Thu, Nov 2612:00 AM
El Sidos Zydeco & Blues ANNUAL food drive
Fairfield
Thanksgiving Events in Lafayette 2026
Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Lafayette 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 Lafayette.
Listings updated
Curated by the AllEvents team, for you
Top Thanksgiving events in Lafayette
All Thanksgiving events in Lafayette 2026
On nowNov 13–21Watch Me Whip, Youngsville9 days
Fall Cupcake Class
🍂 Fall & Thanksgiving Cupcake Decorating Class! 🧁 Get into the fall spirit with a little buttercream, creativity, and LOTS of sweetness! Join us at Watch Me Whip Bakery for a fun, hands-on cupcake decorating experience where you'll create six festive
Sat, Nov 14433 Jefferson St
STEM Saturday: Your Thanksgiving Dinosaur
Did you know that the turkey on your Thanksgiving table is actually a dinosaur? Join us for a fun-filled STEM Saturday on November 14 from 10am to 1:30pm as we explore the science behind one of the coolest facts in paleontology: birds are living dinosaurs
Sat, Nov 14Grand Point Tavern LLC, Breaux Bridge
Jeepsgiving Turkey Hunt (Adult Scavenger Hunt) with Swamp Shakers
You asked, we're delivering! Join us for another fun filled adult Scavenger Hunt to take place in St Martin Parish! New locations, new clues, new friends! Co-hosted by Swamp Shakers, we are excited to join forces, jeeps and broncos! May the best team
Sun, Nov 15St. Peter United Methodist Church Maringouin
November In-Person Worship Service
⛪️🍁Hey Progress Fam! Don’t forget to join us next Sunday (11/15) at 9 AM for our In-Person Worship Thanksgiving service! We’ll have Holy Communion🍷 & our Annual Turkey Giveaway🦃! We have so much to THANK GOD FOR!🍁
Sun, Nov 15Palmetto Island State Park, Abbeville
Trucks N Turkey-November Monthly Meeting
Bring the family for a Thanksgiving feast at Palmetto Island State Park! Turkey and rice dressing will be provided. Soda, cups, plates and utensils will also be provided. Be sure to post what side dishes you plan on bringing. We have Pavilion #2 reserve
Dinner & brunch
Tue, Nov 17Rayne Library
Adult Turkey Wine Bottle Craft at the Rayne Library
Get crafty at Rayne Library's Adult Turkey Wine Bottle Craft! Create a festive Thanksgiving decoration with this fun, hands-on activity! Registration required for this Free Library Event. Please call the li
Free
Wed, Nov 18Love Acadiana, Broussard
Gobble Box Sponsor & Supporter Night
Join us to pack a few Gobble Boxes, mingle over dinner provided by Fezzo's, and celebrate our largest Thanksgiving outreach yet.
FreeDinner & brunch
Nov 20–27Camp Margaritaville Breaux Bridge8 days
Campsgiving
It’s turkey time, everyone! Come celebrate this Thanksgiving season with your family. It will be stuffed full of fun activities.
Nov 21–24846 Saizan Ave, Port Barre4 days
Teen Drivers Education Port Barre
ST. LANDRY PARISH.... NOW IS THE TIME TO ENROLL YOUR TEEN! Thanksgiving Break is coming, and it's the perfect opportunity to get your teen started on the road to becoming a safe, responsible driver. Our Teen Driver Education Class is November 21st-24th a
Nov 21–24148 Banks Ave4 days
Thanksgiving Break 38 Hour Teen Driver's Education Course
Parents & Teens.... 🦃Thanksgiving Break Driver’s Ed is fast approaching!! Get your Driver’s Ed DONE over the Thanksgiving break -before the holiday madness begins. 📅Class Dates: November 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th November 21st Parent Meeting @6:30 Am Cl
Nov 21–25Southwest Safety Training5 days
DRIVERS ED THANKSGIVING BREAK For 14yrs.9mo-17yrs of age
38 Hr. Driver's ED course for (14yrs 9 mo-17 years of age) is required for the teenager to obtain a learner's permit/drivers license. Thanksgiving Break Classroom training is held on the WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY (Nov.25,27,28,29) from 8am-4
Sat, Nov 21Grand Point Tavern LLC, Breaux Bridge
Jeeps Give Thanks!
