Happy Thanksgiving (a little early). As I gear up for the holiday weekend, I’m sharing my tips for outings early to help you get a jump start on planning.

For those who find the holidays, and its human interactions, stressful; the arts can provide a perfect balm. Post Thanksgiving, I recommend heading to a local gallery and sitting quietly while taking in the sights around you. These three shows are top on my need-a-moment-of-Zen list:

• A Mile and a Half of Lines: the Art of James Thurber, at the Columbus Museum of Art
• HERE: Ann Hamilton, Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, at the Wexner Center for the Arts
• Millworks, at the McConnell Arts Center.

Perhaps you have family in town and need to find ways to amuse them. Here are five recommendations.

• Take everyone outside and explore the Suspension exhibition that is in Schiller Park, Livingston Park, Thurber Park and the Atrium of the main library.
• Nov. 29 is the date for COSI’s monthly Friday Family Night event.
• The Wexner Center for the Arts is kicking off its Zoom: Family Film Festival with a screening of The Love Bug Friday, Nov. 29, (you really can’t go wrong with Herbie).
• Get everyone into the Christmas holiday spirit with a classic, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol opening Friday, at the Ohio Theatre.
• The Short North Holiday Bazaar and annual tree lighting on Sunday Dec. 1, is a great way to both get outside, enjoy the holiday season, and get a jumpstart on shopping (and shopping local small businesses).

And, these three events simply have me looking forward to the weekend:

• Saturday Night Fever at the Garden Theatre (opens on Nov. 29 and runs through Dec. 29)
• Flippo at the Snowden Gray Mansion, Nov. 29 (this space is so cool!)
• Paisha Thomas at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza, Dec. 1 (can’t think of a better way to kick off a new month than with this amazing woman).

Finally, check Nick’s Weekend Warriors from last week, many of his recommendations are still in play.

Before you head out, please call your destination to confirm holiday hours, and don’t forget to share your arts experiences with #artmakescbus.

Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who plans on spending Thanksgiving watching lots of schmaltzy movies, drinking boozy coffee, eating foods that are not on her “healthy lifestyle” plan, and knitting.