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Thanksgiving Events in Fort Wayne 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne.

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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.”

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Top Thanksgiving events in Fort Wayne

All Thanksgiving events in Fort Wayne 2026

Sat, Nov 1414411 Lima Road

Adult-Thanksgiving Sides

Adults Only-Thanksgiving Sides Menu: Individual corn casserole muffins, sweet potato casserole, green beans cooked with onions and bacon, cornbread cooked in cast iron skillet Nov 14th, 2026 Saturday, 3 PM (Please allow 3 hours for this class.) Thi

3:00 PM

Sponsored

Sat, Nov 146318 W California Rd

Grow Co Friendsgiving

What's better than food, friends, and fellowship? Join us for our first annual Grow Co Friendsgiving. Bring a dish to share, play some wild and crazy games, and spend time with friends old and new! See you there!

4:30 PM

Friendsgiving

Sun, Nov 15North Webster United Methodist Church

Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck

🦃 Thanksgiving Dinner Church Potluck! 🍂 Join us as we gather around the table for a time of food, fellowship, and thanksgiving! We invite everyone to bring a dish to share as we celebrate God's many blessings together. A potluck sign-up sheet is availa

11:00 AM

Dinner & brunch

Thu, Nov 19Kroger Marketplace

Turkey Rally 2026 - CHFB's Largest Annual Food Drive!

We are looking for people to DONATE food for Turkey Rally! Visit Kroger Coventry, Kroger Dupont, and Kroger St. Joe on 11/19 between 8am and 6pm to easily drop off donations after you shop! We will be handing out lists of desired donations and you simply

8:00 AM

Volunteer

Sponsored

Thu, Nov 19217 S Washington St, Van Wert

Thankful & Grounded Yoga Event with JJ 🍂🧡

✨✨ Join us for an evening focused on gratitude and staying grounded during the busy Thanksgiving season. We will start with gentle flow yoga - all levels welcome. A time to stretch and reconnect with your body at a comfortable pace through mindful movemen

7:00 PM

Fri, Nov 20618 N Main, Bluffton

The Great Turkey Hunt of 2026

Join us for The Great Turkey Hunt at Perfect Pet on November 20th! This fun event is for our Day Stay program! All dogs will get a yummy Thanksgiving snack, a chance to win a turkey toy in our turkey hunt, and will go home with a Thanksgiving paw craft!

8:00 AM

Fri, Nov 202213 Brooklyn Ave

Thanksgiving Bingo Night! ¡Noche de Bingo de Acción de Gracias!

Join us for a fun-filled Thanksgiving Bingo Night at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church! Enjoy delicious food, exciting prizes, and a warm evening with family and friends — all while supporting our St. Vincent de Paul food bank. ¡Acompáñanos a una divertida No

6:00 PM

Volunteer

Sat, Nov 21Homestead High School

32nd Annual Turkey Trot 5k

The race terrain consists of gravel paths, roads, grass, and trails. The event also features a 15,000-centimeter race on trails for Turkey Toddlers 10 & under at 9:45 am. *NO STROLLERS AND NO PETS* *NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION* Packet pickup and rac

10:00 AM

Turkey trot

Sponsored

Sat, Nov 219744 Aboite Rd, Roanoke

Saturday Sprouts: November

This month’s Saturday Sprouts program is all about being thankful for nature and giving back! Young learners will explore the many ways nature provides for us and discover simple ways we can show our appreciation by caring for the plants and animals aroun

10:00 AM

Volunteer

Sat, Nov 21South Whitley, Indiana

Thanksgiving Community Meal

Where: 105 S. State St. South Whitley Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free for the entire family. Donations are accepted but not neccessary.

11:00 AM

Volunteer

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 Fort Wayne

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

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 Fort Wayne: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Fort Wayne in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Fort Wayne run from Nov 14 to Nov 28, 2026: 46 events.

What is on in Fort Wayne on Thanksgiving Day?

7 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including 80th Annual Hicksville Thanksgiving MM Degree at Hicksville Masonic Lodge #478, 22nd Annual Turkey Trot at Pathfinder - To The Fullest and Thanksgiving Sculpt.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Fort Wayne?

10 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck at North Webster United Methodist Church, Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Community Thanksgiving Dinner / Comida Comunitaria de Acción de Gracias at St. Joseph Catholic Church FW. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Fort Wayne?

Yes: Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run and Walk 2026 - Friends of LaGrange County Parks at Delt Church Park (Sat, Nov 21), 32nd Annual Turkey Trot 5k at Homestead High School (Sat, Nov 21) and 22nd Annual Turkey Trot at Pathfinder - To The Fullest (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Fort Wayne?

Turkey Rally 2026 - CHFB's Largest Annual Food Drive! at Kroger Marketplace, Thanksgiving Bingo Night! ¡Noche de Bingo de Acción de Gracias! and Saturday Sprouts: November are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Fort Wayne?

Yes: 1 of the 46 listed is free, including Night of Worship and Thanksgiving at LaOtto Community. Tickets for the rest run from $17.85 to $81.88.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Fort Wayne?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Free Thanksgiving Dinner (Thu, Nov 26), 22nd Annual Turkey Trot at Pathfinder - To The Fullest (Thu, Nov 26) and 2nd Annual Paul Harding Alumni Reunion at Grand Wayne Center (Sat, Nov 28).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Fort Wayne?

Yes: 4 more events are listed within reach, in Elkhart, Muncie, Wapakoneta and Lagrange.

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.