Thanksgiving in Lake Country

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Lake Country? Do you travel for the holiday? Do you spend the day with family or friends? Friendsgiving, anyone? Do you spend the turkey day giving back to those in need? Do you run a Turkey Trot 5k? Do you zoom with family that lives far away? There are many ways to celebrate a reason to give back and be thankful for what we have and with whom we surround ourselves. As a caveat, of course we are thankful all year round AND take the time to put extra emphasis on thankfulness at this time of year. Plus, new traditions are always welcome!

If you celebrate Thanksgiving locally to Waukesha County, enjoy the round-up we put together below to take a bit of stress out of your holiday. Our guide includes:

– Where to buy a turkey locally
– Thanksgiving take out options
– Thanksgiving Restaurant options
– What’s open/closed on Thanksgiving
– Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
– Shop Small Guide to Lake Country
– More

*This post contains affiliate links from Amazon. Lake Country Family Fun is an Amazon associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting our small business.

PLEASE GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR THANKSGIVING IN LAKE COUNTRY SPONSOR: The Smiley Barn in Delafield

Finding the perfect holiday gift is easy at The Smiley Barn. We’re full to the rafters with unique toys and candy— perfect for the people on your “Nice List.” We are your go-to store for engaging board games, colorful puzzles, and limitless creative possibilities with timeless LEGO ® sets. Indulge in a selection of new and retro candies and experience the largest Playmobil showroom in the country!

Our team is ready to help you find just what you need to out-do Santa! Be sure to mark your calendars; The Smiley Barn’s “Letters to Santa” Mailbox will be eagerly awaiting your mail from November 11 to December 24, 2024. Follow us on Facebook to stay informed about our upcoming events. Nothing brightens your day more than a trip to the Smiley Barn!
2420 Milwaukee Street | Delafield, WI 53018

Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00am – 6:30pmSunday – Monday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

https://www.thesmileybarn.com

Preparing your Family for Thanksgiving

3 Thanksgiving activities to teach your children gratitude from Jann at Speechworks.

15 recommended local places/ideas/events to give back with your kids in our HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER GUIDE, plus this opportunity to serve the community:

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, part of the Milwaukee County Parks, is pleased to announce the launch of this year’s Turkey Give Away Donation Drive. This annual event, known as the “Make A Family Smile Turkey Drive,” is dedicated to helping Milwaukee families in need enjoy a warm and nourishing Thanksgiving meal.

The Turkey Drive began about ten years ago with a vision from the King Center’s Manager, Dee McCollum. Dee. She was motivated by a strong desire to give back to the community during the holiday season and started the initiative by purchasing 10 baskets filled with holiday foods and other essential items using her own money. Her generous spirit quickly inspired others, including Mary Nelson from Aurora Healthcare, who joined the effort in the second year by donating 20 baskets. The following year, donations grew to 40 baskets, demonstrating the growing impact of the Turkey Drive within the community.

Dee McCollum, also a member of the Milwaukee County Diversity Committee, has spearheaded the Turkey Drive, sharing stories of how these efforts have positively impacted families throughout the county. Since its inception, the “Make A Family Smile Turkey Drive” has served over 4,000 families, and this year, we hope to reach even more with your support!

How You Can Help:
Donations of turkeys or monetary contributions are crucial to achieving this year’s goal of feeding 3,000 Milwaukee families in need. We welcome your support to continue making a difference in our community:
Monetary Donations: Accepted via check or cash. Please make checks payable to King Advisory Inc. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Attn: Dee McCollum, 1531 W Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53205.
Deadline: All donations are needed by Friday, November 22, 2024.
Contact Information: For more information or to arrange a donation, please contact Dee McCollum at 414-378-3077.

Turkey Giveaway Event Details
The Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center Turkey Giveaway will be on Monday, November 25, from 9am-1pm or while supplies last. Limit, one turkey per household.

Learning about the history of Thanksgiving with children’s books from the library or our favorite local bookstore, Books and Co. in Oconomowoc.

Where to find a Turkey/Thanksgiving Meal/Pie

To Cook Your Own Turkey Meal

Stone Bank Farm Market
- Order a local, loved, organically fed, and free-to-roam turkey.
- Rolls and pies also available for purchase
- Pick up begins 11/14.
Good Harvest Market Waukesha
- Pre order Turkey, sides and dessert
Local grocery store delivery and curbside pickup options

Catered/Take Out Thanksgiving Meals and Desserts

Sendiks – with 5 locations in Waukesha County
- Grab-n-Go Turkey & Gravy Meals can be ordered
- Order online or pick up in store

Golden Mast Okauchee
- View the menu
- Dine-in only. Reservations required.

Cornerstone in Genesee Depot Ala Carte To Go Menu
- Order a complete turkey dinner or individual items from the menu.

Brick House Mercantile
- Savory – Sweet – Soup – Rolls
- Sides, wines, and desserts available for Thanksgiving carry-out.
- Check their Facebook page for order options and details.

Fresh Baked – Oconomowoc
- Order baked goods for Thanksgiving Day! Check out their Facebook Page for details.

I.d. Delafield
- You cook the bird, I.D will handle the sides!
- Order your sides by 9 p.m. on Monday, November 27 and they’ll be ready for pick up between 3 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27th.
- See the menu.
- Call 262-646-1620 to order

Boondocks BBQ and Brew Stone Bank
- Smoked turkeys – order ahead, pick up Thanksgiving Day
- See the full menu
- Call 262-470-5123 to place your order.

