This year Thanksgiving will look very different than in years past. The City of Philadelphia has published a guide to enjoying the holidays safely, with tips on gatherings, meals, and visiting at a distance. Below, we've compiled a few ways to help you celebrate or help others in need. If you have specials or events you'd like added to this list, please email us!  

Thanksgiving Dinner & Desserts

CO-OP, the upscale American restaurant located at 20 S. 33rd St inside the Study Hotel, is offering a family-style Thanksgiving spread which includes: turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, gravy, and a whole pumpkin pie. The meal serves 4-5 people for $95 (tax & gratuity not included), and you may add a bottle of wine for $30. Orders must be placed by noon on Monday, November 23rd. Pick-up on Wednesday, November 25th from 3pm to 8pm or Thursday, November 26th from 8am to noon. To place your order, call 215-398-1874.

Walnut Street Cafe (2929 Walnut Street) is billing itself as an "approachable Thanksgiving destination" with offerings for both outdoor dining and takeout. For outdoor dining, guests can enjoy a seasonal and celebratory a la carte menu featuring options like baked brie, shrimp cocktail and sweet potato gnocchi, main dishes from steak frites to acorn squash, turkey, and black bass, a mix of traditional and sides, and classics like apple and pumpkin pie for dessert. For a more catered experience, Walnut Street Cafe will be accepting takeout orders from October 30 through November 21 at 5PM. Responsible for the sides? WSC has your back with Brussels sprouts, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potato mash, mac ‘n’ cheese with enough to feed 4 to 6 people for $25 each. Also available is an 18lb (enough to feed 10 to 12) whole-roasted Amish turkey for $100, apple and pumpkin pies for $30, and a la carte dishes from charcuterie to crudité and deviled eggs. Pre-order Walnut Street Cafe’s takeout offerings here and make an outdoor reservation here. 

The 48th Street Grille (310 S. 48th St) is offering multiple takeout specials through Monday, November 23rd Thanksgiving dinner. Go traditional with a classic turkey breast dinner that feeds 10-14, or spice it up with a jerk marinated version! Each serves 10-14 guests and includes all the sides you'd expect, like garlic mashed potatoes, candied yams, baked mac & cheese, and dessert. You can also order individual dinners instead with more options including braised oxtail and blackened salmon with shrimp. Click here to see their menu and order.

World Cafe Live is bringing back their curbside pop-up for a special, untraditional Thanksgiving option! Preorder your meal by Friday, November 20th at noon for contactless curbside pickup on either Tuesday, 11/24 or Wednesday, 11/25. The menu includes family-sized portions of starters, sides, mains, and desserts, with options like a whole free-range roasted chicken, seafood cocktail, mac n' cheese, and standards like whipped potatoes and cornbread! Click here to place your order. 

If it's dessert you're after, Lil' Pop Shop (265 S 44th St) has two options for folks to get their delicious pie. You can order pies directly through their website for pickup on Wednesday, November 25th at Lil' Pop Shop at 265 S. 44th Street. Choose between: Salted caramel apple crumb, pumpkin, bourbon fig pecan, double lemon, chocolate peanut butter, or rosewater cherry pies. If you're seeking a complete meal, Lil' Pop Shop is part of Joy Box's "everything but the turkey" promotion, made up of appetizers, sides, desserts, and drinks, all provided by Philadelphia small businesses and delivered safely to your door.

Looking to cook and celebrate at home? Mariposa Food Co-Op is taking orders for local, fresh turkeys from Howe Turkey Farm in Downingtown and Kock's Turkey Farm in Tamaqua through Wednesday, November 18th. They're selling whole turkeys, as well as packs of drums, thighs, and breasts. Turkeys will begin arriving in the afternoon on Saturday, November 21st and must be picked up by Wednesday, November 25th. They'll also have a great selection of vegetables, fruits, and other Thanksgiving sides. Learn more and place orders by clicking here. 

Thanksgiving Events

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier's office will be giving away Thanksgiving turkeys throughout West and Southwest Philadelphia on a first-come, first-served basis from Thursday, November 19th through Monday, November 23rd. The giveaways will take place at the following locations and times:

• Thursday, November 19th from 4-6 PM at Church of Christian Compassion CDC (62nd and Cedar Ave)
• Friday, November 20th from 5-7 PM at Kingsessing Recreation Center (4901 Kingsessing Ave)
• Saturday, November 21st
  • 10 AM - noon at Calvary St. Augustine Episcopal Church (41st and Parrish St)
  • 2-4 PM at Centennial Parkside CDC (1103 North 40th St)
• Monday, November 23rd
  • 4 - 6 PM at Big George's (5148 Locust St)
  • 6 - 8 PM at West Mill Creek Playground (5100 Parrish St) 

Earths Keepers Inc will be distributing food on Tuesday, November 24th at 50th and Kingsessing Avenue from 3 PM - 5 PM. First preference will be given to senior citizens. All participants must wear protective face masks and practice social distancing. Visit their website for updates and to make donations to their mission of empowering, enabling, and supporting local communities.  

On Thursday, November 19th, The Enterprise Center, Walnut Hill Neighbors, and Central City Toyota are partnering on a turkey giveaway for families in need at Max Paul Park (4610 Market Street). Supplies are limited and pre-registration is required. To learn more contact Lorna Peterson (215-895-4040), Horace Patterson (215-901-6437), or Margaret Livingston (267-979-3344).  

Philadelphia's Mazzoni Center is running two local food distributions of turkeys and fixings on a first-come, first-serve basis. They'll be in Clark Park (4300 Baltimore Avenue) on Friday, November 20th from 1-3 PM, and at the Next Level Revival Church (5507 Market Square) on Monday, November 23rd from 1-3 PM. Check their Instagram for more details. 

Want to donate to families in need? Chosen 300 Ministries is running a Thanksgiving Food Drive at multiple locations, including 3959 Lancaster Avenue here in West Philadelphia. They are asking people to bring in non-perishable and dry goods as a donation to the nonprofits’ Thanksgiving Food Drive. 

Although World Cafe Live is unable to host their annual Thanksgiving show with Bera Revue this year, they will be going virtual with a special encore presentation of the 2017 Thanksgiving Celebration filmed at their venue. The stream will be free to watch on their YouTube channel, but they hope you'll consider making an advance donation to help support WCL while they're closed. You can donate here, where you can also RSVP to receive a reminder email with the link (RSVP is not required.) Tune in on Saturday, November 28th at 8pm to watch the premiere live and chat with other fans!

If you're thirsty for knowledge, you're invited to enjoy happy hour in your own home with the Penn Museum's Dr. Marge Bruchac for a Living Room Lecture tied to Thanksgiving. Living Room Lectures deliver social interaction with educational elements, and everyone is welcome. November is Native American Heritage month. As part of their mission to transform the understanding of our shared humanity, the Penn Museum will be highlighting Native narratives this month and throughout the year. Dr. Bruchac will debunk popular myths connected to the so-called “First Thanksgiving” in 1621 at Patuxet (Plymouth) and answer questions related to Indigenous encounters with colonial settlers in present-day New England. She will also share insights from her recent reconsiderations of colonial monuments, and her research in British museums seeking traces of 17th century Wampanoag leader King Philip/Metacom’s wampum belts. Click here to register.