Thanksgiving at Kiawah
Year-after-year, families have made Kiawah Island Golf Resort the host of their favorite holiday traditions. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather on the island with friends and loved ones as the resort rings in the festive season with lavish buffets, epicurean experiences in our restaurants, and home-cooked meals to enjoy in your vacation rental, without any of the effort–a true foodie paradise.
Additionally, our temperate climate invites guests to enjoy myriad activities for all ages around the resort. From biking on our 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 our Thanksgiving programming below.
***This event is fully committed. Guests of The Sanctuary are encouraged to inquire with hotel concierge at (855) 458-4881 regarding waitlist availability.
Seatings starting at 12:00pm
Adults: $184 | Children 4-12: $98
Pricing is inclusive of food, tax, and gratuity.
Join us 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 Pies
$24 per pie
Let our Villa Resort pastry team take care of your pie needs this Thanksgiving! Our chefs have crafted beautiful, flaky pastry creations to complement any holiday table. Pies are specially boxed and ready to pick up. Traditional flavors include: Pumpkin, Pecan, and Apple-Crumble.
Orders must be placed by Friday, November 22nd. Order pick-up will take place at the West Beach Conference Center on Wednesday, November 27th from 9am-1pm and Thursday, November 28th from 11am-12pm. Place your order now.
Jasmine Porch – Priority seating reserved for guests of The Sanctuary
Breakfast: 6:30-10:15am
Thanksgiving Buffet: 12-8pm
Adults: $179 | Children 4-12: $98 inclusive
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. At this time, reservations are limited to hotel guests only. Call for reservations: (800) 654-2924
The Ocean Room – Priority seating reserved for guests of The Sanctuary
5-9:00pm
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. At this time, reservations are limited to hotel guests only. Call for reservations: (800) 654-2924
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 12-11pm on Thanksgiving Day.
Visit our full calendar of events to see what’s happening every day and to make advance reservations for activities. And don’t forget to make your bike reservations – one of the best ways to explore all that our island has to offer!
D A I L Y
Kayaking Tours
Discover the wonders of Kiawah Island’s rich biodiversity and saltwater marshes with the Kiawah Island Nature Program. Immerse yourself in our daily kayaking, kayaking tours are 2 hours long and offer the chance to discover Kiawah through the eyes of our naturalists. For our tour schedule, visit KiawahActivities.com. Reservations required, please call (843) 768-6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies.
Camp Kiawah
November 25-27 and 29 | 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 our Camp Kiawah page for pricing and more information. There is no lunch option Thanksgiving week.
Camp Xtreme
November 25-27 and 29 | 8:30am – 12:30pm
Night Heron Park Basketball Court
Camp Xtreme is designed for 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 Thanksgiving week.
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 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!
M O N D A Y, November 25th
Bird Walk at Mingo Point
8 – 9am
Mingo Point is a unique spot situated between gorgeous views of the salt marsh along the Kiawah River and the maritime forest of Kiawah Island. Join a naturalist on this 1-hour birding tour to get a taste of the great birds Kiawah Island has to offer all in one place, from flocks of singing red-wing blackbirds to wood storks and egrets wading in the pluff mud along the edge of the marsh.
$20/person. Reservations are required, 843-768-6001. Schedule subject to change.Recommended for ages 8 and up. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Turtles’ Nest Art Studio: Open Studio
9am – 4pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio
Join us throughout the month for a special holiday mug painting. Our open studio offers an extensive selection of craft options suitable for families, adults and children. Unleash your imagination as you delve into pottery painting, shark tooth and shell necklace making, wood crafts, canvas painting, and much more.
Prices for each project will vary based on your chosen masterpiece(s).
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 Kiawah Recreation at (843) 768-6001. Schedule subject to change.
Get your Picasso on 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, all with a festive Thanksgiving theme based on your creative designs, prizes will be awarded to the top 2 teams. Chalk will be provided. Event is complimentary, no reservations required
Family Craft: Fall Picture Frames
1 – 3pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Come join us 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.