Join us for a scenic ride through St. Martin Parish where we will be stopping at several local bars all to support a local family on Thanksgiving! All proceeds raised will be used to buy food for a local family in need for Thanksgiving day! If you would l
Sat, Nov 21Watch Me Whip, Youngsville
Thanksgiving Pie Class
🥧 From Scratch Pie Making Class! 🍂 There's nothing quite like the smell of homemade pies baking in the oven! Join us at Watch Me Whip Bakery for a fun, hands-on pie-making experience where you'll learn the basics of making delicious homemade pies from scr
Sun, Nov 224060 Richfield Dr., Livonia
Old Fashioned Sunday
🤎🌾 We’re going OLD-FASHIONED at Faith Baptist Church! 🌾🤎 Join us on Sunday, November 22nd, as we step back in time for a special day of worship, fellowship, and thanksgiving! Dust off those cowboy boots, pull out your overalls, bonnets, and prairie dres
Sun, Nov 221631 South State Street, Abbeville
Revive Church Thanksgiving Meal
Join us on Sunday, November 22nd for our annual Thanksgiving Service and Meal! We have so much to be thankful for this year, and we want to celebrate it with you and your family. So join us as we carve the turkey, pass the potatoes and thank God for His m
Sun, Nov 22Opelousas, Louisiana
Thanksgiving Community Celebration
🍁🦃 COME OUT & JOIN US! 🦃🍁 We’re spreading love, giving thanks, and blessing our community! ❤️ Join Cathedral of Faith & Cho1sen Healing Center for our Thanksgiving Community Celebration! 📅 Sunday, November 22nd ⏰ 2:00 PM | Prize Drawing at 4:00
Family friendly
Mon, Nov 23EPIC Family Entertainment Center, Scott
Kidcam Thanksgiving Camp @ Epic Entertainment
Exciting news! We are now accepting registrations for our Thanksgiving Holiday Camp 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for children to engage in enriching activities while making new friends. Secure your spot today – spaces are limited! Register at htt
Family friendly
Mon, Nov 23Elevation Station, Broussard
Thanksgiving Camp @ Elevation Station
Exciting news! We are now accepting registrations for our Thanksgiving Holiday Camp 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for children to engage in enriching activities while making new friends. Secure your spot today – spaces are limited! Register at htt
Family friendly
Mon, Nov 234422 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy
Turkey Tumble Thanksgiving Camp
Give thanks for a holiday break filled with active fun! Our Thanksgiving Break Camp, tailored for kids aged 3 to 10, offers a delightful mix of gymnastics, games, and themed activities. Join us as we celebrate the season with joy and energy. Open to membe
Family friendly
Mon, Nov 23Acadia Parish Library, Crowley
Kids Thanksgiving Pie Slime
Come on out to the Crowley Branch of the Acadia Parish Library for Kids Thanksgiving Pie Slime! Tickets and Preregistration are not required. Just come on out and enjoy some time at the library!
FreeFamily friendly
Tue, Nov 244422 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy
Pumpkin Pie & Play Camp
Give thanks for a holiday break filled with active fun! Our Thanksgiving Break Camp, tailored for kids aged 3 to 10, offers a delightful mix of gymnastics, games, and themed activities. Join us as we celebrate the season with joy and energy. Open to membe
Family friendly
Tue, Nov 24The CJ Group Brokered by EXP Realty
CJ Group Pie Day Client Appreciation Event
Swing by the CJ Group office Thanksgiving week and pick up a free pumpkin pie from your Realtor, our thank-you to you! Happy Thanksgiving from The CJ Group! As a thank-you for your friendship, your referral
Free
Wed, Nov 254422 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy
Gobble Til' Wobble Camp
Give thanks for a holiday break filled with active fun! Our Thanksgiving Break Camp, tailored for kids aged 3 to 10, offers a delightful mix of gymnastics, games, and themed activities. Join us as we celebrate the season with joy and energy. Open to membe
Family friendly
Wed, Nov 25Lafayette Drug Emporium Vitamins Plus
Thanksgiving at drug emporium
Pre-orders and menu to come soon, come stock up on holiday staples the whole family can enjoy together!
