5 Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Philly
Ah, Thanksgiving. For most Americans, Thanksgiving is synonymous with feasting on turkey, and recovering after a long meal by vegging on the couch watching football with family. What could be better than that? If you’re in Philly, the answer is plenty. Whether you’re keeping it close to home or visiting from out of town, here are 5 ways to make your Thanksgiving even better this year…
- Gobble down a Wawa Gobbler
Enjoy a pre-Thanksgiving dinner Wawa Turkey Gobbler. For years, fans of this holiday hoagie have touted it as nothing short of amazing. Wawa describes the sandwich as “all your Thanksgiving favorites…on a roll!” Hot turkey, gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on a hoagie roll not your jam? Try a Hot Turkey bowl, which features turkey with gravy over mashed potatoes and stuffing. If you’re visiting, you can’t leave town without trying a Wawa holiday special! We won’t let you come back. Just kidding…or are we? Maybe just head to Wawa and don’t find out.
- Support Some Local Teams
Take in some high-school football rivalries before the NFL Thanksgiving Day games. Football is a huge thing in the Delaware Valley, and many local schools have rivalries that have spanned decades. The most exciting of these are the Thanksgiving Day contests that abound throughout the area. Northeast High School and Central High School have been at it for more than 100 years, with an annual Thanksgiving Day game tradition that began in 1892! This year the two teams will square off at Northeast High’s campus at 1601 Cottman Ave. Other games to check out include Overbrook High vs. West Philadelphia, Archbishop Ryan vs. George Washington High School, and Boys Latin Charter vs. Frankford High School.
- Jump Start Your Holiday Spirit
Walk off dinner (or get a jump on burning calories) at Christmas Village. Located at LOVE Park through Christmas Eve, the market opens for the season at 9 AM on Thanksgiving Day. Based on traditional Christmas markets found in Germany, the village will feature nearly 100 vendors offering a variety of food and goods. Shop for gifts, drink some mulled wine, and get your picture taken with Santa on the way out. You can even find your perfect Christmas tree. Side note: LOVE Park has been undergoing improvements and just re-opened, so take some time out from the busy Thanksgiving Day rush to enjoy the sights!
- Save Room for Dessert
Shake up the pumpkin pie tradition with The Dining Car’s apple walnut pie. If you’ve never been to The Dining Car, you must check out this Frankford Ave institution. Located in the Northeast, this diner has an in-house bakery that is arguably one of the best in the city. Call ahead and order an apple walnut pie to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. Trust us, everyone will ask where you found this delicious treat. If you want to add even more variety to the dessert table, you’ll find tons of options. Butter cake, eclairs, and cinnamon buns are just a few of the choices served up at The Dining Car.
- The Parade
Head to the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. The oldest in the country, the Philly parade has been a Thanksgiving Day staple since 1920. The route runs for more than a mile: beginning at 20th and JFK, down the Ben Franklin Parkway, right to the Museum of Art. There are plenty of great spots to take in the action. From marching bands to giant balloons to performances by the Eagles cheerleaders, there is always something for everyone at this holiday celebration. If you can’t tear yourself away from your Thanksgiving dinner preparations to see the parade in person, tune into 6ABC to watch live from home. Don’t miss the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at the finale – every Philly kid knows this is the unofficial start of the holiday season!
The McCann Team wishes you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! Keep an eye out for our guide to celebrating the holiday season in Philadelphia, coming soon!