Chef in Da House Lake Country
- Offering Thanksgiving Turkeys and sides! Check out their Facebook page for upcoming 2024 details Facebook page for upcoming 2024 details.

Saz’s Hospitality Group Lake Country
- Thanksgiving meal
- All items fully cooked and packed cold in disposable containers with
  reheating instructions
- Ala carte items available
- All Thanksgiving pick-up meals and A La Carte orders must be placed by November 22, 2024 at 3pm
- Pick up in Walker Point or at Western Lakes Golf on either
  - Wednesday, November 27: 9am – 6pm
  - Thursday, November 28: 8am – 11am
- See the full menu and order HERE

Goddess and the Baker Brookfield
- View the Menu and order yummy Thanksgiving pies & pastries.

Bravo! Italian Kitchen Brookfield
- Pre order your traditional Thanksgiving Meal hot or cold

Cafe Manna Brookfield
- Carry out Thanksgiving meal menu
- Vegan and Gluten Free options available
- Call 262-790-2340 to place your order

Cooper’s Hawk Brookfield
- Meal serves 6
- Members receive points for their meal order purchase.
- Menu
- Call to order 262-785-9463

Whole Foods Market Wauwatosa and Milwaukee
- Full meals serving a variety of number of people
- Order HERE

Sentry Delafield
- View the menu and order your whole Thanksgiving meal
- Order in advance
- Lake Country mom, Jamie L. relayed that she has used Sentry in Delafield for years to cater her family’s Thanksgiving meal, and it has been slick and easy to schedule and delicious to eat!

Boozhag Clubhouse Nashotah
- Offering Dine in or Take out
- See Menu and more information

Restaurants that Serve Thanksgiving Meals

View our Guide to Waukesha County Restaurants.

Overindulge at Thanksgiving?

Step 1

If you overindulged in a Thanksgiving meal or dessert, step 1 is:

Don’t feel guilty. Grant yourself Grace.

Did you have a great day with your family or friends?
Did you laugh a lot?
Did you spend time reflecting on your blessings?
Did you practice gratitude?
Did you give back to the community?
Did you spend time reading with your kids about the history of the Thanksgiving?
Did you have a “shop small’ meal, supporting the small businesses in our communities?

If you answered YES to any one of those questions, YAY!! Thank you!!

Focus on the good parts of your day. ❤️

Now, if you did overindulge, and there’s an actionable step you would like to take, then tap these next toggles. BUT ONLY AFTER you are guilt-free and have granted yourself grace. Afterall, it’s just 1 day. ❤️

Ideas to Work Out

Find lots of ideas for places to work out in our Waukesha County Fitness Guide. We realize many facilities or gyms are closed today, but making a note to call them tomorrow to join or book a class is half the effort!

Bring 5 or more non-perishable food items as a donation for your workout. The food will go to the Waukesha Food Pantry. Thursday, November 28 from 8am-9am (doors open at 7:45am) at the Schuetze Recreation Center.

Are you an EXPECTING & EMPOWERED mama? This is a Comprehensive Pregnancy Workout Guide (business run by two Wisconsin women), for expecting and postpartum moms to be done in the convenience of your own home. Tap the link and look under the “Prenatal Fitness & Postnatal Fitness” tab.

Get Outside

Get outside and breathe in the fresh air. Being outside and in nature is one of the best antidotes to feeling any negative feeling. The wind, the landscape, all reminders of a bigger picture and community in which we are a part.

Go cut down a Christmas Tree. Find a Christmas Tree Farm in SE Wisconsin.
Skim our Ultimate Guide to a Lake Country Fall for 10 ideas for enjoying the outdoors with your family.
The Kelly Johnson Foundation is hosting its 6th annual Turkey Trot 5K on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at Fox Brook Park, 2925 N Barker Rd in Brookfield.
Try out one of these 4 local trails
- Bugline Trail
- Glacial Drumlin State Trail
- Kettle Moraine State Forest – Lapham Peak Unit
- Ice Age Trail
Walk around the German Christmas Market
Get your steps in at the 25th Annual Turkey Trot in Nashotah Park. Runners and walkers are welcome, and it’s FREE!

The Milwaukee County Parks invites you and your family to enjoy their amenities:

With the holiday right around the corner, and folks looking for things to do with the extra time off, the Milwaukee County Parks has some great activities available. The return of glow skating as well as indoor skating at Wilson Ice Arena, outdoor hiking at Wehr Nature Center, and indoor swimming at Noyes and Pulaski Pools await!
Hiking is always a blast at Wehr Nature Center. The Visitor Center is open from 8:30am – 4:30pm and trails are open from sunrise to sunset each day. For a $5.00 parking fee, take in the sights and sounds of this beautiful Nature Center. For more information on hiking at Wehr Nature Center head 👉 here

Play Inside

Get out those cardboard boxes and create. Then play with the creation.

Find an indoor play place to burn energy.

Try one of these 10 indoor play ideas for at home.

Burn some energy at Urban Air!

Cheer for the Packers after your feast at the Packer Game Day Party taking place at the Menomonee Falls American Legion!

Visit Links & Drinks in Oconomowoc for their pre-Thanksgiving Turkey Tee-Off on November 23rd!

What to watch on TV on Thanksgiving

If your family has a tradition of watching television on Thanksgiving, make note of these highlights:

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be on NBC.
- Thursday, November 28, 2024
- 8:30 am to noon in all time zones
If football is your jam, find these games:
- Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions — 11:30 a.m. on CBS.
- New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys — 3:30 p.m on FOX.
- Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers — 7:20 p.m. on NBC.
Holiday movies will be on, too! Check our Holiday Movie Guide..