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Thanksgiving Events in Modesto 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Modesto 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 Modesto.

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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 Modesto

All Thanksgiving events in Modesto 2026

Thu, Nov 12University of California Merced

Thanksgiving Pop Up

Come out and support the local Merced vendors on Thursday, November 12th, at 5 - 9 pm in the University Plaza. 👇

5:00 AM

Fri, Nov 13251 E Main Street, Tracy

Prime Time Seniors Friendsgiving Brunch

Friendsgiving Brunch Potluck! 🍁🧡 Let’s gather to celebrate Thankfulness with: Delicious Dishes & Homemade Favorites Gratitude Games & Autumn Activities Cozy Conversations & Community Connection Music, Laughter, and a Whole Lot of Thankful

12:00 PM

Dinner & brunchFriendsgiving

Fri, Nov 135801 Stoddard Rd Modesto

Friendsgiving Sip n Shop !

Get your holiday shopping started with our Friendsgiving sip n shop market ! Each month, we host a gathering of vendors and artists to share their wares with us at our favorite restaurant and bar ! 12-9pm Some vendors will join us all day, while most

12:00 PM

FriendsgivingMarket

Sat, Nov 1412230 Livingston - Cressey Rd (Farm/Festival Gate Is 1/2 Mile NE of Address)

Final U-Pick Holiday Pop-Up Weekend

Final U-Pick & Holiday Pop-Up Weekend November 14th and 15th, 2026 Entry $10 per person & Kids and Seniors $5 Holiday Vendors ‱ Workshops / Demos ‱ Food Preparation Workshop activities may have a fee. Vendor Spots available!! U-Pick season en

9:00 AM

Family friendly

Sat, Nov 143919 French Camp Rd, Manteca

TURKEYS & TOYS Trailride & Line Dance Party | Stockton Edition

Saddle up for a good cause! We're bringing the cowboys community together for a day filled with horseback riding, line dancing, great music, good food, and holiday giving! Join Nights

12:00 PM

Free – $12.51

Sat, Nov 14Manteca, California

Turkey & Toys Trailride and Line Dance Party

đŸ€ đŸŽ TURKEYS & TOYS: STOCKTON EDITION! 🩃🎁 We’re bringing the cowboy community together for a day of riding, dancing, and GIVING BACK! ❀ Join us for an unforgettable day of good vibes, great music, and a great cause as we collect TURKEYS & TOYS to

12:00 PM

Volunteer

Sun, Nov 15295 Cherry Ln, Manteca

Dems-Giving

Please join us for our 2nd Annual Dems-Giving! It's time to give thanks and give back. With the donation of any of the items listed below, you can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, guest speakers, a dessert auction, and more! Donations to benefit S

2:00 PM

Dinner & brunchVolunteer

Thu, Nov 191033 W. Las Palmas Ave, Patterson

Teen Night-FriendsGiving

Free to teens 7th-12th grades, hosted by the Youth Action Committee. Enjoy, food, crafts and fun!

6:00 PM

Friendsgiving

2 dates · from Nov 20The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stockton2 days

Thanksgiving/ New Year’s

Thanksgiving/ New Year’s Branch annual Thanksgiving/ New Year's event. Potluck style

12:00 AM

Free

Nov 20–21Food 4 Less (Stockton - Hammer Ln)2 days

Stuff the Bus

RTD's annual Stuff the Bus food drive returns November 20–21, 2026, at Food 4 Less! Join us as we come together to help fight hunger in our community! All donations will benefit the Emergency Food Bank, helping provide food for local families in need thi

9:00 AM

Volunteer

Fri, Nov 202004 Pagola Ave, Manteca

Thanksgiving Soccer/Futbol Camp

Immerse for 2 hours of intense soccer/futbol training for 2 days. By the end of the cam you’ll feel confident, motivated and ready to take on challenge. Camp is for players 5-14 years old.

10:00 AM

Sat, Nov 21Village One Plaza 3020 Floyd Avenue Suite 205 Modesto, Modesto, CA, United States, California 95355

Tanksgiving 2026

The annual celebration for all things Tanky in Warhammer 40,000; Tanksgiving! Tanksgiving is a massive, multiplayer Warhammer 40,000 event in which participants bring their fully built and painted models with the keyword "Vehicle" and engage in a huge bat

10:30 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 Modesto

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 Modesto: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Modesto in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Modesto run from Nov 12 to Nov 28, 2026: 28 events.

What is on in Modesto on Thanksgiving Day?

4 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including Annual Valley Springs Turkey Trot, Turkey Trot and Thanksgiving Feast.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Modesto?

7 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Prime Time Seniors Friendsgiving Brunch, Dems-Giving and Thanksgiving Senior Dinner at I P F E S Portuguese Hall, aka Tracy Portuguese Hall. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Modesto?

Yes: Annual Valley Springs Turkey Trot (Thu, Nov 26) and Turkey Trot (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Modesto?

Turkey & Toys Trailride and Line Dance Party at Manteca, California, Stuff the Bus at Food 4 Less (Stockton - Hammer Ln) and Thanksgiving Food Drive are looking for helping hands.

Are there free Thanksgiving events in Modesto?

Yes: 3 of the 28 listed are free, including TURKEYS & TOYS Trailride & Line Dance Party | Stockton Edition, Thanksgiving/ New Year’s at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Stockton at The Potter's House Stockton.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Modesto?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are WBFMI Annual Turkey Giveaway at North Merced (Sat, Nov 21), Thanksgiving Outreach: Drive-Thru Food Distribution (Sat, Nov 14) and We Own The Laughs Modesto presents: Jack JR (Sat, Nov 28).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Modesto?

Yes: 7 more events are listed within reach, in Morgan Hill, San Jose, Concord and Elk Grove.

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.