Stay in and nest or get out and about Thanksgiving weekend

If it's Thanksgiving, you're probably cooking, eating, shopping or warming up the recliner for some serious parade- and football-watching.

But today is the first day of a long holiday weekend.

Whether you have a houseful of relatives, or only yourself to entertain, you need a plan, a strategy, strength and endurance.

We're here with suggestions, many of which are free or modestly priced, and many of which have nothing to do with consuming copious amounts of food.

Stay in and nest, or break out of the house. And have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I LOVE A . . . A bit predictable, but a must for traditionalists, is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Tune in for marching bands, balloons and floats from 9 a.m. to noon today on CBS and NBC. The parade has been held continuously since 1924, except for three years during World War II. It's all about the helium balloons (new this year are the Pillsbury Doughboy, Ronald McDonald, Sailor Mickey and Spider-Man) and, in more recent years, Broadway show tunes ("Bye Bye Birdie" and "Billy Elliott"). The new parade route this year, however, will bypass Broadway.

A little younger at 76, the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade from Chicago airs at the same time on cable channel WGN.

TIME FOR SOME FOOTBALL: Pros playing today are Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions, 12:30 p.m. on Fox; Oakland Raiders vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4 p.m. on CBS; and New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos, 8 p.m. on NFL Network. In college football, ESPN airs Texas at Texas A&M at 8 p.m.

The big college game for this part of the country -- the 91st matchup of Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia -- is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY: It's not as classic as "A Charlie Brown Christmas," but the Peanuts gang will celebrate "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" today at 8 p.m. on ABC.

CALL OR CLICK FOR COOKING HELP: If you forgot to thaw the bird, you'd better check the restaurant ads elsewhere in this section. But if it's a quick tip you need, these hot lines and Web sites might help.

Butterball turkey line: (800) BUTTERBALL or (800) 288-8372 or http://www.butterball.com

King Arthur Flour Co.'s bakers hot line: (802) 649-3717

Ocean Spray consumer hot line: (800) 662-3263 or http://www.oceanspray.com

Reynolds turkey tips hot line: (800) 745-4000 or http://www.reynoldskitchens.com

U.S. Department of Agriculture meat and poultry hot line: (888) 674-6854 or http://www.fsis.usda.gov

WHILE WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT FOOD: Doubtless, today's Thanksgiving meal is a far cry from the first one (and we won't get into the Virginia vs. Massachusetts argument). We'll just say that Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center are sponsoring "Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia" today through Saturday. It's a living history and hands-on program about how early English colonists and Powhatan Indians prepared and preserved food. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $9.25-$19.25 combo ticket. (888) 593-4682.

LET SOMEONE ELSE COOK: It's suggested that you call ahead to check on availability, as some restaurants have been accepting reservations for weeks.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: The Giving Heart's Community Thanksgiving Feast is a free meal for everyone -- especially the elderly, the needy and people without family and friends nearby -- from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Greater Richmond Convention Center, Third and East Marshall streets. Although all the volunteer slots are full, you can head on down and enjoy the fellowship. Last year's feast fed 2,850 people. See details at http://www.thegivingheart.org.

GLIDE AND SLIDE: Stony Point Fashion Park, off Chippenham Parkway in South Richmond, offers free ice skating at its outdoor rink this weekend. The 45-minute sessions begin every hour on the hour, tomorrow and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Skate rental is included. Go to http://www.shopstonypoint.com and click on "This Week."

GET INSPIRED: Watch 1,000 runners make the dash for top honors and personal records at the annual Turkey Trot 10K. The race starts today at 9 a.m. near the student commons on the campus of the University of Richmond. Winners should finish the loop in about a half-hour, but the fun should go on until 11 or so. The race is sold-out, but you can still participate by bringing cans of tuna or jars of peanut butter for the Central Virginia Foodbank, and gently used shoes, which will be shipped to Africa. There's a kids' race at 8:30, with registration on site. Details are at http://www.rrrc.org; click on "Events."

If you're a member of a Greater Richmond YMCA branch, you can bring guests free tomorrow through Sunday. (Guest registration forms are required.) Check http://www.ymcarichmond.org for details.

OUT AND ABOUT, RICHMOND EDITION: All those out-of-town guests are going to want to see a slice of your life. For a taste of history, take them on the "I Know Richmond" bus tour tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m., leaving from Valentine Richmond History Center, 1015 E. Clay St. $20-$23. 649-0711. . . . Sample some free IMAX movies at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. With paid admission to the museum tomorrow through Sunday, visitors can get tickets to "Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk," "Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure," "Coral Reef Adventure" and "Journey Into Amazing Caves." Check other special events of the weekend at http://www.smv.org.

