Thanksgiving Weekend in the Washington, DC Area

Are you spending Thanksgiving in the Washington, DC area this year? Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the holiday season and many wonderful activities and events begin in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Here are some ideas of funs things to do during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Restaurants in the Washington, DC Area
Let someone else do the cooking this year! Here are some suggestions of nice restaurants that serve Thanksgiving dinner in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Holiday Shopping Guide for Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
Thanksgiving weekend is the traditional time to start your holiday shopping. Here are some unique ideas of places to shop in the Washington, DC area.

Volunteer for Thanksgiving
Find a variety of charitable organizations that need volunteers to prepare, serve and cleanup holiday meals for the poor.

Turkey Trots in the Washington, DC Area
A variety of organizations sponsor trots, runs and walks for fun or to raise money for the needy.

Presidential Turkey Pardon
The White House tradition of pardoning a live turkey has become of great interest. It's not open to the public, but you can probably catch it on television.

Reston Town Center Holiday Parade
Friday, November 27, 2009. The Reston community kicks off the holiday season with a full day celebration including a holiday parade, visits with Santa, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and more.

National Mall
Thanksgiving weekend is a popular time to visit the Smithsonian museums and Washington, DC’s famous monuments and memorials.

Top 10 Places to Visit with Out of Town Guests in Washington, DC
Chances are that your out of town guests have been to Washington before and have explored the National Mall. There are lots of other interesting places to explore in the nation’s capital. Here are some suggestions of places to visit over Thanksgiving weekend.

Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink
The outdoor skating rink has just opened for the season! This is great activity for families and a nice way to enjoy the ambiance of the city.

ICE! – Christmas at the Gaylord National Resort
November 19, 2009 - January 10, 2010. The award-winning holiday attraction is a winter wonderland created entirely of 5,000 BLOCKS of ice weighing 1.5 MILLION POUNDS! hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a chilling nine degrees Fahrenheit. New in our region this year, this is an interactive holiday attraction you won't want to miss.

Christmas Light Displays in the Washington, DC Area
Celebrate the holiday season with a drive or a stroll through one of the Washington, DC area's spectacle of lights at a local park in the suburbs of Maryland. These Christmas light displays are beautiful and a great way to share the magic and joy of a winter wonderland.

Mount Vernon Candlelight Tours
Martha Washington hosts an 18th-century Christmas with candlelit walks, fireside caroling, and festive décor during Mount Vernon by Candlelight.

City of Alexandria's Tree Lighting Ceremony
Historic Market Square in Old Town, Friday, November 27, 2009, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

The Nutcracker
The Washington, DC area has a wide range of theaters to enjoy the Christmas classic ballet - the Nutcracker. Many performances start on Thanksgiving weekend.

Norwegian Christmas at Union Station in Washington, DC
See the fabulous Norwegian model train display decked out for the holidays at Union Station while you enjoy some holiday shopping.

Maryland Christmas Show at the Frederick Fairgrounds
Franklin St., Frederick, Maryland (301) 898-5466. November 20–22, and 27-29, 2009. Enjoy the works of 500 artists and craftsmen offering fine art, pottery, furniture, quilts, jewelry, clothing, wreaths and garlands, toys and Christmas ornaments.

Cut Your Own Christmas Tree in the Washington, DC Area
A great way to start the season is to take the whole family out to a Christmas tree farm and cut your own Christmas tree.

Lyceum’s Scottish Preview
The Lyceum, Old Town Alexandria. November 28, 2009, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Put on your kilt and honor Alexandria’s Scottish heritage with entertaining activities, performances and demonstrations to warm you up for the Scottish Christmas Walk, scheduled for Saturday, December 3-5, 2009. Performances include bagpipes, Celtic music, military living history demonstrations and displays and more.