Somehow, we’ve reached late November — Thanksgiving weekend, even. So what to do if you don’t want to just get a food coma at home?

We’ve compiled a list of special happenings around town, both on land and the water, for you to enjoy with your loved ones to kick off your holiday season in earnest.

Getting around town

  • If you’re using public transportation, both the bus and trolley traditionally run on a weekend schedule because of the holiday, meaning more time between buses in particular.
  • If you couldn’t escape having to fly in or out of town on Thanksgiving: you’re not alone; and get ready to wait longer than usual.

Fun With The Animals

Not only will the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, as well as SeaWorld, be open on Thanksgiving Day, but the Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary in Alpine (24402 Martin Way) will host its Thanksgiving Turkey Bash on Nov. 27 and 28 starting at 10 a.m. — what the venue says is a “delightful twist” on their regular guided visits to see the resident big cats and bears.

Turkey Trots

If you want to start the big day with a run, here’s some Turkey Trot events on tap on Thursday:

  • Coronado: The 5K run begins at 8 a.m. at Tidelands Park (2000 Mullinex Dr.) with proceeds benefitting Rady Children’s Hospital’s Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes. There is also a virtual 5K option for runners who can’t make it in person, as well as a “tiny trotters” category for kids 5 and under.
  • Del Mar Family Mile Run: Technically outside of the Turkey Trot denomination, but still a run! You don’t have to be a fan of horse racing to imagine what it’d be like to run down the legendary Del Mar Racetrack (2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.), and here’s your chance. Registration and activities start at 7 a.m. The racetrack’s Turf Club will also host a special three-course brunch event, with gates opening at 9:30 a.m.
  • Encinitas: This event starts and finishes at the “Encinitas” sign along Highway 101 downtown. The 10k run begins at 7:30 a.m. and the 5k starts a half hour later. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Veterans Association of North County.
  • Father Joe’s: The 5K “Run for Hope” will kick off at 7:15 a.m. at the Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park with both competitive and fun run options available, as well as a virtual 5K run and a free event for kids 5 and under.
  • North County: The 4S Ranch Sports Park (16118 4S Ranch Pkwy.) will be the site for this event, with a 10k run starting at 7:15 a.m. followed by a 5k event at 7:30 a.m. and a 1k run for kids at 8:45 a.m.
  • Oceanside: This event features a number of options for both kids 12 and under and adults; the kids’ mile and half-mile runs start at Tyson Street Park (121 S. Pacific St.) at 10 a.m. and 10:25 a.m., respectively. Adults in the 5K event can choose between a 7 a.m. early start, join the 8 a.m. main wave run, or walk the course starting at 8:15 a.m. All events finish at The Strand & Seagaze.

Special Turkey Day Dining

No doubt there’ll be all sorts of places with Thanksgiving Day specials, but here’s a list of some of the ones that caught our eye:

  • Allegro in Little Italy (1536 India St.) will have a three-course menu for $69 per person from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • ARLO in Mission Valley (500 Hotel Circle N.) will open its Thanksgiving Day buffet from 12-8 p.m., costing $45 for kids 12 and under, and $100 for adults.
  • The Bahia Resort Hotel in Mission Bay (998 West Mission Bay Dr.) will have a lunch and dinner buffet from 12-6 p.m. costing $50 for kids ages 6-12 and $115 for adults.
  • Barleymash in the Gaslamp Quarter (600 5th Ave. #5916) will have a $46 two-course and $57 three-course options for guests starting at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
  • Also in Mission Bay, the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa (3999 Mission Blvd.) will have its own buffet at the Catamaran’s Ballrooms from 12-6 p.m.; kids ages 5-12 pay $54, while adults can take part for $125. A Thanksgiving brunch will also be available at the Oceana Coastal Kitchen from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Nov. 29.
  • Chez Loma in Coronado will offer a three-course Thanksgiving dinner from 4-9 p.m. for $90 per person.
  • The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant in Old Town (2660 Calhoun St.) will have a buffet available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. costing $26 for kids 12 and under, and $78 for adults.
  • Duck Dive in Pacific Beach (4650 Mission Blvd.) will open at 10 a.m. and start serving Thanksgiving dinner an hour later, with your choice of a $43 traditional turkey dinner or a $52 prime rib dinner.
  • Flagship Cruises and Events downtown (990 North Harbor Dr.) will offer a special two-hour Thanksgiving lunch cruise departing at 1 p.m. with a DJ providing music to accompany your meal as you traverse San Diego Bay. Tickets range from $87.06 for kids ages 4-12 to $116.07 for guests 13 and up.
  • Flecha Cantina near Rancho Bernardo (10514 Craftsman Way) will have a “chef-curated endless buffet” on tap from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., costing $55 for adults and $25 for children over 3 years old.
  • Garibaldi at the InterContinental downtown (901 Bayfront Ct., Suite 1) will have its own buffet from 2-7 p.m. with no charge for kids 4 and under and costing $75 for kids ages 5-12, and $135 for adults.
  • The La Jolla Shores Hotel (8110 Camino Del Oro) will have a Thanksgiving buffet available from 12-7 p.m.; children ages 12 and under can enjoy for $45, while adult admission costs $95.
  • Also in La Jolla, the Marine Room (1950 Spindrift Dr.) will have its Thanksgiving dinner menu available from 1-8 p.m. for $65 for children, and $165 for adults.
  • In Temecula, the South Coast Winery Resort & Spa (34843 Rancho California Rd.) will have both a $95 brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in its courtyard and a special Thanksgiving evening menu at the Vineyard Rose Restaurant from 12-8 p.m. for $92 per person.
  • Valle Oceanside (222 North Pacific St.) will host “Gracias A La Tierra” with seatings at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. The phrase means “Thank You to the Land,” and the restaurant promises that Chef Roberto Alcocer will “reimagines the holiday through the flavors of California and Baja California” for the occasion. Each seating is limited to 40 guests, with admission costing $250 per person.

Sports

  • On the ice, the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League will be on the road against the Colorado Eagles, with a 5:05 p.m. game on Nov. 27, followed by a 2:05 p.m. contest on Saturday.
  • San Diego State’s men’s and women’s basketball squads will both be in tournament action. The men’s team will be part of the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, opening against Iowa State on Nov. 24; from there, they will play Tennessee or Maryland on Thanksgiving Day; the question is whether they do so in the semifinals or the consolation bracket.
  • Meanwhile, the women’s team will be part of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown event in Honolulu; they open tournament play against the host University of Hawaii on Nov. 27, then Stanford a day later and Columbia on Nov. 29.
  • The UC San Diego hoops teams will also be in action over Thanksgiving weekend; the men’s squad will host Loyola Marymount on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.; that same day, the women’s team will visit Flagstaff to take on Northern Arizona.
  • Also in action on the 28th will be the University of San Diego’s men’s basketball team, who will host Northern Colorado at 7 p.m., while USD’s women’s team will visit Southern Utah.
  • USD will also host the Rady Children’s Invitational men’s basketball tournament, which kicks off at at Jenny Craig Pavilion (5598 Alcala Park Way) on Thanksgiving Day when Georgetown plays Texas at 11:30 a.m., followed by UCLA vs. Saint Mary’s at 2:30 p.m. The third-place and championship games will be held the following day.