Thanksgiving is the traditional holiday where the family gathers at home to enjoy a big feast and give thanks. While the day usually centers around a bountiful dinner, there are a surprising number of things to do with kids, starting from the days leading up to Thanksgiving Day, when you can explore the most popular seasonal events and activities in Los Angeles. Plan the ideal family outing during the Thanksgiving holiday and create a new tradition this year!
November is full of holiday events that kick off during Thanksgiving week in Los Angeles. Apart from the traditional feast on Turkey Day, the City of Angels offers numerous options for kids and the whole family to enjoy celebrating this cherished holiday. Start your day early by participating in a Turkey Trot or be amazed by a flurry of holiday light displays at night. There are plenty of things to do with kids to look forward to in Los Angeles beyond a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner with your family.
If you’re looking for the best ways to shake up your Thanksgiving celebration this year, you’ve come to the right place. Discover all the Thanksgiving festivities and events happening in and around Los Angeles for a fun day of things to do with kids celebrating gratitude, countless blessings, and togetherness. The list below offers a variety of kid-friendly options, daytime and night, where everyone is guaranteed to have a remarkable Thanksgiving experience!
South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Phone Number: (424) 452-0920
November 8 – December 15, 2024
Thursday – Sunday | 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Astra Lumina returns to Los Angeles for an enchanted night walk at the South Coast Botanic Garden, inviting the audience to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Set across mysterious grounds to find a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Created by the visionary minds at Moment Factory, Astra Lumina LA is the 17th experience in the Lumina Night Walk series.
Come nightfall, mysterious observatory grounds set the stage for a phenomenal event: a visit from the stars. While here, the fallen stars release an astral energy that transforms the forest into a celestial pathway for humans to discover. As the night unfolds, the stars regenerate, rise, and reunite in the night sky to shine brighter. Get tickets for Astra Lumina: An Enchanted Night Walk Amongst The Stars in Los Angeles!
Pershing Square Park
532 S Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone Number: (424) 228-7844
November 21, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Daily | 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
L.A. doesn’t typically seem like much of a winter wonderland until, you create an ice skating rink right amid Downtown skyscrapers. Here’s the hottest place to chill during the Thanksgiving season: The Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square is back for a season of outdoor ice skating in the heart of downtown Los Angeles with lots of fun things to do with kids and other special events throughout the season.
Glide around and pretend there’s snow on the ground at Pershing Square’s outdoor holiday skating rink. Skate rentals are included in admission, though lockers and skating aids cost a few dollars extra. Ice skating sessions are 60 minutes long, and hours and times vary daily. Get ready for a new spin on skating with music, lights, and an experience you won’t want to miss!
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone Number: (310) 444-1850
November 22 – December 1, 2024
Daily | 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
This Thanksgiving season, drift into the Convention Center for the 10-day L.A. Auto Show with cars that would even make Bond drool. If you’re a car nerd, get behind the wheel to test drive one of the cherry rides (including an outdoor EV track) while celebrities meet and greet at the manufacturer exhibits. With world and North American debuts from a slate of manufacturers, rev up for the machines of the future.
Explore over 1 million square feet and discover hundreds of the latest gas, hybrid and EV models from Acura, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Ineos, Jeep, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, Porsche Downtown LA, RAM, Rivian, Subaru, Toyota, VinFast, Volkswagen and Volvo!
Waverly Cooking School
1010 1/2 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone Number: (626) 773-1832
November 25 – 27, 2024
Monday – Wednesday | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Join other kids for a fun-filled day of activities, games, and crafts at Waverly Cooking School. Their camp is the perfect place for kids to make new friends, learn new skills, and have a lot of fun things to do in Los Angeles during the Thanksgiving break. Their experienced staff will ensure your child has a safe and enjoyable time while you take a break and relax.
The camp will run from morning until afternoon, giving parents much-needed free time. Take advantage of this exciting opportunity for your kids to have a memorable Thanksgiving experience. Sign up now to secure your child’s spot at Thanksgiving Kids Camp!
Los Angeles City Hall
200 N Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone Number: (310) 821-7898
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 6:30 am – 11:00 am
Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with this catchall, family-friendly event along Downtown’s Spring Street, a morning chock-full of things to do with kids, races, games, and activities centered around Los Angeles City Hall. This event offers a 5k, 10k, Widdle Wobble, and One Mile Dog Jog on Thanksgiving morning, with a post-event festival in Grand Park.