Art Animals: Alligators
1:30 – 2:30pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Art Animals combines the excitement of a reptile show with a creative pottery session! You will first learn fascinating facts about the animals and get a chance to get an up-close experience. Following this, you will paint a ceramic animal to recreate the lifelike reptile you have just learned about, using the live animal as your guide. This unique experience blends hands-on animal interaction with artistic expression.
$35/person. Reservations are required, 843-768-6001. Schedule subject to change.
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 competition games. Great for beginner to intermediate.
$45/person. For ages 8 and up. Participants must be able to confidently pull a 15lb bow string. Reservations required, please call (843) 768-6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Escape Box Experience : Low Country Investi ”gator”
2:30-3:45 pm | Night Heron Pavilion
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?
$65/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.
Island Idol
4-6pm | Night Heron Park Stage
Island Idol is back and ready to hear all the talent Kiawah has to offer. Step onto the Night Heron Park Stage to wow the audience with your favorite songs.
This event is complimentary, no reservations required. Scan the QR code on the signs around the park to enter the queue and wait for the DJ to announce your name. Concessions will be available for purchase until 5pm. Schedule subject to change.
Glass Fusing 101
5 – 6pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio
Learn to cut, layer, and design glass pieces to create your artwork. Choose from a wide 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.
T U E S D A Y, November 26th
Join us throughout the month for a special holiday mug painting. Our open studio offers an extensive selection of craft options suitable for families, adults and children. Unleash your imagination as you delve into pottery painting, shark tooth and shell necklace making, wood crafts, canvas painting, and much more.
Prices for each project will vary based on your chosen masterpiece(s). 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 Kiawah Recreation at (843) 768-6001. Schedule subject to change.
Bird Walk at the Ocean Course
8 – 10:3am
The Ocean Course is home to some of the richest bird habitats on Kiawah Island. Freshwater ponds, salt marshes, and the beach come together to create an incredibly diverse habitat for shorebirds, wading birds, and songbirds, among many others. Join a naturalist on this unique birdwatching tour to learn about the bird species that make Kiawah Island such a special place.
$40/person. This tour will meet at the Nature Center in Night Heron Park. Recommended ages 14 and up, and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required, (843) 768.6001. 24-hr cancellation policy.
Shelling Expedition
9:30- 11:30am
SC’s beautiful coastal ecosystem provides a variety of unique and interesting marine mollusks. Accessible only by boat, our Naturalists will escort you to a remote barrier island known for its abundance of shells.
Important to our delicate coastline, we encourage photographs and apply shell-collecting limits to help conserve the beach and its inhabitants for future generations.
$75/adult, $65/child (ages 3-11), multiple parties onboard. Reservations are required, 48-hour cancellation policy. Private tours are available upon request.
Family Craft: Thankful Trees
1 – 3pm | Night Heron Park Pavilion
Join us at the Turtles’ Nest Art Studio to prepare for Thanksgiving by creating a thankful tree to honor everything we are grateful for this holiday season. This is a wonderful activity for families to come together and add what they are thankful for. You’ll also leave with a unique and beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece or decoration
$30/tree. No reservation required. Schedule subject to change.
Lego Building Competition
1:30 – 2:15pm | Night Heron Park
Gathering all builders! Unleash your creativity and showcase your building skills in a thrilling Lego building competition. Prizes will be awarded by staff members based on our Thanksgiving themes.
Event is complimentary, no reservations required.
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 competition games. Great for beginner to intermediate.
$45/person. For ages 8 and up. Participants must be able to confidently pull a 15lb bow string. Reservations required, please call (843) 768-6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Subject to availability
Duck Derby
2:30 – 4pm | Night Heron Family Pool
Slide on down to the Night Heron Family Pool for our Thanksgiving-themed Duck Derby. Choose and customize your racer, decorate it in festive Thanksgiving colors and themes, and come up with the most creative name for your duck. Enter the bracket-style tournament to watch them go head-to-head down the water slide. Please arrive on time as no late entries will be accepted after the bracket has been made.
Entry is complimentary, and no reservations are required. Please note that Kiawah Island Golf Resort Pool usage is exclusive to resort guests and Governor’s Club Members. Complimentary, no reservations required. Join us for a quacking good time this Thanksgiving.
