A day of running, eating and shopping
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A day of running, eating and shopping is set for Thanksgiving around San Diego County Thursday.
Early morning 5K and 10K runs are set to take place in downtown San Diego, Balboa Park and Oceanside. The eighth annual Oceanside Turkey Trot field is set to include 2016 Olympic hopeful Lukas Verzbicas, track legend Steve Scott, ex-Padre Morgan Ensberg and his family, and Camp Pendleton base commander Brigadier Gen. John Bullard Jr., along with his daughter.
Beneficiaries of the runs include the San Diego Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, the Move Your Feet Before You Eat! Foundation, the Virginia Ann Scheunemann Memorial Fund, and other local nonprofits.
The Salvation Army will hold its 30th annual Thanksgiving feast at Golden Hall, and while that server might look like Ron Burgundy, it's really just an impersonator. Organizers say actor Will Ferrell was invited but didn't respond.
The menu for the 2,000 guests expected by the Salvation Army includes 800 pounds of turkey, 185 dozen dinner rolls, 500 pounds of dressing, 140 pounds of butter, 500 pounds of green beans, 275 pumpkin pies, 400 pounds of mashed potatoes, 100 gallons of coffee, 40 gallons of gravy, 2,000 half-pints of milk and 60 gallons of lemonade.
The Salvation Army will also serve meals at its centers in Escondido and Oceanside. They say the food is not just for the homeless, but anyone in need of a good meal.
The House of Blues and Senior Community Centers will also offer Thanksgiving feasts.
Numerous stores are set to be open for pre-Black Friday shopping for those not done-in by the exercise, cooking and tryptophan.
Kmart is slated to open at 6 a.m. and Walgreens will begin business at 8 a.m.
Other openings on today will be Best Buy, Wal-Mart and stores at the Las Americas and Carlsbad Premium Outlets centers at 6 p.m.; Old Navy at 7 p.m.; Fashion Valley Mall, Fredericks of Hollywood, J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Macy's, Office Depot, Sears, Target and the Viejas Outlets at 8 p.m.; and Staples at 9 p.m.
Many of the stores at Parkway Plaza and the Westfield shopping malls are scheduled to open at midnight, as is GameStop.
