Hit homer for the homeless
If you’re up early and want to do some good before stuffing yourself …
• The Home Run for the Homeless raises money for Gennesaret’s Family Nutritional Center. The one-mile fun run/walk is at 8:30 a.m., the 4-mile run at 9 a.m. at 419 W. Exchange St., Akron. Race day registration for the run is $25, fun run $2. www.gennesaret.net, 330-319-3954.
• The Meadows Turkey Bowl is an annual touch football game that has raised more than $1 million for charity over 27 years. Cheer on the teams starting at 8 a.m. at the home of Mike Meadows, 3075 Hood Road, Medina. www.meadowsturkeybowl.com.
See Holiday Tree Festival
Take the family to the Holiday Tree Festival at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron, with about 200 decorated trees and 85,000 strings of lights. Thanksgiving Day hours are 2 to 6 p.m. The event benefits Akron Children’s Hospital.
See Polk Jr. comedy show
Mike Polk Jr., the comedian who added “Factory of Sadness” to the Cleveland lexicon, gives a Thanksgiving show at 8 p.m. at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, 2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland. Tickets are $10-$15 at www.pickwickandfrolic.com, 216-241-7425. (If you miss this show, Polk will play the Funny Stop in Cuyahoga Falls on Friday and Saturday.)
Burn off some calories
Two area YMCAs will let you burn off a few calories before indulging. Please bring a canned food item to donate to a local food bank:
• Thanksgiving Worship Workout, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Kohl Family YMCA at University Park, 477 E. Market St., Akron.
• “Werq before you Turk:” 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Lake Anna YMCA, 500 W. Hopocan Ave., Barberton. Class with a variety of music including pop, hip-hop.
Help with turkey cooking times
And here’s a reminder on cooking times for those roasting that big bird today:
• 8 to 12 pounds: 3 to 3½ hours stuffed, 3 hours unstuffed.
• 12 to 14 pounds: 4 hours stuffed, 3½ hours unstuffed.
• 14 to 18 pounds: 4 to 4½ hours stuffed, 3¾ to 4¼ hours unstuffed.
• 18 to 20 pounds: 4¼ hours stuffed, 4¼ to 4½ hours unstuffed.
The USDA bases its recommended cooking times on basic turkey roasted at 325 degrees. Adjust if you’re following a recipe that calls for a higher temperature or for starting the turkey at a higher temperature and reducing the heat later in the cooking time. Let the turkey stand at room temperature at least 20 minutes before carving.