Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and is the best time for family gatherings. While a family dinner at home is the most traditional way to celebrate, taking the whole family out is also a unique way to spend the festivities. Celebrate Thanksgiving Day in San Diego by spending time with your loved ones watching festive parades, participating in charitable runs, indulge in sumptuous dinner buffets, attending holiday events, or looking for other activities and fun things to do with kids!
Thanksgiving Day in San Diego isn’t just about turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pies — it’s all about catching up with families and, having fun things to do with kids to celebrate the festivities. As the city gears up for the holiday season, plenty of fun happenings are waiting for you. From festive parades, turkey trots, football games, mesmerizing concerts, enchanting light displays, or anything in between, San Diego has plenty of Thanksgiving events for everyone.
If you’re looking for events and fun things to do with kids to celebrate Thanksgiving in San Diego, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re craving a traditional turkey dinner with all the sumptuous spread on the table in classic restaurants or exploring the outdoor lifestyle from the sparkling beaches to entertaining theme parks and family-friendly activities is perfect for everyone this Thanksgiving. So, get ready to gobble up and shake a tail feather on Turkey Day!
San Diego Botanic Garden
300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone Number: (760) 436-3036
November 15, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Wednesday – Sunday | 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
(Closed on November 28, December 24 and 25, 2024)
Get ready for another dazzling display of Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving Day to add to your things to do with the kids list. Spanning one mile, the enchanting illuminated trail has been reinvigorated to feature spectacular sights with brand-new eye-catching artistic installations from international artists and some returning favorites from previous years that come alive at night with color, imagination, and sound.
Making its anticipated return for the 2024 holiday season, this one-of-a-kind, immersive experience will guide visitors through a festive world of colorful wonder, allowing them to see the Garden in a whole new light. Merging nature and art, the Garden will come to life at night with festive sights and sounds for all to enjoy. Tickets are required for admittance, with entry times available every 15 minutes. Value, Off-Peak, and Peak categorize ticket types.
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
Phone Number: (619) 435-6611
November 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Monday – Sunday | 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The grove of towering Norfolk Island Pines on the Founders Lawn is the scene of a dynamic light show orchestrated to lively holiday jazz music. This brilliant, ethereal experience captivates guests with a finale of snow flurries. Showcased is the Norfolk Pine, originally made famous in 1904 as the world’s first electrically lit outdoor Christmas tree.
A 12-foot-tall replica of the hotel’s signature red turret, complete with holiday lights, serves as the focal point of the adjacent bar. It is the perfect spot to watch the show, surrounded by Victorian-inspired lounge seating. The complimentary 10-minute show takes place every 30 minutes and is open to the public (no reservations needed).
San Diego Running Co.
330 N Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA 92054
E-mail: info@sandiegorunningco.com
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 6:45 am – 10:00 am
What better way to kick off Thanksgiving day than with a 5K Run/Walk & Kids Run? A favorite annual tradition in O’side, the Turkey Trot welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Take your pick of races. Head to Oceanside and take part in their Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Options include a 5-mile run, 5K run/walk, or 1-mile “fun run” for the kids.
Pass landmarks like the Oceanside Civic Center, Oceanside Harbor, and Oceanside Pier. Race times vary based on the race entered, but all races finish at The Strand near Oceanside Pier. The event offers a costume contest, the largest teams competition, fabulous live entertainment on the course, and finisher medals for all participants.
Balboa Park
1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone Number: (619) 466-3537
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 7:15 am – 10:00 am
Get ready for the meal ahead of time with some exercise. Run for Hope on Thanksgiving Day in Balboa Park. The annual Thanksgiving event that can be a fun thing to do with kids benefits St. Vincent de Paul Village – the largest homeless charity in San Diego. The 5K race begins and ends in the park, and all are welcome.
San Diego’s original and longest-standing Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot benefits Father Joe’s Villages Food Services Programs, which provide over 900,000 meals annually. During this season of giving, they invite you to give back to the community and make an impact on people experiencing homelessness.
Tidelands Park
2000 Mullinex Dr., Coronado, CA 92118
Phone Number: (858) 966-7878
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Join everyone for the 11th Annual Turkey Trot presented by the Coronado Unit of the Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary on Thanksgiving, November 28, 2024, at Tidelands Park. This family-friendly 5K welcomes runners and walkers of all ages. Enjoy a beautiful course along the San Diego Bay and celebrate the holiday with a fun, festive atmosphere.
