The Best Thanksgiving Day Specials, Attractions & Events in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has always been known for bucking tradition, so it's no accident that Southern California gives those who visit during Thanksgiving ample opportunity to do the same. With average temperatures well into the 60s, numerous dining options, and many attractions open for at least part of the day, Thanksgiving in LA is as stuffed with activities as that turkey about to be carved.

NOTE: All Thanksgiving dinners and events are taking place on Thursday, November 23 unless otherwise noted.

On Thanksgiving Day, restaurants across Los Angeles are preparing sumptuous holiday meals for dine-in and take-out that will please every palate. From traditional dinners to lavish buffets, veg-friendly options and pies to-go, read on for LA restaurants and hotels that are celebrating Thanksgiving.

For a fun, family-friendly Thanksgiving Day, a visit to one of LA's numerous attractions may be just the ticket.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
Book the VIP Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood, and get VIP seats to shows and front-of-line privileges to all attractions, including SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, The Secret Life of Pets, Jurassic World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - from magical spells to magical creatures, from dark villains to daring heroes, it's all here! Experience Fast & Furious: Supercharged, Springfield - home of The Simpsons; Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem - a 3D Ultra-HD movie motion-simulator ride; and Super Silly Fun Land, an interactive playland adventure. Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off on Black Friday, featuring Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and the Who-tacular festivities of Grinchmas™.

SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN
If you're looking for thrills, there are 20 roller coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain - more than any amusement park in the world - making it the undisputed “Roller Coaster Capital of the World.” From November 23 to December 31, Six Flags Magic Mountain lights up the season during its annual holiday extravaganza, Holiday in the Park. The whole family will enjoy musical shows, twinkling lights, holiday treats, Santa and much more.

PACIFIC PARK
Open 365 days a year on the historic Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park features a classic amusement park midway and a dozen rides, including the West Coaster and the Pacific Wheel, the first solar-powered Ferris wheel. The Pier is open daily from 6am to 10pm; Pacific Park will be open on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 7:30pm.

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
The Aquarium of the Pacific is serving the annual Thanksgiving Feast on the Rooftop Veranda dining area overlooking Rainbow Harbor. Come gobble gobble with the Aquarium’s sea otters, puffins and more than 12,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean. Savor a buffet-style traditional spread along with a full cash bar and seasonal cocktails that will be available for purchase. Reservations are available hourly between 11am and 4pm. Pricing is $95 per adult (ages 12+) and $67.50 per child (ages 3-11). Includes Aquarium admission. For Aquarium members, pricing is $70/adult and $47.50/child.

Boasting gorgeous views of LA beaches and the marina, City Cruises is offering two options for Thanksgiving Day. Both cruises board at Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey.

Taking place from 11am to 1pm, the Thanksgiving Brunch Cruise features a selection of "Early Risers" (breakfast pastries, Scottish smoked salmon display, breakfast meats and potatoes, French toast, scrambled eggs) and "Late Risers" with hand-carved tri-tip, birria-style chicken, oven-roasted salmon, Caesar and Greek salads, baked orecchiette pasta, dessert station and a kid's station with chicken tenders and fries. The buffet includes free-flowing champagne, mimosas and sparkling cider; and unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea and water.

The Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise (4pm - 6:30pm) features a Winter Holiday Buffet that includes Hand Carved Oven-Roasted Turkey and Tri-Tip; Oven-Roasted Atlantic Salmon, veg-friendly Three Cheese Baked Macaroni; Classic Sides (garlic mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potato, haricot verts, traditional stuffing, turkey gravy), Greek Salad and Roasted Veggies, and Seasonal Dessert Display. Enjoy music from a live DJ and cocktails, wine and beer from the cash bar.

Pricing starts at $105 for the Thanksgiving Brunch Cruise and $151 for the Dinner Cruise. Discounts for Military and Children (ages 4-12). Kids 3 and under are free.

