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Thanksgiving Events in La Mesa 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in La Mesa 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 La Mesa.

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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 La Mesa

All Thanksgiving events in La Mesa 2026

On now

Sun, Nov 15Cork & Stem, San Diego

Wine & Cheese Workshop

Wine, cheese, and a little Thanksgiving inspiration! Join us and Venissimo for a delicious guided pairing experience. Wine and cheese? Name a better pairing. We’ll wait! 🍷🧀

2:00 PM

$55.20

Sponsored
On now

Sun, Nov 15BODYBAR La Costa, Carlsbad

Teamsgiving 2026

We're bringing the team together for a little Teamsgiving! We're bringing the La Costa & Vista teams together for a little Teamsgiving! 🦃🤎 Join us November 14 at 4:30 PM at BODYBAR La Costa for a

4:30 PM

Free

On now

Sun, Nov 15330 A St. San Diego

BQW SD Friendsgiving 2026

Friendsgiving is back on!! We found a venue ☺️ Join the Black Queer Womxn of San Diego for Friendsgiving on Sunday, November 15, 2026 from 4:00 to 9:00 PM This is a community potluck. Free to attend, and everyone brings a dish to share. The evening: 4:

5:00 PM

Friendsgiving

Wed, Nov 18Fox Point Farms, Encinitas

Friendsgiving on the Farm

A three-course family style meal to celebrate the essence of Thanksgiving with friends on the farm. Come over for Friendsgiving, a dinner party set in the Garden for friends and community members. We’ve got

5:00 PM

$24.25 – $49.87Dinner & brunchFriendsgiving

Wed, Nov 18Road Runner Sports, Carlsbad

Miles of Gratitude with New Balance and Road Runner Sports Carlsbad

Run Fast, Give back, Give thanks Celebrate the season of gratitude with Road Runner Sports Carlsbad and New Balance! Join us for an evening of running, community, and Friendsgiving fun as we celebrate the N

5:30 PM

FreeFriendsgivingVolunteer

Sponsored

Wed, Nov 1810881 Tierrasanta Blvd

Hymns and Thanksgiving

🎶✨ HYMNS & THANKSGIVING ✨🍂 An Evening of Worship, Gratitude & Fellowship Join us for a beautiful evening as we come together to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness through the timeless beauty of hymns, heartfelt gratitude, and inspiring st

6:00 PM

Thu, Nov 1919171 Towne Centre Dr suite 250, San Diego

SCI San Diego’s Thanksgiving Feast - 2026

Join SCI San Diego's Thanksgiving Feast! Bring a dish, share thanks, and enjoy food & fun with colleagues and friends! You're invited to SCI San Diego's Annual Thanksgiving Feast! Bring your favorite di

11:30 AM

FreeDinner & brunch

Thu, Nov 19709 San Diego St, Oceanside

JBRC Friendsgiving

Join us for a special time of community gathering and share meaningful moments that will help build lasting memories for our Eastside youth. JBRC Friendsgiving <stron

4:00 PM

FreeFriendsgivingFamily friendly

Sponsored

Thu, Nov 191938 Kellogg Ave, Carlsbad

Traditional Fall Feast!

Get ready to dive into some cozy vibes and hearty eats at the ultimate fall gathering! 🍂 As Thanksgiving draws near, we’re reminded that some of life’s sweetest moments happen when we gather around the tabl

5:30 PM

FreeDinner & brunch

Thu, Nov 19Provisional Kitchen, San Diego

Chefsgiving Dinner at Pendry San Diego

Join us for Chefsgiving dinner, featuring a menu crafted by some of the city’s best chefs and a donation benefitting the San Diego Food Bank We’re setting the most special table of the year. Join us at Prov

6:00 PM

$161.90Dinner & brunchVolunteer

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 La Mesa

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 La Mesa: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in La Mesa in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in La Mesa run from Nov 15 to Nov 29, 2026: 98 events.

What is on in La Mesa on Thanksgiving Day?

14 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including La Jolla Turkey Trot at Life Time, Thanksgiving Buzz | HIVE x The Beau Hotel at The Beau Downtown San Diego Gaslamp Quar and Thanksgiving Weekend Wellness Weekend at Yoga With Shawna.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in La Mesa?

18 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Friendsgiving on the Farm at Fox Point Farms, SCI San Diego’s Thanksgiving Feast - 2026 and Traditional Fall Feast!. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in La Mesa?

Yes: La Jolla Turkey Trot at Life Time (Thu, Nov 26) and Turkey Trot - Community Walk to the Top of Mt. Helix (Fri, Nov 27).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in La Mesa?

Chefsgiving Dinner at Pendry San Diego at Provisional Kitchen and Drag Loteria at Weir Beer are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in La Mesa?

Yes: 33 of the 98 listed are free, including Teamsgiving 2026 at BODYBAR La Costa, Miles of Gratitude with New Balance and Road Runner Sports Carlsbad and Friends(giving) Twisted Trivia at Ballast Point Little Italy at Ballast Point Brewing. Tickets for the rest run from $5 to $350.12.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in La Mesa?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Pacific Beach Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at The Duck Dive (Nov 25–26), Grasshopper's 3rd Annual – TURKEY GIVEAWAY at Grasshopper Dispensary (Wed, Nov 25) and Bella's Blackout Bash at National Lampoon The Yellow Door (Wed, Nov 25).

Are there Thanksgiving events near La Mesa?

Yes: 2 more events are listed within reach, in Dana Point and Temecula.

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.