7 incredible Bay Area things to do over Thanksgiving weekend

As the holiday season comes knockin,’ there are a ton of fun things going on in the Bay Area that you should know about. So let’s get to it, shall we?

(As always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines or other details.)

Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters  or  www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

1 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

From a beloved annual holiday fair to a new Christmas comedy and an all-world rock guitarist, there are a lot of great things to see and hear this weekend and beyond.

2 EAT, SIP & PLAY: Holiday countdown

We know, there’s a lot going on this time of year. But don’t forget to make time for fun stuff to do and delicious things to eat and drink. Here are 31 ideas along those lines.

3 PLAY: All about Truckee

The Nevada County town is charming and beautiful all the time, but especially this time of year. If you’re headed there, here’s an itinerary.

4 SEE & HEAR: Holiday stage shows are here

From Scrooges to Sherlock Holmes, there are a lot of holiday-themed stage shows to catch. Here’s just a few.

5 EAT & DRINK: Beer-pairing essentials

Focusing on wine/food pairings is commonplace. But food and beer? It can be just as tricky and  no one wants to make a culinary faux pas during the holidays — so here’s a primer.

6 WATCH: Speed vs. romance

What tops our list of cool new stuff to watch this weekend? Well, it comes down to a Lindsay Lohan rom-com and a gripping look at a famous race car driver. Heck, you can always watch both.

7 SIP: A bar for the birds … literally

Oakland has a cool new watering hole named Little Bird will appeal to lovers of our fine feathered friends, and pickles. Here’s a run-down.