Whether you're a lifelong car enthusiast or just looking for something the entire family will enjoy on Thanksgiving Day, don't miss the LA Auto Show, open to the public November 17-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Downtown LA. Founded in 1907, the LA Auto Show is world-renowned as the first major North American auto show of the season.

Highlights include:

• Hundreds of brand new makes and models on display
• Indoor and outdoor test drives of the latest gas and electric vehicles
• Stunning custom builds like Mister Cartoon's 1963 International Ice Cream Truck
• Robert Downey Jr's Dream Cars and the Kevin Hart Collection
• USA Street Food Awards

Work off some of that turkey at the Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square, which returns to Downtown LA for its 2023-24 season on November 16 and runs daily through Jan. 7, 2024. Framed by skyscrapers and adorned with festive holiday lights, LA's largest outdoor ice skating rink spans 7,200 square feet and welcomes more than 54,000 skaters and 450,000 spectators annually.

The rink will be open 11am to 9:30pm on Thanksgiving Day. Pricing is $20 per person (all ages) for a one-hour session. Skates are included with admission. Figure and hockey skate sizes range from toddler’s size 8 to adult’s size 15. Guests can also bring their own ice skates.

Lockers are available to rent for $5. They can hold a couple of pairs of shoes, a medium-size handbag and a few small purchases.

For beginning skaters under 48" tall, Skate Helpers ($6) glide with the skater along the ice and help with balance and control.

Consistently rated LA's top outdoor tour provider by TripAdvisor, Bikes and Hikes offers unforgettable Hollywood Sign hikes with highlights including the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park Observatory, Greek Theatre, Mount Hollywood and spectacular city views. Bikes and Hikes offers two Hollywood Sign options: the 90-minute Express Tour and the more challenging 2.5-hour Original Hollywood Sign Hike. Private Tours are also available and are ideal for travelers on a set schedule or families/groups.

Spanning more than 4,200 acres, Griffith Park is is one of the largest municipal parks with urban wilderness areas in the United States. Griffith Park is open to the public daily from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Hiking paths, bridle trails and mountain roads are closed at sunset.

Enjoy some of the best views of the world-famous Hollywood Sign on Thanksgiving Day with Sunset Ranch Hollywood, which offers the Mulholland Trail Tour, and Mt Hollywood Day and Evening Tours.

Open on Thanksgiving Day from 10am to 3pm, the spectacular Academy Museum of Motion Pictures recently debuted its new slate of exhibits, including John Waters: Pope of Trash, Significant Movies and Movie Makers: Boyz N the Hood and Shifting Perspectives: Vertical Cinema.

Take advantage of LA's beautiful weather with a visit to one of the city's stunning botanical gardens. Located in La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Gardens is a 160-acre urban oasis complete with a camellia oak forest, streams, a lake, bird sanctuary, five-acre International Rosarium and colorful flower displays, as well as a mini-train route for the kids. Further east in Arcadia is the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, which has 127 acres of birds, plants, animals, and the historic Queen Anne cottage, which famously appeared in the opening credits of TV's Fantasy Island. Situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the 87-acre South Coast Botanic Garden has more than 2,500 different species of plants from as far away as Australia, the Mediterranean, and southern Africa.

Enjoy a dazzling evening experience and stroll Enchanted at Descanso Gardens; Lightscape at the Arboretum and Astra Lumina at the South Coast Botanic Garden.

Several of LA's best movie theatres have special screenings lined up for Thanksgiving Day.

Located at The Bloc in Downtown LA, Alamo Drafthouse is showing Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) at 5pm. The John Hughes comedy classic stars Steve Martin as a Chicago ad exec desperately trying to get home for Thanksgiving with his family; and his misadventures with a shower curtain ring salesman played by John Candy.

Quentin Tarantino's New Beverly Cinema is screening Tombstone (1993) at 7:30pm. The stacked all-star cast includes Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, and Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton as Wyatt's brothers, Virgil and Morgan, respectively.

The newly-reopened Vidiots is screening one of the greatest action-adventure movies of all time, Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Harrison Ford stars as archaeologist Indiana Jones and Karen Allen plays his former flame Marion Ravenwood, as they race against the Nazis to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant.

