Image via Wikimedia Commons.

By Christopher Riley, contributor

Looking for a way to work off those cranberry sauce calories after Thanksgiving this year? A Black Friday outing that won’t get you trampled at Target? Jonesing for a couple post-feast drinks in a dark hideaway where your racist uncle won’t be screaming about politics? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our roundup of seasonal activities worth adding to your calendar.

Atlanta Track Club’s Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon & 5K
In the chilly morning hours of every Turkey Day, the Atlanta Track Club holds its annual half marathon race downtown. Additional races (and walkers) scheduled include a 5K, one mile run, and a fifty-meter dash, according to the ATC’s website. Will call opens at 5:30 a.m., and races kick off starting at 7:30 a.m. with a post-event celebration at Georgia State Stadium, formerly known as Turner Field. The event is rain or shine.

DKA’s Annual Sisters of Turkey Thanksgiving Goth Dance Party
Each year, as leftovers are boxed up and the sun sets on the Thanksgiving holiday, East Atlanta’s 529 Bar opens its doors to lost souls looking to shake off the anxiety of a stuffy family gathering and enjoy a brooding mix of music from DJs culling from an array of goth-centric genres. Strobe lights and fog machines will be in effect; makeup is encouraged. Doors open at 10 p.m. and entry is free. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. RSVP to the event page on Facebook (see link above).

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
While the event has been ongoing since November 17^th, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” exhibition is especially well suited for a post-Thanksgiving weekend outing to kick off the end-of-year holiday season. The grounds are extensively decorated with festive electric lights that also imbue existing sculptures and structures with a charming new ambiance. Information regarding exhibition schedule and ticket pricing is available on ABG’s website.

Day After Thanksgiving at the High Museum of Art
The High is open on Black Friday, and they’ll be offering a slew of special family-oriented programming for those looking to entertain visiting relatives or keep kids entertained on the week’s last unoccupied school day. Activities include hands-on art-making tutorial workshops, scavenger hunts, guided gallery tours for multiple ages and a family photo booth, according to the museum’s website. Regular ticket prices apply — free for museum members, $14.50 general admission tickets for anyone over the age of 6, and free entry for children age 5 and under.

Got another holiday event we should know about? Email our editor, Derek Prall.