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Thanksgiving Events in Indianapolis 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis.

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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 Indianapolis

All Thanksgiving events in Indianapolis 2026

On now

Nov 13–29Easley Winery17 days

Thanksgiving 646 Sale

6 wines plus a bonus wine on sale for $6 a bottle. $10 wine flight to sample all 7 sale wines. You do not need to buy 6. You can mix and match the wines in any quantity. You may preorder the sale wines b

12:00 PM

Free

Sponsored
On now

Nov 14–155101 Madison Ave2 days

Harvest Market

🍂 Join Us for the Southport Rotary Harvest Market! 🍁 The Rotary Club of Southport International is excited to host our Harvest Market on November 14–15! Come together as a community to enjoy the beautiful fall season, celebrate our friendships, and give

11:00 AM

Market

On now

Sat, Nov 14202 W Washington Street, Kempton

Thanksgiving Community Meal

Come join us for a free Thanksgiving Community Meal. We'll have homemade noodles for chicken and noodles, turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potato casserole and more. Plus all the desserts!

4:00 PM

On now

Sat, Nov 14Indianapolis First Friends

Veg-Giving 2026

Join us for Indy Veg-Giving 2026 to celebrate great food and give thanks! Bring your favorite vegan Thanksgiving dish to share, along with a list of ingredients for allergy awareness so everyone can enjoy the meal safely. All food and drink ingredients m

6:00 PM

Sun, Nov 1510 East Arts HUB

Pretty Please: Pass The Peas✨

Pretty Please, pull up a chair!🪑 We’re bringing the gworls together for a Friendsgiving-inspired evening filled with good food, good music, pretty people, and amazing connections. 🫦Here’s what’s on the menu🫦 🍽️ Thanksgiving Dinner on Us! A delicious hol

4:00 PM

Dinner & brunchFriendsgiving

Sponsored

Sun, Nov 15Northside K of C Council #3433 and Social Club

Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner 2026

We’re excited to invite you to Umoja Partnership’s 11th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner hosted at the Northside Events & Social Club! Gratitude is essential to every component of our work at Umoja, and every November, we like to celebrate two t

5:00 PM

Dinner & brunch

Mon, Nov 165250 E. US Hwy 36, Avon

Thanksgiving Food Pantry

Come and get the Holiday special ingredients as well as your usual groceries for the week. All welcome. No ID needed.

5:00 PM

Tue, Nov 174740 E Southport Rd

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. 🎨 FREE

4:00 PM

Family friendly

Wed, Nov 182301 Meridian St, Anderson

Night of Gratitude

You won’t want to miss this special night of worship and gratitude! 🍽️ 5:00 PM – Come early and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal! 🙏 6:15 PM – Join us for a wonderful night of worship and gratitude! We can’t wait to gather together and give thanks

5:00 PM

Sponsored

Wed, Nov 18Prime 47- Indy's Steakhouse

Wine & Dine Wednesday: Savory Sage November

A Season of Gratitude, Good Wine & Great Company Before the holiday festivities begin, let's raise a glass to the people, moments, and memories that make life worth celebrating. Join Prime 47 and

5:30 PM

$52

Nov 18–192930 Waterfront Pkwy W Dr2 days

BONFIRE 2: THANKSGIVING EVE EDITION

The night before Thanksgiving, we’re turning up the heat on the westside of Indianapolis. Gather your crew and step into a night built for good music, good energy, and a bonfire atmosphere. BONFIRE:

8:00 PM

$17.85 – $23.18

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 Indianapolis

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

Sat, Nov 21503 N State Street, North Vernon

Haircut day

11:00 AM

Family friendly

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 Indianapolis: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Indianapolis in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Indianapolis run from Nov 13 to Nov 28, 2026: 96 events.

What is on in Indianapolis on Thanksgiving Day?

13 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including 2026 5K Turkey Burn at Freedom Park Greenwood Indiana, 2026 Zionsville Gravy Chase at S Main St, Zionsville, IN 46077, United States and 3rd Annual Tipton Trails Turkey Trot at The Mad Tap.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Indianapolis?

17 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Pretty Please: Pass The Peas✨, Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner 2026 at Northside K of C Council #3433 and Social Club and KW City-Wide Thanksgiving Feast 2026!. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Indianapolis?

Yes: 2026 5K Turkey Burn at Freedom Park Greenwood Indiana (Thu, Nov 26), 3rd Annual Tipton Trails Turkey Trot at The Mad Tap (Thu, Nov 26) and 10th Annual Hadley Turkey Day 5k at Hadley Friends Meeting Church (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Indianapolis?

November Outing at Midwest Food Bank Indiana and FRIENDSGIVING TRIVIA & FOOD DRIVE are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Indianapolis?

Yes: 13 of the 96 listed are free, including Thanksgiving 646 Sale at Easley Winery, Real Producers Holiday Party - Turkey Time and KW City-Wide Thanksgiving Feast 2026!. Tickets for the rest run from $12.51 to $1,389.04.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Indianapolis?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Indianapolis Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at Howl at the Moon Indianapolis (Nov 25–26), Thanksgiving Food Giveaway (Mon, Nov 23) and Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt (Fri, Nov 27).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Indianapolis?

Yes: 6 more events are listed within reach, in North Vernon, Carmel, Muncie and New Castle 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.