If you are spending Thanksgiving break at St. Olaf, use some of your free time to explore Northfield and campus! Here are some great break activities for you to enjoy before the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and finals!
1) Turkey Trot 5K Run On November 28, Thanksgiving Day. The Turkey Trot 5K Run is being held at the Northfield Golf Club. This is a great opportunity to work off those Thanksgiving meal calories and support the Northfield Rotary Youth programs! Sign up online at northfieldrotary.org. It costs $15 and registration begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday with the run starting at 9 a.m.
2) Visit the Mixed Messages Chinese Print Exhibit in Dittmann. This exhibit consists of Chinese prints donated to St. Olaf and displays the transformation of Chinese ideologies. Many St. Olaf art students and Asian studies students helped out with this fascinating exhibit so make sure to view it while it is still in Dittmann.
3) Worship at Boe Chapel for a Thanksgiving service on Sunday December 1 for Thanksgiving at 10:30 a.m.
4) Pick apples and enjoy delicious treats at Fireside Orchards. Close to campus and open 9-6 p.m. daily you can pick apples in the orchard and visit the little market there for goodies like donuts, caramel dip, jellies and cider!
5) Discover Northfield! With a busy school year, it is often difficult to make time to get down to Northfield, but for a little town it is brimming with adorable shops, great food and fun activities. Start off your day at Tandem Bagels, a yummy stop for fresh bagels and cinnamon rolls. Stop at Northfield Yarn for beautiful yarn if you are a knitter or want to start a new project for winter! If you don’t know how to knit and want to learn, Northfield Yarn holds classes for many levels and items. Looking for peace and quiet? Head to Heartwork Yoga, a new yoga studio in town for a great workout. They offer drop-ins at low prices! A lot of classes are cancelled because of the holiday but there are one or two classes every day Wednesday-Sunday. Check out heartworkyoga.com for specific details. Lastly, don’t forget to pick up Christmas gifts for friends and family at adorable shops like Rare Pair and Monarch Gift Shop.
6) Take a trip to Mall of America for Black Friday Shopping! Take advantage of great deals starting at midnight on November 29.
7) Explore Carleton’s arboretum and St. Olaf’s Natural Lands! These beautiful trails will be quiet and are great for a picturesque walk or run.
8) See Spectacular Now on Saturday, November 30 in Viking! The movie follows two high school students who lives are intertwined as they both desire to live in the “spectacular now” and fall in love in the process.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break and enjoy some down time on the Hill!
Pictures: Turkey Trot, Cover Photo