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Thanksgiving Events in Matthews 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Matthews 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 Matthews.

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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.”

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Top Thanksgiving events in Matthews

All Thanksgiving events in Matthews 2026

Fri, Nov 13The Invitation Event Studio, Concord

Thanksgiving Fragrance Making Party

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a fun, in-person fragrance-making party and create a scent that’s uniquely yours! Join us in person for a Thanksgiving Fragrance Making Party ! G

9:00 PM

$64.76

Sponsored

Sat, Nov 14York, South Carolina

The Great Turkey Trot 5k

The Second Great Turkey Trot 5K 2026 Hosted by Greater Things, this event raises critical funds to support underprivileged children and Veterans in York County through practical resources, hope, and compassion. Every step you take helps bring Greater Thin

9:00 AM

Turkey trotFamily friendly

Sat, Nov 14232 Providence Church Rd, Pageland

Thankful Fest 2026

Our Fall Festival has a new name! THANKFUL FEST Join us for this FREE event for EVERYONE! We want to celebrate how thankful we are for God's blessings and how thankful we are for our COMMUNITY! Activities include: hayrides train rides bounce house games

10:00 AM

Sat, Nov 143509 David Cox Rd, Newell

50 Shades of Brown Friendsgiving

**50 Shades of Brown: 90s R&B & Throwback Hip Hop Day Party** Get ready for the ultimate throwback vibe! Join us for **50 Shades of Brown**, a day party celebrating the best 90s R&B and throwback hip hop hits. **Dress Code:** Come dress

2:00 PM

Friendsgiving

Sat, Nov 141365 Broadcloth St., Fort Mill

Family Pottery: Thanksgiving

Join us for this Thanksgiving Themed Family Pottery event. Your finished project will be sent to the kiln and ready for pick up in 2 weeks. Children 5 and under need to be with a parent/adult!

2:00 PM

Family friendly

Sponsored

Sat, Nov 14SmallBar Matthews

No Thanks Given!

Get ready for an action-packed November Super Show as Xtreme World Wrestling presents NO THANKS GIVEN! This Thanksgiving season, the only thing we're serving up is hard-hitting professional wrestling! Saturday, November 14th, 2026 Show Starts: 5:00 PM

4:00 PM

Sat, Nov 14Beer Lab, Mooresville

Hoppy Thanksgiving Fall Centerpiece Class

Bring a friend, grab a pint, and leave with a centerpiece your family will actually compliment this Thanksgiving Skip the store-bought centerpiece and make your own — with a beer in hand. Join us for a fun

6:00 PM

$41.84

Sat, Nov 14189 N. Trade St.

GIVE THANKS LINE DANCE CLASS & Dance Social

🦃🍁✨ **GOBBLE, GOBBLE & BOOGIE! THANKSGIVING LINE DANCE NIGHT!** ✨🍁🦃 **Get Ready to Shake Your Tail Feathers!** 👢💃🦃 There's something to be THANKFUL for in historic Downtown Matthews, and we're serving up a night full of **boots, beats, and Thanksgiv

7:00 PM

Sponsored

Sat, Nov 14American Legion Post 27 Legion Riders, Monroe

MSC November Dance

MSC November Dance Saturday, November 14th, 2026 Our hosts this month are Wanda, Susan and Danny We will be honoring our Veterans with free admission Our DJ will be Mr. Buck Crumpton We will celebrate Fall and Thanksgiving Dance 7-10 PM Business me

7:00 PM

Live music

Sun, Nov 15110 Waterpark Road, Indian Trail

GCI Turkey Giveaway

🦃 THANKSGIVING TURKEY GIVEAWAY! 🍂 Join us on Sunday, November 15, 2026, for our Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway! We're excited to give back to our community and help families prepare for the holiday season. 📅 Date: November 15, 2026 ⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 12:

8:00 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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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 Matthews: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Matthews in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Matthews run from Nov 13 to Nov 28, 2026: 100 events.

What is on in Matthews on Thanksgiving Day?

13 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen and Warming Kit Giveaway at First Baptist Church Concord, Angels & Sparrows Thanksgiving Family 5K - Celebrating 15 Years! at Fleet Feet Sports and Power Hour - Gather and Lift.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Matthews?

13 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Friendsgiving at the Riverwalk at Riverwalk Event Venue, Friendsgiving Dinner at The Blind Fox and A Seat at the Table at Waxhaw, North Carolina. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Matthews?

Yes: The Great Turkey Trot 5k at York, South Carolina (Sat, Nov 14), Bright Lights Race (Wed, Nov 25) and Angels & Sparrows Thanksgiving Family 5K - Celebrating 15 Years! at Fleet Feet Sports (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Matthews?

Thanksgiving Food Drive and Friendsgiving Community Clean-up are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Matthews?

Yes: 17 of the 100 listed are free, including Creative Connector Community Mixer (Friendsgiving Edition) at Songbirds Wine Bar, FriendsGiving | Trivia & Music Bingo at Sip City Market & Bottle Shop and The Hope Table: A Thanksgiving Community Outreach- Mecklenburg County at Urban District Market. Tickets for the rest run from $7.18 to $545.22.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Matthews?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are 2026 Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade at Uptown Charlotte (Wed, Nov 25), Charlotte Turkey Trot at Carnegie Blvd, Charlotte, NC, United States (Thu, Nov 26) and Angels & Sparrows Thanksgiving Family 5K - Celebrating 15 Years! at Fleet Feet Sports (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.