2022 Thanksgiving Community Events Happening In Fort Worth, TX

The long Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to add a little extra fun and excitement to your calendar. From exhilarating marathons in the fresh morning air to wild afternoon tailgate parties, there’s a little of everything in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. Here at Hiley Hyundai of Fort Worth, we’ve put together a list of some of our top suggestions for Thanksgiving Day events.

Image by Jacob Rice is licensed with Unsplash

Bill Bates Thanksgiving Tailgate Party

The Thanksgiving Day Bill Bates Tailgate Party packs 3.5 hours of extra fun into game day as the Cowboys face the Giants. This party takes place across the street from AT&T Stadium, and you can’t miss this massive tent with a live DJ and big-screen TV. Come along to enjoy an open bar complete with beer, wine, margaritas, and liquors, and you can enjoy unlimited soda and water. Attendees include famous faces such as the Cowboys’ mascot Rowdy, former pro cheerleader Jackie Bob Pearson, and Dallas Cowboys alumni players.

For this special Thanksgiving Day tailgate party, you’ll get to sample Eddie Deen’s Thanksgiving buffet. Eddie Deen is known for classic holiday fare, including smoked turkey breast, whole green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, homemade cornbread dressing, and home-baked yeast rolls. This party is perfect for game fans to warm up for the action.

Location:  816 N. Collins St., Arlington.

Marcia Walters Memorial Thanksgiving Trot

Every year, the Thanksgiving Trot raises funds for a needy family in the Aledo area. The 2022 event will raise money to help support 13-year-old Carter Lebaron and his family. Carter has been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. His parents are unable to work due to the demands of Carter’s medical needs and the care required for his siblings. You can help this cause by skipping the gym visit this weekend and instead participating in this Thanksgiving morning run.

You must register by Nov. 7 to receive a shirt for the event. The 1-mile race begins at 8 a.m., and the 5-K starts at 8:30 a.m. The event begins at the Aledo High School football stadium.

Location:  1000 Bailey Ranch Road, Aledo.

Tarrant County Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon

Cox Racing Services has organized a Thanksgiving Day half marathon for those who are interested in really stretching their legs. Participants must register by Nov. 17 to guarantee getting an official long-sleeve shirt and custom bib. Those who register later may receive a shirt on a first-come, first-served basis. You can get in early and pick up your packet between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at RunOn! by JackRabbit at 2600 W. Seventh St., Suite 107.

Race day packet pickup begins at 6 a.m. The 13.1-mile half marathon begins at 7:20 a.m. and it’s followed by the 1-mile fun run and walk at 7:30. The 10K begins at 7:50 and the 5K run/walk steps off at 8 a.m. Participants in the 10K and 5K will receive custom finisher medals. Three-level awards go to the overall male and female, overall master male and female, and participants in each age group for the 5K, 10K, and half-marathon. Results are time-chipped for accuracy.

Location:  1400 Foch St., Fort Worth.

Taste Community Restaurant Thanksgiving Brunch

Start stretching your stomach early on Thanksgiving Day with the Taste Community Restaurant Thanksgiving Brunch. This event begins at 9 a.m. and continues through to 2 p.m. The restaurant will celebrate its fifth anniversary with this delicious pay-what-you-can meal for the community.

The Taste Project is a non-profit that strives to keep the people of Tarrant County fed. The project’s Taste Restaurant operates entirely on a pay-what-you-can concept, so diners can contribute extra to the project if they have the means, enjoy a free meal if they’re in need, or opt for anything in between. This creates an open environment with no distinctions among customers based on their financial situation. All are welcome, and all pay according to their ability.

On Nov. 24, Taste will serve this delicious brunch to ensure no one starts their Thanksgiving hungry. Reservations aren’t required but highly recommended for this special event. This helps the restaurant plan properly so there’s enough for everyone and no wasted food.

Location:  1200 S. Main St., Fort Worth.

Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot

The annual Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot will take place on Thanksgiving Day. The 1K Gobbler Trot begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 10K and 5K, which step off at 8:30 a.m. You can register online in advance or in person starting at 6:30 a.m. on the event day. Those who register in advance can pick up their packet, T-shirt, and bib as early as Nov. 19 at Luke’s Locker (at 5255 Monahans Ave.) or Northpark YMCA (at 9100 Beach St.). All proceeds from the event benefit the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth.

This event offers plenty of opportunities for fun and prizes. If you’re running competitively, you must opt in for chip timing, which adds a $5 fee to your registration. Timed participants in the 5K are eligible for cash prizes. There is a $300 prize for first place in the male and female categories, $200 for second-place runners, and $100 for third-place participants. The first 1,500 chip-timed 10K runners and the first 2,500 chip-timed 5K runners will get Turkey Trot medals. The first 400 children in the Youth Gobbler Trot get a commemorative ribbon.

If you’re looking for a competition that’s not timed, you can gather your family and friends and try for the group challenge. The leaders of the three largest groups will receive trophies. The 2022 Turkey Trot also includes a costume contest recognizing the top 10 costumed runners.

If you’d like to enhance your Turkey Trot experience, add the VIP Turkey Coop to your registration for $15. This gives you exclusive perks, including breakfast, coffee, hot chocolate, semi-private port-o-lets, and limited seating.

Location:  6115 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth.

Do you know of more great Thanksgiving events in and around Fort Worth? Contact our team at Hiley Hyundai of Fort Worth and let us know! We love spreading the word about things to do near our dealership so that our customers know where to go next when they leave the lot.