedra Arch
340 Highland Ave., Piedmont, CA 94611
Phone Number: (510) 333-4344
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Unleash a preemptive strike on those Thanksgiving Day calories and run/walk/stroll the 5K Piedmont Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It’s an event the whole family will enjoy. Over the past 19 years, the Piedmont Turkey Trot has grown to be a treasured event for many families, friends, and neighbors.
Run to win or walk to enjoy the brisk morning air and good cheer. And all those finishing the 5K course will have bragging rights at their Thanksgiving table that evening. The Piedmont Turkey Trot is a nonprofit organization supporting local charities and organizations.
Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly San Francisco
909 Hyde St., Ste. 628, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone Number: (415) 771-7957
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Get ready to spread some Thanksgiving cheer on Thanksgiving Day with LBFE! They’re excited to invite you to their upcoming Thanksgiving festivities, where you can make a real difference. Thanksgiving meals must be picked up in downtown San Francisco on Thursday, November 28th, between 10 am and 12 pm. You’ll receive the exact location in your confirmation email.
Bring your family and friends along — just make sure at least one person in your group has cleared a background check. They are attaching a flyer for this event and would be so grateful if you could help spread the word by sharing it with your network, and posting it in lobbies or break rooms.
Union Square Ice Rink
333 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone number: (415)-295-1588
November 6, 2024 – January 20, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Gather your family and friends for a beloved holiday tradition. Take your kids to the annual event at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square—one of the fun things to do with kids in San Francisco to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square, presented by Kaiser Permanente, is back for its 17th magical season of outdoor skating and holiday festivities in the heart of downtown San Francisco.
Skate through the holidays and enjoy the festivity at the most incredible place to be this fall. San Francisco’s favorite outdoor rink is back with daily ice skating for all ages. Ranging from the traditional to the eccentric, their entertaining holiday skating events reflect the true spirit of San Francisco and offer something for everyone. A holiday tradition, ice skating in Union Square promises to bring a smile to your face and delight to all who visit—big and small, young and old.
Aquarium of the Bay
Pier 39, Beach St., San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone number: (415) 623-5300
November 27, 2024
Wednesday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Join everyone for River Otter Snow Days and watch your favorite otters run around, play, and wrestle in the snow to celebrate the holiday season. Shasta, Ryer, Baxter, and Tahoe look forward to seeing you. No additional purchase required – general admission tickets for entry.
The Aquarium of the Bay is also open on Thanksgiving Day but with limited hours. You can find it at the entrance to Pier 39 on the eastern side of the district. All day long, you can watch their playful jellyfish swim around their tanks, walk through the tunnels within the aquarium, or touch a starfish. It’s one of the best things to do with kids to celebrate Thanksgiving in San Francisco.
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone number: (415) 379-8000
Nov. 28, 2024
Thursday | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Celebrate the season at the Academy on Thanksgiving Day. Explore your world from the heart of Golden Gate Park — an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum—all under one Living Roof. California Academy of Sciences is a perfect stop and a wonderful experience for the entire family on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate with many fun things to do in San Francisco.
Two new exhibits are ready for you to explore, and nearly 40,000 animals are eager to reunite with you. You can stop by and say hello to Claude, the rare white alligator, walk through the 4-story Osher Rainforest, or visit the Steinhart Aquarium. You are required to have a ticket before you arrive.
Golden Gate Park
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone number: (415) 661-1316
Nov. 28, 2024
Thursday | 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
Visit one of the oldest Japanese Tea Garden in the country this Thanksgiving Day in San Francisco along with your kids. It is definitely a beautiful and relaxing setting on the eastern side of Golden Gate Park. You will find beautiful blooming flowers, a gorgeous drum bridge, a historic pagoda, a Zen garden, and so much more.
You can also spend extra time enjoying tea or a meal in the on-site teahouse. Once you enter the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, you’ll see trails that lead in several directions. All the trails weave through and circle the park – so each one will take you by its many attractions.
Golden Gate Park
1199 9th Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94122
Phone number: (415) 661-1316
Nov. 28, 2024
Thursday | 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Did you know that the San Francisco Botanical Garden offers free admission to everyone on Thanksgiving Day? Make sure to visit and look out for some fall foliage throughout the landscape, especially in the Moon Viewing Garden. The weather is usually lovely in San Francisco on Thanksgiving, and it’s a fun thing to do with kids walking around the colorful Botanical Gardens. This 55-acre gem houses over 8,000 kinds of plants from around the world.
Another great thing about the Botanical Garden in San Francisco is that the walking trails are large and mostly flat. The gardens are also well laid out with plenty of signs, so it’s easy to get around. San Francisco’s unique botanical garden inspires visitors with its extraordinary diversity of rare and unusual plants that can be grown in coastal California.
301 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone number: (415) 660-2656
Nov. 28, 2024
Thursday | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Bring your kids and the whole family for some things to do to celebrate Thanksgiving with International Smoke’s Thanksgiving Dinner in San Francisco. Enjoy signature starters like Ayesha’s Jalapeno Cornbread and Thai Coconut Curry-Lobster Bisque. For the main course, savor Roasted Turkey with truffle gravy, Slow Cooked Salmon with maple-mustard glaze, Herb Crusted Beef Roast, and St. Louis Style Pork Ribs with smokey mama barbecue sauce.
Indulge in classic sides like Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, San Francisco Sourdough Stuffing, and more. Finish the meal with festive desserts including Pumpkin Pie with five spice whipped cream and Dark Chocolate Parfait. To elevate your experience, enjoy holiday cocktails and celebratory bottles from our curated selection. Limited seating available, so reserve your table now for a memorable Thanksgiving at International Smoke.
Pier 3
Hornblower Landing, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone number: (888) 467-6256
Nov. 28, 20234
Thursday | 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Make this holiday truly special with a Thanksgiving dinner cruise in San Francisco. The package includes a 2.5-hour cruise on the San Francisco Bay, a delicious holiday buffet dinner with freshly prepared entrees, salads, and desserts, and spectacular views of the city skyline and local landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge!
Come together with your friends and family, and enjoy all the festive trimmings with San Francisco’s incredible views from the water. Meet up place is at Pier 3, on the Embarcadero at Washington Street. Your cruise will board at the South Gate (on the right side of the pier when facing the water), near the white overhang. This activity is truly one of the best things to do on Thanksgiving in San Francisco with your kids and the whole family.
Thanksgiving is a beautiful time to bond with your kids and the whole family, share a sumptuous meal, and be thankful. After a family day out, you can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner without having to do all the work in the kitchen. The past year has been a lot, so why not take advantage of the fact that all these attractions and restaurants are back?
There are just so many things to do on Thanksgiving in San Francisco with kids to celebrate and enjoy the holiday together!
San Francisco offers so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of resources, or browse through our things to do in San Francisco with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in San Francisco? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended seasonal blog posts.
Things to do on Thanksgiving in Fresno with Kids
Things to do on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles with Kids
Things to do on Thanksgiving in Sacramento with Kids
12 Things to do on Thanksgiving in San Jose with Kids
Just enter your email address below and you’ll get an email every time we publish a new post!
Categories :
Tags :
