Turkey, family, fall weather, local history, Thanksgiving morning runs, and the beginning of the holiday season — November offers plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy Glen Allen and the surrounding Richmond area.
Thanksgiving Season in Glen Allen
Halloween decorations are coming down.
The pumpkins are still hanging around.
The leaves are piling up.
And suddenly everyone realizes Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away.
November can sometimes feel like the forgotten month between Halloween and Christmas, but it's actually a great time to enjoy Glen Allen and the surrounding Henrico County area.
The weather is cooler.
Fall colors are still hanging on.
The holiday rush hasn't completely taken over yet.
And Thanksgiving gives us a reason to spend a little more time with family, friends, neighbors, and the community around us.
So before we jump straight into Christmas, let's enjoy November.
Here are some events, activities, and ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving season around Glen Allen in 2026.
November 2026 at a Glance
DateEventNov. 6Movie in the Park: Hamilton – Meadow FarmNov. 71776: Signing Day – Meadow FarmNov. 14Richmond Marathon WeekendNov. 26Thanksgiving DayNov. 26RRRC Turkey Trot 10K & 5K – Bryan ParkNov. 26Big Turkey Trot – St. Joseph's VillaNov. 28Collective Creative Market – Cultural Arts Center at Glen AllenThroughout NovemberParks, trails, fall walks & Thanksgiving preparation
As always, schedules can change, so check with individual organizers before making plans around a specific event.
Start November at Meadow Farm
Friday, November 6
6:30–9:30 p.m.
If you've been following this blog throughout October, you already know we've spent quite a bit of time around Meadow Farm Museum and Crump Park.
November gives you another reason to visit.
Henrico Recreation & Parks is hosting a free Movie in the Park featuring Hamilton: An American Musical.
The movie begins at 6:30 p.m., and visitors are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.
The VA250 Mobile Museum will also be on site before the movie.
Virginia's 250th anniversary programming makes this a particularly interesting year to explore the history surrounding us — and Meadow Farm provides an appropriate setting for it.
Pack something warm.
November evenings in Virginia can get chilly.
Step Back Into 1776 at Meadow Farm
Saturday, November 7
1–4 p.m.
The following afternoon, Meadow Farm shifts from Broadway back to history.
Henrico's 1776: Signing Day program explores the choices Virginians faced during the American Revolution.
Would you support independence?
Remain loyal to the Crown?
What did either choice mean for ordinary people living in Virginia?
The program gives visitors an opportunity to explore those questions while learning about life during the Revolutionary era.
It's not specifically a Thanksgiving event, but November is a natural time to explore American history — particularly during Virginia's 250th anniversary year.
And it's another example of how much programming takes place at Meadow Farm beyond simply touring the historic house.
Thanksgiving Morning: Earn the Pie
There are two kinds of people on Thanksgiving morning.
Those who immediately begin cooking.
And those who decide running several miles before eating an enormous meal sounds like a good idea.
If you're in the second group, you're in luck.
There are several Thanksgiving morning runs around the Richmond area.
And even if you're not particularly competitive, many Thanksgiving races are as much about costumes, family, and community as they are about finishing times.
RRRC Turkey Trot at Bryan Park
Thursday, November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
Bryan Park
One of the closest Thanksgiving races to Glen Allen takes place at nearby Bryan Park.
The Richmond Road Runners Club's 49th Annual Turkey Trot offers both:
10K
5K
There's also a half-mile kids run.
The 10K travels through Bryan Park and into the adjoining neighborhood before returning to the park.
The 5K stays primarily within Bryan Park.
Walkers and runners can participate, making this something you can approach as either a serious race or simply a fun Thanksgiving morning tradition.
And let's face it:
Knowing there's pie waiting later probably doesn't hurt.
The Big Turkey Trot
Thursday, November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
St. Joseph's Villa
Another nearby Thanksgiving option is The Big Turkey Trot at St. Joseph's Villa.
The event includes several ways to participate.
5K Turkey Trot
Begins at 8:30 a.m.
The course is designed as a flat, family-friendly Thanksgiving 5K.
