This year, Thanksgiving dinner will have a unique twist for a couple in Vancouver. Instead of the traditional spread, Helen Vlahos and Wolf Schneider are opting for takeaway turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce, all to enjoy while watching an eagerly anticipated Blue Jays baseball game. Vlahos and Schneider, who were in Toronto for a family event, consider the game more important than a lavish turkey dinner.
The Blue Jays are set to play Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, marking their first time advancing this far since 2016. With Game 2 scheduled for Monday, many fans are reshuffling their holiday plans to catch the games.
Vlahos and Schneider plan to rush back to Vancouver in time for the game, preferring a cozy evening on the couch over a grand celebration. Their light-hearted Thanksgiving agenda aligns perfectly with the baseball excitement. The couple even made a pact to get their Blue Jays jerseys if the team made it to the championship series, fulfilling their promise with a visit to the team store in Toronto.
As the series moves to Seattle for Games 3 and 4, followed by potential games on Thursday and Friday, fans across Canada are rallying behind the Blue Jays. Some, like Kohlman Zarowny and his son Kai from Alberta, are trading traditional Thanksgiving activities for the thrill of live baseball at Rogers Centre.
The buzz around the Blue Jays has captured the attention of Canadians, with a significant number willing to skip Thanksgiving dinner for a chance to watch the game. The excitement extends to families like Nicole La Flèche and her father in Sudbury, Ontario, who see the baseball games as an opportunity to bond.
As Thanksgiving weekend unfolds, families and fans across the country are blending turkey dinners with baseball excitement, making this holiday season a memorable one for sports enthusiasts.