Thanksgiving is coming up and everyone is preparing to spend time with their families. There will be a lot of fun activities happening Thanksgiving weekend.

1. Holidazzle is a famous holiday event in the Twin Cities. Parade starts November 27th at 6.30 and runs until the week before Christmas in Minneapolis along Nicollet mall. It is a colorful and cheerful event; it is free and anyone can participate.

2. Wells Fargo Winter Skate is another fun event to go to. This is free and open to everyone to enjoy. The ice skating rink is located in downtown St.Paul. Click here for more information.

3. Taylor Falls Lighting Festival and Parade is an annual lighting festival with art and raft exhibitions, Santa parade, free horse and wagon rides. It starts November 27 through November 29.

4. Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt is a three-day Christmas Festival, where you can enjoy the Grand Parade, delicios German treats, gift shops and more. Don’t miss this fun family holiday celebration that starts November 26. Here you can find the daily event schedule and any additional information.

Here are some great restaurants to check out on Thanksgiving weekend.

1. Located in St.Paul, Faces Mears Park is a combination of French cuisine with Moroccan, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Great thing about them is that they use local, organic ingredients. Check out their menu.

2. Jax Cafe is a great place for steak and seafood. It is located in an old building on University Avenue, Minneapolis. It is quaint and charming, with a great patio. Click here for the menu.

3. Basil’s Restaurant has a great selection of American cuisine entrees and desserts. They also have a full bar and an espresso bar.

4. St.Paul Grill located in downtown offers classic American food. It is an upscale place and can get a bit expensive. Also, their menu has options for those who are gluten intolerant.