What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Does it involve Aunt Ethel’s overcooked turkey, a mound of mashed potatoes, and a seat in front of the TV watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Boorring. If you’re lucky enough to be in the Big Easy during Thanksgiving season, you have the opportunity to have the most fantastic, warm-weathered Turkey Day that you could possibly imagine. Here are four ways to get into the holiday cheer for Thanksgiving in New Orleans!
These guys know how to get around! Rebirth Brass Band plays Thanksgiving Eve at Vaso AND Thanksgiving Day in the Bayou Classic Parade. (rebirthbrassband.com)
1. Go to a show on Thanksgiving Eve
Did you know that one of the biggest party nights in New Orleans happens the night before Thanksgiving? Everyone flies into Louis Armstrong and journeys to their favorite bar to catch up with old friends and enjoy good beer and live music. Join in on the fun on November 23 with Rebirth Brass Band, one of the oldest, funkiest, brassiest bands in town at 8 p.m. at Vaso. Just as funky and groovy is Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters, playing right down the road at d.b.a at 10 p.m. If you’re looking for something a tad earlier in the evening, swing by Ralph’s on the Park and catch a few tunes by Joe Krown at 5 p.m. There is a beautiful bar to lounge in, and Joe is seriously funky on the keys.
2. Eat a Turducken and a Thanksgiving Po-Boy
It’s a Louisiana classic: the body of a turkey stuffed with chicken, duck, and yes, turkey. For the meat lover, the Turducken is where’s it’s at! Imagine surprising Aunt Ethel by making your very own Turducken on Thanksgiving Day. Here’s another New Orleans secret Thanksgiving treat: Parkway Tavern features a Thanksgiving Po-boy – a divine commingling of turkey, stuffing, cranberries and gravy. It’s only around once a year, so get it soon!
The 104th Annual Turkey Day Race in New Orleans is the oldest ongoing road race in the entire nation! (runnotc.org)
3. Thanksgiving Day Parades
Look, I’m super excited that New Orleans’ very own 610 stompers will be marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but which would you rather? Big fluffy balloons in the freezing cold or a Zulu float? Jessica Simpson or the Hot 8 Brass Band boogying on down in front of the Mercedes Benz Super Dome? I’ll take a New Orleans Thanksgiving Day Parade over Macy’s any day! The 38th Annual Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Parade will kick off in front of the Mercedes Benz Super Dome on Thanksgiving Day at 4 p.m. Marching bands include Southern University, Grambling Statue University, Rebirth Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band. There will be floats, there will be brass, and best of all there will be music. Get on down!
4. Run, walk, or watch the 104th annual Turkey Day Race
The oldest ongoing road race in the entire nation takes place in New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day. Starting at 8:30 a.m., the Turkey Day Race is a 5 mile run/walk and a half mile fun-run for the kiddies. There are always throngs of fully-costumed turkeys trotting through the winding race route in City Park, so even if you don’t end up running, it’s fun to watch. BONUS: You get FREE BEER and Elmer’s Chee-Wees at the end of the race. I swear, New Orleans is the only city where you run straight through the finish line and right to the beer after you finish a race.
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