1. Run a Turkey Trot
Start Thanksgiving with a little movement before the big meal! Lace up your sneakers for the 34th Annual YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Families can run or walk the 5K, younger runners can tackle the 1-mile kids race and little ones ages 5 and younger can join the Tot Trot the afternoon before Thanksgiving. Whether you’re racing for a personal best or just having fun together, it’s a festive way to kick off the holiday.
2. Give Back With a Food Drive
November is a great time to help kids practice gratitude by giving back. Pick up a few extra nonperishable items during your next grocery trip and donate them through Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. Let kids help choose the items, shop and drop off the donation so they can take part in the entire experience.
3. Shop a Holiday Market
Get a jump-start on your holiday shopping while supporting local makers and small businesses. Fredericksburg-area holiday markets are filled with handmade gifts, seasonal treats, decorations and plenty of festive finds. Give the kids a small budget to choose a gift for someone special and turn shopping into part of the holiday fun. Don’t miss Fredericksburg’s annual Holiday Open House Weekend Nov. 14-15, when downtown businesses kick off the season with festive shopping and activities. Stroll the decorated streets, browse local boutiques and galleries for one-of-a-kind gifts and stop by the Fredericksburg Visitor Center so the kids can visit Santa.
4. Make a Kid-Friendly Recipe
Put the kids in charge of one Thanksgiving dish this year. This homemade cranberry sauce requires just a few simple ingredients and gives little helpers plenty of opportunities to measure, pour, stir and watch those cranberries pop. Bonus: they’ll be much more likely to taste what’s on the Thanksgiving table when they can proudly say they helped make it!
5. Try This DIY Turkey Craft
Save a little time for a cozy November craft. Break out the construction paper, paint, googly eyes or whatever you already have tucked away in the craft cabinet and make your own Thanksgiving turkeys. Trace little hands to create the feathers or turn paper plates into colorful turkeys for an easy activity that doubles as decor for your Thanksgiving table.
Make November Memories Together
From running a few miles to slowing down for an afternoon of crafting, the month offers plenty of opportunities to spend time together. Pick one activity or try all five, and you might just discover a new family tradition along the way.
