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Thanksgiving Events in Lakeland 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Lakeland 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 Lakeland.

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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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Invite your family to dinner

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Curated by the AllEvents team, for you

Top Thanksgiving events in Lakeland

All Thanksgiving events in Lakeland 2026

Sat, Nov 7Ligori & Ligori, Attorneys at Law: Keith Ligori, Tampa

Ligori & Ligori Annual Turkey Giveaway

Let’s spread the holiday cheer together as we give back to our Tampa Bay community. Ligori & Ligori Annual Turkey Giveaway with Keith Ligori Registration is required in order to receive a tu

8:00 AM

Free

Sat, Nov 72311 S Parsons Ave, Seffner

Yoga with Gratitude in the Garden

Gratitude and yoga are strongly entwined, so, really, every Yoga in the Garden is yoga with gratitude, but this month as we approach Thanksgiving, we make sure to be intentional about expressing gratitude as we practice. Kristen Molinaro, owner of Keyst

10:00 AM

Sun, Nov 8Bartow Civic Center

Thanksgiving in Music City

The Bartow Adult Concert Band opens the 2026-2027 season with "Thanksgiving in Music City" featuring music from Chicago, New York, Nashville, and the great Dolly Parton. Invite all your friends to join you at this free concert that starts at 2:30pm at th

2:30 PM

Live music

Sun, Nov 8Raining Berries - South Tampa (1912 S Dale Mabry Hwy)

11/8 Friendsgiving Cookie Class

It's time for a little Friendsgiving fun! 🦃🍂 Grab your friends and join me at Raining Berries in South Tampa on November 8 for an afternoon of cookie decorating! We'll be decorating SIX Friendsgiving-themed sugar cookies, including a turkey, pumpkin pie

4:00 PM

Friendsgiving

Mon, Nov 9211 E Main St

PCWMB Friendsgiving at COhatch

🍂🧡 FRIENDSGIVING WITH PCWMB! 🦃 ​Good food, great company and a whole lot to be thankful for! ​We're bringing our Polk County Women Mean Business community together for a special Friendsgiving Dinner Party! ​Because PCWMB is about so much more than netw

6:00 PM

Dinner & brunchFriendsgiving

Tue, Nov 10Boulevard Supper Club, Lithia

Blessings basket

This is our 4th year putting together Blessing Baskets for local families in need and I’m so grateful for the way our community shows up each time. Please sign up at this link: We’d love for you to join us on November 10 from 4:00

4:00 AM

Tue, Nov 10207 Avenue G SW Winter Haven Fl

Friendsgiving

We are hosting friends giving at our Winter Haven location! There will be games, prizes and great food! RSVP with us! If you want to bring a covered dish please reach out and let us know!

11:00 AM

Friendsgiving

Tue, Nov 10Studio 37, Mulberry

Felt Pie Garland

Get crafty and make your own colorful felt pie garland to brighten up any space with a cozy vibe. Bring some sweetness to your Thanksgiving decor witha our Felt Thanksgiving Pie Garland Workshop. Create you

2:00 PM

$5.35

Wed, Nov 116224 Old Pasco Rd, Wesley Chapel

T-Shirts for Turkeys - TURKEY STOP (Wesley Chapel)

T-SHIRTS FOR TURKEYS IS COMING TO LIFE CHURCH! One turkey. One T-shirt. A whole lot of hope! We’re excited to partner with The JOY FM as an official stop for their annual T-Shirts for Turkeys drive! Join us at Life Church in Wesley Chapel as we come to

5:00 PM

Volunteer

Wed, Nov 11608 Ingraham Ave, Haines City

BHB’s Feast of Connections: Where Business Meets Gratitude

This November, we’re celebrating the people who make Business Helping Business more than just a network — YOU! From our amazing members and sponsors to everyone who continues to support our growing community, it’s time to come together, share our gratitud

7:00 PM

Dinner & brunch

Thu, Nov 125903 East Powhatan Avenue, Tampa

Veterans & Retiree Luncheon

Our Retiree's & Veterans Thanksgiving Luncheon. Space is limited to 75 people. One guests is welcomed. Please RSVP early as spaces fill up fast!

11:30 AM

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 Lakeland

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 Lakeland: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Lakeland in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Lakeland run from Nov 7 to Nov 29, 2026: 100 events.

What is on in Lakeland on Thanksgiving Day?

14 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Turkey Trot at Captain and Tequila Dockside at Big Toho Marina, Baycare Wobble Turkey Trot at Tampa Premium Outlets and 2026 Fishhawk Turkey Trot at Publix Super Market at FishHawk Ranch.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Lakeland?

16 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including PCWMB Friendsgiving at COhatch, BHB’s Feast of Connections: Where Business Meets Gratitude and Thanksgiving Dinner at Dade City American Legion Post 15 🦃. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Lakeland?

Yes: Dream Finders Homes The Great Turkey Trot 5K at Southern Hill Farms (Sun, Nov 22), Turkey Trot at Captain and Tequila Dockside at Big Toho Marina (Thu, Nov 26) and Baycare Wobble Turkey Trot at Tampa Premium Outlets (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Lakeland?

Annual Food Drive, 9th Annual A Time for Giving Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway at Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center and Thanksgiving Community Food Drive & Dinner 2026 are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Lakeland?

Yes: 14 of the 100 listed are free, including Ligori & Ligori Annual Turkey Giveaway at Ligori & Ligori, Attorneys at Law: Keith Ligori, Carmen's Crafting Corner - Thanksgiving Diamond Art Coaster at Lake Wales Public Library and Seeds of Hope. Tickets for the rest run from $5.35 to $59.13.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Lakeland?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Tampa Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at Downtown Tampa (Nov 25–26), F&W Ministries Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway 2026 (Sat, Nov 14) and Blackout Wednesday! at MacDinton's Irish Pub (Nov 25–26).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Lakeland?

Yes: 7 more events are listed within reach, in Orlando, Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg and Clearwater 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.