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Thanksgiving Events in Mesa 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in 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 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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Curated by the AllEvents team, for you

Top Thanksgiving events in Mesa

All Thanksgiving events in Mesa 2026

On now

Nov 1–207150 N 57th Dr, Glendale20 days

Reserve your FREE Pumpking Pie

Hop online and grab your FREE pumpkin pie—while supplies last! 🎃🥧 RESERVE YOUR FREE PUMPKIN PIE! 🥧🎃 Join us for our GIVEAWAY EVENT a

10:00 AM

Free

Sponsored
On now

Nov 15 – Dec 1341703 N Gavilan Peak Pkwy, Anthem29 days

Anthem Market in the Park Holiday Shopping!

Come visit us at the Anthem Marketin the Park! Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for a special gift, stop by! FREE Event! Anthem Market in the Park Holiday Shopping! Come visit us at th

9:00 AM

FreeMarket

Tue, Nov 17The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gilbert

Friendsgiving - Women’s Dinner

Friendsgiving - Women’s Dinner Please come join us for a nice dinner with our women's group. We will be visiting with each other and making new friends. It's a free event. Park on the north side near

6:00 PM

FreeDinner & brunchFriendsgiving

Wed, Nov 18Mesa Convention Center

Thanksgiving Holiday Distribution

If you or someone you know would like support to put food on the table this holiday season, stop by our distribution and pick up a meal! We are here for you. - This is a drive-thru distribution, please empty your trunk before arriving. - A variety of sea

9:00 AM

Sponsored

Wed, Nov 1810411 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd, Scottsdale

Thanksgiving Class – Everything But The Turkey

Menu: Appetizer: - Phyllo Purse with Brie and Homemade Cranberry Sauce Sides: - Roasted Brussels Sprouts tossed with Bacon, Cranberries and topped with a Blue Cheese Crumble and Balsamic Herb Drizzle - Sautéed Green Beans with Caramelized Shallot and Crus

6:30 PM

Wed, Nov 18Neon Spur, Tempe

NEON SPUR TURKEY TROT

Join us November 18th at 9 PM for Neon Spur's Unwellness Run, for a 1.5-mile Turkey Trot around Tempe. All participants get a FREE Red Bull, plus $2 beers waiting at the finish line. Because wellness has never really been our thing.

9:00 PM

Turkey trot

Thu, Nov 19Off The Record, Phoenix

Mixology Class

Join us in our hands on cocktail creating class and impress your family and friends this thanksgiving with your new mixology skills! Mixology Class is a casual, fun, in-person workshop for

7:00 PM

$12.51

Thu, Nov 19The Pemberton, Phoenix

Girls & Gays-Giving: A Thanksgiving Dinner

Girls & Gays-giving 🍁 🍽️ Gather your chosen family and join us November 19 at 7PM at The Pemberton for a cozy night of comfort food, crafting, and astrology.Your $35 ticket includes:🍽️ A curated 3-course dinner🍸 One complimentary drink ticket🎨 Access

7:00 PM

$36.68Dinner & brunch

Thu, Nov 19Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Peoria

Thanksgiving Potluck Dance Party

Fred Astaire Peoria Party, shine on the floor, meet great people, boost your moves. Join the fun this week, your FIRST party is FREE! Practice parties are the perfect way for new students to ease into ballr

7:30 PM

Free

Sponsored

Fri, Nov 20Little Big Minds Spanish Immersion Preschool, Phoenix

LBM Kennedy - Thanksgiving + Grandparents Day Celebration

RSVP so we can make sure that we can properly plan for the number of guests! We also ask that you do car pool :) We are excited to invite our students' grandparents and special guests to join us for a speci

9:30 AM

Free

Fri, Nov 20Cactus Flower Florists, Scottsdale

Gathered at the Table: Fall Centerpiece Experience

Using warm seasonal blooms, layered foliage and rich autumn textures, you’ll design a low, lush arrangement that brings beauty to the table Our designers will guide you through thoughtful layering, intentio

3:00 PM

$85

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 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 Mesa: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Mesa in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Mesa run from Nov 1 to Nov 29, 2026: 98 events.

What is on in Mesa on Thanksgiving Day?

23 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner, 18th Annual Turkey Swim and Fountain Hills Turkey Trot at E Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268, United States.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Mesa?

17 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Friendsgiving - Women’s Dinner at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Girls & Gays-Giving: A Thanksgiving Dinner at The Pemberton and Community Thanksgiving Meal at World Deliverance Outreach Ministries. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Mesa?

Yes: NEON SPUR TURKEY TROT (Wed, Nov 18), Turkey Trot @ the MGC (Sat, Nov 21) and PSN Turkey Trot at The Little Gym (Queen Creek) (Sat, Nov 21).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Mesa?

THE MISH MASH at That One Spot Barbershop and R&B Thanksgiving: Rihanna & Beyonce Edition Benefiting St. Mary's Food Bank at Off The Record are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Mesa?

Yes: 30 of the 98 listed are free, including Reserve your FREE Pumpking Pie, Anthem Market in the Park Holiday Shopping! and Friendsgiving - Women’s Dinner at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tickets for the rest run from $5 to $107.32.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Mesa?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are Phoenix Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 at Crown Public House (Nov 25–26), Scottsdale Official Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl 2026 (Nov 25–26) and Fountain Hills Turkey Trot at E Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268, United States (Thu, Nov 26).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Mesa?

Yes: 1 more event is listed within reach, in Phoenix.

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.