Walk, run, or waddle your way to the finish line by taking on a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. (Courtesy Oakland Turkey Trot)
17 Fun Things to Do This Thanksgiving Week (11.20.23)
20 November 2023
We rounded up the best ways to spend the holiday week in the Bay Area including volunteer events, The Lion King at the Orpheum, Ellie Goulding with the San Francisco Symphony, comedy shows, and more.
Thankyou for reading. Have a good one!
Start your week off with Ellie Goulding and the SF Symphony. The global superstar will perform an intimate show of her hits reimagined and backed by the award-winning symphony; Monday at 7:30pm. // Davis Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center); tickets at sfsymphony.org
See the city from new heights by taking a ride on the SkyStar Ferris Wheel. The 150-foot wheel recently relocated from Golden Gate Views to Fisherman’s Wharf and is offering a 15 percent discount on rides for locals; Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm. // 2860 Taylor St. (Fisherman’s Wharf); tickets at skystarwheel.com
Find your zen before your family rolls into town with a one-of-a-kind sound bath experience. Bay Area musicians will guide you on your meditative journey; Monday at 7pm. // Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. (Nob Hill); tickets at gracecathedral.org
British TV star, veteran comedian, and Chatty Man Alan Carr brings his world tour to SF for two nights; Monday and Tuesday at 7pm. // Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Ave. (Russian Hill); tickets at ticketmaster.com
Your stomach will be in knots when you taste the new pasta collab from knot artist Windy Chien and Flour + Water. Her limited-edition, four-strand sinnet knot made of pasta dough is currently the centerpiece of the tasting menu; through Wednesday. Best yet, $5 from each sale will benefit Mission Food Hub. // Flour + Water, 2401 Harrison St. (Mission); reservations at flourandwater.com
Get your last Rosamunde Sausage and beer fix before the beloved Mission grill closes its brick-and-mortar for good on Tuesday, November 21st (11:30am to 10pm). The good news? The Rosamunde menu will continue to be featured at Willkommen in the Castro. // Rosamunde Sausage Grill, 2832 Mission St. (Mission); details at rosamundesausagegrill.com
You may not know who Irene Tu is (yet) but you’ve probably stopped to LOL at one of her standup bits while scrolling Instagram. The queer, millennial, Asian American comedian is setting up shop for three nights; Wednesday to Saturday. // Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery St. (Financial District); tickets at ticketmaster.com
Explore gender, class, and domesticity through the lens of a 1970s dinner party when surrealist multimedia artist Amanda Rowan returns home for an exhibit featuring her provocative film Place Setting (a Mill Valley Film Festival selection this year) alongside a series of self-portraits and still lifes; 10:30am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm Sunday. // Poet and the Bench, 11 Throckmorton Ave. (Mill Valley); details at poetandthebench.com.
The Broadway production of The Lion King will convert anyone into a musical lover. One of the most beloved and award-winning productions of all time, The Lion King makes a triumphant return in time for the holiday season; Wednesday, through December 30. // The Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St. (Civic Center); tickets at broadwaysf.com
Spend your Thanksgiving morning giving back with San Francisco City Impact. Volunteer to serve hot meals and blankets, cook, or deliver hot meals to residents. A required $25 registration fee will go directly towards making the event possible; Thursday, 9am to 1:30pm. // 186 Eddy St. (Tenderloin); register online at sfcityimpact.com
The best way to prepare for the 5,000 calories headed your way on Thanksgiving Day is to hit a morning Turkey Trot. From Oakland to Santa Rosa and everywhere in between, waddle your way to the finish line and find your local Turkey Trot at runguides.com.
Help deliver Thanksgiving Day meals to 4,000 homebound seniors and disabled individuals with the Salvation Army. No car? No problem. There are also volunteer shifts for greeters, check-in, traffic control, and more; Thursday, 6am to 1pm. // The Salvation Army Culinary Training Academy, 155 Clara St. (SoMa); register at volunteer.usawest.org.
Looking for a way to give back while the turkey is in the oven? Rally the fam to make holiday cards for Meals on Wheels' homebound clients. Help bring a smile to a senior’s face by making handmade cards that will be delivered with meals. // Details at mowsf.org
Prefer to leave the cooking to the pros? We’ve got you covered with our guide to24 San Francisco restaurants open for Thanksgiving dinner, takeout, and delivery. Thank us later.
Honor a different perspective with an Indigenous Peoples' Day sunrise gathering. On Thanksgiving morning, you'll take the ferry to Alcatraz where the Indian Treaty Council will commemorate the 1969-71 occupation of the island by Indians of All Tribes; departures are every 15 minutes from 4:15am to 6am, Thursday. // Alcatraz Landing, Pier 33 (Embarcadero); details at cityexperiences.com
Embrace a Parisian holiday tradition in Wine Country—Cirque de Bohéme returns to Cornerstone Sonoma. Created in Paris after the conclusion of World War I, the lively performance showcases an original spectacle with music, mystery, poetry, and amazing circus talents. Even better, Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Folktable can be enjoyed pre- or post-show; Friday, through December 24. // Cornerstone Sonoma, 23570 Arnold Dr. (Sonoma); tickets at cirquedeboheme2023.bpt
Step into a world of holiday magic and shimmering splendor as Donna Sachet joyfully presents Sunday’s a Drag: Holiday Extravaganza. Produced by Patrick Rylee with David Dower, executive producer of Club Fugazi, the limited-time show highlights SF's drag legacy with surprise guest hosts. Brunch service begins at 11am with the performance at noon; Sunday. // Club Fugazi, 678 Green St. (Russian Hill); tickets at clubfugazisf.com