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Ultimate Thanksgiving 2023 guide: Food, fun and things to do in metro Phoenix

Felicia Campbell Jill Cassidy

Thanksgiving marks the start of the winter holiday season, with a wave of nonstop merry rushing in to carry us through to the new year.

Christmas music has already taken over the airwaves, turkey trots are on the schedule and ice skating rinks are popping up around town.

Whether you're looking forward to getting in the kitchen to bake cookies or make your go-to comfort foods, cozying up on the couch with a new series or escaping it all with a weekend getaway, there's something for everyone to look forward to as we close out 2023.

Here's some inspiration to help you maximize your holiday cheer for Thanksgiving and beyond.

The main events: Cooking and eating 

Get in the kitchen: What is Thanksgiving if not a time to show off your culinary skills? Try this sweet potato casserole topped with pecan brittle. Make restaurant-style brussels sprouts. But the ultimate flex are these crispy parmesan garlic potatoes.

Make guest-ready breakfast ahead of time: When in-laws and out-of-town relatives start to roll into town, breakfast might be the last thing on your mind. Do yourself a favor and get ahead of the hunger curve with overnight French toast casserole, buy the seven ingredients you need to whip up some mostly-homemade cinnamon rolls or check your pantry for the handful of staples needed to make bacon-stuffed pancakes on the fly.

Phone in your pie orders: If you're up for a challenge, you can try making homemade apple pie with this foolproof recipe. But for the rest of us, a slew of excellent metro Phoenix bakeries are in full pie-making-mode with mouthwatering lineups of year-round and seasonal pies.

Do the most delicious holiday shopping: Make the rounds to local cheese shops, artisan bread bakeries, chocolate shops and other local artisan markets for Arizona-made host gifts, stocking stuffers or treats for yourself.

Call for backup: Tired of the same old sides? There are chefs around the Valley who crafting creative dishes to seriously upgrade your holiday table. Just open a bottle of wine and order your Thanksgiving shine-up to go.

Watch something wonderful

Catch a truly family-friendly movie: There's nothing quite like leaving the dishes in the sink and heading to the movies after the big feast. But what movie can possibly keep the peace across generations? Disney delivers with 'Wish,' a movie that while not exactly innovative, is sweet and entirely inoffensive.

Cozy up at home: Our media critic swears that the Thanksgiving episodes of our favorite TV shows are among the best ever, and he has a list to prove it. Cuddle up after the big meal and stream them all.

Or listen: Looking for the perfect Thanksgiving playlist? We got you.

Holiday lights are on already

Get your shine on: Lots of holiday lights attractions throughout metro Phoenix are already glowing. Options for getting in the spirit include Glendale Glitters, which is back with a month of holiday sparkle, night markets, a Christmas parade and more. Also back: World of Illumination, with locations in Tempe and Glendale (it's a different experience at each!), and the elaborate display of lights and a Nativity at the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Hotels light up for the holidays, too: Christmas at the Princess is the signature family-favorite event at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, thanks to its visit with Santa and two ice skating rinks.

Thanksgiving tips for flyers and road trippers

Fly with less stress: If you're heading out of town to spend Thanksgiving with friends or family, know that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport could see its biggest number of Thanksgiving passengers ever. Our guide to flying during the holidays is full of tips to help you navigate traffic and parking and get through security with a minimum of drama. If you're bringing food to the feast, here's what foods can go carry-on and which ones have to be in checked luggage.

Holiday events around Arizona: From Flagstaff to Tubac, Arizona communities go all out for the winter holidays. Prescott is famous for its holiday parade and courthouse lighting, and lots of people like to stroll the cozy streets of Tucson's Winterhaven neighborhood. Pick your favorite from our big guide to the best holiday lights events around Arizona and hop in the car. Dress warmly!

Turkey trots and hikes for Thanksgiving weekend

Spending a whole day cooped up and stuffed to the brim may have you wanting to get some fresh air. From turkey trots to moonlit hikes and bird walks, here are fun things to do outdoors in metro Phoenix on Thanksgiving weekend.

If you're looking for a few more ways to stretch your legs, here's our roundup of the best hikes around the Valley that are fun again now that the weather is cooling off.

Ready, set, shop for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

If it's just not Thanksgiving weekend without scoring a great deal or two, we've got you covered:

Too easy:This apple crisp recipe is everything you love about pie with a fraction of the effort

Reach the features editors at jill.cassidy@arizonarepublic.com and felicia.campbell@azcentral.com.

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