Nearly all public agencies will be closed on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and quite a few will be closed the following day, Black Friday.
BART will run a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day but will have extra-long trains for the expected crowds of shoppers on Friday.
Here's run-down of what's open and closed:
- City Hall – closed both days
- Recycling Center – closed both days
- Swim Center – modified schedule both days: 8-9 a.m., Masters; 9-10 a.m. Water Aerobics (s); 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Lap
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Public schools in El Cerrito and Kensington, as well as the rest of the district, are closed both days. Wednesday is a minimum day.
Post Office, federal agencies
Thanksgiving Day in a national holiday, and post offices and federal offices will be closed. Friday is not a U.S. government holiday, though some offices may reduce hours of service that day.
Department of Motor Vehicles
DMV offices, including the one in El Cerrito, will be closed Thursday and Friday.
BART
BART will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thursday. On Friday, it will run full-length trains all day, beginning early in the morning.
"BART will significantly increase the number of available seats by making trains as long as possible on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 23, which has become one of the busiest shopping days of the year," the transit agency said in a news announcement. "Full-length trains will operate from 6 am to close of service for bargain hunters looking for extra room to carry their bags of gifts onboard."
And to help holiday travelers on Nov. 23, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and on Sunday, Nov. 25, when many travelers are returning home, BART will run longer trains on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line serving the San Francisco airport.
BART is also adding 475 airport/long-term parking spaces at most East Bay stations between Nov. 19-25, and Dec. 22-Jan. 2, which can be reserved for $5 a day. Airport/long-term spaces are available also at the Colma and Millbrae stations for $6 a day. You can find more information and make reservations at bart.gov/parking.
