How to celebrate Thanksgiving in Boston

Thanksgiving season is a perfect time to acknowledge what you have, and to find ways to give time and energy to others if you have it. Boston-area nonprofits and support organizations see an uptick in need as it gets colder and the year comes to an end. "Fall, and the upcoming holidays, represent abundance and community," says Shannon Fitzgerald, senior communications and outreach coordinator at FoodLink in Arlington. "The unfortunate reality is that not everyone has access to nourishing food." Organizations like FoodLink, Greater Boston Food Bank, and The Centre Food Hub have ongoing volunteer opportunities that are open to all who have time to share. Another great local organization to check out is GreenRoots, which combats food insecurity in Chelsea and East Boston. They have volunteer opportunities in their urban gardens and in teaching kitchens throughout the year.

If you don't want to be responsible for the big meal, consider a quiet night out, care of Boston’s finest chefs. Many city hotels and select neighborhood restaurants are open on the holiday. Ranging from bar snacks to traditional Thanksgiving feasts—often prepared with a bit more flair than you might see in a home cooked meal—there are options for small and large parties ready to welcome you and yours. Bonus: There will be no dirty dishes for you to tackle after.

Among the very best places to get ready to host a holiday is Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, which has moved recently into a larger, easier-to-navigate store in Huron Village. It boasts the same unmatched selection of condiments, charcuterie—both made in-house and imported—confectionery and speciality ingredients that made Julia Child a devotee of the orginal location. Plus, this location has a butcher counter, deli, patisserie, prepared foods, specialty seafood selection and beer and wine. Formaggio Kitchen also has outposts in Boston's South End and outside Kendall Square in Cambridge.

Its central location in the heart of Back Bay and the breadth of goods—everything from tomatoes to apples, breads to cheeses, and honey to pickles—makes the Copley Square Farmers Market the city's best. And it continues every Tuesday and Friday through Thanksgiving. There are around 30 stands, including fabulous bread, cultivated mushrooms, fresh flowers and plenty more produce.

It's time to get your orders in for one of the best pies in Boston. And/or, support the seasonal fundraiser Pie in the Sky, which fuels Boston-based Community Servings' mission to provide wholesome food to folks dealing with chronic illness. More than 150 local chefs, bakers and restaurants prepare and donate pumpkin, apple and pecan pies that the public can purchase for $35 a pop. Now in its 31st year, the fundraiser enables Community Servings to provide tens of thousands of scratch-made, diet-specific meals to its clients throughout the year. If spending the night before Thanksgiving rolling out pie dough doesn’t tickle your fancy, snag one of theirs to bring to dinner instead. You'll select a pickup location and need to go get it on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

The largest Thanksgiving Day race in the city of Boston is the Franklin Park Coalition’s annual Turkey Trot 5K. Open to all ages and paces, the joyful run also welcomes strollers, wheelchairs and race-ready leashed dogs. There will be awards for fast finishers, as well as those who sport a good costume. Sign up beforehand here.

A harbor cruise is truly an only-in-Boston way to spend Thanksgiving Day. City Cruises hosts a Thanksgiving lunch cruise out of the Seaport, with a full-service meal served in the climate-controlled cabin alongside sweeping views of local landmarks from the open-air decks and wide windows. Live DJ entertainment and a fully stocked cash bar make it a party. Make a reservation to guarentee a table for your crew.

Thanksgiving is a quiet day to explore your favorite public park in Boston, but you can also get out of the city a bit to discover lovely walking and hiking trails. The Blue Hills Reservation sits just south of the MBTA Red Line and sports 125 miles of walkable terrain, plus a network of carriage roads and rocky trails for mountain biking. The view from the top of Great Blue Hill will put the beauty of late fall in New England on display for you in a major way. North of Boston, you’ll find Middlesex Fells, a sprawling public recreation area that spans 2,000-plus acres of hiking trails, the Sheepfold dog park and Spot Pond, where fishing and boating can make for a tranquil fall afternoon. For incredible views of the Boston skyline, World’s End in Hingham is worth a visit. (Note, it’s slightly pricier to park there on a holiday.) Walking through the sparse treescape of the rolling hills makes for a meditative fall afternoon. Looking for something a bit more casual? The Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain is the perfect place to tour the changing colors of the trees.

Don’t worry about feeding the meters on Thanksgiving. While it may not take up all your holiday, knowing that parking in Boston is free on holidays should certainly add a little spring in your step.