The air is crisp, the foliage is vibrant, and the house is warm as you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family. This holiday in New Jersey, prepare to shop locally for homemade pies and fresh turkey, find incredible deals on Black Friday, and give back to the community. Thanksgiving is all about being appreciative. Here’s how to have the best Thanksgiving in New Jersey this wonderful, festive 2023 holiday season.
Get local and dig into all that New Jersey has to offer by starting out your Thanksgiving break with a beer at Glasstown Brewing Company. This local brewing company has a tasting room open five days per week and offers a great selection of beers on tap. Taste their Maurice River Bourbon Brown Ale, which features a hint of bourbon flavor and is only available in the winter, or sip the Big Breakfast, which is a heavy porter tasting of coffee and maple.
View this post on Instagram
If you don’t want to bake your own pies for Thanksgiving, Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory offers the best homemade pies in the state. This Thanksgiving, Mr. Tod’s is offering sweet potato pie following a Southern-inspired recipe. Pecan pies, coconut pies, key lime pies, and pumpkin pies are also available in mini sizes or 10-inch pies. Shipping is available, so if you aren’t able to travel to Englewood to pick up your pies, you can receive them at home in time for Thanksgiving!
View this post on Instagram
Ashley Farms is a 60-year-old business that specializes in Thanksgiving as it sells pies and turkeys: two of the main Thanksgiving ingredients! The turkeys at Ashley Farms are 14 to 45 pounds, so be sure to calculate your turkey size accordingly based on the number of people coming to Thanksgiving dinner. Turkeys at Ashley Farms are raised from day-old chicks and never given growth hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, or fillers.
View this post on Instagram
The Columbus Farmers’ Market is the oldest and largest flea market and produce market in the area. Farmers’ market row and the Amish market are perfect spots to pick up any specialty needs for your Thanksgiving feast, as the vendors sell produce, eggs, fresh cut flowers, and other gourmet goods. For after Thanksgiving fun, catch a bargain in the indoor or outdoor flea markets.
Held on Nov. 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., this annual Christmas parade kicks off the holiday season with festivity and joy. Held along Main Street, this parade and tree lighting is a family-friendly event that is a perfect way to follow up a day shopping on Black Friday.
Supporting local businesses on Black Friday shows local businesses our commitment to our communities. That’s why Whale’s Tale is a perfect spot to visit to begin your holiday shopping. This beautiful store sells cool, nature-inspired toys, gorgeous jewelry, specialty Cape May items, and other great gifts.
Watch the Princeton Tigers go head to head against West Point at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 24. This Thanksgiving basketball game should be a great match, and a bit of a unique way to enjoy a sport around the holidays as football is usually the focus.
This exciting annual event takes place over the course of several days around Thanksgiving. Guests have the opportunity to visit six open artists’ studios and 10 artists in the Sergeantsville Cultural Arts Center. This free, self-guided tour is a great way to support art in your community.
Join in with the citizens of Hoboken on their annual turkey trot 5K and one-mile fun run. The run takes place along the beautiful waterfront. Neither race will be officially timed, which makes it much more fun!
Jersey City is holding its annual toy drive, with registration starting Nov. 13. Those able can donate new, unopened, and unwrapped toys to the Resident Response Center in City Hall. Each year, this event provides hundreds of local children ages one to 12 with new toys just in time for the holidays.
