Halloween has the costumes and the December holidays have the presents, but Thanksgiving is the chillest hang. Thanksgiving Eve has traditionally been one of the year’s biggest nights for going out, and after last year’s lockdown, holders of vaccine cards will find that 2021 offers plenty of opportunities to resume festivities. Below are my top picks - including a few that let you keep some social distance. This feature is part of The Current’s Fall Guide.

Wednesday, Nov. 24

In the return of a cherished tradition, the Ike Reilly Assassination play the First Avenue Mainroom. As if the honorary Minnesotan (but official Chicagoan) didn’t have enough of a racket to make on his own, Monica LaPlante and Mae Simpson are also on the bill.

Next door at the Entry, Burnsville TikTok phenoms Durry are headlining a bill that also includes Faith Boblett and theyself.

“For a night of serious kicking ass (not to be crass),” Palmer’s is throwing a Drunksgiving Brass Bash featuring the Brass Messengers and BrassZilla. If you want to absolutely guarantee a hangover, a lot of Hamm’s and a lot of horns are hard to beat.

Meanwhile, around the corner at the Cabooze, the subtly different Drinksgiving is headlined by the White Iron Band with Mark Joseph and the American Soul (with Mark Joseph of the Big Wu) and Lenz and Frenz (with Jay Lenz of Pert Near Sandstone).

If you’re not quite ready to let go of those spooky vibes, join Minneapolis synth stars Graveyard Club at the Turf Club, with support from Sam Cassidy and EVV.

Thursday, Nov. 25

Only in Philip Pullman’s fantasy universe can you pre-repent for mortal sin, but in our actual universe it’s entirely possible to work off some calories before loading them on. The Minneapolis Turkey Trot is off this year “due to ongoing logistical and operational challenges,” but across the river in St. Paul you can still Turkey Trot for 10K or 6K while raising money for the Open Door Pantry.

Meanwhile, I will be on a couch unapologetically enjoying the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on KARE 11. This year, the musicians who will be trying and hilariously failing to lipsync while standing on a float in the freezing cold among dancing mascots of all descriptions and conspicuously uncomfortable children include Foreigner, Jon Batiste, Kelly Rowland, Kim Petras, Mickey Guyton, Rob Thomas, and Nelly.

Thanksgiving is the ultimate food holiday, and if cooking is in your wheelhouse, your plans are well underway. Last year’s lockdown, however, also helped boost the trend of restaurants offering takeout dinners that will scratch your turkey itch. Check out Eater Twin Cities, Foodgressing, Mpls.St.Paul, the Star Tribune, and WCCO for lists of possibilities.

Friday, Nov. 26

Want to watch a football game at U.S. Bank Stadium? Why not watch Minnesota’s best high school teams face off in the Vikings stadum at the MSHSL Prep Bowl? The climax of the prep school football season takes place Nov. 26 and 27.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was launched on a Minneapolis UHF station in 1988 and became one of the defining cultural touchpoints for the sardonic gen X. Robots Tom Servo, Crow, and GPC will be onstage at the Pantages Theatre Nov. 26 and 27 as part of their live Time Bubble Tour with host Emily Marsh. The movie the mad scientist is subjecting them (and you) to this time? 1985’s Making Contact.

Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring is one of the most glorious compositions in American history, and this weekend the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra are performing it on a bill that also includes Red Clay & Mississippi Delta by Valerie Coleman: Performance Today’s 2020 Classical Woman of the Year.

Doubtless the most famous Thanksgiving show in rock history took place on November 25, 1976: the Band’s swan song in San Francisco. A Last Waltz tribute has become a holiday tribute at the Cabooze, and this year Big Pink lead the festivities.

Despite their name, Night Moves are not a Bob Seger tribute band; they’re a Minneapolis group playing pulsing, passionate originals. They’ll be at the Fine Line with support from Josh Sky and Free Music.

Austin’s Gear Daddies have been representing for heartland rock since John Mellencamp was still Cougar. They’ll be playing your favorites at First Avenue’s Mainroom.

If you’re ready to give the guitars a break and throw down with some of the Twin Cities’ best hip-hop, Longshot & Lazerbeak are headlining the 7th St Entry for the release of their second joint LP, Spread Love. Jus Justice, Ms. Lakesha, and Mo Bluntz will be among the artists joining them.

Solid Gold were once a staple of the local scene; now their appearances are relatively rare, but their loyal fans make a point of showing up whenever they reunite, and the atmospheric rockers don’t disappoint. Be sure to show up in time for the opening set by rising solo star Mike Kota. Update 11/24: This show has been indefinitely postponed.

Dave Simonett was booked to play the Fitzgerald Theater last Thanksgiving weekend, but…well, yep, 2020. Fortunately he’s still up to make this intimate set happen, a year later.

Saturday, Nov. 27

The Cactus Blossoms’ sweet vocal harmonies hark back to a time when life was simpler…but still emotionally complex. Expect reverent swoons at First Avenue’s Mainroom.

With the Cactus Blossoms having surrendered their typical stomping grounds, the Turf Club is being taken over by Tommy Stinson, who’s been the soul of rock and roll during stints with the Replacements, Bash & Pop, and Guns N’ Roses.

As Sheila Regan wrote in our Fall Guide, “Transdisciplinary artist Valerie Oliveiro curates this year's Choreographers' Evening, a long-standing post-Thanksgiving tradition at the Walker. The series is an annual gathering that highlights Minnesota dancemakers creating new forms from both emerging and established choreographers, serving as a get together of sorts for the dance community in the Twin Cities. Oliveiro has performed a number of times at the event, and is a force in the Minnesota dance scene as a performer, choreographer, and designer, not to mention arts leader through her work as a co-director of Red Eye Theater and MOVO Space in the Ivy Arts Building.”

If you’ve had enough “Drinksgiving” and “Drunksgiving,” you’ll find the concept of a Songsgiving refreshing. Mother Banjo, Ben Cook-Feltz, and Anthony Ihrig (the High 48s) take the stage at the cozy Aster Cafe…where for the record there is a bar, even if it’s unlikely to sell many Fireball shots on this particular evening.

Sunday, Nov. 28

Yes, it will have been a long, fun weekend, but you can still make it out to First Ave for a show by the buzzworthy Beach Bunny, touring behind their debut album Honeymoon.

All weekend

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without The Current’s Time Machine Weekend. Tune in from Nov. 24 at 10 a.m. through Nov. 28 at midnight as we turn the clock back, one hour at a time.

As always, the best way of giving thanks is giving back. The Minnesota Hunger Initiative has several suggestions for paying your fortunes forward and helping to feed those in need.