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Thanksgiving Events in Chesapeake 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Chesapeake 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 Chesapeake.

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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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Top Thanksgiving events in Chesapeake

All Thanksgiving events in Chesapeake 2026

On now

Nov 28–29Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach367 days

Planes, Trains and Santa 2026

Kick off your Holiday Season at our annual Planes, Trains, and Santa on Thanksgiving weekend at the Military Aviation Museum! Join us for a festive Thanksgiving weekend at the Military Aviation Museum for o

9:00 AM

Free – $110VolunteerFamily friendly

Thu, Nov 5Salem High School - Virginia Beach

Sheriff Rocky Holcomb's Turkey Bowl IV

The Turkey Bowl has become an important event for the VBSO — bringing public safety and education together for some friendly competition while supporting the Virginia Beach Education Foundation’s Beach Bags program, which helps provide food for Virginia B

6:00 PM

Nov 8–2110017 Jefferson Ave, Newport News14 days

Friendsgiving Artisan Workshop & Sip

Get crafty with your crew and enjoy some tasty sips while making cool Friendsgiving keepsakes. Cozy Up, Craft, and Celebrate Connection Gather your favorite friends and join us at <

2:00 PM

$60.54Friendsgiving

Wed, Nov 11BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (12090 Jefferson Ave Ste 1400, Newport News, VA)

STT November Meetup

It's the month of Thanksgiving, so let's come together, spend some time making new friends and sharing your business ideas for the last quarter of the year. Get your free ticket here:

6:00 PM

Sat, Nov 14Wilcox Indoor Archery Range, Newport News

Turkey Target Toss Up

Details and registration info:

9:00 AM

Sat, Nov 14500 E Bute St, Norfolk

PRE-THANKSGIVING FEAST!!

Join H.O.P.E. Foundation, Inc. for our FREE Pre-Thanksgiving Feast—a day of love, giving, and service for our community, especially neighbors experiencing homelessness. Come enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and fellowship. Free haircuts, bus tickets, winter coa

1:00 PM

Dinner & brunch

Sat, Nov 14DROP Fitness, Virginia Beach

Sip, Sway, & Slay: A Friendsgiving

Slip into your cutest muumuu for mimosas, music, dancing, and new friendships. Come sip, sway, and enjoy a girls' day out! Sip, Sway, & Slay!: A Friendsgiving Cute muumuus. Cold mimosas. Good musi

5:00 PM

$71.21Friendsgiving

Sun, Nov 15Hope Church

ThanksGiving Service & Chili Cook-Off

Join us for our ThanksGiving Service and Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, Nov 15th at 10am. Sign up this Sunday in the Lobby to enter the Chili Cook-Off.

10:00 AM

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.

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Thanksgiving events near Chesapeake

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

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 Chesapeake: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Chesapeake in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Chesapeake run from Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2026: 94 events.

What is on in Chesapeake on Thanksgiving Day?

14 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Thanksgiving Dinner, Wild Turkey Thanksgiving Day 5k in Corolla at Whalehead in Historic Corolla and 🦃🥾 Turkey Trot Hike at First Landing State Park (5.5 Miles) 🍂🌲.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Chesapeake?

18 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including The Friendsgiving Experience:Praise, Paint & Plates by KMB+Proclaim, PRE-THANKSGIVING FEAST!! and Friends and Family Thanksgiving at Sharon Baptist Church. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Chesapeake?

Yes: Glowing Gobbler 5K at Newport News Park (Wed, Nov 25), Wild Turkey Thanksgiving Day 5k in Corolla at Whalehead in Historic Corolla (Thu, Nov 26) and 🦃🥾 Turkey Trot Hike at First Landing State Park (5.5 Miles) 🍂🌲 (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Chesapeake?

Local 110 “Thanksgiving Throwdown” Food Drive, Annual Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner at American Legion post 280 Virginia and Free Thanksgiving Meal for Dogs are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Chesapeake?

Yes: 8 of the 94 listed are free, including Planes, Trains and Santa 2026 at Military Aviation Museum, FREE FAMILY PICTURE DAY at South Harbor Clubhouse and Langley AFB Mobile Food Distribution Drive-Thru at Langley AFB F-15 Parking Lot. Tickets for the rest run from $5.56 to $847.55.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Chesapeake?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are 45th Annual Virginia Beach Christmas Market (Nov 27–29), Norfolk Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at Downtown Norfolk (Nov 25–26) and Norfolk Thanksgiving Cruise - Black & Cheetah Print 2026 at The Spirit of Norfolk (Nov 28–29).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Chesapeake?

Yes: 4 more events are listed within reach, in Newport News, Hampton, Kitty Hawk and Williamsburg.

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.