Thanksgiving Family Fun 2021

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the city is getting ready to celebrate with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more. There are a few ways to enjoy Thanksgiving festivities with some family fun in Lincoln Square, including watching the Parade.

Color Me Mine (177 Amsterdam Avenue at 68th Street)

Color Me Mine, our local paint-your-own pottery studio, is hosting two Thanksgiving-themed events for kids on the mornings of Friday, November 12 and Friday, November 19. From 10:30am – 11:15am, the event will feature a reading of Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes after which instructors will guide you and your child in painting your child's very own ceramic handprint plate. The tickets begin at $25 and include an 8-inch plate, all paints, supplies, glazing and firing. Click here for reservations.

CAMP (10 Columbus Circle)

Families looking for a fun way to spend the morning of Thanksgiving Day can head to The Shops at Columbus Circle and participate in a Thanksgiving Warm-Up Party at CAMP. At 10:00am on Thursday, November 25, enjoy crafts, treats, and parade-inspired fun at this ticketed event! Guests will be building their own floats as you watch the Parade from the store, and the event will end with a mini parade around the Columbus Circle store! There will also be light snacks and beverages provided by Tartinery and Pressed Juicery — a tasty warm up for your Thanksgiving feast. Click here to buy tickets for the event, which are $25 each.

If your holiday plans prevent you from heading to CAMP on Thanksgiving Day, but you think a family float-building activity is just what you need to celebrate the season with family fun, you can also purchase tickets to a Thanksgiving Parade Turkey Float event at CAMP on four days leading up to the 25th: Friday, November 12; Friday, November 19; Tuesday, November 23; and Wednesday, November 24. Tickets are $25 per child.

Paper Source (10 Columbus Circle)

Take some time this month to sit down with a family craft to decorate for your upcoming Thanksgiving celebration, make cards for friends and family, or just bond with some fun creativity. Paper Source on the third floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle sells holiday-themed crafts for Thanksgiving, including a turkey feather paper centerpiece, fall wreath kits, and various stickers and pattern papers for your own craft ideas. Click here to browse what’s available online to help you celebrate your favorite autumn festivities.

Balloon Inflation Event (Outside of the Museum of Natural History)

On the evening before the Thanksgiving Day Parade, you can see the balloons inflated on the blocks surrounding the American Museum of Natural History, which is just a handful of blocks north of our district. The entrance to the blow-up event is at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue and it will take place from noon to 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 24. Please note that all attendees over age 12 must be vaccinated in order to attend. Children under 12 years old may attend with a fully vaccinated adult. Attendees will be encouraged to social distance and masks will be required at all times. Click here for details from Macy’s. Before or after watching this event for a while, head to Lincoln Square to enjoy lunch or dinner at one of our great restaurants, which you can browse here.

Also, check out our article from last week about Thanksgiving meals, including catering, and see what's available to help you celebrate the holiday. And don't forget to check out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route for Thursday, November 25. 

Photo credit: CAMP