Best things to do Thanksgiving week in Los Angeles and Southern California: November 25 - 28

In-person tickets are already sold out for this popular L.A. Live Talks event with Riley Keogh, the star of Amazon Prime Video’s Daisy Jones and the Six, and Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author who brought the band to life in her popular novel of the same name. But you’ll be busy prepping pie crust anyway, so check it out virtually via video-on-demand anytime through Saturday.

East West Players just extended the run of Pacific Overtures through Dec. 8, so you have a few more chances to catch the Sondheim musical at the Asian-American theater company’s home stage in Little Tokyo. The vintage 1976 show may not be Sondheim’s most well-known, but the musical, about Japan's westernization following a period of isolationism, was the first to play at East West Players back in 1979.

This iteration features well-reviewed performances from West End vet Jon Jon Briones (The Reciter) and Gedde Watanabe. On Monday’s Anime Night, attendees dressed in cosplay will get a free drink and enjoy a photo opportunity on the red carpet.

Don’t let Santa Monica have all the fun. The annual ice rink downtown is now open as well, so bring everyone to Pershing Square to strap on some skates and a sweater and enjoy the slight chill that’s shown up this week while practicing your toe loop.

If you’re a St. Vincent fan, you’ll be humming “Digital Witness” all the way through the Digital Witness: Revolutions in Design, Photography and Film exhibit at LACMA. Yes, the show made me feel old (there’s a Mac Plus computer in a glass case), but it pairs recent artifacts of the digital age with recognizable moments from film innovation, new pieces from artists responding to pop culture, and a look back on the evolution of digital imagery, from typesetting to Photoshop. It’s here until July, so you have plenty of time to take family and friends over the holidays or anytime in the first half of the new year.

Whether you’re in the market for new wheels or you just want to be up on all the latest in the auto industry, the convention center once again plays host to the L.A. Auto Show. Check out 2025 models from all the major manufacturers, admire rare low riders and exotic cars, and even sign up to take some test drives.

Feed the Streets will be prepping meals on Wednesday and serving them on Thursday on Skid Row and in MacArthur Park. The group aims to serve 500 to 700 people in need this week and are looking for folks to help prep and drivers to help transport meals and supplies.

You probably need 45 minutes to clear your mind and reset before sitting down to Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or whatever else you have planned for the holiday. I know I will! Heather Hayward leads the class, which is open to all. If you can’t make it to the west side, try a few minutes to do some mindfulness on Unplug’s app or another one like Calm or Headspace.

There are Turkey Trots to get your blood moving all over the area, so take your pick and earn that pie — from the big one downtown, benefitting Midnight Mission, to Santa Monica’s version along the beach to the O.C. Turkey Trot at Irvine Valley College to the Dana Point Turkey Trot, to the Palisades one, which celebrates 10 years this year. Gobble, gobble.

Be so, so happy you’re not at LAX when you’re at the Aero the night before Thanksgiving watching the Steve Martin and John Candy classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles. The family holiday favorite has stood the test of time and never fails to make those of us staying in town grateful that a) we aren’t traveling and b) we live somewhere without snow.

During the pandemic, I discovered Giovanni, a lovely older man who lives in the Valley and makes the most incredible tiramisu – and delivers it right to your door. We’d order it as a special treat and it would stay in our freezer for a little pick-me-up during those dark days. Have a tiramisu (or cannoli) delivered for your Thanksgiving feast and swap a pie for some Italian deliciousness. There’s even a gluten-free option.

Community nonprofit Pico Union Project is hosting its 11th annual Festival Comunitario del Faithsgiving. From 2:30-4:30 p.m., they will give away 1,000 free turkeys, along with fresh produce, pantry staples, clothing, diapers, backpacks, school supplies and more for any L.A. households in need. There will also be live entertainment from Bob Baker Marionettes, all female mariachi ensemble Mariachi Las Colibri, Tegan the Clown, and performance artist and musician Norton Wisdom.

If you’re still looking for a spot to eat out on Thanksgiving day, Parkers' Lighthouse is hosting a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at their picturesque spot by the water in Long Beach. And the bonus is you don’t have to do the dishes.