For 15 and under runners, your age-based pricing discount is already built in as soon as you enter your birth date. All net proceeds benefit the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Register early, as this event sells out every year!
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
3999 Mission Blvd., San Diego, CA 92109
Phone Number: (858) 539-8635
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Give thanks this year with family and friends over a delicious Thanksgiving Day dining experience at the Catamaran Resort. Hosted in their upstairs ballrooms with views of Mission Bay, Chef Bryan Stuppy is curating an impressive Thanksgiving afternoon and evening feast with mouthwatering buffet selections, including a carving station, classic holiday dishes, and decadent desserts.
Oceana Coastal Kitchen offers an à la carte breakfast if you prefer to celebrate in the morning. Enjoy expertly prepared favorites the whole family will love alongside stunning Mission Bay views.
Kona Kai San Diego Resort
Shelter Island Dr., San Diego, CA 92106
Phone Number: (619) 452-3138
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Gather the whole family and take the kids for some fun things to do while enjoying serene waterfront views of the marina as you celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the Island Oasis in San Diego. Indulge in holiday classics, from juicy turkey and tender prime rib to sweet dessert favorites like pumpkin pie, cinnamon apple pie, and so much more.
With a variety of dishes to satisfy every palate, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Flagship Cruises & Events
990 N Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101
Phone Number: (619) 234-4111
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Flagship Cruises and Events invites you to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Flagship family and enjoy fun things to do with kids in San Diego. Join other families for a two-hour yacht cruise and a memorable holiday meal on San Diego Bay. Your experience includes a gourmet three-course menu, 25 miles of scenic waterfront views, a live soloist, complimentary boarding champagne, and free WiFi.
Savor the autumn-hued waterfront sights and a three-course traditional Thanksgiving feast, featuring Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast with all the trimmings or a savory Grilled Portobello Mushroom for vegetarian guests. Your holiday is in good hands with Flagship’s crew, as they celebrate our century-long legacy of comfort, value, and gratitude.
George’s at the Cove
1250 Prospect St., San Diego, CA 92037
Phone Number: (858) 454-4244
November 28, 2024
Thursday | 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm
They’re all about that oceanfront ambiance, and George’s at the Cove is serving up Thanksgiving with a side of breathtaking La Jolla coastline. Their Lower Level dining room dishes out an indulgent family-style prix fixe dinner. At $90 per adult and $45 for the kiddos (12 and under), it’s a splurge that screams “holiday indulgence.”
We’re talking about arugula salad with walnuts, pomegranates, and goat cheese, followed by a slow-roasted Diestel turkey breast and a sausage-stuffed leg roulade. The sides? Oh, just some truffle-laced smoked potato puree, roasted mushroom stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and maple-glazed butternut squash. Cap it off with a pumpkin Basque cheesecake that’ll make you forget all about traditional pumpkin pie.
LionTree Arena
9730 Hopkins Dr., San Diego, CA 92093
Phone Number: (760) 436-3036
November 28 – 29, 2024
Thursday – Friday | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The 2024 Rady Children’s Invitational features the NC State Wolfpack, Ole Miss Rebels, Purdue Boilermakers, and the BYU Cougars. The second annual tournament takes place November 28-29 inside LionTree Arena on the campus of UC San Diego.
The inaugural tournament took place November 23-24, 2023, at LionTree Arena on the UC San Diego Campus. It featured Iowa (Big Ten), Oklahoma (Big 12), USC (Pac-12), and Seton Hall (BIG EAST). Oklahoma secured a nail-biting, down-to-the-minute win over USC on day two in front of a sold-out crowd to become the first-ever Rady Children’s Invitational Champions.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and now is the best time to start planning and looking for festive events and things to do to celebrate Turkey Day. Everyone from grandma to the youngest kids in the family can enjoy it. But we’re not just talking about food — you must consider other ways to keep everyone entertained. Whatever way you choose to have fun, this list may find you creating new traditions with your family to look forward to every year and how much more you will have to be thankful for.
San Diego 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 Diego with kids. Still looking for more activities for kids in San Diego? No problem! Check out our comprehensive listing of places to go in the region and our highly recommended seasonal blog posts.
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