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Thanksgiving Events in Brunswick 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Brunswick with festive dinners, brunches, buffets, Turkey Trots, parades, family-friendly activities, Friendsgiving parties, holiday markets, volunteer opportunities, food drives, cruises, and seasonal events. Whether you're planning a traditional Thanksgiving feast or looking for unique things to do, discover the best Thanksgiving events happening in Brunswick.

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You’re warmly invited

to

ThanksgivingDinner

Date
Thursday, November 26
Time
4:00 PM

“Come hungry and bring your stories. There’s always room at our table.”

With love,Your name

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Curated by the AllEvents team, for you

Top Thanksgiving events in Brunswick

All Thanksgiving events in Brunswick 2026

Sun, Nov 15Bates College, Lewiston

Turkey Trot 5K

Join us rain or shine November 15th right in front of Commons for the Turkey Trot 5K—a fun, festive run for all ages! Turkey Trot 5k is an in-person event. Lace up and join the trot!

11:00 AM

Free – $10Turkey trotFamily friendly

Sponsored

Sun, Nov 1539 Snow Road Durham

Succulent Heirloom Pumpkin Decorating Workshop

Decorate a large heirloom pumpkin with succulents and dried flowers. These make the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece, and the piece will live for months as long as you keep it out of direct sunlight and heat, and water the succulents as needed. Once you

1:00 PM

Sun, Nov 15198 Western Ave, Augusta

Game On Pokémon Food Drive

Join us on November 15th at 1pm for our Game On Pokémon Food Drive event! This event will be standard format and swiss rounds. There will be promo packs for participation. Each non-perishable food item donated will enter your name into a drawing for cool

1:00 PM

Volunteer

Sun, Nov 15Bunker Brewing Co., Portland

Friendsgiving!

Runaways Friendsgiving Some families we’re born into, some we run into! Join us for our much anticipated annual Runaways Potluck Friendsgiving celebration on November 15th! Put away the running shoes, GBBO up your best potluck recipes and bring your fam

4:00 PM

Friendsgiving

Sun, Nov 15185 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor

FREE MOVIE! "Pieces of April"

FILM ANNOUNCEMENT Pieces of April (2003, 1h 20m) A wayward daughter invites her dying mother and the rest of her estranged family to her apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. ★ FREE ADMISSION ★ Concessions for $$$ ★ Film scorecard ★ Open mic discussion

6:00 PM

Dinner & brunch

Sponsored

Tue, Nov 17280 Maine Mall Rd Maine Mall, Portland

Kids Rock Painting Event – Inspirational Messages of Thanks

Let's ROCK this Thanksgiving season at UNO! 🎨🪨 Join us Tuesday, November 17, from 4–8 PM for Little Stones, Big Thanks! A fun-filled family event where kids can decorate inspiration rocks with colorful designs and heartfelt messages of gratitude. 🎨 FR

4:00 PM

Family friendly

Wed, Nov 18118 E Elm Street, Yarmouth

Friendsgiving Open Business Day

Join us as we celebrate a season of gratitude and appreciation for our incredible members and visitors! This meeting will be a special Friendsgiving Edition, filled with thanks, connections, and community spirit. Let’s come together to reflect on the suc

8:30 AM

Friendsgiving

Wed, Nov 18Dormir Hotel 965 Roosevelt Trail - Roosevelt Room, Windham, ME, United States, Maine 04062

Friendsgiving Open Business Day

Join us as we celebrate a season of gratitude and appreciation for our incredible members and visitors! This meeting will be a special Friendsgiving Edition, filled with thanks, connections, and community spirit. Let’s come together to reflect on the suc

10:00 AM

Friendsgiving

Wed, Nov 1811 October Road (P.O. Box 64 for mailing), Naples

Turkey Giveaway for Neighbors in Need!

We are excited to partner with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office - Maine this Wednesday the 18th to distribute free turkeys to community members in need! Distribution begins at 11 AM; We kindly ask that attendees arrive at the scheduled time and that

11:00 AM

Wed, Nov 18181 Jefferson St, Waldoboro

Turkey Bingo ~ Waldoboro Fireman's Association @American Legion

Doors open at 4:30pm, games begin at 6:00pm. Get your daubers ready!! American Legion Charles C. Lilly Post 0149 is hosting Turkey BINGO to benefit the Waldoboro Fireman's Association at 181 Jefferson St, Waldoboro (lower parking lot)

4:30 PM

Sponsored

Thu, Nov 19701 Main St, Oxford

Thanksgiving dinner

The Oxford Fire/Rescue Association has an Amazon wish list to help with our community Thanksgiving/Tots for Tots event Thursday November 19th. Anything from this list will help greatly.

