Year-after-year, families have made Kiawah Island the host of their favorite holiday traditions. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather on the island with friends and loved ones as the area rings in the festive season with lavish buffets, epicurean experiences in the restaurants, and home-cooked meals to enjoy in your vacation rental, without any of the effort–a true foodie paradise!
Additionally, the temperate climate invites guests to enjoy myriad activities for all ages around the island. From biking, to going to the beach, to improv comedy, arts and crafts, and a Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot fun run, there is much to be thankful for on Kiawah Island during the holiday season. Explore all of theThanksgiving programming below.
Thanksgiving Food Options
Thanksgiving Buffet
One of the most popular dining celebrations of the year, Thanksgiving at Kiawah is the ultimate family affair! From an elegant four-star meal, to a relaxed clubhouse atmosphere, there’s a dining experience for every palate!
Grand Oaks Ballroom at The Sanctuary – Priority seating reserved for guests of The Sanctuary
Seatings starting at 12:00pm
Adults: $169 | Children 4-12: $89
Pricing inclusive of food, tax and gratuity.
Join in for a culinary creation on Thanksgiving Day. A lavish buffet presentation will be at your fingertips and live entertainment will enhance your meal. Browse the numerous culinary stations throughout the ballroom, featuring seafood displays, live chef stations, holiday meats, and other traditional favorites. Sample the wine menu and finish your experience with decadent chocolates and pastries.
Children’s Thanksgiving Buffet
Your children can enjoy a buffet of their own in the adjacent Heron Room while you enjoy the grand buffet in the ballroom. They will always remember this special event that will feature games, arts and crafts, as well as delicious fun and food.
Thanksgiving To-Go
Enjoy the leisure of a hot, home-cooked meal without any of the effort! The Villa Banquet team has created a delectable menu of holiday favorites, available for carry out. Choose a full meal that serves 8-10 people, or order just the turkey or just the sides – either way, the cooking is on us!
Jasmine Porch – Priority seating reserved for guests of The Sanctuary
Breakfast: 6:30-10:15am
Thanksgiving Buffet: 12-8pm
Adults: $129 | Children 4-12: $75
Celebrate the holiday with a magnificent buffet featuring traditional favorites, live entertainment, and house-made desserts. This will be a meal to remember in a warm, yet elegant atmosphere as you toast loved ones. Jasmine Porch is sure to be an annual tradition for you and your family.
Local’s Tip: Call for reservations: 843.768.6253
The Ocean Room – Priority seating reserved for guests of The Sanctuary
5:00-9:30pm
The Sanctuary’s signature Five-Star restaurant is proud to present a Thanksgiving experience made for the true epicurean. The Ocean Room will feature their seasonal steakhouse menu in addition to holiday favorites. Children’s menu available.
Local’s Tip: Call for reservations: 843.768.6253
The Lobby Bar at The Sanctuary
Join The Lobby Bar for spirits as you gather with friends and family this holiday season. The Lobby Bar will be open from 12:00-11:00pm on Thanksgiving Day.
Mingo Point Oyster Roast & BBQ
4:30-6:30pm and 7:00-9:00pm
Celebrate the holidays at Mingo Point and join us for the last oyster roast and BBQ of 2023! Enjoy an authentic Lowcountry experience at Kiawah’s most popular family outing. Indulge in a riverside oyster roast and an all-you-can-eat buffet of Southern BBQ specialties highlighting holiday favorites. Enjoy live entertainment from The Island Trio. Be sure to be on your best behavior because good ol’ Saint Nick is coming to the Lowcountry for holiday photos!
Thanksgiving Activities 2023
Family Activities
Thanksgiving is a time for family, and Kiawah offers a wide range of activities to keep kids (and grownups!) of all ages entertained! Visit the full calendar of events to see what’s happening every day and to make advance reservations for activities.
DAILY
Camp Kiawah
November 20 – 22 and 24 | 8:30am – 12:30pm
Night Heron Park Pavilion
Camp Kiawah is our themed day camp dedicated to making every day memorable for your child! Each session is themed with games, crafts, and snacks- guaranteed to be tons of fun! For ages 3 – 7. Reservations required, please call 843.768.6001. Visit KampKiawah.com for pricing and more information. There is no lunch option during Thanksgiving week.
Camp Xtreme
November 20 – 22 and 24 | 8:30am – 12:30pm
Night Heron Park Basketball Court
Camp Xtreme is designed with 8-13 year olds in mind. Competitive sports, team building, and more guarantee a day of XTREME FUN!
