Whether you’re just visiting Dallas for Thanksgiving 2022 or a longtime local on the hunt for holiday happenings, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the news, clicked on countless Internet links, and quizzed our Dallas self storage customers for their best advice for what to do in Dallas on Thanksgiving – and beyond – for all personality types this year. After all, isn’t some of the challenge of the holidays figuring out how to keep all kinds of folks entertained and satisfied before, during, and after the big event?
Keep scrolling for fun ways to spend the entire Thanksgiving break with family and friends, whether their tastes range towards the more traditional – or they’d rather spend the holiday doing anything but eating turkey and falling asleep on the couch. While we’ve included some places to eat on Thanksgiving in Dallas, we’ve definitely focused more on other types of activities so if we forgot any of your favorites, be sure to leave a comment and let us know for next year!
For the Football Fan
Well, this one is simple. The Dallas Cowboys will be facing off against the New York Football Giants for the first time in three decades on Thanksgiving Day, 2022 at AT&T Stadium. Last time these two teams faced each other on Turkey Day, the Cowboys wiped the field with the Giants 30 to 3 on their way to a Super Bowl win. This year, Dallas fans will be hoping against hope for something similar – and at the very least will have the Jonas Brother half time show to comfort them if it doesn’t go as well.
For the Runner
2022 marks the 55th annual Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot and registrations are are still open for the 8-mile run, 5k, virtual trot, and junior trot (1k). To make the races more inclusive, toddlers, strollers, and even leashed dogs are welcome on the courses for an additional fee of $15 each. The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot is an important annual fundraiser for the organization, supporting YMCA community health programs for North Texans.
For the Gourmond
Michelin-starred Carbone opened its Dallas location in 2022, and is ringing in the Thanksgiving holiday with a $195 per plate prix fixe Thanksgiving meal with plenty of pasta (meatballs, rigatoni and spicy rigatoni vodka), turkey breast, squash, cranberry, and mashed potatoes as well as pecan pie and lemon cheesecake for dessert. (If that doesn’t sound like your type of Turkey Day scene, check out more places to eat on Thanksgiving in Dallas in this great Eater article.)
For the Seafood Lover
Tastes vary greatly, and turkey sure isn’t for everyone. If it isn’t fitting the bill for you or yours this year, TJ’s Seafood Market is offering both “ready to serve” and “heat and eat” selections this year including mussels, claims, shrimp, Dover sole and crab cakes, as well as plenty of salad, sides, and desserts to mix and match for a truly delightful and unique T-Day feast.
For the Guest
If there’s one thing Dallas does well, it’s desserts. Guests bringing sweet treats to contribute to the festivities can take their pick from any one of a number of local bakeries. D Magazine suggests checking out Emporium Pies, La Casita Bakeshop, Malai Kitchen, SusieCakes, or Sweet J’s to preorder everything from traditional pies to sugar cookies, cheesecakes, coconut cream pies, and cinnamon rolls. Trust us when we tell you, showing up at your host’s door with a bunch of baked goods pretty much assures an invite back next year.
For the Christmas Lover
Enchant, presented by Hallmark Channel, is billed as the world’s largest holiday-themed light event – and it oens the day after Thanksgiving in Dallas! With more than 4 million plus sparkling lights, an ice-skating trail, visits with Santa, and a holiday shopping marketplace – along with its famous lit maze – Enchant truly does have something to captivate all of your guests and start the Christmas season with a truly delightful bang.
For the Small Business Supporter
Throw your support behind the thriving small business community in Dallas on Small Business Saturday at the Dallas Millenial Market at Main Street Garden Park. The free event takes place from 11 to 5 on November 26th and is family-friendly (pets welcome!). Music will be played and drinks and food will be available, with the first 100 guests receiving free swag bags. What a way to get a jump on holiday gift buying!
For the Urban Explorer
Grab a ticket to Dallas Tours, the only “hop-on hop-off” sightseeing trolley tour in the city, to enjoy a live narrated tour covering 100 points of interest. Learn about Reunion Tower, the JFK Memorial, Dallas World Aquarium, and more as you hop on and off at 15 key points around the city. The best part? Your ticket is good for two days, perfect for the weekend following Thanksgiving.
For the Reluctant Yogi
Someone has figured out that adding goats to yoga classes makes more people actually want to go to yoga classes – and we are here for it. Convince your reluctant friend or family member to finally join you in your practice by bringing them to Holiday Goat Yoga at The Hub on Sunday, November 27. Once you’re done with your class, and your cuddles, stay and explore all that The Hub has to offer by grabbing some drinks and nibbles.
For the Historian
There are few different outfits in Dallas that offer guided tours of the key areas of the John F. Kennedy assassination, but our money is on those offered by Fun Dallas Tours. Choose from three different tour lengths, depending on how deep into the topic you want to explore, and plan to develop some new theories on what exactly happened on that fateful day downtown.
For the Soap Opera Fan
Last but not least on our list of what to do in Dallas on Thanksgiving is something you can’t actually do on Thansgiving (it’s closed) but you definitely can – and should – do on one of the days surrounding the holiday: visit Southfork Ranch! Made legend by the hugely popular primetime, 1980s soap opera Dallas, Southfork is still billed as “the world’s most famous ranch.” Take a tour of the mansion and check out artifacts from the series, including the famous gun that shot JR Ewing. Afterwards, you can stroll the beautifully maintained grounds or take a trail ride with the wranglers.
We hope we’ve given you plenty of great ideas about what to do in Dallas on Thankgiving and the days surrounding it, but if you’re looking for even more suggestions, check out Things to Do in Dallas Around Thanksgiving from Visit Dallas. Above all, we hope you have a wonderful, relaxing and fun holiday – whether that means you hit the town, or stay at home in your comfy cozies.
