(Photo by: Michelle Garrett)

By: Paige Velasquez

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is here and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?  Not sure if you want to dish out that big meal this year? Start a new tradition with one of these Austin Thanksgiving Day activities.

1. Dinner and a movie

Seven courses and twelve hours of Lord of the Rings is a unique way to spend your Thanksgiving. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is hosting The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Feast. These themed meals will be served only during Hobbit mealtimes, of course.  The celebration starts at 11 a.m.  Get your tickets here!

2. Run off that pumpkin pie

Want to get a head start on working off that big meal? Thundercloud Subs is having their annual Turkey Trot at the Long Center. There is a 5-mile run, a 1-mile walk and a Kids’ K along with raffles, awards and prizes. All proceeds go to Caritas of Austin. Register here!

3. Give thanks and give back

Take your family to serve others on Thanksgiving Day.  Operation Turkey is an Austin company that feeds 40% of the homeless and less fortunate every year. They need volunteers to cook, prepare, pack and deliver hot meals to thousands of people in the Austin community.

4. Lounge in front of the TV

Take a break from all of that cooking and catch the day’s festivities on TV. Start of the day with the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Watching the floats, balloons and entertainment, not the mention getting a glimpse of Santa Clause, is a great tradition to start with your family.  Following the parade, what would Thanksgiving be without football? The Cowboys game airs at 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS and if you cannot make it down to DKR, your Texas Longhorns play at 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1.

5. Leave the cooking to someone else

Take the family out and skip the stress of preparing a perfect meal. There are many restaurants in the Austin area that will be open for business and make you feel right at home.  Check out the list here!