DC Area Thanksgiving Traditions to Kick Off Your Holiday Season

If holding down the turkey consumption record, then holding down the couch (and control of the remote) on Thanksgiving day is your style - chow down and carry on! If you’d like to add a little cheer, exercise or civic duty this year, check out the events below and get your holiday season off to an extra festive start.

Thanksgiving Day Parades:

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Downtown Silver Spring: Georgia Avenue from Ellsworth Drive to Silver Spring Avenue
Silver Spring, MD

Beginning at 10 am on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Silver Spring comes alive with balloons, floats, local and professional marching bands, plenty of glitter and good fun for all. Inflatable turkeys and other assorted animals will fill the air and the line up will even include a portable skating rink. Santa will of course be in attendance on his very own float. Check the event website for more info and don’t miss this festive DC area tradition.

Reston Holiday Parade
Friday, November 27, 2015
Reston Town Center
Reston, VA

There will be no shortage of holiday cheer at this year’s 25th annual Reston Holiday Parade. Dancers, marching bands, balloons and more will fill Market Street for an hour of holiday festivities. Arrive early with your kiddos to pick up jingle bells distributed by volunteers to bring an extra layer of magic to the parade. See the event website for details, parade routes and information on how to volunteer.

Thanksgiving Day 5Ks:

Thanksgiving Day Trot For Hunger
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Freedom Plaza
Washington, DC

SOME (So Others Might Eat) has been serving low income and homeless families in the DC area for 45 years. The annual Trot for Hunger raises funds to provide families in need with food, clothing and healthcare. The Kids’ One Mile Little Turkey Fun Run begins at 8:30 am and the 5K Run/Walk kicks off at 9:00 am from Freedom Plaza (corner of 13th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW). Visit the website for more info, to register and to learn more about this special Thanksgiving event.

Turkey Chase (Bethesda)

Thursday, November 26, 2015
Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD

This year marks the 33rd annual Turkey Chase in support of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA and Rotary Club. The goals of the event are to promote community, healthy living and social responsibility, and to provide support for youth and families in Montgomery County. The 2 mile fun run and 10K race are open to runners serious and spirited alike, and the 50m Tot Trot is open to kiddos 9 and under, who will chase the turkey mascot toward the finish line where all tot trotters will receive a prize. See the event website for details and to register today!

Freeze Your Gizzard 5K Country Run and 1 Mile Fun Run
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Ida Lee Park
Leesburg, VA

The Freeze Your Gizzard 5K and Fun Run is a cross country style race (including several steep hills!) benefitting Loudoun Interfaith Relief Food Bank. All participants are asked to donate 2 cans of food or other non-perishable items. Finishers will receive holiday-themed prizes and Loudoun Interfaith Relief will host post-race festivities for all participants. Learn more here and get trottin’!

Presidential Turkey Pardon
Thanksgiving Day

Each year on Thanksgiving, the President of the United States chooses one lucky turkey to be spared from a Thanksgiving feast and sent to live out its turkey days on a farm in Virginia. Last year, Obama pardoned two turkeys - Mac and Cheese - and left it to the twittering, hashtagging American public to decide (via online vote … #TeamMac) which turkey would become the official National Thanksgiving Turkey. The turkey pardon is a private event and you’ll have to become a White House staffer to watch the action live, but you can watch this year’s turkey pardon (and learn more about the history of this American tradition) on whitehouse.gov.