guides

2024 Thanksgiving Food and Fun Guide

By Heather Flanders, Macaroni Kid Concord Publisher Mom November 5, 2024

Thanksgiving is getting close! Are you looking for fun things to do to celebrate Thanksgiving, ways to instill a heart of gratitude in your children, local places to get food for Thanksgiving Day, or some new recipes?

Macaroni Kid Concord is here as a resource to connect families and community. So for Thanksgiving, I wanted to bring you a list of resources that will help you celebrate whether you want to cook for family, buy desserts, or pick up a whole dinner from a local restaurant. 



Activities and Ideas


9 Reasons to Take a Family Walk After Thanksgiving Dinner

Brown Paper Bag Turkey Book

Finding Your Gratitude: 30 Days of Writing Prompts

Gratitude Tablecloth a Meaningful Family Thanksgiving Tradition

Turkey Family Hand Print Painting

Why You Should Dish Out Cooking Assignments This Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving Recipes


10 Steps to Cooking the Perfect Turkey

Easy Corn Casserole is a Savory Thanksgiving Side Dish

How to Make Paper Bag Apple Pie

Make Thanksgiving Even Grander With This Grand Marnier Stuffing

Make These Delicious Pumpkin Muffins with Just 2 Ingredients

Three Stuffing Recipes That Will Make Them Ask for Seconds

Turkey Fruit Platter

Who Needs Pie When You Have Pumpkin Torte

What To Do With Holiday Leftovers? Try This Crustless Turkey Pot Pie


Thanksgiving Events


Now - watch Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow included in PRIME (Amazon)

Now - December 24 - Santa's Wonderland 2024 - Get your photo with Santa at Bass Pro Shops!

November 9 - Christmas Craft Fair at United Church of Penacook - This craft fair and bake sale benefits the United Church Food Pantry and the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness. It's the perfect time to shop for Christmas gifts including wood-turned goods, jams, scrubbers, stuffed toys, decor, and more.

November 9 - Concord Hospital Annual Holiday Craft Fair - Come start your Christmas shopping with local baked goods, holiday floral arrangements, knitted items and more!  

November 9 - Capital City Craft & Artisan Show - Featuring over 100 vendors offering handmade holiday items to kickstart your shopping! Door prizes, live music and lunch options available! 

November 9 - Wagon Rides at Charmingfare Farm! **Tickets required - Come enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride through the trails of the farm! Perfect for families, couples, or anyone wishing to experience serene scenery

November 16 - Holiday Fair - West Congregational Church, UCC - Kick off your holiday shopping at this holiday fair!! Enjoy handmade crafts, baked goods, and more! Soup and sandwich lunch and pies available!

November 16 - Turkey Painting Party **RESERVE a spot - Paint a turkey bank or a turkey on canvas for the upcoming holiday! 

November 19 - Kids Thanksgiving Craft Event - Bring your Kids out to Uno for special Kids Eat Free event with a Thanksgiving craft for the kids to enjoy! Kids eat free with purchase of adult entrée.

November 22 - Loudon Paint Nite! Thanksgiving Event - **Tickets Required. Come paint a Thanksgiving themed canvas while listening to the hottest playlist. Hosted by Dance Hits and Paint Drips.

November 23 - 🎅 2024 Concord Christmas Parade - Santa Claus is coming to town! Kick off your holiday season with the theme "Silver  - Bells" for the Annual Concord Christmas Parade! Get a spot along the parade route and watch the fun!

November 23 - Farmers & Artisans Market at The Boys & Girls Club Concord - Shop the "Kid's Zone" downstairs where all items are $0.25!

November 23 & 24 - 45th Annual Bow PTO Craft Fair - Come see what 150 local artisans from New England have to offer for your holiday shopping! 

November 23 & 24 - 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' for FREE on Apple+

November 23 - December 1 - Feztival of Trees - Purchase tickets for a chance to win your favorite decorated tree!

November 28 - Thanksgiving Day 5K Turkey Trot - Come run with others from the community in the 5k Turkey Trot and you could win a great prize! The race starts and ends at Hopkinton High School. **Pre-register for a discount

November 28 - January 5, 2025 - Gift of Lights **tickets required - Start a family tradition this season by driving through 2.5 miles of sparkly Christmas lights, full of Christmas scenes, a tunnel and arches.

November 29 - Concord Christmas Tree Lighting - Come kick off the Christmas season with the community! There will be a magic show, a DJ, and clowns making balloon animals! Have a sweet treat with marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate, hot cider and a hot food cart! Santa will arrive on the firetruck and will start the countdown for the tree lighting.

November 29 & 30 - Christmas Tree Spree - **Tickets required** - Find your perfect Christmas tree at Charmingfare Farm. 

November 30 - 2024 Bishop Brady Galloping Gobbler - Come join Bishop Brady High School as they present their annual Galloping Gobbler event, Concord's community Thanksgiving Road Race. This 4 mile walk/run open to all.

November 30 - Hands - On Wreath Decorating Workshop  - Reserve your spot now to decorate an inviting holiday wreath.

November 30 - A Black Forest Nursery Christmas with Santa! - Visit Santa on this festive day of cheer! Bring the whole family and camera to take photos with Santa, make s’mores by the fire, hot coffee and warm apple cider are available to keep you warm!


Fresh Local Turkeys


Fox Country Smoke House in Canterbury

Johnson Golden Harvest in Hooksett

LaValley Farms in Hooksett

The Robie Store in Hooksett

The Wine'ing Butcher in Pembroke

Concord Food Co-op - organic turkeys in Concord


Thanksgiving at Local Restaurants


Alan's Of Boscawen - Open 11:30 am - 6:00 pm for a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner or Grand Thanksgiving Buffet. Call (603) 753-6631 to make a reservation

The Red Blazer - Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm for their Thanksgiving Day Buffet. Call (603) 224-4101 to make a reservation


To-Go Meals


Concord Food Co-op - Meal serves 8-10 people. Order by noon on Monday, November 18. Pick up Wednesday November 27 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

The Common Man - Order by Friday November 22 

The Wine'ing Butcher - Order a Complete Sides Package to feed 4-6 people


Pies and More

The Cake Fairy - Apple pie, Apple crumb pie, Apple Crisp, Pumpkin or chocolate whoopie pies, and more. Order by Saturday, November 23. Pick Up Wednesday, November 27 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm

Carter Hill Orchard - Preorder your pies 

Gould Hill Farm - Cider, Pies, Crisps, Cookies, Donuts, and more. Gluten free cookie option available. Place Thanksgiving orders by Saturday, November 23

Johnson Golden Harvest - Order Baked Bread, Pies, and even gluten-free goodies!

LaValley Farms- Large variety of pies are available. Pick up at the farmstand on Tuesday, November 26, and Wednesday, November 27.

Red Arrow Diner- Pies and Cakes- Please order at least 24 Hours in advance.

The Crust and Crumb- Pies, Rolls, Quiches, and More - Order by Friday November 22 and Pick Up Tuesday, November 26 or Wednesday, November 27.

The Red Blazer - Preorder your Cakes, Pies, Rolls, and More. Pick up on Tuesday, November 26 or Wednesday, November 27.

The Robie Store - A variety of pies are available. Order by Friday, November 22, pick up Wednesday, November 27.

Meadow Ledge Farm - Order pies, apple crisp and dinner rolls by phone, in-person, or message by noon on Saturday, November 23. Pick up on Tuesday, November 26 or Wednesday, November 27.


More exciting events will be added as the information becomes available. Dates and times subject to change, please visit the links provided. Enjoy your holiday!












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