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Thanksgiving Day Weekend Activities and Events

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Thanksgiving Day and weekend in Reno and Sparks have many options for participating in family friendly events. It's a time when activities revolve around good food and visiting with family and friends. Thanksgiving Day 2025 is on Thursday, November 27.

For Thanksgiving dinner, lots of people like to eat out. There are great places around Reno and Sparks to enjoy this special meal. Learn where from my article "Thanksgiving Day Dining in Reno and Sparks."

Thursday, November 27, 2025, 8:30 a.m. Sign up with friends or family for the 2-mile walk that starts and ends in the Scheels Parking lot, located at 1200 Scheels Drive in Sparks (no running events this year due to construction). Register early as the price increases close to event day. NO DOGS (except for registered and licensed service dogs). A portion of all entry fees will benefit Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) and Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

Thursday, November 27, 2025, starting at 9 a.m. Join us on Thanksgiving morning for a run/ walk/ wobble that kicks off your Thanksgiving festivities. The race event will begins in Idlewild Park. Participants will make their way through downtown Reno and the nearby parks before returning to the finish where they will get a finisher's medal upon completion. Strollers and walkers allowed, but NO DOGS except registered service animals. Register online or at the event on race day. Cost varies depending on when you register.

November 28 - 29 and December 6 - 7, 13 - 14, 20 - 21, 2025. There will be three trains each day departing from the Virginia City depot (166 F Street), at 12 noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. On the scenic 50-minute journey over the 150-year old V&T railroad route, you will enjoy hot cocoa or cider and cookies, and listening to songs of the season and taking in the beautifully lit Christmas scenes along the way. A gift bag and light stick will be presented to every passenger. Reservations required and seating is assigned - buy tickets online. For more information, call (775) 847-0380.

Select dates from November 14 through December 23, 2025. The Polar Express™ sells out every year. Get tickets as soon as possible if you want to ensure the best seats, date, and time for your family and/or group. Tickets are available online from the Polar Express website.

Friday through Sunday, December 12 - 14, 2025. Buckle up for the ultimate holiday adventure as we take you on a musical road trip across America. In this one-of-a-kind holiday spectacular, your Reno Phil Orchestra & Chorus, along with special guest performers, bring the sounds of the holidays from every corner of the United States to life. It's a perfect event for the entire family to enjoy together. At the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Choose from four showtimes and purchase tickets online.

• Friday, December 12 at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 PM
• Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 PM
• Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 PM

Friday and Saturday, November 28 - 29, 2025. 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. both days. Join us Thanksgiving weekend for the City of Reno's Christmas Tree Lighting. Experience the joy of the season as you shop for locally made holiday gifts, enjoy live music, free photos with Sants, and indulge in delicious treats from our food truck plaza, all while soaking in the festive lights. City Plaza is between City Hall and the Truckee River.

This Thanksgiving weekend, the Nevada Museum of Art has a number of on-going exhibits suitable for family visits. The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, November 30, 2025. Be sure to check the Plan Your Visit page for details about visiting the museum.

Many Reno / Sparks museums, and also those down in Carson City, have a variety of exhibits and activities available during the Thanksgiving holidays. Check "Museums, Culture, and Shows in Reno / Sparks, Nevada" to see what's available. Be sure to call ahead for holiday hours.

There will be some good movies in local theaters during this holiday season. You can lessen the holiday hassle and avoid lines at the theater by buying advance tickets online.

The Fleischmann Planetarium is open for public shows on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visit the website for details about open hours, other things to do while visiting and available shows and programs.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 28 - 30, 2025, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can enjoy our animals when they are active in late fall's cooler temperatures. This will be the last chance to see our animals before our regular winter closure. Admission is $20 for adults, $12 children (3 to 12), $16 seniors (65+), free for age 2 and under. From Reno, take U.S. 395 north, turn right on Red Rock Road, go 11.5 miles, then right onto Deerlodge Road. For more information, call (775) 970-3111 (area code required). Weather may cancel - call 1-775-970-3111 before driving out and listen to the recording for any changes due to weather.

Lake Tahoe area ski resorts like to open for the big Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but snowfall generated by Mother Nature has a lot to do with it. Avid skiers and snowboarders will know if conditions are good. Everyone else can get the latest information from the websites of those resorts they are interested in visiting.

If there is enough snow, Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe area snow play areas and ski resorts will be ready for slipping and sliding. If the weather is nice during the break, it will be a great time to take the kids up to the mountains for some sledding, tubing, and other fun in the snow. There are some really nice places close to the Reno area. Call ahead or check the website to make sure your destination is open for the season.

Try the outdoor ice rink when it opens for the winter season at the Grand Sierra Resort. We also have a new, indoor ice skating facility in south Reno called Reno Ice (officially known at the Jennifer M. O'Neal Community Ice Arena). This arena offers public skating sessions in addition to other attractions like figure skating and hockey.

Saturday, November 29, 2025. The Nevada Wolf Pack football team takes on the UNLV Rebels in Reno. This is the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Go Pack!

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