So, don’t hate me, but I’m not a native Austin-ite.  I’m actually……an Okie.  And while I still root for the Sooners, I have totally embraced Austin, and love pretty much everything about it.  (The allergies…not so much.)

I especially love the holidays around town – and how many amazing things there are to do!  I’m not going to re-invent the wheel here, as Austin360 has compiled a fantastic list of events that are going on around town.  But…if I had my perfect day, this is what it would be:

AustinThanksgiving

1.  Set DVR to record the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It is just not Thanksgiving if I don’t watch the parade.  And I force everyone else to watch with me.  It makes me happy.

2.  Lace up the sneaks & head downtown for the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot.  Might as well burn some extra calories before gorging the rest of the day, right?!  Plus, it’s for a good cause.  Since the inception of the event in 1991, ThunderCloud Subs has given more than $1.8 million to Caritas of Austin.  Win-Win, right?!

3.  Cook with the kids.  Despite my general disdain for cooking, I enjoy making Thanksgiving food.  Fortunately my husband takes care of the main course.  The past few years, he’s smoked a Turducken.  We super love Stuffed Cajun Market off of 620.  I highly recommend this.  Of course, if you don’t feel like trying the Turducken, or making a traditional turkey, follow Allison’s advice and feast on some yummy quail!  As for kids in the kitchen, I let Hudson help mash the potatoes and cut out biscuits.

4.  Make your Thankful Tree!  As I wrote before, this is a tradition in our family, and we usually create this while the food is a-cooking.  Another fun idea, is the Thankful Jar.

5.  Eat, Eat, and Eat some more.  If you don’t feel like cooking, there are some amazing places offering Thanksgiving dinners around Austin.  Sometimes it’s fun to make like the family in A Christmas Story and head to the nearest Chinese food restaurant!  Check out this list for some great ideas.  (I love that the Russian House benefits the Austin Children’s Shelter.)

6.  Watch football, play games, do puzzles, enjoy your family!  At this point in the day, I love nothing more than to get into my stretchy pants, and enjoy being around my family.

And that, my friends, is my idea of a perfect Austin Thanksgiving.

And what’s so great – is that it doesn’t have to just be one day!  Start your celebration early and head to the Toybrary on Thursday, November 21, you and your 2- to 5-year-old child can work together to make a Thanksgiving centerpiece for your holiday table.   If  you want to extend your celebration even longer, on Saturday, November 30, check out the Invincibles Czars 10th annual Kids’ Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker.  A rockin’, fun and family-friendly holiday show at Spider House Cafe & Ballroom.  It sounds amazing for the kiddos, and, bonus: a bar for the adults!

 

What makes a great Thanksgiving for you in Austin?  We’d love to hear your suggestions and favorites!

 

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