Thanksgiving Activities in Downers Grove With Your Family
Thanksgiving is upon us again, and it’s never too early to start making your travel and event plans for the season. If you live in Downers Grove, Illinois, or are visiting family members or friends in the village, there are plenty of events to enjoy, places to stay, and food to eat.
Our team at Americash Jewelry & Coin Buyers put together this list to help make planning easier for how to spend Thanksgiving with the family in Downers Grove, Illinois.
It’s Thanksgiving Downers Grove
It’s that time of year when the television holiday specials re-air, making it a fun activity for the family. Friday, Nov. 18, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the Downers Grove Park District’s Lincoln Center is hosting a viewing of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” for It’s Thanksgiving Downers Grove event. When you sign your child up, an adult must accompany them to the event, and at most, two adults can come. During the event, kids can watch the Thanksgiving special, interact with visiting characters, create fun crafts, and eat snacks.
The park district recommends this activity for children between 3 and 9 years old. You can register your children online before space fills up. The tickets are $20 for those who register before the event and $30 for non-registered attendees.
Address: 935 Maple Ave., Downers Grove.
Downers Grove’s Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk
This year, lace up your best running shoes for Downers Grove’s Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K Run/Walk on Thursday, Nov. 24, at 8:30 a.m, hosted by The Grove Express Foundation. The event benefits the village’s education and youth programs and scholarships. Your running course is through Downers Grove on a certified U.S.A. Track and Field course. If you want to participate in the event but without running and walking, sign up for volunteer opportunities. To do this, visit the site and direct your volunteer inquiries to the event’s personnel or check back later for a signup sheet.
Register online early to get the best ticket prices. Between now and Oct. 31, tickets are $35 from Nov. 1 to 18, it’s $40, and from Nov. 19 to 24, it’s $45. You can pick up your runner’s packet on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Downers Grove North Field House located at 4436 North Main St. in Downers Grove.
Address: Starting point is Grove St. and Main St., Downers Grove
A Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Downers Grove, Illinois
While in town for the holidays, take the family on a walking tour of historic Downers Grove, Illinois. Enjoy a self-guided tour, visiting the village’s significant sites at your own pace. Learn about the fantastic architecture, the rich history that made the village what it is today, and the important figures who helped form the community. Contact the Museum and Historical Society to learn about the archives and artifacts if you want to discover more about the downtown area.
Here are some sites you’ll see along the way:
- Casper Dicke’s House from the 1890s, located at 1219 Warren Ave.
- Dicke’s Tool Company Building from the 1920s, located at 1201 Warren Ave.
- Grant Dicke Fire Station #1 from 1927, located at 1120 Warren Ave.
- The Illinois Bell Telephone Building from 1929, located at 4949 Forest Ave.
- The Tivoli Theatre from 1928, located at 5021 Highland Ave.
- Main Street Train Station from 1911, located at 1000 Burlington Ave.
- Mochel Hardware from 1884, located at 5122 Main St.
- The Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank from 1892, located at 5135 Main St.
- The Downers Grove Post Office from 1937, located at 920 Curtiss St.
- Masonic Temple Grove Lodge from 1924 to 1925, located at 923 Curtiss St.
- The Paragon and Curtiss Theatre from 1915, located at 1007 Curtiss St.
- The Downers Grove National Bank from 1970, located at 5140 Main St.
- The Main Street Cemetery from 1856, located at 5158 Main St.
- The Crescy Auditorium from 1915, located at 5200 Main St.
- Penner Harness, Leather Goods, and Shoe Repair from 1894, located at 5221 Main St.
- Henry Carpenter Home from 1843, located at 1047 Maple Ave.
- Sucher Blacksmith Shop from 1875, located at 5300 Main St.
- The Lincoln School from 1901, located at 935 Maple Ave.
The Baked Apple
Before settling in for Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy a tasty brunch at The Baked Apple, and forgo the holiday morning mess of making breakfast or lunch. At the restaurant, you can enjoy its well-known scrumptious breakfast of baked apple pancakes, old-fashioned pancakes, and farm-fresh omelets. For lunch, try sandwich paninis, homemade soups, and shrimp tacos. You can also order your breakfast and lunch online for home delivery.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and closed on Monday.
Address: 1224 Ogden Ave., Downers Grove.
Carnivore & The Queen
Carnivore & The Queen is open on the holiday, but you may want to consider making a reservation beforehand to ensure you and your family get a table. There’s a reservation fee of $20 per person for parties of six or more, and if you cancel the reservation less than 24 hours from the reserved time, you forfeit the fee or apply it to future reservations. Enjoy various entrees for your Thanksgiving meal, such as seafood, chicken, and pasta. Then after your meal, indulge in delicious desserts, like a Key lime pie and an old-fashioned chocolate fudge sundae.
Hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Address: 2241 Maple Ave., Downers Grove.
Chicago Marriott Suites Downers Grove
While in the village for the holidays, book a stay at the luxurious Chicago Marriott Suites Downers Grove. You can enjoy a nice room or suite based on your needs, but it’s vital to note the hotel has a pet-free policy. There’s on-site parking for $5 each day, with the addition of long-term parking options for an extended holiday stay and electric vehicle charging stations. Some amenities available to you include:
- Indoor pool.
- Laundry.
- Restaurant.
- Convenience store.
- Free Wi-Fi.
Address: 1500 Opus Place, Downers Grove.
Did we miss your favorite tradition in Downers Grove for the season of giving? Contact us, and we’ll be sure to check it out for a future list. If you’re out on the road for Thanksgiving and your favorite necklace breaks, we have a jewelry repair service in Westmont, Illinois, just outside the village, to fix it up for you.
Tags: Downers Grove, Thanksgiving