Candle Making
5 – 6pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio
Our artist will help you step by step in the candle-making process. You can choose from over our 80+ scents, either picking out one scent or combining scents to make it your own. Design your candle label or even decorate your candle jar to make it even more unique to you.
$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
Kids’ Night Out: Sanctuary Splash Bash
5 – 8pm | Sanctuary Indoor Pool
Our Kid’s Night Out programs provide everything needed for an exciting and adventurous experience for our young vacationers and local residents.
For kids ages 5 – 12. Dinner is included. Kids, meet us at the Sanctuary Indoor pool for a night full of food, 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 the 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.
W E D N E S D A Y, November 27th
Back Island Birding
8:45 – 11:45am
From vibrant warblers to majestic birds of prey, the Lowcountry of South Carolina is famous for its diversity of birds during all seasons. We’ll use the van to reach several remote island habitats to seek out dozens of bird species and learn about the natural history of our avian wildlife.
$60/person. Recommended for ages 14 and up. All nature tours have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Schedule is subject to change. Reservations required, (843)768-6001.
Turtles’ Nest Art Studio: Open Studio
9am – 4pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio, Night Heron Park
Join us throughout the month for a special holiday mug painting. Our open studio offers an extensive selection of craft options suitable for families, adults and children. Unleash your imagination as you delve into pottery painting, shark tooth and shell necklace making, wood crafts, canvas painting, and much more.
Prices for each project will vary based on your chosen masterpiece(s).
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 Kiawah Recreation at (843) 768-6001. Schedule subject to change.
Join us at the Night Heron Park Soccer field for this friendly archery showdown. Compete against others in your age category (8-12yrs at 11am - 12:30pm | 13-15yrs at 1 - 2:30pm | 18yrs+ at 3 - 4:30pm) to see who can score the highest on our turkey targets. An adult must accompany participants under the age of 16. The competitor with the highest overall score in each age group will take home a turkey-rific reward.
$15/ person. For ages 8+. Reservations are required, please call (843) 768-6001. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Subject to availability.
Fall Craft- Ribbon Fall Wreath Making
5 – 6pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio
Fall is still here! Join us at Turtles’ Nest Art Studio to create your own fall wreath using a variety of ribbons and fabrics.
$30/wreath. No reservation required. Schedule subject to change.
Mini Golf, Music, and S’mores
5 – 8pm | Night Heron Park
Gather around the fire, enjoy live music by Flash Mob, and indulge in a s’more or two. Plus, don’t miss the chance to “par-take” in a family mini golf competition for some friendly fun.
This event is complimentary, and no reservations are required. S’more supplies and glow gear will be available for purchase until 7:30pm. Schedule subject to change.
Thanksgiving Day, T H U R S D A Y, November 28th
Yoga on the Beach
8am – 9am| 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.
Turtles’ Nest Art Studio: Open Studio
9am – 2pm | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio, Night Heron Park
Join us throughout the month for a special holiday mug painting. Our open studio offers an extensive selection of craft options suitable for families, adults and children. Unleash your imagination as you delve into pottery painting, shark tooth and shell necklace making, wood crafts, canvas painting, and much more.
Prices for each project will vary based on your chosen masterpiece(s).
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 Kiawah Recreation at (843) 768-6001. Schedule subject to change.
Sand Sculpting Contest
10:45am – 12:15pm | 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 amount 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 | Turtles’ Nest Art Studio at Night Heron Park
Join us for a family fun craft. Create a traditional Kiawah logo Tie Dye T-shirt. Choose from any of our bright, rainbow spectrum colors to make your shirt unique.
$20+/shirt. Child and adult sizes available while supplies last. No reservations required. Schedule subject to change.
Stop by the park for some fall fun while taking part in mini golf and enjoying live music. Get ready to "gobble" up the excitement with a 360-photo booth, inflatables, face painting, southern lawn games, and crafty activities.
This event is complimentary and no reservations are required. Assorted crafts and concessions available for purchase. Schedule subject to change.