By Hayden Seder
Thanksgiving ushers in the beginning of ski season and with it a slew of Valleywide activities to awaken everyone from the slumber of slack.
Bald Mountain opens for its 83rd season on Thanksgiving Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free live music at the River Run Day Lodge from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Movie buffs can enjoy a screening of Matchstick Productions’ “All In” at the Sun Valley Opera House at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, for $10. On Friday, Nov. 23, there is a free showing of the classic “Sun Valley Serenade” at 2:30 p.m.
Joe Fos will perform at the Duchin Lounge from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24, for free.
For those with children, the resort is offering a week of fun-filled Thanksgiving-themed activities. Kids ages 18 months to five years can enjoy various events and programs at the Kindercare at the Sun Valley Village from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Wednesday’s events include gymnastics, music/story hour, ice skating, and pinecone turkeys. Thanksgiving Day’s activities include build-a-snow-turkey, music/story hour, a turkey hunt, and making stained-glass turkeys. Friday’s events are a horse-drawn wagon ride, turkey cookie decorating, and making fingerprint turkeys. The week wraps up on Saturday with building snowmen, dancing with ribbons, snowshoeing, and hot cocoa/story hour.
The annual Turkey Trot is a 5k through downtown Hailey along the Big Wood River through the Wood River Land Trust’s Draper Wood River Preserve that brings roughly 600 people out every year. The race starts at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning at Sturtevants in Hailey.
“The Turkey Trot is the perfect way to enjoy Thanksgiving morning showing gratitude for our wonderful community,” said Mary Austin Crofts, executive director of The Chamber – Hailey & The Wood River Valley. “It has become a tradition for families from all over the U.S.”
Take in some art at the “Giving Walk” gallery walk in Ketchum on Friday, Nov. 23, from 4-6 p.m. Ketchum’s numerous art galleries will be open and exhibit works along with free beverages and snacks.
For music aficionados, local venue, bar, and restaurant Whiskey Jacques’ will host a number of events over Thanksgiving weekend. From 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 21, enjoy free karaoke hosted by MC Spice Train with drink specials all night. Friday, Nov. 23, the Emily Stanton Band will perform live at 9 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door the day of the show. Local band Tylor & The Train Robbers will perform the following night at 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24. Tickets are $5 at the door. Wrap up the weekend with Dollar Night with DJN8 at 9 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 25. Entry is $5 with $1 well drinks and $1 Rainier cans all night.
The much-anticipated opening of the Argyros Performing Arts Center takes place from 12-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24, and from 12-8 p.m., Sunday, Nov 25. This free event will feature music, dance, comedy, and theater performances as well as tours of the state-of-the-art theater and public spaces.
For those looking to dine out on Thanksgiving, several options are available. The Sun Valley Resort offers a Thanksgiving buffet in the Limelight Room from 2-8 p.m. with traditional fixings like turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salads, and dessert. Adult tickets are $75 if purchased in advance, $95 at the door. Children 12 and under are $45 if purchased in advance and $60 at the door. Prices do not include alcohol. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Sun Valley Guest Information Center.
Other resort restaurants will be available for Thanksgiving meals, including Gretchen’s (open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.), the Konditorei (open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and the Sun Valley Club (open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Galena Lodge will host their annual Thanksgiving dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Dinner is one seating and costs $50/person not including beverages, tax or gratuity. Seating is limited so reserve early and, if sold out, get on the waitlist for cancellations.
The Sawtooth Club will host a set menu with different entrée options from 2-7 p.m., CK’s Real Food in Hailey will do a pre-fixe Thanksgiving menu, and the Grill at Knob Hill will serve a special Thanksgiving menu starting at 3 p.m.