When the house is full of guests on Thanksgiving, what does everyone do between the last brunch plate and the first dinner course? Around Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive this year, the holiday tables near Ventana Canyon all run on fixed windows. The Sabino Canyon Crawler's posted terms list it as closed on Thanksgiving Day. The canyon itself stays open to anyone who walks in. So Thursday is the day to walk in the canyon, and Friday is the day to ride.
Thursday's tables run on fixed hours
All four Thanksgiving offers within a short drive of the Ventana Canyon area land on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Each has its own hours, and the hours shape the day more than the menus do.
| Table | Thanksgiving hours | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Brunch, The Canyon Club at Loews Ventana Canyon | 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | $125 adult, $42 ages 6 to 12, free 5 and under |
| Thanksgiving Dinner, Flying V at Loews Ventana Canyon | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | $95 three-course prix fixe, wine pairing $45 more |
| Thanksgiving Day Buffet, Hacienda del Sol | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $115 adult, $50 ages 6 to 12, free 5 and under |
| Thanksgiving Buffet at LA LUZ, The Westin La Paloma | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $119++ adult, $60 children 10 and under |
At Loews Ventana Canyon, the two holiday meals leave a two-hour gap. Thanksgiving Brunch at The Canyon Club ends at 2 p.m. with carving stations, fresh seafood, desserts and live music. Thanksgiving Dinner at Flying V starts at 4 p.m. That 4 p.m. start is an hour earlier than Flying V usually opens. On a normal Thursday, dinner there runs 5 to 9 p.m. The holiday dinner starts with cast-iron cornbread, then a seasonal starter, then a choice of turkey, short rib, salmon or pasta. Dessert is pumpkin pie, pecan chocolate torte or carrot cake.
The two buffets keep longer hours. Hacienda del Sol serves from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and describes its spread as traditional Thanksgiving favorites "with a Southwestern twist." Reservations are by phone at (520) 529-3500. LA LUZ at The Westin La Paloma has the shortest window of the four, closing at 3 p.m.
For a household with guests, that sets the order of the day. Whichever sitting a group picks, part of the day stays open, and the two Loews meals together leave room for a few hours outdoors in between. Sabino Canyon, about ten minutes down the road, is where those hours go.
Sabino Canyon stays open when the shuttle doesn't
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road, is open year-round. The Coronado National Forest's visitor center page calls it "always open for visitors." The same page lists the paved road as a popular wheelchair-accessible route.
The Crawler shuttle is a different matter. The operator's posted ticket terms say:
Closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day
The operator's FAQ page says its customer-service staff are off on Thanksgiving. Anyone counting on a Thursday ride should check with the operator before driving over. For everyone else, walking the paved road on Thanksgiving makes a good outing for a mixed group of guests. Strong hikers can go as far as they like, and anyone who wants to turn back can do it at any point.
The parking fee affects a houseful of visitors more than the shuttle does. The Forest Service charges $8 per vehicle per day or $10 per vehicle per week. A car that visits on Thursday and comes back Friday pays $16 at the daily rate, while the weekly pass costs $10 and covers both days. If a guest's rental car is likely to go back for the ride on Friday, the weekly pass is the cheaper choice from the first visit.
Friday is the day to ride
On a regular operating day, the Crawler runs its tours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The last Sabino tour leaves at 4 p.m. and the last Bear Canyon shuttle at 4:15 p.m. The operator's 2026 FAQ lists departures at least hourly from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. In peak season, service generally increases to every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. According to the Forest Service, the Sabino route is a one-hour round trip with nine stops.
The Crawler's current fares:
- Sabino Canyon tour: $15 adults, $8 children ages 3 to 12
- Bear Canyon shuttle: $8 adults, $5 children ages 3 to 12
- One-way down ride, when space allows: $8 on the Sabino route, $5 on Bear Canyon
The one-way fare works well for a family visit. Stronger walkers hike up the paved road while the rest of the group rides, and everyone comes down together. The terms add one caution: anyone who hops off along the route may not find space on a later ride down.
After a morning in the canyon, Friday evening has its own plan. Moon Glow 520, La Encantada's free outdoor yoga, meditation and breathwork session, is held on the last Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. This month that falls on November 27. Bring a mat and water. La Encantada's extended holiday hours start November 22 and run through January 2, so the shops will stay open later around the session.
The rest of the weekend at Flying V
Guests staying past Thursday can go back to Flying V and order from a different menu. The Thanksgiving prix fixe is for one night only. On Friday and Saturday, the dining room and patio serve the fall and winter menu Flying V introduced in late October. Tucson Foodie covered the change on October 29.
The new dishes use local ingredients. A winter squash bisque is made with locally sourced pumpkin, acorn squash and honey nut squash. The cavatelli is made from locally grown and milled grains and served with dry-aged short rib and bone marrow. Mesquite-crusted tuna comes with an "amarillito" yellow mole made from Olotillo corn. A beet risotto uses locally grown oyster mushrooms. The Caramel Butter Cake has an Arizona date chutney and a coffee-toffee sauce made with Exo Roast Co. coffee.
Six new cocktails came with the change, including the Thyme and Tallow, made with Michter's whiskey, Courvoisier VSOP and cranberry. For guests who aren't drinking, the spirit-free Sparkling Sandia combines watermelon, cucumber and lime.
On Fridays and Saturdays, Flying V stays open until 10 p.m., an hour later than its Sunday-through-Thursday close. The patio has lounge seating, firepits and a view of the waterfall. That later close leaves time for both Moon Glow 520 and a full dinner on Friday. Reservations are through Resy or by phone at (520) 615-5497. The resort's other dining spots also stay open through the long weekend. Vista Barista is open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bill's Grill is open daily from 11 a.m. to sunset, weather permitting. Cascade serves dinner from 3 to 10 p.m. The resort notes that these hours are subject to change.
Saturday night goes south to Ajo Way
The weekend's biggest food event is about a half-hour drive away. Tucson Foodie's Tucson Asian Night Market runs Saturday, November 28, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Kino Sports Complex South, 2500 E. Ajo Way. Early entry starts at 5 p.m. Admission is $10, and children 12 and under get in free.
For a family, that pricing goes a long way. A group of two adults and three children younger than 13 pays $20 to get in. The same group would pay $250 for adult brunch tickets on Thursday at The Canyon Club before any children's tickets were added.
The week at a glance
- Thursday morning, Nov. 26: Walk Sabino Canyon on the paved road, since the Crawler's posted terms list it as closed on Thanksgiving Day.
- Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Thanksgiving brunches and buffets at The Canyon Club, LA LUZ and Hacienda del Sol.
- Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.: Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner at Flying V.
- Friday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m.: Ride the Crawler, using the same weekly parking pass from Thursday.
- Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Moon Glow 520 at La Encantada, followed by dinner on the Flying V patio.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 6 to 10 p.m., early entry from 5 p.m.: Tucson Asian Night Market at Kino Sports Complex South.
At Tierney Lococo Team, we use our hospitality background to plan around the details that make a week like this work, from the time slots on a holiday menu to the right parking pass for visiting family. If you're hosting this Thanksgiving and want our local recommendations around Ventana Canyon or the wider Catalina Foothills, we'd be glad to share them.