Running isn't mandatory.
Walkers are welcome too.
Baby Bobble
Begins at 9:20 a.m.
Yes.
This is exactly what it sounds like.
It's a race for crawling babies.
No running.
No walking.
Crawling competitors only.
Which may make this the most competitive athletic event of Thanksgiving morning.
One-Mile Gobble Wobble
Begins at 9:30 a.m.
The one-mile event is designed for a wide range of ages and abilities and can be walked or run.
There's also a festival running from 8–11 a.m.
The event benefits Little Hands Virginia, which provides essential items to young children and families in need.
So you can exercise before Thanksgiving dinner while supporting a local organization at the same time.
Then Go Home and Eat
You've earned it.
Or maybe you didn't run anywhere.
That's fine too.
It's Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving at Home in Glen Allen
For many people, the best Thanksgiving event isn't an event at all.
It's home.
And November is when Glen Allen's neighborhoods begin making the transition from fall into the holiday season.
Thanksgiving might mean:
Family arriving from out of town
Turkey in the oven
Football on television
Kids playing outside
Neighbors stopping by
A fire going outside
Too much food
Somebody asking when dinner will be ready
Somebody else insisting the turkey needs another 20 minutes
And at least one person falling asleep after dinner
Sometimes the best holiday traditions are the ones that don't require tickets or reservations.
Get Outside Before Dinner
If running a 5K isn't your idea of a relaxing Thanksgiving morning, there are easier options.
Take a walk.
Glen Allen has plenty of places to get outside before the big meal.
Crump Park
Walk the trails or explore the grounds around Meadow Farm.
Echo Lake Park
Take a quiet half-mile walk around the lake.
Glover Park
Explore one of northern Henrico's growing recreation destinations.
Deep Run Park
Walk the trails, enjoy the ponds, or simply get outside for a while.
Three Lakes Park
Walk around the water and enjoy the wooded setting.
Even a 30-minute walk before everyone arrives can be a nice way to start Thanksgiving Day.
No race bib required.
The Great Thanksgiving Grocery Run
Of course, no Thanksgiving season would be complete without realizing you've forgotten something.
Butter.
Dinner rolls.
Whipped cream.
Cranberry sauce.
Ice.
Or the one ingredient someone specifically asked whether you had yesterday and you confidently replied:
"Yes."
You did not.
Fortunately, Glen Allen and Short Pump aren't exactly lacking grocery stores.
Just remember that Thanksgiving Day hours can vary significantly.
Do yourself — and everyone working retail — a favor.
Check the hours ahead of time.
Better yet, buy it Wednesday.
Support Local When You're Preparing for Thanksgiving
November is also a good time to look beyond the big-box stores when preparing for the holiday.
Local bakeries, markets, restaurants, specialty shops, and small businesses throughout Glen Allen and the greater Richmond area often offer seasonal items and Thanksgiving options.
Depending on the business, you may find:
Fresh pies
Bread and rolls
Desserts
Prepared side dishes
Catering
Thanksgiving meals
Host gifts
Flowers and centerpieces
Ordering early is usually a good idea.
Thanksgiving has a way of sneaking up on everyone at once.
Thanksgiving Doesn't Have to Mean Cooking
Some people love spending all day cooking Thanksgiving dinner.
Others would rather do almost anything else.
Fortunately, restaurants throughout the Richmond area traditionally offer a mix of:
Thanksgiving dine-in meals
Take-home dinners
Family meal packages
Prepared sides
Desserts
Catering
Specific 2026 Thanksgiving menus may continue to be announced as November approaches, so check directly with restaurants before making plans.
And if you plan to dine out on Thanksgiving Day, reservations are usually a very good idea.
Friday Doesn't Have to Be All About Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving has traditionally meant one thing:
Shopping.
And with Short Pump Town Center and the surrounding retail district nearby, there's certainly no shortage of places to do that.
But you don't necessarily have to spend the entire day standing in checkout lines.
Take a walk.
Visit a park.
Meet friends for lunch.
Explore somewhere you haven't been.
Or stay home and eat leftovers.
