Thanksgiving is a fun time of year where many people just get to enjoy being able to see their family, eat lots of delicious food, and just be grateful for the things they have. Being able to relax for a few days is something that many college students look forward to, as well as  eating food and then going Black Friday shopping, it is one of the best ways to do so.

If you are a college student, and maybe even one that goes to a school in a state other than your home state, going home for Thanksgiving may not be possible this year. It will definitely be a bummer to miss out on seeing your family and friends, but don’t worry because there are plenty of ways to celebrate Thanksgiving right on your college campus! 

Are you staying on-campus for Thanksgiving this year? Here are some of the best ways that you can celebrate!

Celebrate Thanksgiving On-Campus This Year

Not sure how to celebrate Thanksgiving this year on-campus? Here are some great ways to do so!

We totally understand that you may be bummed out about not going home this year for Thanksgiving. Whatever the circumstances are that inhibit you from going home for Thanksgiving, it’s important to not let that get you down and ruin your Thanksgiving holiday. There are so many ways to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving right on campus, so make sure to continue reading to learn just how you can stay in the holiday spirit!

Have a Friendsgiving With Your On-Campus Friends

Do you have some friends on campus that aren’t going home for Thanksgiving, or you want to do something with them before they leave? Well, why not host a Friendsgiving meal with your friends today! Are you not sure what Friendsgiving is? Well, it is basically Thanksgiving, but with your friends instead.

It’s so easy to have a Friendsgiving feast with your friends and all you have to do is host it, make some Thanksgiving-related food (even if you can’t make everything right in your dorm room), and invite your friends over for a great time! Getting your friends together before they leave, or even if they’re staying on-campus with you is the perfect way to keep yourself occupied while you’re away from your family.

Have a Family Thanksgiving Zoom Session

Zoom has become very popular since the pandemic started back in March of 2020. Many college classes are still available on Zoom, so why can’t talking to your family members be that easy too. If you still want to see your family members on Thanksgiving, why not host a Zoom video call and talk to them this holiday season!

While this may not be the most ideal way of communicating with your loved ones, it sure is one way to do so in order to see and talk to them for Thanksgiving. You can talk to them while eating dinner, or even play Thanksgiving-related games over Zoom with them to have some fun and keep in touch with your family.

Head to the Dining Hall for a Thanksgiving Feast

The one nice thing about the dining halls on campus is that they generally offer some type of meal or feast for each holiday and Thanksgiving is no exception. Although your on-campus dinner may take place earlier than Thanksgiving itself, it is a great way to get out on-campus and enjoy some Thanksgiving favorites.

From turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and much more, your dining hall will treat you to some of the best Thanksgiving foods that are out there. Another great thing about this on-campus dinner is that it usually occurs before everyone leaves for the holiday, so you can still go with your friends or your roommates and enjoy it together to celebrate.

Run in a Local Turkey Trot

Do you like running? If you do and you aren’t going home for Thanksgiving, you should definitely plan on participating in a Turkey Trot! Now, what exactly is a Turkey Trot and why should you get involved? Well, Turkey Trots are usually 5k races that happen early in the morning and are also a great way to burn calories before diving deep into a Thanksgiving feast.

While you may think that doing a Turkey Trot is just not for you, we think that it could also be a great way to make new friends on campus, spend time with your friends that aren’t going home, and who knows, it could even be a brand new tradition that you do every year!

Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

We’re sure that you’ve heard of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade because of how widely known it is throughout the country. It is something people across the United States look forward to every single year, and it is something that is just really neat to experience.

From dancers from all around the world getting together and putting on a show, your favorite music artists singing their #1 hit of the year, and even the giant balloons that fly high throughout the New York City streets make it a festivity that many enjoy watching every year. Why not kick back in your dorm room and check out this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to get in the holiday mood!

Order Some Take-Out

Are you looking forward to relaxing during this Thanksgiving holiday since you aren’t going home? Well, why not treat yourself for all of the hard work you’ve done over the course of the semester and order some take-out for Thanksgiving! 

There are always plenty of restaurants that are open during the Thanksgiving holiday. Chinese restaurants, Japanese restaurants, pizza shops, breakfast places such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, and lots more are open where you can either order for delivery, or drop by in person.

Help Out and Volunteer 

Are you looking to give back to the community in any way that you can? If so, why not volunteer somewhere for Thanksgiving! There are always places looking for volunteers to help out anytime of the year, but holidays especially. Giving back to the community is a great opportunity for anybody, and it would also give you something to do if you are planning on staying on campus for Thanksgiving. 

Many local non-profit organizations are always on the hunt for volunteers over the course of the holiday season. Whether it’s at a local food bank, a homeless shelter, an animal shelter, and other local organizations around your area, giving back and volunteering is a great opportunity, and it is also something you can add to your resume as well!

Go Home With a Friend

If you truly don’t want to spend your Thanksgiving holiday alone and have no transportation to get back home, you could always see if a friend is willing to let you stay with them and their family for a few days! Not only will this be able to help you get to know your friend better, but you can also learn about their family traditions too.

We understand that sitting in your dorm room all alone on the holidays can be very lonesome and boring too. By heading to your friend’s home, you can meet their family, get a taste of the delicious Thanksgiving recipes that they come up with, and you can just enjoy the company of other people around you too. 

Watch Some Football

The fall season is the time to watch football and lots of it. If you’re a huge football fan, then why not watch football all day on Thanksgiving! Being able to catch up on football when you can’t during the semester is the perfect way to spend the holiday when you’re stuck on campus.

If you love football, then you need to tune into football all day on Thanksgiving. It will be going on almost all day from the time you wake up til you fall asleep and what’s even better is that at some point, your favorite team is most likely to play at some point so you can cheer them on just like you would do at home too!

Get Outside

Having a break from going to classes or worrying about assignments is what many college students look forward to when Thanksgiving break rolls around. Something that you can do if you’re looking for something to do is to get outside. No matter where you go to school, if the weather is nice, it’s important to get outside and get some vitamin D.

Whether it’s going to local hiking trails, or even just walking around and exploring new spots on campus, getting outside is essential. Walking around outside or even doing other physical activities is a great way to stay in shape and it can even be beneficial to your mental health as well.  

Take Some Time to Relax

Are you someone who has just been so stressed out this semester? From trying to do well in all of your classes, acing your exams, doing all of your schoolwork and projects, and just studying nonstop, it can be a lot to handle. Maybe all you want is a break and we totally get that, so why not use your Thanksgiving break to de-stress and relax!

There are so many things you can do to de-stress, such as reading your favorite book, catching up on your favorite TV show, watching your favorite movie, playing some video games, calling friends and family back more, and so much more. Why not take some time out for yourself and relax during the Thanksgiving break!

Are you bummed that you are spending the Thanksgiving holiday indoors? We know that this can be depressing, but don’t let that get to you. There are so many different things that you can do for the break, so why not try out one of the many things to do on our list this Thanksgiving holiday!