Thanksgiving is centered around one event we all love — a nice, big Thanksgiving dinner. But there’s plenty more going on around the holiday and, if you’re traveling, you may get the chance to check out an event you might not otherwise have a chance to see. Here are some neat Thanksgiving events around the country worth checking out:

New York: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

If there’s a second-most popular thing to do besides eat on Thanksgiving, it’s watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade make its way through Manhattan. If you’re in the Big Apple for Thanksgiving, you have the chance to check it out in person. Don’t miss out! 

The parade is always quite the spectacle, and is famous for its themed floats and massive balloons of animated characters. More than 50 million people tune in each year to see it televised, but why not see it in person if you can? The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning and runs until noon.

thanksgiving turkey

Plymouth: Visit the Birthplace of Thanksgiving

What better place to be for Thanksgiving than Plymouth, where the holiday was born? This is where the Puritans held a feast in the 1640s to express thanks for the harvest. Plymouth is about 40 miles from Boston.

Nowadays, Plymouth hosts a three-day celebration around Thanksgiving, this year from Nov. 18 to 20. The centerpiece is the parade down Main Street on Saturday, Nov. 19. But don’t miss the patriotic concert Friday night, or the Harvest Market on Sunday to stock up on supplies for Thanksgiving. You can check out all the events in store for Plymouth here.

Dallas: Run a Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving runs have really caught on in recent years. It’s a good way to kick off the holiday before getting together with friends and family. Plus, you’ll burn some calories, so you can feel a little better about all the food you’ll be eating. Many benefit charity organizations too, which is great.

Dallas is home to the nation’s largest turkey trot, with races of both five kilometers and eight miles. But, if you’re elsewhere, you can find turkey trots all across the U.S.

marathan runners

Philadelphia: The National Dog Show

Those who don’t turn on football after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade every year know that immediately following the parade is the National Dog Show. It’s attended by thousands of people, and it takes place in Oaks, PA, just a bit outside of Philadelphia.

The National Dog Show airs on Thanksgiving, but it’s actually filmed a few days earlier. The 2016 show will be held the weekend before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 19 and 20. A ticket to get in is $16 for adults and $7 for kids.

These are just a few ideas. No matter where you’ll be, we hope you do something fun and have a great Thanksgiving!

At PC Housing, we offer short- and long-term rentals across the country for business travelers. Why live in a hotel when you can live in a home during your stay? Get in touch with us to learn more about what we have to offer!