For ages 8 – 13. Reservations required, please call 843.768.6001. Visit KampKiawah.com for pricing and more information. There is no lunch option during Thanksgiving week.
MONDAY, November 20th
Glass Fusing 101
9 – 10am | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio
Learn to cut, layer, and design glass pieces to create your artwork. Choose from a variety of color options to make a design that is uniquely yours. Class includes a 3×3 tile with upgrade choices available. Precut pieces are available for children.
$40/person. For ages 5+. Children 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required, please call 843.768.6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Turtles’ Nest Art Studio: Open Studio
10:30am – 2pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio
The Turtles’ Nest Art Studio is a great area to relax and get creative! Offering unique craft options during open studio, there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Projects include pottery, wood crafts, canvas painting, and others. Prices vary based on project(s) selected.
Kiln projects, such as pottery painting, are available for pick up 2-3 days after completion. Shipping is available. No reservations required. For more information, please call 843.768.6001. Schedule subject to change.
Sidewalk Chalk Contest
1 – 2pm | Night Heron Park
Channel your inner Picasso and join us for a family-friendly Sidewalk Chalk Contest! Each family will have up to 1 hour to draw their most imaginative sidewalk chalk creation. Based on the contest theme, prizes will be awarded to the top 2 teams. Chalk will be provided. Event is complimentary, no reservations required.
Adult Archery Lesson
1:30 – 2:30pm | Night Heron Park
Join in on the fun at the archery range to try your skills! Enjoy a staff instructed lesson with various stationary targets and competition games! Great for beginner to intermediate. $45/person. For ages 13 and up. Participants must be able to confidently pull a 15lb bow string. Reservations required, please call 843.768.6001. A 24-hour cancelation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Family Craft: Shell/Shark Tooth Necklace
2:30 – 3:30pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Come join for a festive holiday week full of fun family crafts that are different each day! Pick out a shark tooth or a shell and add beads to create your own unique necklace!
No reservation required. Schedule subject to change.
Lowcountry Investi”gator”: Escape Box Experience
4 – 5:15pm | Night Heron Park
If you’re looking for a program you can really sink your teeth into, sign up for our tabletop escape experience! You will be tasked with using fun and factual information about alligators posted around the room to solve a series of clues provided at your team table. Do you have what it takes to chomp down on the solution that will get you into the naturalist’s locked case before the time is up?
$50/family. Minimum of 3 teams, maximum of 6 players per team. Ages 8+ recommended. Advanced reservations required, call 843.768.6001. 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Schedule subject to change.
Movie in the Park: Home
5:45pm | Night Heron Park Stage
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for an outdoor movie experience! Join us for a showing of Home at the Night Heron Park Stage. Movie begins at 6pm. Blankets and/or beach chairs are recommended. Admission is complimentary, no reservations required. Concessions available for purchase. Schedule subject to change.
Turkey Scavenger Hunt
November 20 – 25 | 10am – 5pm
Night Heron Park
Oh, no! We’ve lost all of our turkey friends and need your help locating them! Grab your clue sheet from the Night Heron Pool Shop or Nature Center to start your search. Follow the clues and bring back your completed sheet back to us for a special Thanksgiving prize! This event is complimentary and no reservations are required. Don’t forget a pen or pencil!
TUESDAY – November 21st, 2023
Turtles’ Nest Art Studio: Open Studio
10:30am – 2pm | Turtle’s Nest Art Studio
The Turtles’ Nest Art Studio is a great area to relax and get creative! Offering unique craft options during open studio, there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Projects include pottery, wood crafts, canvas painting, and various others. Prices vary based on project(s) selected.
Kiln projects, such as pottery painting, are available for pick up 2-3 days after completion. Shipping is available. No reservations required. For more information, please call our Recreation Reservations at 843.768.6001. Schedule subject to change.
Mystery Event
1 – 2pm | Night Heron Pavilion
Looking for something to do and like surprises? Join us at Night Heron Park for a mystery pop-up event! Be ready to do anything from arts and crafts to competitive games, to everything in between! Some events may require a fee. No reservations are required.
Youth Archery Lesson
1:30 – 2:30pm | Night Heron Park
Join us on the archery range to try your skills. Enjoy a staff instructed lesson with various stationary targets and interactive games! Great for Beginners. $45/person. For ages 8 – 12. Participants must be able to confidently pull a 15lb bow string. Reservations required, please call 843.768.6001. A 24-hour cancelation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Family Craft: Stuffed Animal Factory
2:30 – 3:30pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Come join us for a festive holiday week full of fun family crafts that are different each day! Select, stuff, and dress-up your own furry friend to remind you of your time spent on Kiawah. A great companion for long car rides or flights home! $20/animal. No reservation required. Schedule subject to change.