Thu, Nov 261100 Camellia Blvd
Thanksgiving Brunch
Celebrate Thanksgiving with your family at City Club! Reserve your table for our annual Thanksgiving Brunch on Thursday, November 26th. Enjoy a grand buffet sure to delight your taste buds. Available seatings are at 11 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, and 1:30 PM. Ad
Dinner & brunch
Thu, Nov 26104 Rue Fontaine
FAITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS THANKSGIVING DINNER
🍂🦃 Faith Family & Friends Thanksgiving Dinner 🦃🍂 This year, Faith Lutheran is starting a new tradition—gathering around the table with our church family and friends for a Thanksgiving meal! Whether your family lives far away or you’d simply love to
Dinner & brunch
Thu, Nov 261717 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Eunice
Spanksgiving in the Barn!
Join us in the barn Thanksgiving night for some 90s & 2000s performance by Spank the Monkey! $15/person
Nov 26–27Xclusive 36, Opelousas2 days
Xclusive R&B : Thanksgiving Edition
New Opelousas Presents : Xclusive R&B : Thanksgiving Edition
Free – $238.40
Nov 26–27Grant Street Dancehall2 days
DOWNSOUTH THURSDAYS- TALK TURKEY TO ME w/ LIL' NATE, DJ PUGG, & DJ VOS
$31.09 – $641.72Live music
Fri, Nov 27905 Jefferson St
The Good Dudes plus Tobias Lund | Rock'n'Bowl® de Lafayette
Dance off that Thanksgiving dinner! The Good Dudes bring their rock and soul to Rock'n'Bowl® de Lafayette on Friday, November 27 at 9:00 PM, with special guest Tobias Lund opening the show. Bring the whole family crew!
Dinner & brunch
Sat, Nov 28705 Bonin Rd
Ladies Friendsgiving
Ladies, we are having our annual Friendsgiving dinner on Saturday, November 28 from 5pm-6pm.
Dinner & brunchFriendsgiving
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
Thanksgiving events near Lafayette
Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby
Sat, Nov 14Progressive Baptist Church, Baton Rouge
Thanksgiving Food Drive: Meal Bag Giveaway
FreeVolunteer
Tue, Nov 17Red Stick Spice Company, Baton Rouge
Thanksgiving Desserts
Sun, Nov 228919 World Ministry Ave, Baton Rouge
JSM Turkey Giveaway
Nov 23–2516333 George O’Neal Rd, Shenandoah3 days
Thanksgiving Camp
Fri, Nov 27Louisiana's Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge
Once Upon A Castle: Storytime & Puppet Theatre
Free
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 Lafayette: frequently asked questions
When are Thanksgiving events in Lafayette in 2026?
Thanksgiving events in Lafayette run from Nov 13 to Nov 28, 2026: 34 events.
What is on in Lafayette on Thanksgiving Day?
7 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including El Sidos Zydeco & Blues ANNUAL food drive at Fairfield, 2026 JPJ Memorial 1-mile Turkey Trot at Moncus Park and Thanksgiving Brunch.
Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Lafayette?
6 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Trucks N Turkey-November Monthly Meeting at Palmetto Island State Park, Gobble Box Sponsor & Supporter Night at Love Acadiana and Thanksgiving Brunch. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.
Are there turkey trots in Lafayette?
Yes: 2026 JPJ Memorial 1-mile Turkey Trot at Moncus Park (Thu, Nov 26).
Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Lafayette?
El Sidos Zydeco & Blues ANNUAL food drive at Fairfield is looking for helping hands.
Are there free Thanksgiving events in Lafayette?
Yes: 5 of the 34 listed are free, including Adult Turkey Wine Bottle Craft at the Rayne Library, Gobble Box Sponsor & Supporter Night at Love Acadiana and Kids Thanksgiving Pie Slime at Acadia Parish Library. Tickets for the rest run from $31.09 to $641.72.
What are the best Thanksgiving events in Lafayette?
The most popular on AllEvents right now are El Sidos Zydeco & Blues ANNUAL food drive at Fairfield (Thu, Nov 26), DRIVERS ED Youngsville / Broussard area for 14yrs.9mo-17yrs of age at Vineyard Church of Lafayette (Mon, Nov 23) and 2026 JPJ Memorial 1-mile Turkey Trot at Moncus Park (Thu, Nov 26).
Are there Thanksgiving events near Lafayette?
Yes: 7 more events are listed within reach, in Baton Rouge, Port Allen and Shenandoah.
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.