Get ready to back up everything you said when you were on the couch! Photo courtesy of Great Big Game Show

Family Attractions Open on Thanksgiving in DC

1. Great Big Game Show — Washington, DC

Rather than arguing around the dinner table, the extended family can go head-to-head at the Great Big Game Show. This live-hosted show includes a rotating lineup of five mini games that involve strategy, trivia, speed, and more. You might even recognize some of the games from your favorite game shows!

2. Ice Skating Rinks

Most ice skating rinks in the DC area—including the Washington Harbour Ice Rink in Georgetown, the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion, and Baltimore's Inner Harbor Ice Rink—are open on Thanksgiving. A spin around the ice with your family is a fun way to burn off all that stuffing!

3. Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience — Washington, DC

My daughter and I absolutely loved this immersive journey through 10 interactive rooms, which include an undersea LED room, a virtual-reality room, an endless infinity experience, and a vast ocean of pink balloons. Dazzling colors, lasers, moving lights, and bubbles integrate with 360-degree projection technology and virtual reality to create a magical experience. Good luck getting your kids out of the huge bubble-bath ball pit!

4. Movie Theaters

How about Thanksgiving dinner and a movie? Movie theaters throughout the DMV are open for business on Turkey Day, and some great kid-friendly flicks will be showing. The long-anticipated Wicked: For Good comes out November 21, 2025, and Disney's Zootopia 2 hits theaters November 26.

5. Tea Around Town

Book your family a fancy Thanksgiving tea on this pink winter wonderland tour bus. Enjoy exquisite teas and delicious food, set against a backdrop of luxurious decor, stunning views, and live entertainment.

Christmas Light Shows and Events Open on Thanksgiving

Want to finish your turkey and move right on to Christmas? These holiday lights drive-thrus, Christmas light shows, and other fa-la-la activities are all open on Thanksgiving!

Take a ride down Snow Flow Mountain. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort

6. Gaylord National Resort Christmas Events

Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor is the ultimate holiday destination, with loads of Christmas activities under one roof—and they all happen to be open on Thanksgiving. ICE! featuring The Polar Express is exquisite—my favorite ICE! yet. Cirque: Spirit of Christmas is only 35 minutes long, so little ones will be able to sit through it. And my whole family has a blast going ice tubing down Snow Flow Mountain every year!

7. Bull Run Festival of Lights — Centreville, VA

Bull Run Festival of Lights is Northern Virginia’s largest drive-thru holiday lights experience with 2.5 miles of lighted holiday and fairytale vignettes. At the end of the drive, there's a Holiday Village and carnival with a market and a petting zoo.

8. Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run — Alexandria, VA

While the ice skating at Cameron Run Regional Park doesn't open until the day after Thanksgiving, you can still walk through the Village to see the holiday lights, take pictures with a variety of displays, and enjoy a hot beverage and snacks. 

9. SPCA Lights on the Bay — Annapolis, MD

This holiday light show at Sandy Point State Park boasts more than 60 spectacular animated and stationary displays along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Snag some 3D glasses for the full effects.

Don't miss the sparkling, nature-themed lights at Meadowlark. Photo by the author

10. Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights — Vienna, VA

Take a half-mile walk through Meadowlark's elegant garden trail. Decorated with thousands of sparkling lights, it features lighted nature themes and animated displays. Enjoy some s'mores and hot cocoa at the end. This is my family's favorite light show in the DC area—we've gone annually for the past 11 years and my teens still love it!

11. Winter Lantern Festival — Tysons, VA

The Winter Lantern Festival is a dazzling light display made from more than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns, inspired by Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs. My family found the location in Lerner Town Square to be pretty underwhelming, but it's worth going to see the lanterns if you haven't yet done so!

12. Season's Greenings at the US Botanic Garden — Washington, DC

The US Botanic Garden's annual holiday display and train show kicks off on Thanksgiving, and this year it's extra dino-mite—G-gauge model trains will chug through displays of dinosaurs made from plant parts, including T-rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and more. The best part? It's totally FREE!

Museums Open on Thanksgiving in DC

While most Smithsonian museums are usually open on Thanksgiving, they are currently closed due to the government shutdown. However, you still have a couple of museum options for Thanksgiving 2025!

13. Mount Vernon 

Spend your holiday at the historic home of George Washington. Tour his mansion, explore the grounds, watch costumed interpreters demonstrate farming practices on the four-acre farm, and see hundreds of artifacts from his lifetime at the museum. When hunger strikes, enjoy a lavish Thanksgiving buffet at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant.

14. Museum of Illusions — Washington, DC

How about a side of illusions with your turkey? Enjoy more than 50 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms that are designed to tease the senses and trick the mind.

Kid-Friendly Shopping Open on Thanksgiving

15. German Christmas Village — Baltimore, MD

This authentic German Christmas market in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is open for limited hours on Thanksgiving (12-5pm), so you can get a jump start on your holiday shopping before you feast!

16. Bass Pro Shops

Shopping for any outdoor enthusiasts? Bass Pro Shops will be open and will likely have some early Black Friday deals! 

17. CVS

Most, but not all, CVS locations will open on Thankgiving with reduced hours. Check the CVS store locator for your local store's hours.

18. Dollar General

Most Dollar General stores will be open on Thanksgiving for last-minute items. Hours vary by location, so check with your local store before heading out. 

19. Starbucks

If you and your tweens and teens need a Starbie's fix to fuel your holiday adventures, you're in luck—most locations will be open on Thanksgiving. Hours will be reduced, though, so it's best to get there early. 

Grocery Stores Open on Thanksgiving in DC

Forgot the cranberries? Need more potatoes? These grocery stores will be open on Thanksgiving for all your last-minute needs. Hours will vary by location and will be  reduced.  

• 20. Giant

• 21. Harris Teeter

• 22. Safeway

• 23. Wegmans 

• 24. Whole Foods

Tips for Families Spending Thanksgiving Day in DC

Check Hours in Advance

Many places have shorter holiday hours, so call or check the website before you go.

Bundle Up for Outdoor Fun

Outdoor activities like ce skating, parks, and holiday light shows won't be any fun if your family is freezing! Be sure everyone has a coat, hat, and other winter gear.

Use Public Transit

Traffic and parking can be insane on Thanksgiving Day. Save yourself the headache and use public transportation if possible!

FAQ: What’s Open on Thanksgiving in DC?

Q1: What museums are open in NYC on Thanksgiving Day?
While most Smithsonian museums are typically open on Thanksgiving, this year they are closed indefinitely due to the government shutdown. However, Mount Vernon is open every day of the year, including Thanksgiving!

Q2: Are DC malls open on Thanksgiving?
No, DC-area shopping malls are closed on Thanksgiving. Save your dollars and energy for Black Friday!

Q3: Can families go ice skating in NYC on Thanksgiving?
Yes, most ice rinks in the DC area—including the Washington Harbour Ice Rink in Georgetown and WestPost Outdoor Ice Skating in National Landing—are open for some festive Thanksgiving fun!

Q4: What grocery stores are open for last-minute shopping?
Most Giant, Harris Teeter, Safeway, Whole Foods, and Wegmans locations open with shorter hours on Thanksgiving, allowing you to run in for those last-minute ingredients!

Q5: Is the DC Metro open on Thanksgiving?
Yes, the Metro runs on a limited Sunday schedule.