Each year, the race benefits the Midnight Mission, an organization that offers a path to self-sufficiency to those experiencing homelessness. Together with UAE|USA United, participants and additional sponsors have raised over $400,000 for The Midnight Mission. Instead of running off a meal, run to provide a meal to the thousands who are hungry. This is the day to run for a cause.
Crenshaw District at Consolidated Board of Realtist
3725 Don Felipe Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90008
Phone Number: (424) 452-0920
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
Gobble Gobble Give delivers food, clothing, and toiletries to people experiencing homelessness in eighteen cities nationwide on Thanksgiving morning. They’ve been doing it for 25+ years, feeding more people in more cities yearly. What started with one person handing out 28 meals in 1998 grew to over 33,000 meals served in 2019.
Gobble Gobble Give has become an incredible example of what a community can do to create change. If you’re interested in participating, volunteers are encouraged to prepare or pick up food or supplies (socks, supplies for hygiene kits) and drop things off at one of the sites. Please join everyone at the best potluck party you’ve ever attended – they’d love to have you!
Olberz Park
One Civic Center Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Phone Number: (818) 790-4353
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 8:00 am – 10:00 am
The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge’s Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ Mile Run has been a local tradition and a community favorite for over three decades. It is also the biggest fundraiser of the year, and they are thrilled to see everyone at the starting line at La Cañada’s Albert Park.
Drop-bins from NASA Services will be located at CCLCF, local schools, and select businesses throughout the area starting in November. Please bring your non-perishable canned or boxed goods throughout the month or to Olberz Park on the race day. Food donations will be given to Sue’s Garden.
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone Number: (562) 590-3100
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Come gobble gobble with the Aquarium’s sea otters, puffins, and other animals for the annual Thanksgiving Feast in Los Angeles, plus more fun things to do with kids. You can meet over 12,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean, then savor a traditional spread to be served buffet style on the Rooftop Veranda overlooking Rainbow Harbor. A full cash bar and seasonal cocktails will be available for purchase.
Whether you’re a seasoned marine enthusiast or a curious explorer, the Aquarium of the Pacific promises an unforgettable journey into the ocean’s depths. Prepare to be amazed, educated, and inspired as you embark on a marine adventure in one of the best aquariums in Los Angeles.
Bourbon Steak Los Angeles
237 South Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91210
Phone Number: (818) 839-4130
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join everyone for an unforgettable Thanksgiving experience at Bourbon Steak, curated by Executive Chef Gabriel Pulido. Indulge in a decadent three-course prix fixe menu featuring holiday classics with a modern twist, such as Roasted Heritage Turkey, Truffle Prime Rib Roast, and a decadent Maine Lobster Pot Pie.
Enhance your meal with optional holiday wine pairings, or treat yourself to a luxurious mid-course addition of White Truffle Gnocchi. To complete your holiday feast, don’t miss the delightful desserts like the Pumpkin Spice Candy Bar or Crème Brûlée Cheesecake. Reservations are limited, so book your table today and make your Thanksgiving one to remember.
71Above
633 W 5th St., Fl 71st, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone Number: (213) 712-2683
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a view almost 1,000 feet above DTLA. Private dining spaces and new lunch private events are available — perfect for your holiday celebrations. Featuring elevated modern American cuisine by Executive Chef Javier Lopez, 71Above is the highest restaurant west of the Mississippi. It boasts spectacular ocean views from Malibu to Laguna Hills, along with the Los Angeles basin and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Lopez is serving a three-course Thanksgiving Dinner that starts with a Farm Salad, Japanese Sea bread crudo, Chilled Asparagus, Grilled Octopus, or Spinach Bigoli Pasta. The entree is Mary’s Turkey Breast with Mushroom Stuffing – sides for the table include Black Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese, Grilled Broccolini, and Pomme Purée. For dessert, choose from Milk Tea Granita, Kabocha Squash Pie, Gianduja Fig Mousse, or Cheese Plate (add $8). Book now and make it a night to remember!
Los Angeles is filled with good vibes and the best entertainment all year round. But when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving, there are many ways to add new experiences and traditions for the family. Start planning your Thanksgiving season family getaway with our list of things to do with kids in Los Angeles. Whatever way you choose to enjoy this long holiday weekend, everyone is guaranteed to gobble their way toward Turkey Day!
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in Los Angeles? 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 San Diego with Kids
15 Things to Do on Thanksgiving Day in San Francisco with Kids
12 Things to Do on Thanksgiving in San Jose with Kids
Things to do on Thanksgiving in Sacramento with Kids
Categories :
Tags :