That's a perfectly respectable Friday activity too.
Shop Local Saturday at the Cultural Arts Center
Saturday, November 28
11 a.m.
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
2880 Mountain Road
If you're going to do some holiday shopping Thanksgiving weekend, here's an opportunity to keep some of it local.
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is hosting Collective – A Creative Market at Glen Allen in collaboration with RVA Collective.
The market brings together:
Local artists
Makers
Small businesses
Handcrafted goods
Original artwork
Unique products
It's particularly well timed for the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Instead of buying every Christmas gift from a national retailer, you may find something made right here in Central Virginia.
And since we've already explored the Cultural Arts Center in this blog series, it's another reason to return.
Thanksgiving Weekend Is Also the Beginning of Something Else
There's always a debate.
When does the Christmas season officially begin?
Some people started decorating before Halloween.
Others insist Christmas decorations cannot appear until Thanksgiving is over.
We're not settling that argument here.
But by Thanksgiving weekend, Glen Allen is undeniably beginning to change.
Holiday lights start appearing.
Christmas trees go up.
Stores are decorated.
Seasonal events begin.
And the calendar starts filling quickly.
In fact, just one week after Thanksgiving weekend, the Cultural Arts Center will host its annual Glen Allen Tree Lighting on December 5.
But we'll save Christmas for another post.
Thanksgiving deserves its own moment first.
A Season for Giving
Thanksgiving is also an appropriate time to remember that not everyone in the community enters the holiday season with the same resources.
Local organizations throughout Henrico and the Richmond region support residents through:
Food drives
Clothing donations
Holiday meal assistance
Children's programs
Volunteer opportunities
Financial contributions
If you're in a position to help, November is a great time to find a local organization whose mission means something to you.
It doesn't have to be a huge gesture.
Sometimes a bag of groceries, a few hours volunteering, or a small donation can make a meaningful difference.
Take a Drive Through Glen Allen in November
This may sound almost too simple to include.
But do it.
Take an afternoon and drive through some of Glen Allen's older roads and neighborhoods.
November has a completely different feel than summer.
Mountain Road.
Old Washington Highway.
Greenwood Road.
Springfield Road.
The neighborhoods around Glen Allen.
The western side toward Short Pump.
The northern communities approaching Hanover.
You'll see fall color, mature trees, older homes, newer communities, historic properties, parks, and the landscape beginning its transition toward winter.
Sometimes exploring where you live doesn't need an itinerary.
Why November Is a Great Month in Glen Allen
November sits between two much louder seasons.
October gets Halloween.
December gets Christmas.
November gets Thanksgiving — and sometimes gets overlooked.
But it's actually one of the nicest times to enjoy Central Virginia.
Cooler weather.
Fall leaves.
Comfort food.
Football.
Family.
Outdoor walks.
Community events.
And a little breathing room before December arrives.
So don't rush through it.
Happy Thanksgiving, Glen Allen!
Whether Thanksgiving means a house full of relatives, a quiet dinner at home, running a Turkey Trot, watching football, volunteering, traveling, eating at a restaurant, or spending the afternoon figuring out how you're going to fit leftovers into the refrigerator, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Enjoy the people around you.
Enjoy Glen Allen in the fall.
And maybe go ahead and have that second piece of pie.
It's Thanksgiving.
Thinking About Moving to Glen Allen?
Experiencing a community throughout the year is one of the best ways to understand what living there actually feels like.
Glen Allen offers a mix of established neighborhoods, newer communities, parks, recreation, history, shopping, restaurants, arts, and local events — with easy access to everything the greater Richmond region has to offer.
As a local REALTOR® with Long & Foster Real Estate, I help buyers and sellers navigate Glen Allen and the surrounding Richmond communities with local knowledge, market insight, and personalized service.
If you'd like to learn more about living in Glen Allen, explore its different neighborhoods, or discuss buying or selling a home in the Richmond area, I'd be happy to help.
Matthew Cooper, REALTOR®
Long & Foster Real Estate – Grove Ave Office
Serving Glen Allen, Henrico County, and the Greater Richmond Region
