How is it Thanksgiving week already? If you are staying in town, here are some exciting activities to check out.

Don’t look past Thanksgiving yet, but on Friday many folks enter Christmas mode. So this is a good time to highlight West End Nursery and their yearly transformation into an impressive Christmas House.

This family-owned business has been in the same location since 1909! In 1985 they started a small Christmas Corner, and today it is massive. They have over 60 themed trees (for example, all sports ornaments) that must take forever to set up (not to mention keep stocked as people buy ornaments). Admission is free, so go support this Marin small business.

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The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is quite the homecoming night at the bars. Stop by California Gold, where with the purchase of a Fernet drink, you get a free t-shirt.

They have a 1 mile (youth), 5k, and 10k distances at the beautiful Indian Valley Campus. Usually you have to pick up a race day packet the day before or pay extra to do it that morning. About 8am, about $60.

There’s also a free Corte Madera one at 8:30am that is bike or scooter friendly as well.

The greatest gift you can give on Thanksgiving is clearing the kitchen for the chefs. Here’s a 90 minute ranger hike to Stairstep Falls you can join at 11am.

We don’t get too many magic shows in Marin, so this one could be worth checking out. If you want to binge something different, check out Derren Brown’s Netflix specials — I was obsessed a few years ago. 8pm both nights, starts at $41.

If you have the day off, you might as well head out to the beach! The Stinson Fire Department will host a free event 10-noon that includes engine rides.

There are four sets with these award winning standup comedians. 8pm, $40.

Downtown San Rafael’s annual tree lighting and more. There will be live entertainment, a human snow globe, food trucks, and winter magic. 5-7, free. You can also do the Elf Hunt any time in the next month.

Marin Ballet will lead the story time with cookie decorating, hot toddies, cocoa, and roasted chestnuts. I’m not sure if I’ve actually had a roasted chestnut. Then they’ll light the tree at Marin Country Mart. 4-7.

Tony’s Seafood has live music every Sunday and this band sounds interesting “hyper-eclectic – International folk music.” I couldn’t find any videos of them though. 5-7, free.

There is a gingerbread house decorating event in Mill Valley on Sunday, December 7. It costs $70 and will likely sell out before the Marin Buzz email next week.

Independent music shops do a Record Store Day Black Friday with limited edition vinyl only in-store. Records are one of our go to gifts. Looks like Mill Valley Music, Watts Music (Novato), and Red Devil Records (San Rafael) are all participating.

Friday is the start of Christmas season, so a trip to Ghirardelli Square for their tree lighting could be festive.

Thanks for reading. If you know of anything interesting going on in Marin, just reply to this email to let us know.

— Allison + Brian