Kids’ Night Out: Sanctuary Splash Bash
5 – 8pm | Sanctuary Indoor Pool
Our Kids’ Night Out programs provide everything needed for an exciting and adventurous experience for our young vacationers and local residents. For children ages 5 – 12. Dinner is included. Kids, meet us at the Sanctuary Indoor pool for a night full of pizza, pool, and party!
Laser Tag
5:30 – 8:30pm | Night Heron Park
Do you have what it takes to compete on the battlefield?! Put your thinking caps on because strategic tactics are consequential! Grab your crew and go head-to-head against others in this fierce match. Aim at enemy’s targets as you battle through the smoke machines. Hide behind the inflatable bunkers, but be careful not to get hit by your opponent’s precise laser beams. Will you be ruled as the Laser Tag Champions, or will you be sent home?
Ages 7+. 2 teams of 10 participants go head-to-head. Complimentary, no reservations required. For more information, call 843.768.6001.
WEDNESDAY – November 22nd, 2023
Turkey Shootout
2:30 – 4pm | Night Heron Park
Join us at the Night Heron Park soccer field for this friendly archery showdown! The competitor with the highest overall score for each age category will take home a prize! Categories for age groups are 8-12, 13-15, and 16+. An adult must accompany participants under the age of 16.
$15/person. For ages 8+. Reservations, please call 843.768.6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Holiday Mug Painting
4 – 5pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Looking for a MUGnificient holiday gift? Search no further than one of our four tea-riffic styles of mugs! Chai your best at a custom design, or use one of our artist examples for inspiration. Mugs are glazed and fired upon completion. We can’t wait to see how you espresso yourself!
Pick up your mug during the Ornament Workshop (Friday, November 25th) and receive complimentary hot chocolate during the workshop. $35/person. Reservations required, please call 843.768.6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Bonfire and S’mores
5 – 8pm | Night Heron Park
Enjoy time with each other around the fire while listening to live music and indulging in a s’more or two. Also try your hand at our Pirate Ship escape room, starting at 4pm! Music is provided by Thomas Champagne. This event is complimentary, no reservations are required. S’more supplies available for purchase. Schedule subject to change.
Turkey Trot
Thanksgiving Day | 9:30am | Sanctuary Beach Access
Start your turkey day with Kiawah’s traditional Turkey Trot, a one-mile walk or a one-to-three-mile run on the beach for families, beginners, or competitive runners. Music begins at 9am. Complimentary coffee and hot chocolate are available pre-run. The race begins at 9:30am. All participants will receive a raffle ticket for a prize drawing held at 10:15am. This event is complimentary and no reservations are required.
THURSDAY, November 23rd
(Thanksgiving Day!)
Yoga on the Beach
10:45 – 11:45am | Sanctuary Beach Access
Hatha yoga with a blend of slow to moderate pace vinyasa and longer held restorative poses. We work at a beginner to intermediate level and focus on using breath to create body awareness, calm the mind, and build strength and flexibility all while taking in the beauty of the beach. Previous yoga experience is not required. $25/person. Ages 13+. Reservations required, call 843.768.6001. Mats are provided, we recommend that you bring water and sunscreen. Subject to availability.
Sand Sculpting Contest
11am – 12:30pm | Sanctuary Beach Access
Grab your buckets and shovels, and meet us for a family-friendly competition on the beach! Each family will have one hour to build the most festive Thanksgiving themed sand sculpture. The top three teams will receive prizes!
This event is complimentary and no reservations are required. A limited quantity of sand tools will be available for use. Per Kiawah Town Ordinance, metal shovels are not permitted. Schedule subject to change.
Tie Dye T-shirts
2 – 3:30pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Join on the deck in Night Heron Park for a family fun craft and create a traditional Kiawah logo Tie Dye T-shirt! Choose from any bright, rainbow, or neon spectrum colors to make your shirt unique. $20+/shirt. Child and adult sizes available while supplies last. No reservations required. Schedule subject to change.
Thanksgiving Festival
3 – 5pm | Night Heron Park
After dinner, stop by the park for some fall fun! Enjoy live music, inflatables and southern lawn games. Assorted crafts and concessions available for purchase. This event is complimentary and no reservations are required. Schedule subject to change.
