Thanksgiving Parades

Kick off the holiday week on Saturday, November 22, with the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. Starting at 9:30 am, watch a 12-foot Tom Turkey take off down Georgia Avenue followed by the Redskins marching band, giant helium balloons, fire engines, and classic cars. The parade ends with Santa on his sleigh. Free. Sligo and Georgia aves., Silver Spring; 301-565-7300; silverspringdowntown.com.

Reston Town Center’s parade is November 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Kicking off at 11 am, the parade has an animation theme, with helium balloons of Mr. Potato Head, Thomas the Tank Engine, and My Little Pony. Joining them will be a marching band, ballet and swing dancers, antique cars, and Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. You can take photos with Santa afterward; come back at 6 to sing carols and see Santa light the tree. Free. 11900 Market St., Reston; 703-689-4699; restontowncenter.com.

Helping Those in Need

Here are some local volunteer organizations that gladly accept a helping hand this time of year.

Food & Friends will prepare and deliver dinner on Thanksgiving Day to 3,500 people facing HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. 219 Riggs Rd., NE; 202-269-2277; foodandfriends.org.

Bread for the City’s Holiday Helpings program hands out turkeys and trimmings to 10,000 low-income DC families. Donations are needed during November and December. 1525 Seventh St., NW, and 1640 Good Hope Rd., SE; 202-386-7611; breadforthecity.org.

You can volunteer November 20 at the Capital Area Food Bank’s Food2Feed Radiothon, a drive for nonperishable food and monetary donations. The food will stock the bank, which supports more than 700 area nonprofits; the money will go toward Giant Food gift cards. Old Post Office Pavilion, 12th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-526-5344; capitalareafoodbank.org.

The Washington DC Jewish Community Center welcomes volunteers to make 6,000 Thanksgiving Day meals, distributed by DC Central Kitchen to nearly 100 social-service agencies. 1529 16th St., NW; 202-518-9400; washingtondcjcc.org.

So Others Might Eat’s Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger on November 27 is a 5K fun run and family walk benefiting SOME’s programs for the hungry and homeless; $23. West Potomac Park, Ohio Dr. between Independence Ave. and West Basin Dr., SW; 202-797-8806 ext. 1093; some.org. See below for more runs.

Run Like a Turkey

Looking to offset the turkey and pie? Lace up your sneakers and join others for a run or walk.

Cranberry Crawl 5K/10K Run and Race Walk, November 22 at 8:30 am; $5. Belle Haven Park & Marina, 1201 Belle Haven Rd., Alexandria; 703-481-3530; pvtc.org.

Eastern Shore Butterball Belly Buster 5K, November 28 at 9 am; $30, $15 under age 18. Prospect Bay Country Club, 311-A Prospect Bay Dr. W., Grasonville; 410-490-0583; butterballbellybuster5k.com.

Freeze Your Gizzard 5K Cross Country Race, November 22 at 9 am; two cans of food plus $25. Ida Lee Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Dr., Leesburg; 703-777-1368; active.com.

Herndon Turkey Trot 5K, November 22 at 4 pm; one can of food plus $20 ($15 under age 19). Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave., Herndon; 703-435-6800; herndon-va.gov.

Turkey Chase with 10K run, two-mile family fun run/walk, and 50-meter “tot trot,” November 27 at 8:30 am; fee for 10K $40, two-mile $20, 50-meter $15. Bethesda–Chevy Chase YMCA, 9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda; 301-440-1854; turkeychase.com.

Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K and 2K Walk, November 27 at 8 am; fee for 5K $22, walk $15. Virginia Run Community Center, 15355 Wetherburn Ct., Centreville; 703-815-1136; runwashington.com.

→ What Restaurants Are Serving for Thanksgiving

→ Thanksgiving Recipes from Local Chefs

→ Thanksgiving Hotel Deals

→ Thanksgiving Parades, Charity Runs, and More

→ Send Us Your Thanksgiving Recipes

→ How to Roast a Perfect Turkey

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