Gobble! Gobble! Thanksgiving Day Fun

This opportunity is over; visit our calendar for up-to-date fun!

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 line-up 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 (weather-dependent):

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!

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 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

Splurge without the guilt! After one of these Turkey Trots, there’s no reason not to sample every flavor of pie…

WATCH A MOVIE

Here are some flicks, plus their release dates, available to watch around Thanksgiving:

Wicked: For Good
Rating: PG ∙ Release Date: Nov 21, 2025
Wicked: For Good follows Elphaba in exile as she continues resisting the Wizard’s rule, while Glinda rises as “Glinda the Good.” As secrets about the Wizard surface, both must confront the truth and the future of their fractured friendship.

Zootopia 2
Rating: PG ∙ Release Date: Nov 26, 2025
Zootopia 2 reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they go undercover to investigate Gary De’Snake, a mysterious reptile tied to a city-wide conspiracy. Their partnership is tested as they explore new parts of Zootopia and race to protect their community.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Rating: PG ∙ Release Date: Dec 19, 2025
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants sends SpongeBob deep into the ocean to confront the Flying Dutchman and prove his bravery. His journey leads to new dangers, odd sea creatures, and a comedic adventure with familiar and new faces.

Avatar: Fire & Ash
Rating: PG-13 ∙ Release Date: Dec 19, 2025
Avatar: Fire & Ash pits Jake Sully and Neytiri against the Ash People, a fierce volcanic-dwelling Na’vi tribe led by Varang. As tensions rise across Pandora, the Sully family must face grief, shifting alliances, and escalating conflict.

TAKE IN A LANDMARK, MUSEUM, & MORE

These special destinations are open on Thanksgiving Day!

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 Founding Father and first President of the United States, George Washington. Visitors are required to purchase admission online in advance.

National Zoo
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 must reserve admission online.

Smithsonian Museums
The holidays are a great time to visit museums; the following Washington, DC, Smithsonian museums are open on Thanksgiving Day. Admission is free at the following:

To see the complete list of Smithsonian museums, click here.

Important Disclaimer: Events/opportunities on DullesMoms.com are curated from public sources and subject to changes/cancellations that might not be reflected. Always click on the provided event link to confirm details.

 #thanks, #ThGivingDayFun