Your guide to the best Thanksgiving Weekend 2018 in Birmingham

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Are you ready for Thanksgiving weekend in Birmingham?  You will be with this handy-dandy guide to help you navigate Black Friday, Iron Bowl Saturday and a big relaxation on Sunday. Find out more.

Friday, aka ‘Black Friday’

• Black Friday at Local Malls – The Galleria, The Summit and The Brookwood Village Mall will be open for Black Friday sales.
  •  The Riverchase Galleria: open 6pm – midnight on Thanksgiving Day, 6am – 10pm on Black Friday
  • The Summit: closed on Thanksgiving, open 9am – 9pm on Black Friday
  • Brookwood Village: closed on Thanksgiving, open 7am – 9pm on Black Friday. (First 250 people in line will receive a shopping tote, retailer coupons and a gift card valued from $5-$500.)
• Take A Photo with Santa –November 10 through December 24, head over to Bass Pro Shops in Leeds to see Santa. Take a FREE photo with him in Santa’s Wonderland! 
  • North Pole Pop-Up at The Summit: Starting on Black Friday, stop by The Summit for photos with Santa, locally-made candy, boutiques and more.
• The Market at the Pizitz – Take a break from your hectic day of malls and department stores to shop from local artists and makers at The Pizitz Building. You can eat lunch in the food hall before shopping from farmers and artisans. 11am – 3pm.
• Brrrmingham Ice-Skating Rink Opening Day – Not interested in a great deal on some shoes? Just want a family day? Enjoy Birmingham’s only outdoor ice-skating rink at Railroad Park. The rink opens at 10 am. Buy tickets in advance here.  
• Christmas cards –  Sure, you can pick up a box at the drugstore.  Want your pup or kids on the front? You might consider Village Press in Mountain Brook Village.  They’ve been doing something right since 1965.
• Get a ride – Want to avoid the traffic but take in the fun?  Try a ride with UBER or LYFT.

Saturday, aka ‘The Day of the Iron Bowl’ and ‘Small Business Saturday’

• The Iron Bowl – Even if you’re not a die-hard Alabama or Auburn fan, you won’t want to miss this game.  Game details:
  • Kickoff time: 2:30 on CBS
  • Where to watch:  Iron City, SkyCastle and other sports bar faves in town. If you’re interested in gaming while you watch the game, check out the new Dave & Buster’s at the Riverchase Galleria! Grand opening is Monday, November 19. 

• Druid City Music Hall is hosting a free Iron Bowl Gameday Party with doors opening at 11:00.
• Staying in?  Here’s a recipe for a great party dip.  You’re welcome.
• Small Business Saturday – Shop small and show small businesses some love after a day like Black Friday. Shop local stores like Sojourns Fair Trade Store or Chocolata downtown, or the shops of Homewood, Shoppes of Crestwood or Mountain Brook Village. These small businesses are usually locally owned and operated. Give back to your community while you get holiday shopping done!

Sunday, aka ‘National Worst Day to Fly’

Yep, it’s true: the Sunday after Thanksgiving has been dubbed the worst day to fly by travel sites. Here are 3 things you can do instead of traveling:

• Stay home and cozy up with a warm drink and a movie.
• Order in with the great folks over at The TakeOut Bham. (We won’t judge you if you’re too tired to cook.)
• Browse Driver’s Way for a car from the comfort of your couch. 

New Wheels

While you’re out getting your holiday shopping done, stop by Driver’s Way in Pelham to see about upgrading your wheels. From high-end luxury models including Lexus and Land Rover to dependable models that are easy on your pocket book, Driver’s Way has hundreds of available automobiles ready to make your shopping trips more comfortable.

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