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Thanksgiving Day Weekend Activities and Events

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Thanksgiving Day and weekend in Reno and Sparks have many options for participating in family friendly events. It's a time when activities revolve around good food and visiting with family and friends. Thanksgiving Day 2024 is on Thursday, November 28.

For Thanksgiving dinner, lots of people like to eat out. There are great places around Reno and Sparks to enjoy this special meal. Learn where from my article "Thanksgiving Day Dining in Reno and Sparks."

Saturday, November 9, 2024, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take pictures with the turkeys, meet farm animals, enjoy story time, explore the Discovery Room, and much more. We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. This event is free and fun for the entire family. At Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. in Reno.

Thursday, November 28, 2024, 8:30 a.m. Sign up with friends or family for the 10k, 2-mile run, and 2-mile walk that starts and ends in the Scheels Parking lot, located at 1200 Scheels Drive in Sparks. Registration ends November 18. NO DOGS (except for registered and licensed service dogs). A portion of all entry fees will benefit Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) and Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

Thursday, November 28, 2024, starting at 9 a.m. Join us on Thanksgiving morning for a run/ walk/ wobble that kicks off your Thanksgiving festivities. There will be a 5K and 1 mile walk. The race event will begin at 9 a.m. in Wingfield Park. Participants will make their way through downtown Reno and the nearby parks before returning to the finish where they will get a finisher's medal upon completion. Strollers and walkers allowed, but NO DOGS except registered service animals. Register online or at the event on race day. Cost varies depending on when you register.

November 29 - 30 and December 7 - 8, 14 - 15, 21 - 22, 2024. There will be three trains each day departing from the Virginia City depot (166 F Street), at 12 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. On the scenic 50-minute journey over the 150-year old V&T railroad route, you will enjoy hot cocoa or cider and cookies, and listening to songs of the season and taking in the beautifully lit Christmas scenes along the way. A gift bag and light stick will be presented to every passenger. Reservations required and seating is assigned - buy tickets online. For more information, call (775) 847-0380.

Select dates from November 15 through December 23, 2024. The Polar Express™ sells out every year. Get tickets as soon as possible if you want to ensure the best seats, date, and time for your family and/or group. Tickets are available online from the Polar Express website.

Friday through Sunday, December 6 - 8, 2024. The dazzle of circus arts meets the excitement of Spirit of the Season in this special performance! Cirque stars tumble, soar, and delight while your Reno Phil Orchestra & Chorus, along with special guests, perform holiday and symphonic classics. It’s a perfect event for the entire family to enjoy together. At the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Choose from four showtimes and purchase tickets online.

• Friday, December 6 at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 PM
• Saturday, December 7 at 7:00 PM
• Sunday, December 8 at 2:00 PM

Thursday through Sunday, November 28 - December 1, 2024. Come to The Nugget in Sparks to shop among craft and gift booths at this annual marketplace. Enjoy holiday food and drink. Free admission and parking. Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 1100 Nugget Avenue in Sparks.

Friday and Saturday, November 29 - 30, 2024. Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Holiday Lights Festival will feature holiday shopping, live music, food trucks, breweries, and warm spirits alongside photos with Santa and an enchanting Christmas train ride at City Plaza. The event is free and open to the public and media. Free parking is available in the City Hall parking garage located at University Way and E. First Street. City Plaza is between City Hall and the Truckee River.

This Thanksgiving weekend, the Nevada Museum of Art has a number of on-going exhibits suitable for family visits. The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday, November 29 through Sunday, December 1, 2024. Be sure to check the Plan Your Visit page for details about visiting the museum.

Many Reno / Sparks museums, and also those down in Carson City, have a variety of exhibits and activities available during the Thanksgiving holidays. Check "Museums, Culture, and Shows in Reno / Sparks, Nevada" to see what's available. Be sure to call ahead for holiday hours.

There will be some good movies in local theaters during this holiday season. You can lessen the holiday hassle and avoid lines at the theater by buying advance tickets online.

The Fleischmann Planetarium is open for public shows on Fridays from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Visit the website for details about open hours, other things to do while visiting and available shows and programs.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 29 - 30 and December 1, 2024, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can enjoy our animals when they are active in late fall's cooler temperatures. This will be the last chance to see our animals before our regular winter closure. Admission is $18 for adults, $10 children (3 to 12), $15 seniors (62+), free for age 2 and under. From Reno, take U.S. 395 north, turn right on Red Rock Road, go 11.5 miles, then right onto Deerlodge Road. For more information, call (775) 970-3111 (area code required). Weather may cancel - call 1-775-970-3111 before driving out and listen to the recording for any changes due to weather.

Lake Tahoe area ski resorts like to open for the big Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but snowfall generated by Mother Nature has a lot to do with it. Avid skiers and snowboarders will know if conditions are good. Everyone else can get the latest information from the websites of those resorts they are interested in visiting.

If there is enough snow, Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe area snow play areas and ski resorts will be ready for slipping and sliding. If the weather is nice during the break, it will be a great time to take the kids up to the mountains for some sledding, tubing, and other fun in the snow. There are some really nice places close to the Reno area. Call ahead or check the website to make sure your destination is open for the season.

Try the outdoor ice rink when it opens for the winter season at the Grand Sierra Resort. We also have a new, indoor ice skating facility in south Reno called Reno Ice (officially known at the Jennifer M. O'Neal Community Ice Arena). This arena offers public skating sessions in addition to other attractions like figure skating and hockey.

Saturday, November 30, 2024. The Nevada Wolf Pack football team takes on the UNLV Rebels in Las Vegas. This is the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon. Kickoff is 5 p.m. Go Pack!

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