Thanksgiving in Boston 2026

The week before

• Plymouth’s Thanksgiving parade, Saturday, Nov. 21. America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration holds its parade on the historic Plymouth waterfront every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It’s about an hour’s drive south of Boston. Start time and the weekend schedule are on usathanksgiving.com.
• SoWa Christmas Market opens Friday, Nov. 20, at the SoWa Power Station in the South End. It’s closed on Thanksgiving and open 10 AM to 7 PM on Black Friday. Hours and prices are in our Christmas markets guide.
• Snowport, the free holiday market in the Seaport, is open for the season.

Thanksgiving Day

• Feaster Five, Andover. The area’s big Thanksgiving morning race: a 5K or 5 miles at 8:30 AM, and a kids’ fun run at 7:45. Registration is on Race Roster; it’s $49.85 with fees right now, and the price goes up as the race gets closer.
• Thanksgiving dinner at Plimoth Patuxet, Plymouth. Two options, each with three seatings: “The Story of Thanksgiving” dinner (11 AM, 2:30 PM and 6 PM; $131 for adults, $70 for kids under 12, non-member prices) and a homestyle buffet (11 AM, 1:30 PM and 4 PM; $100 and $65). Tickets include two days of museum admission. Book on plimoth.org; the museum warns that public transit and rideshares in Plymouth are very limited that day.

The long weekend

• Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker opens Friday, Nov. 27, at the Citizens Opera House.
• BU hockey plays Denver at Agganis Arena on Friday and Saturday nights.
• The holiday lights start going up: see our tree lightings list for the dates.
• Black Friday plans that aren’t shopping: ice skating, a movie at the Brattle or the Coolidge, or comedy.

Everything else on our calendar for Thanksgiving week is below, day by day. For the whole month, see things to do in Boston in November.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Plymouth Thanksgiving parade in 2026?

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving parade is Saturday, November 21, 2026, on the Plymouth waterfront, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Is there a Thanksgiving Day race near Boston?

Yes. The Feaster Five in Andover starts at 8:30 AM on Thanksgiving morning, with a 5K or 5 miles and a kids’ fun run at 7:45.

Where can I eat Thanksgiving dinner near Boston?

Plimoth Patuxet in Plymouth serves two Thanksgiving dinners with three seatings each; tickets include two days of museum admission. Book ahead on its site.