Releasing on Thanksgiving Eve, Walt Disney's Wish tells the story of Asha, who makes a wish so powerful that it's answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. The special presentation at the El Capitan Theatre includes Asha live on stage, plus a Disney100 celebration featuring Mickey Mouse! Purchase specialty concession items and snap a pic at the themed Photo Op.

TURKEY TROT LOS ANGELES   
The annual Turkey Trot Los Angeles is taking place in Downtown LA from 8am to noon on Thanksgiving morning. Turkey Trot LA features 5K and 10K routes on the historic streets of Downtown, an event festival at Grand Park and much more. Registration is $44 for the 5K Run/Walk, $49 for the 10K and $24 for the Widdle Wobble. a half-mile trot for kids and their families. (Strollers are welcome!) Race day packet pick-up opens at 6:30am. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Turkey Trot benefits The Midnight Mission – an amazing organization that offers a path to self sufficiency to those experiencing homelessness.

THANKSGIVING DAY RUN & FOOD DRIVE - LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE   
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Thanksgiving Day Run & Food Drive takes place at Memorial Park in La Cañada Flintridge. The 5K Run/Walk is open to all ages and abilities and is a major fundraiser for the Community Center; proceeds are used to support its year-round programs. The race is professionally timed and begins promptly at 8:30am. The Kid's Mile begins at 9:30am and is ideal for children ages 12 and under. Registration is $50 for the 5K and $25 for the Kid's Mile. Participants are invited to bring non-perishable food items for drop-off at the Community Center to be donated to families in need.

THANKSGIVING FEASTS - LAUGH FACTORY   
The world-famous Laugh Factory hosts its annual free Thanksgiving Feasts on Thanksgiving Day, featuring top comedians and celebrities helping to serve each guest a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Comics will perform live shows following each meal served throughout the day.

DRUMSTICK DASH LA - NOHO ARTS DISTRICT   
On Thanksgiving Day, thousands of participants will run, jog and walk a 5K/10K course through the NoHo Arts District to raise money to provide hot meals to those in need. Drumstick Dash LA is open to runners, joggers and walkers of all ages and experience levels, including a half-mile Lil Gobblers course for kids and their families. The festivities include t-shirts and medals for runners; DJs along the course, costume contest and vendor expo. Proceeds from Drumstick Dash LA will benefit Hope the Mission to support its efforts to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger and homelessness.

WESTSIDE THANKSGIVING   
The Westside Thanksgiving - Community Dinner & Celebration is taking place at the West LA Civic Center on Thanksgiving Day. The free sit-down dinner is served from 11am-2pm. Everyone is invited - students, singles, low-income families, seniors, and anyone who is experiencing homelessness. Free services include a Mercado (store) of perishable and non-perishable items; haircuts, blankets, clothing, hygiene kits, medical/optica/dental exams, vaccinations, resource fair, live music and a children's carnival.

HARRY SUTTER MEMORIAL THANKSGIVING DAY FUN RUN   
The entire family is invited to participate in the Harry Sutter Memorial Thanksgiving Day Fun Run. The three-mile run/walk begins at 8am on Thanksgiving morning. A post-run raffle includes prizes like mountain bikes, gift cards to local food vendors, apparel and more. Winners must be present to receive prizes. Runners and spectators alike can bring canned goods for a special Thanksgiving Food Drive. While you watch, run or walk, the canned foods will be distributed to people in need throughout the South Bay.

Located in Santa Clarita, The Gentle Barn is a six-acre paradise that's home to nearly 200 animals, with horse and cow pastures, a red and white barnyard for smaller animals, organic vegetable garden, shade trees, and a panoramic view of the mountains.

On Thanksgiving Day, The Gentle Barn is hosting A Gentle Thanksgiving from 10am to 1pm. Animal lovers of all ages are invited to cuddle turkeys, feed them treats, and enjoy pie and games. Donation for timed entry is $75 for the 90-minute experience.