How To Plan A Fun And Meaningful Thanksgiving Week Staycation
Are you ready to ditch the travel stress and spend Thanksgiving at home? With a few creative ideas, you can turn this week into a family-centered, memory-making adventure. Here’s your guide to a relaxed, memorable Thanksgiving staycation — full of creativity, cozy movie nights, and maybe a little holiday mischief.
Saturday Before Thanksgiving: Farmers’ Market and Festive Crafts
Kick off your staycation with a trip to the Moncus Park farmers market. Let the kids pick out fresh produce and grab a treat from Acadiana Slice. Supporting local vendors is a fun tradition, and who knows? They might even want to taste those veggies later on!
Back home, jump into the holiday spirit with some DIY Christmas ornaments. Pull out that pile of unused LEGOs and check lego.com or YouTube for simple ornament ideas. They might not turn out Pinterest-perfect, but those unique ornaments will bring extra charm to your tree.
Start your Thanksgiving prep early to keep things relaxed later in the week.
- Shopping and Ingredient Prep: Get all the groceries you’ll need for Thanksgiving dinner. Start the prep work by washing and chopping any veggies you can store for a few days.
- Freezable Dishes: If cornbread dressing is on the menu, go ahead and bake it or a batch of cornbread to freeze.
Sunday: Music, Dancing, and Dough Day
In the mood for some Sunday fun? Start the day with a family dough-making session. A little bit of Thanksgiving food prep to get it out of the way. Let the kids knead the dinner roll dough (just remind them it’s not “play dough!”). Once prepped, store it in the fridge, so you’ll have fresh rolls ready to bake on the big day.
Then make your way to Bayou Teche Brewery or Nunu’s Art and Culture Collective in Arnaudville, where live music and dancing bring local culture to life. It’s a fantastic way to share the spirit of Acadiana with the kids and make some memories.
Sunday Food Prep
- Marinate or Brine the Turkey (or Roast): Start today for tender, flavorful results.
- Assemble Appetizers: If you plan to serve baked brie wrap the brie in pastry, freeze it, and simply pop it in the oven on Thanksgiving.
Monday: Crafting and Pie Crusts
Ease into the week with some creative upcycled décor. Dig through the junk drawer for random items, add some paints, and let the kids turn odds and ends into ornaments. Just hope the paint stays on the ornaments, not the furniture!
When it’s time for Thanksgiving prep, invite the kids to help with the pie crusts. They can join in on mixing and rolling; if they turn out a little “rustic,” all the better! Wrap up the crusts, freeze them, and you’re already a step ahead.
Monday Food Prep
- Sweet Potatoes: Parboil the sweet potatoes, drain, and store them in the fridge.
- Dinner Roll Dough: Check yesterday’s dough to make sure it’s good to go.
- Mac and Cheese (Optional): Prepare the mac and cheese, store it in the fridge, and add breadcrumbs just before baking for a creamy, crunchy side.
Tuesday: Starry Movie Night
Grab cozy blankets, popcorn, and hot cocoa for a backyard movie night. *The Wild Robot* makes a fun family flick, perfect for a “big screen” experience — AKA a sheet on the fence. Earlier in the day, whip up the batter for a pumpkin roll, letting the kids help measure and mix. It’s messy, but that’s part of the fun!
Tuesday Food Prep:
- Green Bean Casserole: Blanch fresh beans, or if you’re like me (gasp), just use a can or two! Assemble the base, then refrigerate.
- Table Setting: Get everyone involved, even if it means the forks are *artistically* placed.
Wednesday: Family Fun Run & Last-Minute Prep 
The Camellia Crossing is a great way to spend Thanksgiving Eve! Before the run, wrap up any final tasks. Assemble pies with the kids — they can decorate the tops with cut-out leaves or whatever inspires them.
Wednesday Food Prep:
- Bake Pies: Pumpkin, pecan, and pumpkin roll get prepped for dessert heaven.
- Cocktail Prep: Make the syrup for a Ginger Rogers cocktail and refrigerate until you’re ready to pour.
- Check on Guest Dishes: Call Grandma one last time — just in case.
Thanksgiving Day: Feast and Family Time
Start Thanksgiving with a relaxed morning. Bake fresh rolls with your dough, and let everyone pitch in. After the feast, head out for Moana 2 at the theater or settle in for a 
cozy family movie at home.
Thanksgiving Day Food Prep:
- Turkey or Roast: Bring it to room temperature, then roast to perfection. If you’re meeting for lunch as opposed to dinner, this could get tricky.
- Casseroles and Sweet Potatoes: Bake them alongside the turkey if you’re low on oven space. In a pinch, we use our toaster oven for the smaller dishes.
- Appetizers and Cocktails: Baked brie and cocktails make a perfect starter.
Black Friday: Potluck or Games
Forget shopping chaos—invite friends over for a low-key potluck with leftovers or stay in for a family game marathon. Let the kids suggest games, Just be prepared for some classic sibling squabbles over who goes first. Or take a nature walk to recover from that feast.
Saturday After Thanksgiving: Christmas Decorating Day
The weekend’s here, so it’s time to deck the halls! Bring out your newly created ornaments, set up the tree, and blast holiday tunes. With everyone pitching in, your home will be filled with holiday cheer, and maybe a few broken ornaments.
A Thanksgiving staycation is all about slowing down, savoring the moment, and enjoying time together. With a mix of traditions and low-key fun, you’ll create a week full of laughter, love, and memories.
