November 23-28, 2025
Celebrate Christmas this Thanksgiving at Ocean Lakes Family Campground! Families and friends gather together to give thanks and celebrate the Christmas Season. Also, enjoy dining, shopping, and holiday shows (stop by the Recreation Office) see our Christmas Season Voucher Prices.
Download our Ocean Lakes App for Contests, AR fun, and Scavenger Hunts! Watch for a very special guest to arrive (besides the Big Guy).
2024 Thanksgiving Activities
See our 2024 Thanksgiving Activities Below!
Thanksgiving Cafe Dinner Specials
Monday, Nov. 20th
including Cafe’s Thanksgiving Day Meal (pre-order until Tuesday, Nov. 21st). See the menu and details here.
Bird Bingo – Nature Center
Monday, November 20th @ 11 AM
Meet at the Nature Center to learn about native birds while playing a round of Bird Bingo at our bird feeders. Prize for winners. NO FEE.
Shake Your Tail Feathers – Nature Center
Monday, November 20th @ 1 PM
Join us at the Nature Center to play a fun game and learn why turkeys dance! NO FEE.
Turkey Bingo
Monday, November 20th @ 7 PM
We’ll play 10 games of bingo; grand prize will be a turkey! 1 bingo card per person. Held at the Recreation Center. NO FEE.
Thankful Turkey Tuesday – Nature Center
Tuesday, November 21st @ 11 AM
Join us at the Nature Center to learn why we celebrate Thanksgiving while making a turkey craft to take home with you! Recommended for children 10 and under. Must sign up in advance at the Nature Center; limited space, 20 people max. NO FEE.
Fall Stencils – Nature Center
Tuesday, November 21st @ 1 PM
All ages are welcome to join us at the Nature Center to learn about the fall season while creating your own tie-dye masterpiece to take with you! Must sign up in advance at the Nature Center. $2 per person. CASH ONLY.
Turkey Einstein Lab – Nature Center
Wednesday, November 22nd @ 10 AM
Join us at the Nature Center for a turkey-tastic science experiment! Must be at least 5 years old. Must sign up in advance at the Nature Center; 20 people max. $1 per child. CASH ONLY.
Turkey Races – Nature Center
Wednesday, November 22nd @ 12 PM
Come to the Nature Center to learn about the laws of motion while competing against other turkeys! Must be at least 5 years old. Must sign up in advance at the Nature Center; 40 people max. $1 per child. CASH ONLY.
Thanksgiving Mason Jar Make & Take
Wednesday, November 22nd @ 2 PM–3 PM
Join us at the Recreation Center, Room C, to make your very own Thanksgiving Mason Jar. Recommended for ages 10 and up. We will provide all the materials necessary to paint and decorate your very own unique jar. Class begins at 2 PM. Please arrive on time as our instructor will lead you through how to make the jar provided. No crafters will be accepted after the class starts, so be sure to arrive early. Pay the instructor $5 per jar upon arriving to class.
Gingerbread House Contest
Thursday, November 23rd @ 9 AM–8 PM
(All houses need to be submitted by 8 PM.)
Starting Thursday morning at 9 AM, drop off your handcrafted, one-of-a-kind Gingerbread Houses. All houses must arrive NO LATER than 8 PM on Thursday night. You have 2 options: You can make your house at home and bring it in, or if you have little space, you can use Room A at the Recreation Center to create your house. Please note the Recreation Team does not provide any materials. You must bring all the materials to make your house with you. Winners will be announced and posted on Saturday at 6 PM.
Gingerbread House Voting
Please Note: Technology is needed for Voting
We encourage all to come join us at the Recreation Center to vote for your favorite Gingerbread houses. Voting will be held all day Friday from 9 AM – Saturday at 5 PM. Vote virtually using the Ocean Lakes App > click on Menu button on Home Page > Vote to pick your favorites. Voting ends at 5 PM on Saturday, November 25th.
Thanksgiving Bingo
Wednesday, November 22nd @ 7 PM
We’ll play 10 games of bingo; all prizes will be items that will help with your Thanksgiving feast! 1 bingo card per person. Held in the Recreation Center. NO FEE.
Starfish Strut Family 5K
Thursday, November 23rd starting @ 9 AM
Bring your family and join us for the 2nd Annual Ocean Lakes Starfish Strut Family 5K! We welcome you to sign up at the Recreation Office any time starting on Tuesday, November 21st. We will provide you with a packet that includes instructions. You can walk/run the path anytime on Thanksgiving Day before 8 PM to win a prize. Please Note: You will need a way to track your walk/run via Smart Watch or a Walking App. You will show your results to the Recreation Office to receive your prize. NO FEE.
Pie Bingo
Thursday, November 23rd @ 3 PM
We’ll play 10 games of bingo and our lucky 10 winners will receive pies as prizes. 1 bingo card per person. Held at the Recreation Center. NO FEE.
2023 Christmas Activities
See our 2023 Christmas Activities Below!
Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? – Nature Center
Friday, November 24th @ 10 AM
Join us at the Nature Center to create your very own snowman craft to take home with you. Recommended for children 10 and under. Must sign up in advance at the Nature Center. $1 per person. CASH ONLY.
