It's one of the busiest bar nights of the years as folks return home, heading out with old friends, escaping the family with best cousins or just enjoying a night out before the holiday madness official begins.
A lot of bars, especially in downtown Harrisburg, don't bother with drink specials or events because -- let's be honest -- you're going out anyway.
However, this year there are a wide variety of spots to consider for Thanksgiving Eve, with plenty of live music, drink specials and more.
Downtown/Midtown Harrisburg
Arepa City's new location at 221 N. Second St. -- a must-try regardless -- but on Thanksgiving Eve they're hosting a BYOB dance party, Electronic Turkey, on their second floor, with Team DJs, Tommy Keiper and Jimmy Lawrence. Doors open at 9 p.m. $10 cover.
Holiday Countdown Party at Sawyer's, Mulligan's, Bourbon Street Saloon and Susquehanna Ale House. A 25-foot Christmas tree will be lit at midnight. Meanwhile, get penny drinks at Sawyer's from 9-11 p.m., $2.50 you-call-its from 9-11 p.m. at Mulligan's, Bourbon Street Saloon and Susquehanna Ale House.
Pints Bar & Grill will have a Karaoke Dance Party hosted by Giovanni Traino from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving Eve featuring $4 Fireball Whisky and $3 Troegs drafts.
Spend part of your evening at one of Buddha Buddha's two Happy Hours. Choose from the early shift, 6-8 p.m., or late, 10 p.m. to midnight, each time featuring $5 Martinis, $4 Miller Lite bottles, $5 cheese pizzas and $4 Fireball shots.
It's a Party Like a Pilgrim Party at the Clover Club featuring DJ Foxy Panda. Happy Hour runs 4-7 p.m. and features the cheapest drink menu you'll see all night: $1 -- yes, $1 Fireball shots, domestic bottles, Mad Elf bottles, cosmos and glasses of wine.
Yes, I just said you can get $1 bottles of Troegs Mad Elf at the Clover Club from 4-7 p.m. Read more about the club here.
In the spirit of giving thanks, Rubicon will offer half priced sandwiches and draft beers from 9 to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve.
- Revealing Rubicon, the new French-inspired restaurant in Harrisburg: Out with Sara
Here's one my family would get behind, "Start of Holiday Season with Champagne" at Char's Restaurant. Char's will offer $6 glasses of champagne and $2 Champagne Oyster Shooters on Wednesday.
Jam-band fans can find Quagmire Swim Team and Friends live at The Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Co. Doors open at 8 p.m., the show starts at 9 p.m. $7 cover.
Take your friends and family out to one of Harrisburg's newest gems. River City Blues & Dart Club is hosting the Shawan and the Wonton Thanksgiving Eve Jam. Bring an instrument and join in on the jam. No cover charge. Runs 8 p.m. to midnight.
- Blues and dart-focused bar coming soon to Harrisburg: Out with Sara
East Shore/Hershey
Big Woody's will have live music with The Don Johnson Project from 8 p.m. to midnight, plus Blue Moon pints are $3 all night.
Joe K's Brewhouse will feature $2.50 you-call-its from 9 to 11 p.m.
Arooga's features a half price happy hour at their Hershey location from 10 p.m. until midnight. Every craft, draft, drink and shot is half priced.
The Mill in Hershey features Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30 p.m. with $2 off all drafts, $8 signature cocktails, and $4 house wine by the glass; Appetizers specials starting at $4 and our Mill Standard Burger and Uncle Pig's Crabcake Sandwich for $10.
At 9 p.m., they will have live music from Fred Pellegrini Duo, performing acoustic classic rock covers. Then, late night happy hour runs 10-11 p.m. with a special feature late night menu plus Pumpkin Pie and Apple Cider Martinis for $6, $4 glasses of house wine and $2 off all draft beer.
Alfred's Victorian will be open from 4:30 p.m. with a final seating at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve. On special will be a Pumpkin "Tini" or A- Pear-Tini and their Spicy Meatballs combo for $10. Or, choose wine by the glass with their Mediterranean Crostini combo for $10. You can even mix and match!
West Shore/York/Gettysburg
Battlefield Brew Works will be open to accommodate your beer-loving relatives from 2 p.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving Eve featuring Fishbowl Sessions singer/songwriter jam from 7 to 10:30 p.m. On special for the evening is a Cran-Apple Moon, housemade apple pie moonshine from Battefield's distillery mixed with cranberry ginger ale.
Whiskey Ridge Saloon (Park Inn) will have Dirty Jersey on stage, plus $2 drinks from 8-10 p.m. Blarney's Twisted Irish Pub will have a $100 Kilted Karaoke contest.
Quaker Steak and Lube is featuring $12 "Lube Tubes" on Thanksgiving Eve for all domestic beers.
Flinchy's parties with Shea & Swish all night, plus $2 Coors Light pints and $3 Smirnoff drinks.
Just want some good food? Mezza Cafe in Lemoyne has your choice of five mezza for $30.
The Silver Lake Inn (best bar in York county!) will host a Thanksgiving Eve party starting at 9 p.m. with a DJ and giveaways, plus Thanksgiving-themed drinks and seasonal craft beers on tap.
The Accomac will have live guitar performances from Kirk Wise from the Jazz Me band from 6-9 p.m. They also will be running a three-course pre fixe menu for $40; the full menu also is available.
Of course, this list isn't all-inclusive. Know of another great party happening Thanksgiving Eve? Share it in the comments.
SARA BOZICH:
Celebrate responsibly.