Best Thanksgiving Day Activities In Pittsburgh
If you are looking for something a little more entertaining to do on Thanksgiving than leafing through Black Friday sales flyers, or would like some adventure or exercise after your large family meal, there are a few fun activities that you can enjoy throughout the city on Thanksgiving Day. Although many venues are closed to celebrate the holiday, there are still some fun and family-friendly things to do in Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving Day.
YMCA Of Greater Pittsburgh
420 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 227-3800
www.ymcaofpittsburgh.org/turkeytrot
Need a little exercise before your Thanksgiving meal? The YMCA Turkey Trot is a Thanksgiving Day tradition. This run and walk is fun for the whole family and features a 1 mile family run/walk, a 5k run and a 5 mile run. If you are feeling particularly athletic, you can sign up for the Collins-Wardle Double Gobble which includes the 5k and 5 mile runs, but participation is limited to the first 250 to sign up. If you're not much of a runner, you can also volunteer to help with the race or just be a spectator and cheer on the runners.
Gateway Clipper
350 West Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 355-7980
www.gatewayclipper.com/activities/thanksgiving-dinner
Don't feel like cooking this year? Enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner along with a riverboat cruise around the city. The Gateway Clipper will offer a Thanksgiving dinner cruise with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner created by chef David Logan. Dinner includes all of your Thanksgiving favorites from turkey and stuffing to veggies, salads and desserts, including pumpkin pie, of course. Plus you can see beautiful views of the city while you relax and chat with your family and friends. No need to do the dishes!
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
45 S. 23rd St., Suite 101
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 602-7275
www.pittsburghparks.org
Sometimes, even in Pittsburgh, Thanksgiving falls on a beautiful, crisp autumn day. Enjoy the fall leaves and cool air at one of Pittsburgh's many parks, including beautiful Schenley Park which is open from 6am-11pm. Play a game of football with your friends or hike with your family and enjoy the last bit of nature before winter sets in. Visiting the park is a great way to burn some energy after dinner and to create new and lasting family memories.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
1 N. Linden St.
Duquesne, PA 15110
(412) 460-3663
www.pittsburghfoodbank.org
Although the food bank needs volunteers all year, Thanksgiving is a good time to take advantage of time off from work to help those in need. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank services many food distribution centers in 11 counties in Western Pennsylvania. The food bank needs help sorting and distributing food donations as well as preparing and serving meals. Contact the Food Bank to see what opportunities are available at a distribution center near you.
Duquesne Incline
1197 West Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 381-1665
www.duquesneincline.org
See Pittsburgh from another angle by taking a ride on the Duquesne Incline. This cable car, built in 1877, will transport you from Station Square to the top of Mt. Washington where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. A large observation deck awaits you at the top where you can sightsee and take photos to your heart's content. A ride on the incline is a fun family event, especially if you have out-of-town guests who have not yet experienced this Pittsburgh treat.
Jennifer Stockdale is a native of the greater Pittsburgh, PA area. She is a restaurant marketer and wine enthusiast and one of the hosts of the East Coast Wine Geeks Podcast. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