12:00 AM

Dinner & brunch

Thu, Nov 191342 Congress Street, Portland

November Community Cafe

Good food, great company, and meaningful connection — That’s what Community Café is all about! The JCA Community Café provides older adults with an opportunity to socialize with other attendees while enjoying a delicious, nutritious Thanksgiving meal!

12:00 PM

Thanksgiving table decor and hosting essentials

From the thermometer that saves the turkey to the tablecloth, the kids’ table and a hat for the Turkey Trot. Check delivery dates before you order.

Links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, AllEvents earns from qualifying purchases.

Thanksgiving events near Brunswick

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

Sat, Nov 21Sanford Memorial Gymnasium

5K Turkey Trot

9:00 AM

Turkey trot

Sponsored

Since 1621

The history of Thanksgiving

It began with a harvest. In the autumn of 1621, the Plymouth colonists and their Wampanoag neighbours shared three days of food in a good year. Nobody called it Thanksgiving then. It took two more centuries, a determined editor and a president in the middle of a war to turn it into the day we know: a Thursday in November for family, food and being grateful.

Most of what fills the day now came later. The parade, the football, the morning Turkey Trot and the long table of sides were added by one generation after another, which is why every family’s Thanksgiving looks a little different.

  1. 1621After their first harvest, the Plymouth colonists hold three days of feasting. Massasoit arrives with about 90 Wampanoag men, who bring five deer.
  2. 1789George Washington proclaims the first national day of thanksgiving, for Thursday, 26 November.
  3. 1846–63Sarah Josepha Hale, the magazine editor who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, writes to five presidents asking for one national day.
  4. 1863In the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln makes the last Thursday of November a national Thanksgiving. It has been kept every year since.
  5. 1896Buffalo runs its first YMCA Turkey Trot, now the oldest footrace held every year in North America — a year older than the Boston Marathon.
  6. 1924Macy’s holds its first parade in New York, with animals from the Central Park Zoo. The giant balloons arrive in 1927.
  7. 1934The Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving for the first time, and football becomes part of the afternoon.
  8. 1939–41Franklin Roosevelt moves the day a week earlier to lengthen the shopping season. People call it “Franksgiving”, so Congress fixes it for good: the fourth Thursday of November.
  9. 1957Canada settles on the second Monday of October for its own Thanksgiving, which goes back to 1578.
  10. 1989George H. W. Bush gives the first formal presidential turkey pardon, now a White House tradition.

Thanksgiving in Brunswick: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Brunswick in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Brunswick run from Nov 15 to Nov 28, 2026: 66 events.

What is on in Brunswick on Thanksgiving Day?

12 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Thanksgiving Mash Potato Mile, Turkey Bowl at Riverbank Park, Westbrook. and Thanksgiving Toast at Address 365 Main St., Yarmouth, ME, United States, Maine 04096.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Brunswick?

14 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including FREE MOVIE! "Pieces of April", Thanksgiving dinner and Thanksgiving Dinner. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Brunswick?

Yes: Turkey Trot 5K at Bates College (Sun, Nov 15) and GNG 3rd Annual Turkey Trot at Libby Hill Forest Trails (Sun, Nov 22).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Brunswick?

Game On Pokémon Food Drive, Salt & Light's THE AMAZING PIE AUCTION! and Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner!! are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Brunswick?

Yes: 7 of the 66 listed are free, including Turkey Trot 5K at Bates College, Yard Sauce In Concert: Blended Together As One We Stand at Mechanics' Hall and DuBois Realty Group's Great Pie Giveaway - 2026. Tickets for the rest run from $81.88 to $115.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Brunswick?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Portland Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at Mathew's (Nov 25–26), STUFF'D a Thanksgiving Eve Dance Party with Cherry Lemonade & Friends at Aura (Wed, Nov 25) and Thanksgiving Food Pantry - Wiscasset at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Wiscasset, Maine (Thu, Nov 19).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Brunswick?

Yes: 5 more events are listed within reach, in Sanford, Biddeford, North Conway and Rockport and more.

When is Thanksgiving 2026?

In the United States, Thursday, November 26, 2026 — always the fourth Thursday of November. Canada celebrates earlier, on Monday, October 12, the second Monday of October.

What is Friendsgiving?

A Thanksgiving meal shared with friends rather than family, usually on a day near the holiday. Many restaurants and bars host Friendsgiving dinners and parties, so you can skip the cooking.

Do I need to book Thanksgiving dinner in advance?

Yes, as early as you can. Restaurants serving a Thanksgiving menu often fill up a week or more ahead, and many offer a set menu at fixed seatings on the day.