9 Things To Do in Boston During Thanksgiving Week 2022 [11/20/22]

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude and show people that you care. Whether your family is traveling miles to visit or you’re heading next door for a chill friendsgiving, there are so many opportunities to celebrate your loved ones. As you gear up for Turkey Day, check out our picks for the nine best experiences around the city.

1) Take a cooking class

Thanksgiving is all about thanking your loved ones, and what better way than learning to cook? On Tuesday, learn to cook some delicious Italian food (Tue, 11/22), experiment with phyllo (Tue, 11/22), or devour your own dumplings (Tue, 11/22); on Wednesday, try your hand at making artisan breads (Wed, 11/23), or prepare for the next day with an Easy as Pie Cooking Class (Wed, 11/23); and on Saturday, say goodbye to the fam with a delicious tiramisu (Sat, 11/26).

2) Partake in a fun fitness challenge

As winter approaches, we often feel inclined to curl up in bed and never leave. Now’s the time to get your body moving and your blood pumping! You and your loved ones can hold each other accountable and spend the day working out together. Run with the whole family this week at Franklin Park’s Turkey Trot (Thu, 11/24), take a post-Thanksgiving hike on the beautiful Chestnut Hill Farm (Fri, 11/25), stretch your legs at Rocky Woods (Fri, 11/25), explore the forests of the Fells (Sat, 11/26), try out some fall yoga (Tue, 11/22), and get pumped during a stair workout (Wed, 11/23).

3) Toast to the beginning of the holiday season

Sometimes when you’re spending a bit too much time with family, you’re in need of a drink. We don’t blame you. Grab whoever you’re closest with and embark on a guided wine tour (with a sommelier!) (Fri, 11/25), or, if you’re a beer lover, lighten the mood with a comedy show and a Night Shift brew (Wed, 11/23). Wine down on Wednesday with vomFASS (Wed, 11/23), grab a bottle before the big feast at Bone Up Brewing (Wed, 11/23), party it up during the Drinksgiving Bar Crawl (Wed, 11/23), and ditch your fam for some new friends at a Thanksgiving Social (Wed, 11/23). If you’re looking for something fancy, sip tea at the Boston Public Library (Wed-Sat, 11/23-11/26) or Trifecta (Fri, 11/25).

4) Feast without having to cook yourself

Better roll up your sleeves and unbutton your pants. Boston’s a haven for foodies, and we’ve got so many delicious options. Make your reservation at Deuxave (Thu, 11/24), the Boston Harbor Hotel (Thu, 11/24), Miel Brasserie (Thu, 11/24), Peregrine (Thu, 11/24), or Oak Long Bar + Kitchen (Thu, 11/24) for some of the city’s most delicious dishes. The only thing better than enjoying a scrumptious meal is enjoying a scrumptious meal with your loved ones.

5) Discover Boston’s history

Calling all history buffs. Whether you’re interested in the groovy 60s or the 1860s, you’ve come to the right place. Boston is overflowing with fascinating old stories, and this week, you can learn all about them. Tour some historic sites (Fri-Sat, 11/25-11/26); check out Central Square with a Food and Mural Arts Tour (Sun, 11/27), learn about how “beer makes history even better” at a downtown tour (Sat, 11/26), and browse a fascinating exhibit (Sat-Sun, 11/26-11/27) on belonging in America. Finally, learn something new on Thanksgiving weekend when you bring the kiddos to the Museum of Science (open every day except Thanksgiving) for family-friendly interactive activities, the New England Aquarium (open every day except Thanksgiving) to see some incredible sea life, and the Harvard Art Museums (Sun, 11/27) on Sunday for free admission.

6) Visit a holiday market

Shop ‘til you drop. Take advantage of Black Friday by hitting up Boston’s best local spots, and stick around for the weekend after to start picking out holiday gifts for the fam. Start with Snowport Holiday Market (Mon-Sun, 11/21-11/27), which includes 19 food and drink vendors and over 120 small businesses. At SoWa Winter Festival (Fri-Sun, 11/25-11/27), you can browse one-of-a-kind vendors, sip on holiday cocktails, and enjoy Boston’s best food trucks. If you still haven’t gotten the shopping bug out of your system, check out the Small Biz Market (Sat, 11/26) on Saturday and jam out to live music. The whole family is welcome– even your pooch!

7) Make homemade presents for your loved ones

Tell your family you love them by making your own gifts. It’s the thought that counts, right? Check out candle making (Sat, 11/26) (with wine, ofc), enjoy a paint and sip party (Wed, 11/23), make your very own ring (Sat, 11/26), learn embroidery (Sat, 11/26), cultivate a beautiful bonsai tree (Tue, 11/22), and create enough mugs for the whole family with a pottery class (Sun, 11/27).

8) See a sports game together

What better way to bond than over a mutual love for your favorite team? Head to a few of Boston’s sports games and cheer on the best players. See the BU hockey game (Wed, 11/23) against Notre Dame, the Celtics game (Wed, 11/23) against the Dallas Mavericks, or the New England Patriots (Sun, 11/20) against the New York Jets.

9) Celebrate holiday cheer

Once Thanksgiving is over, it means the holiday season is right around the corner. Celebrate the best time of the year with a Trellis Lighting in the North End (Mon, 11/21), the annual Festival of Trees (Fri-Sun, 11/25-11/27), the stunning Nutcracker Ballet (Fri-Sun, 11/25-11/27), and see incredible acrobatics during an enchanting showcase of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas' (Fri-Sun, 11/25-11/27).

Even though the holidays can be a stressful time, it’s important to remember what Thanksgiving is all about. Plan some quality time with your friends and family and check out some of the coolest experiences around the city. Cheers to the new season!

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Photo by @derrickphotos_

9 Things To Do in Boston During Thanksgiving Week 2022

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9 Things To Do in Boston During Thanksgiving Week 2022

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