But beyond that, things can become pretty quiet. It’s stuffing yourself with turkey, watching a lot of football or going shopping. That is unless you happen to be in any of these places, which makes the entire weekend a true party event.
PubClub.com knows that many of these places won’t necessarily be happening this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but we also know it’s always good to know this information for future planning. Thanksgiving Weekend 2020 is Nov. 26-29.
PubClub.com’s Top Thanksgiving Party Places
1.) Waikiki Beach
There’s a warm and sunny beach, the water and slow-rolling waves, girls in bikinis and guys in board shorts, booze cruises and fun bars. But there’s more on Thanksgiving – it’s the locals and tourists in the know who go this time of the year. There’s a even a parade (mainly to honor Pearl Harbor veterans but Santa Claus is there) on Friday right down the main street, Kalakaua Ave. And you top things off with Duke’s on Sunday. What could be better? Nothing!
Link: Waikiki Beach Blog Posts
2.) New York City
The weather is cold and it’s probably snowing, but New York City is alive and vibrant for Thanksgiving. That’s because it kicks off the holiday season that runs thru Christmas in the most festive way. It all starts with the Thanksgiving Day Parade and goes through the window shopping of all the stores, after which you’re tired and retire to a warm and cozy bar. With a lot of other people who are in the spirit(s) of the season.
3.) Columbus, Ohio
If this seems like an unusual place to make the list, then you don’t know college football. This is the site of this year’s Ohio State-Michigan game with a College Football Playoff appearance on the line is a rivalry so intense that the OSU coach claimed he once pushed his car back to Ohio because he didn’t want to buy gas in Michigan. While you may not get tickets to the game, there’s great tailgating and bar activity (the game is on Saturday). Just be careful what color of sweatshirt you wear out in town!
4.) College Campuses
A similar scene plays out on college campuses all over the country because it’s Rivalry Week in college football. The Alabama-Auburn game is in Tuscaloosa, which is a great place to be for Thanksgiving Weekend.
5.) Hermosa Beach/South Bay Los Angeles
The always-single and always-looking-for-a-party South Bay Beach Cities in Los Angeles is a great place to be for Thanksgiving. The party central place is the Hermosa Beach Pier, where small bars are lined up next to each other like turkey and dressing on the dinner table; don’t be surprised to run into a pub crawl or two.
Plus, on Saturday you can jump on a party bus and go to the USC-UCLA football game at the historic Los Angeles Coliseum.
Link: Hermosa Beach Blog Posts
6.) Pacific Beach, CA (San Diego)
Two hours down the coast from Hermosa, it’s a similar scene in San Diego’s “PB.” Like Hermosa and the South Bay, there are also adjacent beaches, all accessed along a walking/running/bike path. Just to the south is Mission Beach, and along the way are fun beach bars like Lahina and Wave House. Further down is Ocean Beach and to the north is La Jolla. There’s enough partying here to keep you busy the entire Thanksgiving weekend.
7.) Key West, FL
The Conch Republic, as it likes to call itself, attracts a lot of South Floridans who are looking for a long weekend escape. Key West provides it with a lot of fun and historic bars (Sloppy Joe’s, Captain Tony’s Saloon), a true scene each night with sunsets at Mallory Square and silly but entertaining tourist activities like the Conch Train. Here, drinking and partying from daytime thru nighttime is the main attraction.
Link: Key West Blog Posts
8.) New Orleans
Anytime is a great time to go to New Orleans, and on Thanksgiving, it’s a real feast. It starts with a parade, the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day Parade, which goes from the Superdome to the French Quarter and features the “Human Jukebox,” the Grambling State University and Southern University marching bands. That alone is probably worth the trip. From there, it’s the Quarter, Bourbon Street and the rest that makes New Orleans so special.
Link: New Orleans Blog Posts
9.) Ft. Lauderdale
A long, warm beach, water everywhere and a big row of ocean-front bars and restaurant/bars make Lauderdale a great partiers’ getaway. Another bonus are the quick weekend singles cruises to the Bahamas. A PubClub.com favorite watering hole here is the Elbo Room, a little dive that attracts characters from all over South Florida.
10.) Scottsdale/Tempe AZ
The rivalry football game with Arizona is the previous week but that just means the students will be spending more time in the bars along Mill Ave. This is a big party school to begin with and give students a couple extra days without classes and it’s a scene that’s one of the best in the country. As an added bonus, a series of fun bars is just down the road (but don’t drink and drive!) in Old Town Scottsdale.
#thanksgiving
#happythanksgiving
You really know your parties, Kevin
Glad to see you are reading PubClub.com, Robert!