Your St. Louis Thanksgiving Weekend Events Guide for Thursday, November 24th through Sunday, November 27th, 2016.

Downtown

The Hungry Turkey 5K: A first-class, chip-timed event, The Hungry Turkey is run in conjunction with the Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown St. Louis. The event also raises funds for a local charity, Operation Food Search. To encourage the entire family on Thanksgiving morning to participate, the event is stroller and pet friendly and children 12 years and under can register for free! Participants in the kids 12 and younger (with paid adult entry) category may select to be timed for a fee of $5. Or you can select to be timed and receive an official Hungry Turkey shirt for $18. After the run, stay for the parade!

Date: Thursday, November 24
Time: 7:30am
Place: Downtown St. Louis – Market St

Thanksgiving Day Parade: The 2016 Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade is celebrating it’s 32nd year. The parade will be broadcast live on KMOV-TV Channel 4, awarded an Emmy for their production of the 2015 parade. Expect over 130 parade units, including musical floats and displays, giant helium balloon figures, animal units, restored antique cars and firetrucks, and marching bands from around the St. Louis region. As always, Santa Claus will be present to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas at the end of the parade. To recognize the 50th anniversary season of the St. Louis Blues and the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Service, the honor of serving as this year’s grand marshals has been bestowed upon St. Louis Blues’ legend Bobby Plager, Superintendents Michael M. Ward of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and Timothy Good of the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site.

Date: Thursday, November 24
Time: 8:45am
Place: Downtown St. Louis – Market St

Tribute Series at Ballpark Village: This series features tributes to great classic bands. This weekend, enjoy American Idiot: A Tribute to Green Day on Friday night and Ebb & Flow: A Tribute to 311 on Saturday night on the FOX Midwest Sports Live! stage. The concerts are free. Stick around for a fun party atmosphere and head over to Thanksgiving Fest at Howl at the Moon.

Date: November 25 & 26
Time: 9pm
Place: Ballpark Village – 601 Clark Ave

St. Louis Blues: The Blues take on the Minnesota Wild at home this Saturday. Park at Ballpark Village and enjoy the pep-rally which includes games, giveaways and more. You can catch a ride on the free Hockey Jockey Shuttle that runs 1 hour pre/post game! Game tickets start at $54.

Date: Saturday, November 26
Time: 7pm
Place: Scottrade Center

Central

Fair Trade Market: This market, now in it’s 14 year, is one of the largest of its kind offering thousands of handmade items with an average price of $20, live entertainment and food. This market is designed to transport shoppers around the world with international entertainment and a selection of items from more than 50 countries. None generated in sweatshops or in violation of fair labor practices and all with good environmental practices in mind. By choosing Fair Trade products, you are making a difference for farmers, artisans, and their communities worldwide.

Date: Nov 25-27
Time: 9am-3pm
Place: Manchester United Methodist Church-129 Woods Mills Rd

Olivette 3rd Annual Turkey Trot: This family friendly 5k run/walk course starts and ends at Stacy Park, down scenic Old Bonhomme Road and then through a paved tree lined trail. Long sleeve Tech T-shirts, entertainment, refreshments and giveaways make the race a fun way to start your Thanksgiving Day! The run benefits the Harvey Kornblum Food Pantry. Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome, but are asked to start at the back of the pack! Post race beer provided by Urban Chestnut Brewery and 4Hands Brewery.

Date: Thursday, November 24
Time: 8am
Place: Stacy Park, 9750 Old Bonhomme Rd

17th Annual Chesterfield Turkey Trot: This annual event includes a 5K Run/Walk and 1K Kids Fun Run sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. It’s a great way to spend time with family and exercise before the big meal. The 5K is a 3.1 mile loop course that follows Chesterfield Parkway around Chesterfield Mall. Long sleeve t-shirts are available to the first 2,500 registrants. Awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers and to the top three males and females each age group. Kids 9 & under will love the 1K Kids Fun Run, a 0.62 mile loop course that begins at Veterans Place Drive. Trophies will be given to the top boy and girl to place. All kids will receive a participation medal at the end of the race.

Date: Thursday, November 24
Time: 5K: 8:30am, Kids Run: 9:30am
Place: Chesterfield Parkway

illPHONiCS: A Formal Affair For Charity: Over the last 10 years, iLLPHONiCS have put themselves at the forefront of the music scene in Saint Louis and beyond. With a style all their own, they have honed their skills playing hundreds of shows all across the country. The band signed with the Kansas City-based label The Record Machine last year and released their third full-length album, Gone With The Trends, to critical acclaim this April. It debuted at #36 on the national College Music Journal charts. For this event, they’ve decided to partner with Music for Lifelong Achievement and a percentage of the proceeds from this show will put instruments in the hands of disadvantaged children. Tickets are $15-$30.

Date: Friday, November 25
Time: 8pm
Place: Sheldon – 3648 Washington Blvd

Norton’s Sip & Shop Jewelry Trunk Show: For one day only, stop by and have a little wine as you enjoy a selection of beautiful, hand made jewelry from local area jewelers: Abby Keough, Marianne Erickson – The India Hicks Collection, Forai Jewelry, Wire Dance Designs, and Karen Roodman. A Representative of Mary Kay Cosmetics will also be on hand. Original artwork by Charles Wallis also on display for a limited time.

Date: Saturday, November 26
Time: 12-4pm
Place: Norton’s Fine Art & Framing-2025 S Big Bend Blvd

St. Charles

Christmas Traditions: A month long event kicking off on Friday with the Opening Ceremony and Official St. Charles Christmas Tree Lighting. The opening ceremony begins at 11am with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by horse-drawn carriage followed by the parade, carolers, and more at 1:30pm. There will be a performance from the Cobblestone Wassailers, an interactive presentation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a Land of Sweets Dance party, and more. Join Mayor Sally Faith along with the Cobblestone Wassailiers for the annual lighting of Saint Charles’ Official Christmas Tree at 5pm, followed by candlelight procession and marshmallow roast. Check the website for all events and times.

Date: November 25-December 18
Time: different times for different events
Place: St. Charles

Stone in Love: A Tribute To Journey: Formed in the spring of 2007, Stone In Love has performed for audiences of over 7.000 and is one of the premier tribute acts in the midwest. Composed of veteran musicians, that exude professionalism, ”Stone In Love” is a family friendly act whose demographic includes every generation, from eight to eighty. Also performing will be Nine Lives: A Tribute to REO Speedwagon. Tickets are $10.

Date: Friday, November 25
Time: 7pm
Place: St. Charles Family Arena

Illinois

Santa Parade and Christkindlmarkt: Join us for the Annual Santa Parade when Santa comes to town on Friday, November 25 at 10 AM. Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Belleville, this 64 year tradition that began in 1952, is the largest parade in Southern Illinois, featuring floats, marching bands, dance groups, and the arrival of Santa & Mrs. Claus. The parade route begins at 17th and West Main Streets and proceeds east on Main Street through the Public Square. Santa himself will be available for personal visits from November 25 through December 24. Christkindlmarkt is a free event with European vendors and German food and drink starting November 25. Free horse-drawn trolley rides will be offered November 25 through December 18. Gingerbread festivities including a contest and a 5K run from November 23 to January 1.

Date: Friday, November 25
Time: kick off: 10am
Place: Downtown Belleville

Looking for what to do on Thanksgiving Eve? Check out some of these hot spots.

Looking for the best holiday light festivities? Check here.

Happy Holidays!

Mills Apartments