As November continues, many are beginning to prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, meaning it’s time to bring out the cornucopias and gourds, plan family gatherings and start shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.
With all the planning that goes into the actual day of Thanksgiving, plans for things to do after the holiday while the family is still gathered together are often forgotten. Luckily, New Hampshire has plenty of things to do with the family over the weekend and week following Thanksgiving.
Whether your family loves getting active, shopping for the holidays or simply relaxing with a good movie, New Hampshire is sure to have the perfect family-friendly post-Thanksgiving activitiy for you.
Here’s a list of five things to do with the family after Thanksgiving in New Hampshire.
Go shopping
Danielle Rouleau gets ready for Black Friday outside the Best Buy in Newington Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.
With Black Friday and Small Business Saturday immediately following Thanksgiving, the most obvious choice for an activity after the holiday is shopping. Along with deals at department stores, outlets and malls, many holiday markets in New Hampshire will open before or over Thanksgiving weekend.
For example, Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Village in Salem is already open for the season on weekends, and The Great New England Holiday Craft Market will be open at LaBelle Winery in Derry from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29.
Participate in a turkey trot
The kids run during the 1st annual West Bridgewater Youth Athletic Association Turkey Trot 5K run and walk at Friendship Park in West Bridgewater, Mass., on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
Sign up the whole family for a post-Thanksgiving turkey trot. While turkey trots traditionally take place on Thanksgiving Day, some towns host the festive runs after the big feast. For example, in New Hampshire this year, both Amherst and Concord are hosting turkey trots over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Amherst Junior Women’s Club is back with the 26th Annual Trot Off Your Turkey 5K at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. Registration for the 5K costs $30 per person, and the club will also host a one mile fun run at 9 a.m. for $10 per person.
In Concord, the 27th Annual Galloping Gobbler will return to Bishop Brady High School at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Registration costs $20 for the two-mile run or $30 for the four-mile run.
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Learn the history of Thanksgiving in New Hampshire
The Goodwin Mansion is seen at Strawbery Banke Museum. The museum announced the cancellation of the several fall staple events due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
Tap into local Thanksgiving history at Strawbery Banke Museum, where guided tours about the history of the holiday will be offered all Thanksgiving weekend long. The 90-minute tours travel through time, exploring three centuries of Thanksgiving traditions starting in the 1700s.
Tours, which cost $25 for non-members or $20 for members, are offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. from Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 30.
Go on a hike
Radiant fall foliage and other stunning natural landscapes inspire awe and remind us to be present and take it in.
If you’re from a family that loves the outdoors, soak up the last of the fall foliage on a hike through the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire. New Hampshire Magazine has compiled a list of the top 10 fall foliage hikes across the state, as well as five easier walks for fall leaf peeping.
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See a movie
L to R: Ariana Grande is Glinda and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in WICKED FOR GOOD, directed by Jon M. Chu.
If you’re looking to relax after the big holiday, take the family to the movie theater to see one of the many film releasing during the week of Thanksgiving, including “Zootopia 2,” which releases Nov. 26, or the highly anticipated “Wicked: For Good,” which releases Nov. 21.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 5 after-Thanksgiving activities to do with your family around NH