The ultimate Thanksgiving Day survival guide for Tarrant County
From turkeys to trash to last-minute groceries, here’s a guide for most everything you’ll need to know on Thanksgiving Day.
What’s closed
All nonessential city, federal, state and county offices will be closed Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving. Banks, stock markets and the U.S. Postal Service will also be closed.
Most school districts are closed all week.
Many city offices will be closed Friday as well,including: Arlington, Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Haslet, Hurst , Haltom City, Keller, Lake Worth, Mansfield, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Saginaw and Southlake.
Museums closed Thursday: Fort Worth Museum of Science and Natural History, Kimbell Art Museum, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Amon Carter Art Museum of American Art (closed Thursday through Saturday).
Trash collection
No trash will be picked up anywhere Thursday. After that, schedules vary by city. For those not listed, check the city’s website.
Services resumes on next scheduled collection day: Arlington, Colleyville, Keller, Lake Worth and Mansfield.
Thursday pickups will shift to Friday; Friday pickups to Saturday: Bedford, Euless, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Hurst, North Richland Hills and Southlake.
Residents in Fort Worth are allowed two extra bags of trash on their first pickup the day after Thanksgiving. Fort Worth’s four drop-off stations will be closed Wednesday-Thursday and will reopen Friday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Public transportation
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority will operate buses and MITS on Thanksgiving Day under a Sunday schedule. The T’s customer service phone lines (817-215-8600) will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Trinity Railway Express will not run Thursday.
Things to do Thursday
Take a trot, like a turkey
The annual Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot is Thursday, beginning at the Westside YMCA, 8201 Calmont Ave., Fort Worth.
Start times: 8 a.m. 1K Gobbler Trot; 10K 8:15 a.m.; 5K 8:30 a.m.
Details, registration fees: fwtrot.org
The Herd, Exchange Avenue in the Fort Worth Stockyards
11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cowboys don’t get time off for Thanksgiving so check out Fort Worth’s Herd twice-a-day cattle drive in the Stockyards.
Details: fortworth.com/the-herd
Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Wortfh
The zoo will be open noon to 4 p.m. Thursday.
Details, ticket information: fortworthzoo.org
Panther Island Ice, 223 N.E. Fourth Street, Fort Worth
Open for ice skating 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday.
Details, ticket information: pantherislandice.com
Botanic Garden and Japanese Garden,3200 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth
Take a walk on the colorful side 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday
Details, ticket information; fwbg.org
Movie theaters
Most are open Thursday; check websites for times, prices
Worth watching on TV Thursday
9 a.m. on KXAS, Channel 5: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
NFL games
11:30 a.m. on KDFW, Channel 4: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
3:30 p.m. on KTVT, Channel 11: Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
7:30 p.m. on KXAS, Channel 5: New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Last-minute groceries
Here’s a rundown on what grocery stores will be open and closed Thursday in Dallas-Fort Worth:
Whole Foods Market: Open until 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
Central Market: Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
Kroger: Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m Thanksgiving Day.
Sprouts: Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
Tom Thumb: Open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
Trader Joe’s: Closed Thanksgiving Day.
Eatzi’s: Closed Thanksgiving Day.
Walmart: Open all day Thanksgiving Day.
Market Street: Closed Thanksgiving Day.
In the Sack: Closed on Thanksgiving.
Albertsons: Open from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Thanksgiving.
Natural Grocers: Closed on Thanksgiving.
Target: Closed during the day. Open at 6 p.m. for Black Friday shopping.
Aldi: Closed Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving meals for the needy
Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County
1321 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth.
Meal served at 11 a.m. Thursday for residents, noon Thursday for all other guests. The center is taking donations from the community.
Information: 817-339-2553
Christian Center of Fort Worth
4301 N.E. 28th St., Haltom City.
Meal served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday. Free. Also giving away jackets and groceries to those in need.
J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center, 1855 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth.
Carr P. Collins Social Service Center, 5302 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas.
Meal served 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.
Presbyterian Night Shelter
2400 Cypress St., Fort Worth.
Meal served starting noon Thursday
Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex
210 W. South St., Arlington.
Thanksgiving food boxes will be delivered to needy families in Arlington, Grand Prairie and surrounding area. People can call for assistance through Thanksgiving Day. 817-277-6620.
Restaurants open Thursday
Blue Mesa Grill in Arlington is serving a Thanksgiving brunch buffet; reservations recommended. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. 550 Lincoln Square, Arlington, bluemesagrill.com.
Buffalo West,a steakhouse in west Fort Worth, will offer five entree options. Noon=5 p.m. 7101 Camp Bowie W Blvd., Fort Worth, buffalowestfw.com.
The Capital Grille in downtown Fort Worth is offering a prix fixe menu. $39, $15 for child’s dinner. Full a la carte dinner menu also available. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.800 Main St., Fort Worth,thecapitalgrille.com.
Cast Iron Grill in the Omni Hotel Fort Worth will have a three-course prix fixe dinner. $45 adults/$25 ages 6-12 (under 5 free).1300 Houston St., Fort Worth,mnihotels.com/hotels/fort-worth/dining/cast-iron.
Chef Point Cafe will serve a Thanksgiving meal, $25-$35. Kids’ menu available. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 5901 Watauga Road, Watauga, chefpointcafe.org
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse offers a $49 three-course prix fixe menu. Noon-8 p.m. 812 Main St, Fort Worth; locations also in Dallas and Plano; delfriscos.com
Del Frisco’s Grille will have a $42 prix fixe Thanksgiving menu. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 154 E. Third St., Fort Worth; 1200 E. Southlake Blvd, Southlake; locations also in Dallas and Plano; delfriscosgrille.com
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is doing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It’s $39 adult, $15 child. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.3100 W. Seventh St., Fort Worth, eddiev.com
Lonesome Dove will be open and will offer a special Thanksgiving appetizer, entree and dessert specials. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 2406 N. Main St., Fort Worth, lonesomedovefortworth.com.
Luby’s will be open and will offer a Thanksgiving Day special for $11.49. Open regular hours. Multiple Tarrant County locations. lubys.com
Mimi’s Cafe will be serving a three-course turkey supper Thanksgiving Day. $18.99 adults, $8.99 children. Open regular hours. 5858 S.W. Loop 820, Fort Worth, 301 E. Interstate 20 Highway, Arlington, mimiscafe.com.
Restaurant 506 at The Sanford House in Arlington will serve a $49 prix fixe menu that includes a variety of options. Children’s entree is $24; a more standard children’s menu is $14.95. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 506 N. Center St., Arlington, thesanfordhouse.com/restaurant506/thanksgiving-2017
Silver Fox steakhouse will serve a $47.95 prix fixe four-course meal ($17.95 for children 12 and under).Noon-8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. 1651 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, 1235 William D. Tate Ave., Grapevine, locations also in Frisco and Richardson; www.silverfoxcafe.com.
Woodshed Smokehouse is open for business all day Thanksgiving and offering smoked turkey. 8 a.m.-11 p.m. 3201 Riverfront Drive, Fort Worth,817-877-4545, woodshedsmokehouse.com.
Compiled by Lee Williams with help from staff writers Sandra Baker, Robert Philpot, Courtney Ortega and Sorayah Zahir.
This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 8:22 AM with the headline "The ultimate Thanksgiving Day survival guide for Tarrant County."