Ditch the Leftovers: Your Grandscape Thanksgiving Week Survival Guide

The turkey’s been demolished, you’re down to that mystery gelatin your aunt generously calls “salad,” and grandpa has begun his annual snore-a-thon on the recliner. It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and the only thing that’ll be fuller than your fridge will be your house. If you don’t get everyone out before someone goes through all the Black Friday ads again, peace will be nothing but a distant memory.

Put down the Tupperware and avoid the always-possible family screaming match by making a break for a little respite at Grandscape (5752 Grandscape Blvd.) in The Colony. This shopping, dining and entertainment colossus has enough free holiday hoopla this week to keep even your most discontented family members jolly. Or at least distracted. 

Here’s your slap-happy, step-by-step guide to not losing your mind (or your leftovers) this Thanksgiving week:

Grandscape Stole Christmas: A Grinchy Good Time

Monday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Start Thanksgiving week with a dose of delightful grumpiness. The Grinch himself is storming the stage and lawn at Grandscape for a meet-and-greet—your golden opportunity to test if you can charm that famously shriveled heart into a growth spurt. While you wait for your moment with the green grouch, enjoy a screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (that’s the one with peak Jim Carrey mayhem). For the little Whos, there’s a coloring station, and for everyone else, free hot chocolate for the first 500 guests. Make a mad dash! The Grinch doesn’t do seconds.

Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus: Festive Fables & Cuddly Bustle

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For every cousin who needs a little more North Pole and a little less “I’m bored,” this one’s a sugarplum dream. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be dishing out tales that (probably) never make the Hallmark Channel cut. One moment, he’ll be recounting toyshop shenanigans, the next, Mrs. Claus is lowkey roasting the elves (we can only hope)—between hugs, of course. There’s a screening of The Santa Clause so you can teach the next generation what Tim Allen was before he became Buzz Lightyear. Also, more free hot chocolate for the first 500 guests, because hydration and sugar are the glue holding us together this week.  

Schedule:

• 11 a.m. – Story Segment 1
• 11:15 a.m. – The Santa Clause screening
• 12:45 p.m. – Story Segment 2

Jingle Reels & Holiday Deals: Black Friday Antidote, With Extra Marshmallows

Friday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
What if we told you the cure to Black Friday shopping-induced rage was a free blanket spot on the Grandscape lawn, with not one, not two, but three holiday movies, zero fighting for parking and absolutely no risk of being trampled for a toaster? The lineup: Elf (everyone’s favorite cotton-headed ninny muggins), Home Alone (teach the kids practical booby-trap defense) and The Polar Express (bonus points if you wear pajamas). And that’s not all: a free trolley will whisk you between stores like Nebraska Furniture Mart and Scheels. Ride it like holiday royalty or just use it to escape your relatives while you sneak off to do some “window shopping.”  

Schedule:

• 11 a.m. – Elf
• 12:40 p.m. – Home Alone
• 2:20 p.m. – The Polar Express

Merry Market Place & Concert: Retail Therapy & Festive Grooves

Saturday, Nov. 29, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
The grand finale. Skip the squabble over board games and get the crew to Merry Market Place, a one-stop pop-up for twinkly local gifts and hot cocoa. The vibe? Cozy chaos. At 7 p.m., The Merry Band of Christmas takes the Grandscape stage — think toe-tapping, jingle-belling and a high probability of a spontaneous family dance-off (embarrassment guaranteed at no extra charge). Bring a blanket, a playlist of your favorite seasonal groaners and your own holiday spirit, but just don’t bring your leftover cranberry sauce.  

For all the festive details and a full store directory to plan your visit, head over to Grandscape’s website.