Students come to Northeastern University from throughout the world. Sometimes it’s not practical for students to go home for a short break for Thanksgiving. But that doesn’t mean Northeastern students have to go without turkey and all the trimmings on the holiday.

Students on the Boston, Oakland and London campuses can still get their fill of stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.  

The university has you covered.

“I think it’s nice,” said graduate student Emerson Allen. “Some people may not have an opportunity to get home, and it’s a way for people to get together.”

🦃Happy Friendsgiving! 🍂

Friendsgiving is a time to create cherished memories and celebrate the bonds that make life richer.

If you can't make it home for the holidays, let Northeastern Dining be your chosen family. The Food Hall will be open on Thanksgiving from 8 AM- 7 PM. pic.twitter.com/XjR7xETxiG

— Northeastern Dining (@nudiningboston) November 16, 2023

In Boston, the Food Hall at Stetson West will be open Thanksgiving Day with a fall-themed menu. The Food Hall will remain open on Friday and Saturday after the Thursday holiday. Full hours of operation can be found at NUdining.com.

Meanwhile, in Oakland, a Friendsgiving Lunch will be held on Thanksgiving at the Student Union from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students, faculty and staff are all invited. Participants are asked to RSVP by Friday, Nov. 17.

And across the pond, Thanksgiving will be celebrated as well — with special guest Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun. 

A traditional Thanksgiving celebration will be held at Plaisterers’ Hall from 6:30 to 10 p.m. GMT, complete with dinner, live music and dancing. Suggested attire is smart casual. 

Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration is required. Plaisterers’ Hall is located at One London Wall, London, LND EC2Y 5JU.

So, come and have your fill of turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings. 

And once you’ve recovered from the feast, there’s still plenty to do. In fact, the holiday weekend offers the perfect opportunity to take in seasonal activities.

Here’s a list of some things to do over the holiday weekend in Boston, Oakland and London. 

Boston

• Grab your skates, because the Rink at 401 Park, a short walk from the Boston campus, is back for a second season. This winter will feature events such as hockey, broomball, ice flow yoga, pop-up shops and more. Tickets are available online or at the rink, which is open 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
  
• The eighth annual SoWa Winter Festival brings more than 100 of the region’s best small businesses together to sell everything from specialty food, art, crafts and other goods. The festival also includes live entertainment. The festival is held at the SoWa Power Station at 550 Harrison Ave., Boston, from Friday, Nov. 24 to Sunday, Dec. 17.
  
• The Holiday Market at Snowport is in its third season and features more than 120 makers, a tree market, food, a cocktail bar and festive decor. The market is located at 100 Seaport Blvd., Boston. The market is closed on Thanksgiving, but open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Oakland

• The following events are organized by the Center for Leadership, Equity and Excellence, which can be reached at OaklandCLEE@northeastern.edu.
• As you recover from your food coma on Thanksgiving, come watch the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks at a watch party in the Cyclone Rec Room from 5 to 9 p.m.
  
• Inspired by the athleticism on display? An Open Field Day will be held at President’s Meadow from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24.
• Those who are tempted to hit the books can attend a study session in the Mary Atkins Legacy Lounge from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday. Pizza and other snacks will be available.
  
• Ready for some more food? Return to the Atkins Legacy Lounge for Sweet Treats and Movie Seats, a cookie-decorating session and movie marathon from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
  
• Pining for more Hollywood magic? The film screenings will continue at Cyclone Rec Room beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.

London

• Thanksgiving isn’t really a British thing, but Northeastern University in London has plenty of things for students to do on the holiday and over the break.
• On Thanksgiving, get a slice of London’s “best Pumpkin Pie,” and an American history lesson at the historic Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St., London WC2N 5NF. Tours at 5 and 6 p.m. delve into Franklin’s life in London, his social circle and pivotal moments in American history. Then stay for dessert and a beverage in the rooms where Franklin lived between 1757 and 1775. 
• And what is more American than ending Thanksgiving by collapsing on the couch to watch the NFL? Nordic Bar, 25 Newman St., London, W1T 1PN, has the (American) football aspect covered, with games on one of its seven huge screens. This is a ticketed event.
• The “mother of all light trails,” according to TimeOut London, Christmas at Kew Gardens features lights and illuminations along a 3-kilometer trail in the 300-acre Kew Gardens Royal Botanic Gardens in London, TW9 3AB. Reserve a spot today, as tickets go fast.
• Skate around the grand neoclassical courtyard of Somerset House on a 900-square-meter outdoor ice rink with a Christmas tree. This year the rink will have a “Swiss winter vibe” courtesy of Tourism Switzerland. Again, book tickets online.
• Southbank Centre Winter Market turns the banks of the Thames into a “frosty wonderland” every year with wooden Alpine-style cabins selling gifts, warming drinks and snacks. This year’s highlights include Jimmy’s Winter Lodge, with heated riverside snowglobes where you can enjoy cheese fondue. Other huts offer foods from Thai street food to duck wraps, mulled wine and truffle burgers as well as gifts, jewelry and decorations made by independent designers.

Cyrus Moulton is a Northeastern Global News reporter. Email him at c.moulton@northeastern.edu. Follow him on X/Twitter @MoultonCyrus.