10 Things to Do During Thanksgiving Weekend 2016 in Metro Phoenix

An Arizona State Sun Devils versus Arizona Wildcats football game, Small Business Saturday shopping events, and Madeline Kahn back on the big screen – metro Phoenix is putting on some post-Thanksgiving activities that may get you to button your pants back up. And with a trail run through Papago Park, a Black Friday Roller Skating Party, and a pot-themed yoga session, you won’t be bragging about starting a diet on Monday either. Here are 10 things to do over Thanksgiving weekend across the Valley.

ASU vs. U of A Watch Party
In case you’ve never seen one in action, college football games between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats get rowdy and emotional, especially in the bars and grills of Tempe. So you might as well make a day of it with the ASU vs. U of A Watch Party, Tailgate & Beer Garden at the Four Peaks Brewing Company Tasting Room on Wilson. They’ll be projecting the game on a huge outdoor screen. The event will feature music from DJ Mr. P-body, raffles, burgers, and of course, Four Peaks brews in an indoor/outdoor beer garden. Pick a side from 4:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday, November 25, at the Four Peaks Tasting Room on Wilson. Entrance is free but ticketed for this 21-and-over event. See the Facebook event for more details.

Black Friday Super Skate
Unwind to some Michael Jackson hits during the Black Friday Super Skate, one of the more unique ways to work off your Thanksgiving dinner (unless you have the pizza). Sessions are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 25, at Skateland Chandler. You can also hit the Roller Café for popcorn and an Icee, or grab some tokens for the Skateland Chandler arcade. Admission to Black Friday Super Skate is $4, and rentals are $3.50 for skates, or $4.50 for rollerblades. Wrist guards are required for skating, but are available to borrow at the skate counter for free. Visit the Facebook event for details.

Al Madrigal
He’s either the comedian you love, that funny guy from The Daily Show, or that dude you’ve heard on podcasts who sounds a little like Alan Alda. Either way, Al Madrigal is doing five shows at Stand Up Live over Thanksgiving weekend. Showtimes are 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Friday, November 25, 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 26, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 27. Tickets are $22, and there’s a two-drink minimum for this 21-and-over event. For more information, visit the Stand Up Live website.

Jackalope: An Indie Artisan Market
Though happening at WestWorld, there’ll be 150 local artisan vendors instead of theories and spoilers about your favorite HBO show during the Jackalope Art & Craft Fair. Held in the Hanger Tent, the Scottsdale stop of the Jackalope Art & Craft Fair features everything from home décor and homemade soap to jewelry, apparel, and original art. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday, November 26, and Sunday, November 27. The #shopsmall event is free, and also features live music, workshops, and food vendors. Visit the Jackalope: An Indie Artisan Market website for many more details.

Clue 30th Anniversary Screening
Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry, and the delightful Madeline Kahn … these are some of the better, and often more hilarious, actors of movie history, and you can see them all together during the Clue 30th Anniversary Screening. Presented by Cult Classics AZ and Zia Records, and hosted at Pollack Tempe Cinemas, this board-game-based comedy will have you wanting to schedule your own dinner party starting at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 26. Tickets are $11 for general admission, and VIP packages are also available, at Zia locations and at the Cult Classics website – where you can also find more information.

Fat Turkey Trail Run
Here’s where we make an observation about how much everyone most likely ate on Thanksgiving, and how now it’s time to work off those large portions. Your can do just that with the Fat Turkey Trail Run 2016. The 10K starts at 8 a.m., and the 5K starts at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, November 25. Both races begin at the boat dock in Linear Park, west of the Tempe Town Lake Marina, and trail through Papago Park. Pick up your registration packet from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 25, at Road Runner Sports, or on race day from 6 a.m. until 15 minutes before the race. Registration ranges from $40 to $60. Visit the Fat Turkey Trail Run event page for more details.


Phoenix Flea on Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is well celebrated each year at Phoenix Flea, held in Heritage Square Park. Vendors like Hustle Mama Handmade, State Forty Eight, and Phoenix Toothpick Co. offer vintage items, handmade crafts, artworks, and fashion for sale. There will also be food trucks and artisan food vendors. The free, fourth annual Phoenix Flea on Small Business Saturday is being billed as their biggest market yet, and will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 26. Visit the Facebook event for more details.

Riders in the Sky: Salute to Roy Rogers
The King of the Cowboys is being well remembered in the East Valley. Riders in the Sky: Salute to Roy Rogers pays tribute to the music, movie, and TV legend in what other that colorful western garb. Presented and hosted by the Mesa Arts Center, Riders in the Sky is a 90-minute, multimedia show featuring live music, clips of Roy, Trigger, and Gabby Hayes, and plenty of yodeling. The show runs from 8 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 26, in the Ikeda Theater. Tickets range from $27 to $37. Visit the Mesa Arts Center website for more.

420 Yoga in the Park
This is everything it sounds like it’s going to be. The 420 Yoga in the Park meetup joins medical marijuana with a beginner's yoga class during what’s likely to be a beautiful day outdoors, and features a guest Yogi. It’s free to show up, and hosted by Free Arizona and Phoenix Cannabis Coalition, but you may want to BYOM. The event runs at Steele Indian School Park from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 27. And for what it's worth, there’s a light rail stop at the nearby Indian School Road/Central Avenue station. Visit the Facebook event for further details.

Eva Hesse
Eva Hesse was a postwar artist and pioneer of the post-minimalist movement who died of a brain tumor in 1970 after a short but forceful career in the New York art scene of the 1960s. Eva Hesse, a film by Marcie Begleiter under Zeitgeist Films, is a 108-minute, or feature-length, dedication to the impressive female artist, and will be screened during the No Festival Required Independent Cinema at Chartreuse Gallery in Bragg's Pie Factory from 3 to 4:45 p.m. and again from 5 to 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, November 27. Both salon screenings offer 50 seats, and tickets are $10 a pop. Visit the No Festival Required website or Facebook event for further details.