While Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends, the DMV has many other ways to bring your loved ones together that may, or may not, include a turkey! Check out the day’s lineup for all kinds of family-friendly happenings:
ICE SKATING
Lace up your skates and hit the ice! Ice skating is a great way to burn those Thanksgiving meal calories.
• Reston Town Center (Reston, VA)
• Harris Pavilion (Manassas, VA)
• Pentagon Row (Arlington, VA)
• Cameron Run Park (Alexandria, VA)
Be sure to plan ahead — most destinations now require you to pre-purchase admission or reserve your time online.
Want even more ice skating links for year-round fun? Check out our Guide: Ice Skating Fun.
ILLUMINATION EVENTS
The DMV boasts plenty of ways to get your twinkle fix from the comfort of your car or by foot under a starlit sky!
Festival of Lights
Bull Run Park • Centreville, VA
Winter Walk of Lights
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens • Vienna, VA
The Winter Village
Cameron Run • Alexandria, VA
Be sure to plan ahead — most destinations now require you to pre-purchase admission or reserve your time online.
Want even more illumination events? Check out our big guide: Can’t-Miss Holiday Illuminations.
EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS
You never know what the weather will bring to the DMV, but if the temperature’s right and you’re up for an adventure, try hitting up one of these parks or trails:
Great Falls Park
Explore one of the nation’s first canals, see the Great Falls of the Potomac (three falls overlooks are located within a five- to ten-minute walk from the visitor center and parking lots), enjoy a hike along Mather Gorge’s dramatic clifftops and more at this National Park!
NOVA Parks’ Trails
From paved trails to earthen paths, NOVA Parks boasts more than two dozen opportunities throughout Northern Virginia to explore the outdoors!
TURKEY TROTS & FUN RUNS
On November 24, 2022, start your day with a brisk run, jog, or walk! Plan your Thanksgiving cardio:
• Ashburn Farm Turkey Trot
• Lansdowne Turkey Trot
• Turkey Day 5K (Reston, VA)
• Virginia Run Turkey Trot (Centreville, VA)
• Arlington Turkey Trot
• Columbia Island Turkey Trot (Arlington, VA)
• Alexandria Turkey Trot
WATCH A MOVIE
In previous years, any movies we shared would have been in theatres, but today you’ll find most of them streaming instead! Here are some flicks (plus their release dates) available to watch on Thanksgiving Day:
In Theatres:
Nov 11, 2022: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Disney+
Nov 18, 2022: Disenchanted
Nov 23, 2022: Strange World
Nov 25, 2022: Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Apple TV+
Nov 11, 2022: Spirited
Netflix
Nov 11, 2022: My Father’s Dragon
Amazon Prime
Nov 15, 2022: Tom and Jerry Snowman’s Land
TAKE IN A LANDMARK, MUSEUM, & MORE!
Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, VA
Did you know George Washington’s Mount Vernon is open 365 days a year? Open to the public since 1860, Mount Vernon is the former plantation estate and burial location of George Washington, an American political leader, military general, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797.
Visitors are required to pre-purchase admission online.
Visit a Panda, Crocodile, Monkey, & More!
Washington, DC
Take a walk with some wildlife at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo! Check out the bears, elephants, and tigers, and even meet a monkey or two! Please note that while admission is free, visitors are required to reserve admission online.
Can’t make it but still want to see the animals? The Zoo also boasts plenty of fun webcams, including the Naked Mole-Rat Cam, Giant Panda Cam, Elephant Cam, and more!
Smithsonian Museums
The holidays are a great time to visit museums; the following Washington, DC, Smithsonian museums are open on Thanksgiving Day:
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
Admission is free; timed passes are not required to visit the museum and garden. However, to visit the One with Eternity exhibit, timed passes are required for all visitors ages 12 and up.
National Air & Space Museum
Admission is free; timed passes are required.
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Admission is free; timed passes are required.
National Museum of Natural History
Admission is free; timed passes are not required.
National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, VA)
Admission is free, while parking is fee-based; timed passes are not required.
To see the complete list of Smithsonian museums, click here.
Disclaimer: Events/opportunities are curated from public sources and are subject to changes/cancelations that might not be reflected on DullesMoms.com.
#ThGivingDayFun
