Staying in LA for Thanksgiving? Here’s a Guide to Celebrating Away from Home

by Kayla Bowens ‘25

As the fall season is in full swing, temperatures are cooling down, and Thanksgiving is around the corner, which means there are many fun festivities to take part in. Fall is the season for pumpkin spice, football, and a reminder to be thankful for our loved ones. Bearing in mind everyone has different holiday experiences, I know it’s common for students to stay in LA during Thanksgiving, so here are a few potential events and places you can visit to incorporate some holiday goodness into your busy college life.

Host a Friendsgiving Potluck

If you aren’t able to go home to celebrate Thanksgiving, don’t worry. Your break can still be filled with relaxation and holiday celebrations. One way is to host a friendsgiving with other students who can’t make it back home. Get a group of your friends together, buy or make your favorite Thanksgiving foods, and enjoy a meal together. Or make it a potluck. People can bring mashed potatoes, hawaiian rolls (because who doesn’t love those), a charcuterie board, and whatever inventive desserts you can come up with. This is a great way to mimic a family Thanksgiving away from home, as well as a bonding experience for friends.

Grab Dinner and Dessert from a Restaurant

All around LA, restaurants are participating in making traditional Thanksgiving feasts three-course-meal-style for a flat fee per person. There are options across LA from Downtown to Santa Monica that are a train ride away if you do not have access to a car. Some of these potential Thanksgiving feast locations include:

Eataly LA

Located in the Century City Mall, Eataly is offering complete Thanksgiving dinners to go. Their family-style meal for four goes for $150 includes Tuscan-style roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other pastries and sides. If you want to go in with friends on a fancy dinner, this can be a great way to have Friendsgiving if none of you are gifted in the kitchen. Pre-order is available now and meals can be picked up between November 22-23.

27th Street Bakery

Less than two miles away from campus, this bakery has many delicious and affordable pie, cake, and cobbler options in classic flavors including sweet potato, pecan, pumpkin, chocolate, and more. All of these flavors are available in full or personal sizes. Personal pies cost between $4-$5, and the large ones range from $18-$23. This is the perfect option if dessert is the only part of Thanksgiving you really care about.

If you do have a campus meal plan, dining halls will be open on Thanksgiving for you to have your celebration there.

Activities Over Break

Los Angeles Auto Show

This is a yearly event in which every major automaker is invited to the Los Angeles Convention Center to participate in a showcase. It’s one of the nation’s top car-buying events that begins November 18 and ends November 27. If you’re a car enthusiast, this can be a fun stop to test drive, appreciate classic cars, and enjoy some street food. Tickets are available online for $27.

Run in the Turkey Trot

This is a Thanksgiving tradition and fundraiser in which people join together to run/walk a 5k or 10k with all proceeds going towards The Midnight Mission. This is an organization that strives to help people experiencing homelessness. The Turkey Trot takes place on Thanksgiving morning starting and ending in front of City Hall in Downtown. Registration can be found online.

Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica is about a 30 minute train ride from campus using the E line. The ride is free for students with a university TAP card from the USC U-Pass Program. On the pier there are many enjoyable activities like eating sweet treats, playing arcade games, and riding a small variety of amusement rides. Ride prices are available online and vary for each activity. Additionally, there is a special Thanksgiving Ferris Wheel light show going on from Monday, November 22 to Thursday, November 25. The light program often features animated turkeys and other autumn themes.

All of these activities are available on or before Thanksgiving and are great options if you don’t want to stay cooped up on campus for the duration of the break. Happy Thanksgiving and have a restful break!

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