Your Go-To Guide For Celebrating Thanksgiving Weekend In Alpharetta

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, spending time with friends and family, pumpkins, turkey, green bean casserole, dressing (ahem, not stuffing) and pilgrim salt and pepper shakers— oh my! If you’re hosting the big feast in Alpharetta or traveling to our beautiful city for Thanksgiving this year, we’ve got a cornucopia of delectable eats and action-packed events to choose from to entertain the entire turkey crew – all weekend long!

Where To Eat

When it comes to preparing dinner for your family and friends, who says you have to do it all? This Thanksgiving get by with a little help from your friends at The Savory Gourmet. Order up one of their gorgeous Charcuterie Trays, Roasted Turkey, Honey Glazed Ham and even Sweet Potato Casserole. Make sure to get your order in by Nov 11! Smokejack BBQ is also offering up a Thanksgiving catering menu of Apple Brined and Smoked Turkey, Collard Greens, Mac & Cheese, Corn Pudding and all the fixins!

Prefer to have someone else cook all together on Thanksgiving? A variety of Alpharetta restaurants are opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day for you and your group including Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Rays at Killer Creek, Kona Grill, Carrie’s Conservatory and Café Efendi. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Thanksgiving just isn’t complete without something sweet! Wow your family and friends with a Dutch Cranberry Apple Pie or their famous Roasted Pumpkin Pie from Crave Pie Studio. Or order up the Salted Caramel Turtle Pie from Southern Baked Pie Company with layers of rich caramel, silky chocolate, and South Georgia pecans and all-butter crust. This pie was recently featured on the Today Show with Hoda & Jenna saying they “can’t live without it!” Insider Tip: Go ahead and get your pie order in early this year!

Fun Things To Do After Thanksgiving Dinner

You’ve carved the turkey, broken the bread and worn your elastic waist pants, now it’s time to take the party from your kitchen to the city!

Lace up your skates and glide across the ice at Avalon on Ice, Avalon’s Rockefeller-inspired ice-skating rink. The rink operates daily from November 21 – January 17 and is open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day as well as that entire holiday weekend.

More interested in burning off those extra holiday calories or need a grassy spot for a game of family football? Alpharetta has over 25 Parks, Trails & Open Spaces for you to choose from. These parks are home to more than 775 acres of lush green space and an array of amenities to enjoy. From Wills Park to the AlphaLoop to North Park, you’ll find walking trails, playgrounds, sports fields, and arboretums galore waiting for you!

Where to Watch College Football Rivalry Match-Ups

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is when houses are divided, and football’s biggest battles go head-to-head. Here is where you can go in Alpharetta to watch all the big NCAA rivalry games on the big screen.

You can’t miss Home Town Mortgage Presents College Football Game Days on the Big Screen at CHIRINGA in Downtown Alpharetta. Score some snacks and drinks from Chiringa, settle in to watch the game, and relax while the kids play cornhole on the Town Green. Catch UGA vs GA Tech, Florida vs Florida State and Alabama vs Auburn on the big screen from 11:30 a.m. – 8: 30 p.m. Don’t forget your tailgate chair!

Alpharetta also has plenty of hot watch spots to find cold drinks! Big screen TV’s await at Taco Mac, Wild Wing Café, Central City Tavern, Truck & Tap Alpharetta, Millers Ale House, Marlow’s Tavern, Coalition Food and Beverage, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bocado Burger, Jekyll Brewing Downtown Alpharetta and Pepperoni’s Tavern just to name a few!

Thanksgiving Weekend Events

Dino Safari: A Walk Thru Adventure at North Point Mall
Dinosaurs are taking over Alpharetta! Grab a prehistoric passport and join over 30 giant moving dinosaurs in a walk thru safari at Dino Safari, a dino adventure for the whole family. Get up-close-and-personal with fascinating prehistoric creatures from the mighty T. rex to the giant Spinosaurus while you learn how dinosaurs evolved over time, where they lived, and much more! Dinosaur Safari opens November 19 and runs until April 8. Ticket required.

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, November 26 – 27
Experience the two largest shopping days of the year for the holiday season at Alpharetta’s 250+ shops and boutiques in in the three distinct shopping districts of Avalon, North Point and Downtown Alpharetta.

Publix Aprons Cooking School Gingerbread House Classes, November 26-28
Forgo the mess at home and bring the family to Publix Aprons Cooking School to decorate a gingerbread
house this year! Publix Aprons Cooking School provides the materials – you bring the creativity and
holiday spirit! Class registration required. $75 for one adult and up to three children per registration.

Alpharetta Farmers Market, Saturday, November 27
One of our favorite Alpharetta traditions is the Saturday morning Farmers Market. The Downtown Alpharetta Town Green is briming with the sights and smells of all sorts of edible home goods from yummy desserts and breads plus you’ll find farmers with fruits, vegetables and natural meats, gardeners with fresh flowers and herbs, to local raw honey and homemade sauces, jellies and soaps. The market is open from 9 a.m. – 12:30. Free admission.

There are plenty of ways to show your out-of-town relatives and loved ones an unforgettable time in Alpharetta this Thanksgiving! Need a place for them to stay? Alpharetta is home to 30 cozy, upscale, and modern hotels. Be sure to look out for special deals and packages so your friends and family can save big this season on a holiday stay in Alpharetta.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours…and pass the pie!