9 Thanksgiving Shows and Events Happening in Grand Rapids, MI This November

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family, and events bring people together and make the holiday more memorable. Grand Rapids has a lot of events you can attend this coming Thanksgiving. There are different events to choose from, including concerts, dinners, charity walks, and sale events. The following are some upcoming Thanksgiving shows and events in Grand Rapids this November.

Gobble Til You Wobble

The fifth annual Gobble Til You Wobble will start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25, and end at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30. It is a race event with distances, including 1 mile, 5K, 10K, half and full marathons. The event is a virtual race, where you can walk or run from any location you choose, at your own time and your own pace. Your friends and family can also join you in the race.

You race virtually on the road, trail, gym, treadmill, track, or any place of your choosing. Participants pay $25 for the event. The fee covers a medal, bib, and shipping (for the medals and bibs). Gobble Til You Wobble donates at least 20% of each entry to Feeding America. Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country. There are no refunds after the registration.

Coopersville & Marne

Coopersville & Marne railway will hold their annual Santa train starting on Thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, Nov. 27. It is a 30-minute round trip that features Santa, his elves, and a storytelling princess. The elves escort each child to a special seat next to Santa. They get an opportunity to talk with Santa and receive a special gift from him. There is also a storytelling princess on the train who reads Christmas stories. The event runs every day until Sunday, Dec.19.

DIY Floral Centerpiece and Earring Shopping

The DIY event presents an opportunity to create a floral centerpiece to decorate your Thanksgiving table. You also get the chance to shop for statement earrings to complete your holiday look. RJDesigns will guide you on crafting stunning floral centerpieces for Thanksgiving. The event is just before Thanksgiving on Nov. 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 341 Division Ave. S. Participants get to sip on a glass of wine as they explore their creativity. The earrings available for purchase are handmade and lightweight, so you don’t have to take them off often.

Battle Bots! Improv Comedy Show!

Battle Bots! is a high-energy improv comedy show. It features humans of an A.I. cast that uses comedy to save their audience from distraction. The show runs all the way to Nov. 26. A single ticket costs $10. The show is organized by The Comedy Project GR and runs from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Grand Rapids Turkey Trot

The annual Grand Rapids Turkey Trot offers multiple race events on Nov. 25. All the events start at 7 a.m. and go on till 11:59 p.m. EST. This year will be the 29th event in their history. The available race events include:

• 5k Run Walk: The ticket for the 5K run-walk is $35 plus a sign-up fee of $3.03. Its ticket price increases to $40 after 11:59 p.m. on 24th Nov. This is a chip-timed race.
• 5k GRPS Students: The 5K GRPS is similar to the 5K run-walk, but the race is not chip timed. Its ticket price also goes up to $40 after 11:59 p.m., on Nov. 24.
• Mini-Trot 1k: The Mini-Trot is a free race that is not timed. Register before 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 24.
• My Team Triumph 5k: The race costs $45 plus a sign-up fee of $3.61. Register before 11:59 p.m. on Nove. 24.
• Virtual 5k Run Walk: The virtual run-walk costs $35 plus a sign-up fee of $3.03. After 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 17, the price may increase to $40.

Multiple Thanksgiving Buffets at Various Area Locations

If you just want a hearty buffet for your Thanksgiving dinner instead of having to cook the meal yourself, various restaurant spaces around the Grand Rapids area will be holding buffets right on Nov. 25, all in the 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. time range. You can take the family to Cork Wine & Grille or Rush Creek Bistro here in Grand Rapids, or to FireRock Grille down in Caledonia.

All buffet events cost $35 for adults, $16 for children ages 5-12, and children ages 4 and under are free with an adult purchase. Reservations are required at each location, so be sure to call them up to get on their lists.

Hank Mowery and the Hawktones at Tip Top Deluxe Bar and Grill

Concert events are also available in Grand Rapids during Thanksgiving. Hank Mowery and his band, the Hawktones, will be at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar and Grill on Nov. 26 from 8 p.m. The tickets cost $5. Hank has been a renowned performer of blues and classical music since the 1990s.

Bela Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart at DeVos Performance Hall

Bela Fleck is a renowned banjo player and a 15-time Grammy winner. He will perform the third album of a trilogy he began in 1988 with the album Drive. The event at DeVos Performance Hall begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost between $36 to $84.50. Unfortunately, this event may be inaccessible to the disabled.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at DeVos Performance Hall

Mannheim Steamroller is a type of music based on the crescendo music technique. The performance at DeVos Performance hall starts at 7:30 pm on Nov. 29. Tickets cost between $36.50 and $106.50.

There are various other activities you can do this Thanksgiving weekend, like visiting the best museums in Grand Rapids. Goodman Acker has researched some of the upcoming thanksgiving events in Grand Rapids people are eager to attend. Do you know of any other events we missed? Which of these events are you looking forward to the most? Let us know which ones are your favorites.