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5 Fun Things to Do in San Diego for Thanksgiving 2019
October 22, 2019
This Thanksgiving, in addition to spending time with family and friends, get out and enjoy San Diego with these five fun events.
Take a Thanksgiving Day Dining Cruise
Spending Thanksgiving on land getting boring? Take to the (not so) high seas on a Thanksgiving brunch or dinner cruise around San Diego. Hornblower offers a sunset dinner cruise with a full, traditional Thanksgiving buffet, along with a DJ and dancing. Flagship has a brunch/lunch cruise aboard a luxury yacht, complete with a traditional three-course Thanksgiving meal and live music and dancing.
Do the Father Joe's Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk
Get some exercise in before gorging yourself on turkey and help people in need at the annual Father Joe’s Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk. This family-friendly (and pet-friendly) event takes place the morning of Thanksgiving; thousands gather in Balboa Park for a 5K and then enjoy a post-race festival, which includes live music and a beer garden. The money raised benefits Father Joe’s Villages, which helps homeless San Diegans.
Check Out the Wonderfront Festival
Get a jump start on Thanksgiving at the Wonderfront Festival, a music and arts festival taking place in the heart of San Diego the weekend before Thanksgiving. The festival will feature 95 artists performing on seven stages spread over multiple venues including Waterfront Park, Seaport Village, and Broadway Port Pier.
In addition to music, there will be tons of food craft beer, water activities, game zone, silent disco, yacht parties and cruises, art installations, and more. Tickets can be purchased here.
Take a Hike and Enjoy the Fall Colors
San Diego is not necessarily known for its seasons, but there are still pockets of fall colors here, especially in the higher altitudes. One of the best ways to see the colors is on a hike, and there are several San Diego hikes that are especially stunning in the fall. On Palomar Mountain, there’s the Thunder Ridge and Chimney Flat Loop, and in Cleveland Forest there’s the Observatory Trail. Volcan Mountain in Julian has beautiful black oaks. And don’t miss Lake Cuyamaca, which offers one of the most picturesque fall scenes in the county.
Glide Over to Skating by the Sea
For the 16th year in a row, the Windsor Lawn at the Hotel Del Coronado will be transformed into a winter wonderland—complete with a very SoCal view. Show off your best ice skating moves (or your ability to just stay upright) on the outdoor rink or just watch others twirl away from rink-side lounge Frostbite, which offers private lounges with firepits and full food and beverage service.
Skating by the Sea starts on November 22nd and finishes January 5th. Tickets are $30/person in advance online or $35/person on the same day at the rink.
Have fun and happy Thanksgiving!
Written by Whitney Currier for Knockaround.
