Thu, Nov 269:00 AM
Bigfork Butterballer 2026
Swan River Nature Trail Bigfork Montana
Thanksgiving Events in Kalispell 2026
Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Kalispell 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 Kalispell.
Listings updated
Curated by the AllEvents team, for you
Top Thanksgiving events in Kalispell
All Thanksgiving events in Kalispell 2026
Nov 20–24Kalispell, Montana5 days
Homeowner RSVP Kalispell -Pie Pick-Up
Location: Aspen Creek Model -428 Needlegrass Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901 Time: Nov. 19th to Nov. 25th Please RSVP by selecting "Going." Stop by our ASPEN CREEK Model Home before Thanksgiving for a complimentary pie from SYKES DINER while supplies last!*
Fri, Nov 20Columbia Falls, MT, United States, Montana
TURKEY BINGO ** SAVE THE DATE
**It’s NEARLY Turkey 🦃BINGO night ** Friday November 20th ** Here is some information for the night: Doors open at 4.45pm for Chili dinner and raffle tickets. Bingo starts at 5.30pm! Come & join us for a tasty chili dinner, Bingo fun, amazing
Dinner & brunch
Sat, Nov 21Flathead County Fairgrounds
Kalispell Weekend Market- Give Thanks Craft & Vendor Market
Give Thanks Craft & Vendor Market hosted by Kalispell Weekend Market! 🎟️ FREE ADMISSION 💕 Give Back 💕- We are excited to announce that we have teamed up with the Flathead giving table this year! You can help too- please bring non-perishable items 1
Market
Sat, Nov 21Swan River Community Hall, Bigfork
6th Annual Holiday Village Market
You're invited to our 6th Annual Holiday Market 🍂 We are excited to announce that we are combining both Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities for a Holiday Village Market to celebrate the season of giving and joyful gatherings. This event features 15+
Market
Sat, Nov 21The Exchange Station, Evergreen
Pre-Turkey Day Game Day
Join us for fun as we play Thanksgiving related games and make a fun turkey puppet. Take home a bag filled with more crafts to keep everyone busy as they wait for the festivities on Thanksgiving Day! This is a Free event open to all ages.
Family friendly
Sat, Nov 21Steve and Debbie Perrone's home
SA Activity (ages 36+) Thanksgiving
We'll be gathering together at the home of the Steve and Debbie Perrone for a Thanksgiving celebration. Activity starts at 3pm. We'll be getting this catered so nobody needs to bring anything other than yourself!
Tue, Nov 24540 4th Ave W, Columbia Falls
Pie Auction - Land to Hand
Looking for something delicious to add to your Thanksgiving spread? Join us for our annual Pie Auction on Tuesday, November 24, from 5:00 to 6:30pm! All funds go toward our Neighbors Feeding Neighbors end-of-year campaign to keep the Flathead fed through
Volunteer
Thu, Nov 26O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center, Whitefish
2026 Whitefish Turkey Trot
It's that time of year again! The 2026 Whitefish Turkey Trot will take place on Thanksgiving morning, with donations and proceeds benefitting the North Valley Food Bank. Registration is NOW OPEN. Register by October 31 to lock in Early Bird (gobble, gobb
Turkey trotVolunteer
Thu, Nov 261380 Wisconsin Ave, Whitefish
Thanksgiving Buffet
The Boat Club team is thrilled to once again offer our Thanksgiving Buffet on Thursday, November 26th from 11a to 7p. Adults $80 | Children Ages 4-12 $45 | 3 & Under Free RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED 406.863.4040 For your convenience tax and 20% gratui
Dinner & brunchFamily friendly
Thu, Nov 261840 US 93 South
Thanksgiving at Freestone Restaurant
This Thanksgiving, gather around the table and let Freestone Restaurant take care of the feast. Join us for an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving Buffet featuring a carving station, holiday favorites, seasonal salads, hearty sides and a dessert spread that des
Dinner & brunch
Nov 28–29Great Northern Bar, Whitefish2 days
K’Niption Fit
The ONLY acceptable way to wrap up your Thanksgiving weekend is a night of all your favorite Rock and Top 40 hits with the boys from K’Niption Fit!!
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.
- Host
Instant-read thermometerThe one tool between a dry bird and a juicy oneShop on Amazon - Host
Roasting pan with rackLifts the turkey so it browns all overShop on Amazon - Host
Food warming matEvery side still warm when the last guest sitsShop on Amazon - Guest
Casserole carrierFor the dish you promised to bring, 9×13Shop on Amazon - Table
Thanksgiving tableclothAutumn leaves for the long tableShop on Amazon - Table
Cheesecloth table runnerSoft and gathered, this year’s table lookShop on Amazon - Table
Gratitude conversation cardsSomething to talk about besides the gameShop on Amazon - Kids
Coloring tableclothKeeps the kids’ table busy till pieShop on Amazon - Friendsgiving
Plates and napkins setFor Friendsgiving, and no washing upShop on Amazon - Run
Turkey hatRun the Turkey Trot dressed for dinnerShop on Amazon
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.
- 1621After their first harvest, the Plymouth colonists hold three days of feasting. Massasoit arrives with about 90 Wampanoag men, who bring five deer.
- 1789George Washington proclaims the first national day of thanksgiving, for Thursday, 26 November.
- 1846–63Sarah Josepha Hale, the magazine editor who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, writes to five presidents asking for one national day.
- 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.
- 1896Buffalo runs its first YMCA Turkey Trot, now the oldest footrace held every year in North America — a year older than the Boston Marathon.
- 1924Macy’s holds its first parade in New York, with animals from the Central Park Zoo. The giant balloons arrive in 1927.
- 1934The Detroit Lions play on Thanksgiving for the first time, and football becomes part of the afternoon.
- 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.
- 1957Canada settles on the second Monday of October for its own Thanksgiving, which goes back to 1578.
- 1989George H. W. Bush gives the first formal presidential turkey pardon, now a White House tradition.
Thanksgiving in Kalispell: frequently asked questions
When are Thanksgiving events in Kalispell in 2026?
Thanksgiving events in Kalispell run from Nov 20 to Nov 28, 2026: 14 events.
What is on in Kalispell on Thanksgiving Day?
5 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including 2026 Whitefish Turkey Trot at O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center, Bigfork Butterballer 2026 at Swan River Nature Trail Bigfork Montana and Thanksgiving Buffet.
Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Kalispell?
4 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including TURKEY BINGO ** SAVE THE DATE at Columbia Falls, MT, United States, Montana, Thanksgiving Buffet and Thanksgiving Dinner. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.
Are there turkey trots in Kalispell?
Yes: 2026 Whitefish Turkey Trot at O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center (Thu, Nov 26) and Bigfork Butterballer 2026 at Swan River Nature Trail Bigfork Montana (Thu, Nov 26).
Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Kalispell?
2026 Whitefish Turkey Trot at O'Shaughnessy Cultural Arts Center and Bigfork Butterballer 2026 at Swan River Nature Trail Bigfork Montana are looking for helping hands.
What are the best Thanksgiving events in Kalispell?
The most popular on AllEvents right now are Bigfork Butterballer 2026 at Swan River Nature Trail Bigfork Montana (Thu, Nov 26), Pedacter Project at Great Northern Bar (Nov 25–26) and Thanksgiving Dinner (Thu, Nov 26).
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.