Grinch Ornaments – Nature Center
Friday, November 24th @ 12 PM
Join us at the Nature Center to make a heart-warming grinch ornament to take home with you (plan to wear play clothes, craft involves paint). Recommended for children 7 and under. Must sign up in advance at the Nature Center. $1 per person. CASH ONLY.
Pet Costume Contest
Friday, November 24th @ 12:30 PM–1 PM
Please sign up your friendly pet before 12 PM the day of at the Recreation Office. Fee is $5 per pet; all proceeds will go to help Canine Angels. The contest will be held at the Recreation Center starting at 12:30 PM. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before. We will award prizes in the following categories: Most Unique, Cutest, Most Festive, and Best of Show. NO FEE.
Pet Photos with Santa
Friday, November 24th @ 1:30 PM–3:30 PM
NEW THIS YEAR! We are excited to be offering an opportunity for your pets to get their chance to tell Santa how Pawsitively Pawfect they have been all year. Bring your friendly furry friends to the Recreation Center from 1:30 PM–3:30 PM to take a festive picture with Santa. Mrs. Claus. Santa will be providing treat bags for each pet. NO FEE.
Campground Canvases
Friday, November 24th @ 3:30 PM
Come to the Recreation Office to sign up in advance before spots fill up. A max of 35 painters will be able to attend class. You must arrive NO LATER than 3 PM! This is a 2-hour class perfect for beginners or anyone who loves painting. Cost is $20 per person; you will pay the instructor at the time of the class. Supplies and instructions are included in the cost. You are welcome to bring some snacks with you to nibble on while you paint. Once completed, you get to take home a beautiful masterpiece to remember your trip to the beach for years to come. Class takes place at the Recreation Center, Room A. **NOTE: We have a max space of 35 spots available.**
Christmas Music Bingo & Stupid Trivia
Friday, November 24th & Saturday, November 25th @ 6 PM–8 PM
Join us at the Recreation Center for this fun, musical twist on the original bingo game we typically play. Snippets of songs in different categories will be played; you will have to match up the song played with the song’s title on your bingo card. We will give a few hints along the way. In between rounds of music bingo, we will play 3 rounds of stupid trivia. 10 wacky, crazy questions in each round. NO cheating! NO FEE.
Tree Trimming Event
Saturday, November 25th @ 10 AM–12 PM
Bring your holiday spirit to the Recreation Center on Saturday morning to help decorate the Ocean Lakes Christmas tree for Santa’s arrival that afternoon. All decorations used to trim the tree have been provided by our wonderful guests throughout the years. We encourage you to bring your own special ornament to add to our collection. During the event, beverages and small snacks will be provided. NO FEE.
Ugly Sweater Contest
Saturday, November 25th @ 11 AM
Who thinks they have the ugliest sweater just laying around? Well then, this is the competition for you! Come to the Recreation Center to compete in our Ugly Sweater Contest and win a prize in the following categories: Best Crafted Sweater, Craziest Sweater, Most Creative Sweater, Funniest Sweater, and Best Overall Ugliest Sweater. NO FEE.
Santa Claus is Visiting Ocean Lakes
Saturday, November 25th @ 2 PM–5 PM
Ocean Lakes welcomes Santa Claus & Mrs. Claus on Saturday, November 25th from 2 PM–5 PM. Stop by the Recreation Center to take your pictures with the big man himself. We have lots of fun planned for you and your family! There will be a Christmas Photo Booth, Gingerbread House Voting, Candy Guess Jars, Festival Games, Gift Goodie Bags, Face Painting (must be 3 or older – sign up begins at 2 PM, first come first serve) and an Ornament-Making Class ($5 per ornament). Please arrive before 4 PM to see Santa as the line can get quite long. We don’t want you to miss out on your chance to talk to Santa before he heads back to the North Pole. Blank letters will be provided at the Recreation Office for each child to fill out. In order to save some time during the event, we encourage parents to pick up a blank letter early and have their child complete it before arriving to see Santa. Make sure to leave your child’s letter in the special mailbox at the Recreation Center as each letter will be delivered directly to Santa himself. Who knows, he may even write back! NO FEE.
Shop for Christmas Gifts & Souvenirs – You never have to leave the campground!
Main Office Gift Shop | Sandy Mart | Ocean Lakes RV Center | Ocean Lakes Golf Cars | Gift Certificates
Do you have an Ocean Lakes fan on your Christmas List? How about the latest YETI products or new Maui Jim Sunglasses – all at Ocean Lakes RV Center! Don’t miss shopping for unique Ocean Lakes souvenirs, including our commemorative Christmas ornament, Simply Southern Collection, Sandy Starfish wrapping paper. Our Ocean Lakes beach bucket makes a great “gift bag” to fill with Ocean Lakes goodies! Check out our 3-D magnet stocking stuffer! Shop golf cars and accessories at Ocean Lakes Golf Cars. The Main Office also has Gift Certificates that can be purchased for any amount – guaranteed to fit! Pick up the 52-page story of Ocean Lakes filled with never-before-seen photos of Ocean Lakes.
