What's open and what's closed in the Bay Area on Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend

Byby Juan Carlos Guerrero KGO logo
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Bay Area attractions and events on Thanksgiving and Black Friday
A community decorated Christmas tree shines bright at Christmas in the Park in San Jose.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It's Thanksgiving and you have relatives in town. You don't have to stay cooped up inside until the turkey is ready. Here are some suggestions to keep you and them busy until dinner time.





Attractions open on Thanksgiving


Aquarium of the Bay


California Academy of Sciences


Japanese Tea Garden


Musee Mecanique


San Francisco Botanical Garden - Free admission on Thanksgiving


San Francisco Zoo


San Jose Friendship Garden



Watch a movie


Movie theaters are open on Thanksgiving. Films premiering this week are "Ralph Breaks the Internet", "Creed II" and "Robin Hood."



Go ice skating


Many of the season outdoor ice skating rinks stay open on Thanksgiving. Some even open just in the evening to keep you from lounging on the sofa like a stuffed turkey.


Check out our list of holiday ice skating rinks.


These are the best spots to enjoy some holiday ice skating in the Bay Area.


Take a tour


Restaurants and shops in San Francisco's main tourist attractions are open, including Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. You can also take a tour by land or sea of San Francisco and the bay. Big Bus San Francisco, Red and White Fleet, and Blue and Gold Fleet Bay Cruise are all operating on Thanksgiving.





Go for a run


The best bay to feel good about stuffing yourself at Thanksgiving dinner is to burn some calories early in the day. At least 14 Bay Area cities have turkey trots on Thanksgiving morning. Air quality should not be a factor since a storm system will clear the air in time for these Thursday morning runs.


Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot


Oakland Turkey Trot


San Francisco Turkey Trot


Zoom Turkey Trot Half Marathon - to burn even more calories.



Get in the holiday spirit


These events are not open on Thanksgiving, but they do get going on Black Friday.


Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony


Christmas in the Park


San Rafael Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland


The Great Dickens Christmas Fair





Black Friday and beyond


These attractions reopen the day after Thanksgiving.


Asian Art Museum


Chabot Space and Science Center


Children's Discovery Museum


Children's Fairyland


De Young Museum


Exploratorium


Legion of Honor


Oakland Museum of California


Oakland Zoo


Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum


San Francisco Museum of Modern Art


San Jose Museum of Art


Tech Museum


The Walt Disney Family Museum

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