OUT AND ABOUT, CULTURAL EDITION: The Virginia Opera performs Donizetti's comic opera "The Daughter of the Regiment," tomorrow at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St. $29-$99. (866) 673-7282 or 592-3400.

"Bus Stop," William Inge's gentle comedy about eight castaways spending a winter's night at a roadside diner, opens tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Barksdale Theatre-Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, Hanover. $36-$39. 282-2620. Through Jan. 10.

City Dance Theatre dancers and alumni perform modern and jazz works, Saturday at 8 p.m. at Gottwald Playhouse, Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St. $35 or $75 (includes reception); benefits City Dance Theatre's education programs. 592-3400.

Contemporary R&B singer-musician-songwriter Kem appears with Will Downing and Anthony David, Saturday at 8 p.m. at Richmond's Landmark Theater, 6 N. Laurel St. $45 in advance, $47.50 day of show. 646-4213.

New in town on the big screen is "Old Dogs," rated PG, in which John Travolta and Robin Williams star as buddies and business partners who find themselves taking care of 7-year-old twins. This was the last film role of comedian Bernie Mac, who died in August 2008 during filming. . . . "Fantastic Mr. Fox," rated PG, is director Wes Anderson's first animated film, based on the best-selling children's book by Roald Dahl. George Clooney voices Mr. Fox, who grows tired of his family life and returns to his former ways as a chicken thief. Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe and Owen Wilson play other animal characters. . . . If you like a little more action, the R-rated "Ninja Assassin" is about the title character plotting revenge against a mysterious organization that executed his friend.

OUT AND ABOUT, HOLIDAY EDITION: It all starts this weekend -- the lights, the carols in the malls, the shopping excursions -- so if you want to embrace it, not escape it, you have lots of choices nearby and a little farther afield.

Legendary Santa, reputed to be "the real Santa," arrives at Children's Museum of Richmond, 2626 W. Broad St., tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visits to Santa are free; $7-$8 for museum entry. Santa hot line at 474-7009 or 474-2667. Daily (hours vary) through Dec. 24.

Maymont House Holiday Tours: Victorian holiday splendor on display, on the half-hour noon-5 p.m. (last tour at 4:30) at the estate, 1700 Hampton St. $5 donation requested. 358-7166, ext. 329. Tuesdays-Sundays (except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day) through Jan. 6.

GardenFest of Lights: More than a half-million lights are arranged for "Wings of Wonder" in the gardens, plus seasonal displays in the conservatory and education and library complex, opening tomorrow with grand illumination at 5:30 p.m. at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. $6-$10; $4-$5 for garden members. (804) 262-9887. Daily 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 11 (except Dec. 24-25).

Genworth Financial Holiday Village: Scaled-down Fan District-style houses exploring symbols, traditions and customs of the holidays, tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Children's Museum of Richmond, 2626 W. Broad St. Holiday Village is free; $7-$8 for museum entry. 474-2667. Through Dec. 31.

"Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration," new attraction filled with holiday traditions, entertainment and the spirit of the season, tomorrow from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Williamsburg theme park. $19.95. (800) 343-7946. Continues Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 13, then each evening Dec. 18-27 (except Christmas Day).

"Celebration in Lights" is a 2-mile drive past animated, illuminated figures, today from 5:30 to 10 p.m. in Newport News Park, 13560 Jefferson Ave., Newport News. $10 per car. (757) 926-1400. Nightly through Jan. 1.

McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach: Driving tour of 31 blocks of the oceanfront boardwalk illuminated with more than 250 lighted displays, today from 5:30 to 10 p.m. in Virginia Beach. $10 per passenger vehicle. (757) 425-3111. Nightly through Jan. 3.

Mount Vernon by Candlelight: Mansion tour with holiday theme, fireside caroling, refreshments and more, tomorrow from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the George Washington estate, Fairfax County. $8-$15 at main gate or via Ticketmaster. (703) 780-2000. Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 13.

THAT'S JUST THE START: Don't miss the Flair section Sunday for our annual holiday calendar and http://www.TimesDispatch.com (keyword: calendar) for more things to do.

All things bright and beautiful -- we're talking Tacky Lights -- can be found on http://www.TimesDispatch.com (keyword: tacky lights) and on http://www.Richmond.com.