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Thanksgiving Events in McLean 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in McLean 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 McLean.

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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 McLean

All Thanksgiving events in McLean 2026

Mon, Nov 9Cookology Culinary School, Arlington

Thanksgiving Sides: Potatoes and Veggies

Bring your favorite Thanksgiving potato or veggie side and enjoy a cozy, delicious get-together! Class Experience Make the sides the main event! </p

6:30 PM

$119.19

Fri, Nov 13The Garden at Dream Chasers Coffee Lab, Alexandria

Friendsgiving — A Furthermore Supper Club Gathering

A unique interactive paella Tasting experience. accompanied by traditional seasonal side, cravable desserts and custom drink experience. Furthermore Supper Club invites you to our Friendsgiving gathering,

5:00 PM

$87.21FriendsgivingLive music

Sat, Nov 14Hains Point Bike Loop, Washington

2026 Thanksgiving Stuffing Stomp 5k/10k

Points count towards our Year-Long 5k, 10k, & Back of the Pack Series. Points will also count towards our Fall Series. Find more info about the series here. Register Now!

7:45 AM

Turkey trot

Sat, Nov 14SALAZAR, Washington

Grateful & Gay: A Sapphic Chosen Family Affair

Gather with your chosen family—or come find more! Join us for a sapphic celebration of good food, drinks, connection, creativity, and dancin Grateful & Gay: A Sapphic Chosen Family Affair <strong

4:00 PM

$15.52 – $21.18

Sun, Nov 153530 Water St NW, Washington

2026 Turkey Tumble for Autism 5k/10k/Half

Points count towards 5k, 10k, Endurance & Back of the Pack Series. Points will also count towards the Fall Series. Find more info about the series here. Register Now! Start

8:00 AM

Turkey trot

Sun, Nov 15Tantallon @ National Golf Club, Fort Washington

Thanksgiving Line Dance Party with Dr. Marissa & DJJustLance

Line dancing, brunch, and birthday love! Join Dr. Marissa & DJJustLance on November 15 for a Bottomless Sunday Brunch celebration. Get your fall colors ready and meet us on the dance floor! 🍂💃🏾 Jo

1:00 PM

$12.51 – $55.20Dinner & brunch

Sun, Nov 15Pinstripes, North Bethesda

Friendsgiving

Join Wives & Wine for a Friendsgiving Girls’ Night Out at Pinstripes Bethesda! No hosting. No cooking. No cleaning up. Just wine, good food, good conversation and a room full of women who came to have a

4:00 PM

$23.18 – $33.85Friendsgiving

Tue, Nov 17Mess Hall, Washington

Blue Ribbon Pie Baking Class

Spend an evening with the DC State Fair leaders assembling and baking your very own pie to take home Celebrate the holiday season and support the DC State Fair in a sweet way with a pie workshop led by Magg

6:00 PM

$98.10

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 McLean

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

Fri, Nov 13600 14th Street NW Washington DC 20005

The Last Waltz

8:00 PM

Live music

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 McLean: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in McLean in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in McLean run from Nov 9 to Nov 29, 2026: 100 events.

What is on in McLean on Thanksgiving Day?

15 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including 32nd Annual Hot Rod Pie Run!, 2026 Burke Lake Turkey Trot 5k/10k and 2026 Drumstick Turkey Trot 5k/8Miler at Gravelly Point.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in McLean?

10 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Thanksgiving Line Dance Party with Dr. Marissa & DJJustLance at Tantallon @ National Golf Club, Friendsgiving Soul food Dinner Party at Lake Presidential Golf Club and Progressive Friendsgiving Dinner on King Street! at South King Street. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in McLean?

Yes: 2026 Thanksgiving Stuffing Stomp 5k/10k at Hains Point Bike Loop (Sat, Nov 14), 2026 Turkey Tumble for Autism 5k/10k/Half (Sun, Nov 15) and 2026 Dominion Valley Turkey Trot 5k (Sat, Nov 21).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in McLean?

2026 DC Punk Rock Flea at Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church is looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in McLean?

Yes: 35 of the 100 listed are free, including FRIENDSGIVING TRIVIA: TOW All the Thanksgivings | Alamo Loudoun at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema One Loudoun, FRIENDSGIVING TRIVIA: The One With All the Thanksgivings | Alamo Woodbridge at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Woodbridge and FRIENDSGIVING TRIVIA: TOW All the Thanksgivings | Alamo Crystal City at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Crystal City. Tickets for the rest run from $7.18 to $1,246.16.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in McLean?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade (Sat, Nov 21), The Dunn Foundation Annual Free Turkey Giveaway Drive-Thru at Iverson Mall (Sat, Nov 21) and Reggaeton Friendsgiving DC at Abigail (Sat, Nov 21).

Are there Thanksgiving events near McLean?

Yes: 4 more events are listed within reach, in Washington, Baltimore and Arlington.

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.