Maybe you really don’t like cranberry sauce. Perhaps you just moved to the Bay Area and still haven’t found your people yet, or “going home” — for whatever reason — is difficult this year.
Maybe you just didn’t really celebrate Thanksgiving growing up and still haven’t connected with it. (Or maybe you really, really don’t like cranberry sauce.)
Whatever your situation, if you aren’t “doing” Thanksgiving this year and want to escape the holiday on Thursday, the good news is: You have options.
While many businesses and public spaces close down for the week, some places in the Bay Area are still open and available to offer you distraction, solace or just a different experience from the more traditional Thanksgiving gatherings.
Every year, Indigenous families from across the country — and their allies — head to Alcatraz Island on Thursday before sunrise to commemorate the historic 1969 Occupation, sparked when a group of Native American students landed on the island, with the aim of returning this land to Indigenous ownership.
The event includes several ceremonies traditional to different Native American nations, live music and some remarks from speakers. The event is family-friendly and wheelchair accessible. Boats depart from Pier 33 in San Francisco starting at 4:15 a.m. until 6 a.m., and all boats return to the city by 9 a.m. While limited tickets are available on the day, you can also buy an advance ticket online.
Many museums, like the Oakland Museum of California or SFMOMA, are closed on Thursday. But not only does one of San Francisco’s most popular outdoor museums stay open on Thanksgiving Day, it’s also free that day.
The San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park confirmed that it’ll be offering free admission to everyone on Thursday, regardless of where you live (free admission is usually based on San Francisco residency). The garden opens from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
And if you want to make a day of it, the nearby Conservatory of Flowers and Japanese Tea Garden will also be open on Thanksgiving. Free admission here, however, will only be on offer to members, San Francisco residents, veterans and visitors with an EBT card as part of the Museums For All program.
Can’t attend in person? The event will also be streamed online via the International Indian Treaty Council’s Facebook page starting at 6 a.m.
The Bay Area is full of outdoor recreation opportunities, and the weather is forecast to be cool and mostly sunny on Thursday.
If you’re in need of inspiration, take a look at our recommendations for iconic Bay Area sightseeing spots, the best hikes in San Francisco’s Presidio and the trails where you’re most likely to catch a glimpse of wildlife here.
One idea for getting outdoors in the San José area:
Check out Communications Hill in the city’s southern half, and head over to Cassellino Drive, where you’ll find several easy street parking options nearby. From here, tackle the Grand Staircase, with 252 steps that lead up to one of the best views of San José.
If you’re looking for an East Bay adventure instead, head to South Fremont to climb Mission Peak.
On Thanksgiving Day, you can access the trail through Stanford Avenue (6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.). Roughly three miles at a steep incline, it takes most visitors about five hours to hike all the way to the peak’s top and come back down. If you’re looking for a physical challenge to fill the holiday, this might be it.
Not into hiking? What about dressing up as a turkey and running a 5K?
While San Francisco’s 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Run and Walk (more commonly known as the Turkey Trot) is no longer accepting sign-ups, you can still register for other Turkey Trots around the Bay Area, including Oakland, San José, Novato, Petaluma, Concord and Walnut Creek.
While runners are timed, these races are pretty low-pressure and are mostly about getting folks moving at whatever speed works best for them. While you’ll have to pay a registration fee to race —with most proceeds going to local charities — you’ll be rewarded with either a medal or jersey for your efforts, on top of the sheer fun of the race.
And if you don’t want to do any running yourself, a fun alternative is hanging out near the finish line and cheering runners on as they come in.
If you’re wondering “but why a themed bar?”, let us explain: You may not always be a fan of say, tiki torches — or Harry Potter — but the commitment of themed bars to their bit comes in pretty clutch when you want to be transported to a whole different vibe, far away from Thanksgiving.
Two such suggestions for San Francisco alone: Enjoy a piña colada next to the indoor lagoon of The Tonga Room & Hurricane Room at the Fairmont Hotel, or watch a Harry Potter-themed drag show at Wizards & Wands (and yes, they have Butter Beer) in the Marina District.
And if you can wait a day, a host of pop-up holiday-themed bars are also coming to the Bay Area, to fast-forward you far beyond Thanksgiving and into the festive season — although several of them are only open on Friday.
Ready to defy gravity with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked For Good?
How about Berkeley’s own Andy Samberg voicing an awkward teenage lynx in Zootopia 2?
Or perhaps you’d rather see Brendan Fraser playing an American living in Japan, acting out multiple roles in Rental Family?
All AMC and Cinemark theaters in the Bay Area are open Thursday and through the holiday weekend. Several independent theaters, like Alamo Drafthouse in San Francisco, Mountain View and Santa Clara, Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre and El Cerrito’s Rialto Cinemas will also have showings on Thanksgiving.
KQED’s Nisa Khan contributed to this report.
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