After the turkey has been roasted, the stuffing stuffed, and the pie baked, we will give thanks for another year with friends and family. While we could spend the afternoon laying around in a tryptophan stupor, instead, let’s get out of the house and head to the local watering hole and maybe enjoy some late November sunshine near a fire pit with a libation in hand. Why? Because all these wonderful places are open on Thanksgiving Day. What's not to be thankful for?

Thanksgiving Eve

Howl at the Moon
Let loose the night before Thanksgiving at How at the Moon’s Thanksgiving Fest party on Wednesday. Enjoy $3 Sam Adams Seasonal, $5 Bacardi cocktails and $20 86 oz. spike punch buckets. Admission is free. (1735 19th St.; 303-291-0880)

Platt Park Brewing
Once again, this neighborhood brewery is hosting Friendsgiving, a community pot luck dinner at the brewery. However, this year the event will be on Monday, November 21, before Thanksgiving Day. The brewery will provide the turkey and asks guests to bring side dishes to share. The eating starts at 6:30 PM and the beer is pay as you go. (1875 S Pearl St.; 303-993-4002)

Punch Bowl Social
PBS is actually celebrating its fourth anniversary on Wednesday, November 23. The party starts at 6 PM and the $10 entry fee gets you two drinks, light appetizers, a DJ, and open games. All ticket proceeds will benefit Denver Dumb Friends League.  (65 Broadway; 303-765-2695)

Stoney’s Bar & Grill
Stoney’s is having a Thanksgiving Eve Throwdown starting at 7 PM. Play Turkey Bingo and Bowling for Turkeys while enjoying the sounds of DJ Jesse James and all sorts of drink specials. The party is free to enter and food and drink are pay as you go. (1111 Lincoln St.; 303-830-6839)

Thanksgiving Day

Mile High United Way Turkey Trot
Get outside and get your workout in early at the 43rd annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day at 10 AM. Not only will you get in a four-mile run to prepare you for an afternoon of stuffing, proceeds will benefit the Mile High United Way. After you run or walk the four miles, enjoy the Great Divide Brewing Company’s beer garden with free beer! Enjoy tasty beers such as White Water Wheat, Lasso IPA, Hibernation Ale, Colette Farmhouse or Titan IPA. Partakers must be 21 and over to enter the beer garden. Register for the race online at Mile High United Way. (Washington Park/South High School parking lot)

Hard Rock Café
The Hard Rock Café on the 16th Street Mall will be open from noon to 8 PM on Thanksgiving Day and will have a variety of food and drink specials. (500 16th St., Ste. 120; 303-623-3191)

Highland Tap and Burger
The folks at HTB will open at 5 PM before the Thursday night football game begins. The bar will be full service, but the kitchen will only be serving a light menu, which is all you really need. If the temperature cooperates, bring the dog and enjoy the outdoor patio. (2219 W. 32nd Ave.; 720-287-4493)

World of Beer – Belmar and Cherry Creek
Both locations will be open on Turkey Day from 6 PM to midnight for football watching and beer drinking. (7260 W. Alaska Dr., Unit A; 303-934-2304 & 660 S. Colorado Blvd.; 303-757-0506)

Thanksgiving Weekend

Denver Christkindl Market
Denver’s Christkindl Market returns on Friday, November 18, this year and runs through December 23 at Skyline Park on the 16th Street Mall. This authentic German festival is a unique mix of holiday shopping market, live entertainment, and outdoor beer garden.  It will also be open for visitors on Thanksgiving Day from 11 AM to 4 PM, just long enough to get us out of the house for some warm Gluehwien and frosty German beers either before or after that big turkey meal. On Thanksgiving weekend, the market will be open from 11 AM – 9 PM Friday and Saturday and on Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM. (Skyline Park, 16th St. & Arapahoe)

Odyssey Beerwerks
The taproom will be open before, during and after Thanksgiving Day for people to stop by for a drink and to get growlers filled for the festivities. On Wednesday, November 23, the tap room is opening early from 11 AM to 11 PM, which is plenty of time get the holiday weekend started. On Thanksgiving Day, the tap room is only open a few hours, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Then on Friday, November 23, the tap room is open again from 11 AM to 11 PM. (5535 W. 56th Ave.; Ste. 107: 303-421-0772)

ViewHouse Ballpark and Centennial
Both locations of the ViewHouse will be open for a Thanksgiving Eve party on Wednesday, November 23 starting at 9 PM. Enjoy a DJ, drink specials and giveaways sponsored by Breckenridge Brewery. Also any guest who brings an unwrapped toy for the Care 4 Colorado Toy Drive will receive a FREE Peppermint Godiva Chocolate Martini. Thanksgiving weekend will feature $5 glasses of Infinite Monkey Theorem Cab Franc. The Centennial location, which happens to be near Park Meadows Mall, will have Black Friday specials on November 25 starting at 10 AM. Show a Black Friday shopping receipt and get 10% off your bill. (2015 Market St.; 720-282-1548 and 7101 S. Clinton St.; 303-586-3523)
Photo via Flickr user timsackton