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Thanksgiving Events in Roanoke 2026

Celebrate Thanksgiving 2026 in Roanoke 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 Roanoke.

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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 Roanoke

All Thanksgiving events in Roanoke 2026

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Nov 12–15Jellystone Park Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge Station4 days

Nov 12-15, 2026 Jellystone Park Natural Bridge - Friendsgiving, (Virginia Voyagers gathering)

Voyagers Friendsgiving Campout – Voyager Members Only November 13–15, 2026 📍 Jellystone Park Natural Bridge 16 Recreation Lane, Natural Bridge, VA Join us for our Friendsgiving Campout—and the final campout of the 2026 season! This year, all Saturday act

5:00 PM

FriendsgivingFamily friendly

Sponsored

Sat, Nov 14114 East Main st., Radford

RSF's First Annual Gymsgiving! 🦃💪

RSF's First Annual Gymsgiving! 🦃💪 We spend all year loading plates. Now it's time to load some different ones! 🍽️ Join us on Saturday, November 14th, for our very first RSF Gymsgiving Workout & Potluck! We're bringing the RSF family together for a

10:00 AM

Sat, Nov 14Zion Lutheran Church, Floyd VA

PFLAG Floyd Second Saturday Social: Thanksgiving Potluck

Join the PFLAG Floyd family for a potluck lunch to celebrate Thanksgiving! We will provide turkey and a vegetarian main, but feel free to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Looking forward to seeing everyone! 🦃🥧🍽️

1:00 PM

Sun, Nov 15525 Harkrader St, Christiansburg

A Bountiful CWC Thanksgiving

🍁 A Bountiful CWC Thanksgiving — Special Sunday at 10AM! 🍁 Join us for a heartfelt and joy-filled Thanksgiving Sunday at CWC as we celebrate A Bountiful CWC Thanksgiving! Please note: Service begins one hour earlier than normal — at 10:00AM. There will b

10:00 AM

Sun, Nov 151001 Stewart Ave Roanoke

FRIENDSGIVING

🍂 LET’S CELEBRATE FRIENDSGIVING! 🧡 The holidays are all about friendship, gratitude, good food, and spending time together! H.E.M.I. House of Hope invites you to join us for a special Friendsgiving celebration! Bring your friends, share a meal, and enjo

11:00 AM

Friendsgiving

Sponsored

Sun, Nov 1524822 Lee Hwy, Buchanan

Thankgiving Potluck Dinner - Cedar Bluff Baptist

Please remember that we will not be having Sunday School this week. We will have Worship together starting at 11am & then our Thanksgiving Dinner will follow. Turkey & ham will be provided. Please bring a dish to share. Join us for fellowship;

12:00 PM

Dinner & brunch

Sun, Nov 15Lakeside Baptist Church, Salem

Thanksgiving Concert of Love

We'd love to see you at our annual Thanksgiving Concert of Love on November 15th at Lakeside Baptist Church! Invite family, friends and come worship with us! Free admission, with a love offering accepted in support of Straight Street of the Roanoke Valley

4:00 PM

Live music

Sun, Nov 15600 Craig Ave, Salem

A Night of Thankful Worship

Join us for an evening of community praise and worship. Come and be blessed as we offer praise and thanksgiving together. Then stay for a short time of fellowship following the worship service and enjoy cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate with us. There

5:00 PM

Wed, Nov 18Windsor Hills United Methodist Church

Super Seniors Thanksgiving Luncheon

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings. After lunch, enjoy a Thanksgiving meditation program by the Rev. Keith Olivier, chaplain at Brandon Oaks. Only $5! Sign up by 12 noon Monday, November 16, calling the church of

12:05 PM

Wed, Nov 181201 Timberwood Lane, Moneta

Thanksgiving Celebration | God's Work Through It All

Thanksgiving Celebration: God’s Work Through It All, featuring special guest speaker H.B. Charles. We will come together for an evening of worship, reflection, and gratitude. We’ll celebrate the great things God has done and thank Him for His faithfulnes

6:30 PM

Sponsored

Wed, Nov 18852 Paint Bank Rd New Castle VA 24127

Youth Friendsgiving 🦃🥧

🦃Youth Friendsgiving🦃 Join us for a special evening of food, fellowship, and a message from Pastor Lee Looney in the Fellowship Hall at Lighthouse Baptist Church on November 18,2026. This special event will take place of our Wednesday Evening Service.

7:00 PM

Friendsgiving

Thu, Nov 19Commonwealth Ballroom, Blacksburg

Viet Tech Friendsgiving

Join Viet Tech for our annual Friendsgiving celebration! 🍂 Come enjoy a cozy evening filled with delicious Vietnamese food, exciting games, karaoke, and more! Whether you're coming with friends or hoping to meet new faces, we'd love to celebrate with you!

5:30 PM

Friendsgiving

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 Roanoke

Turkey trots, dinners and parades in the towns nearby

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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 Roanoke: frequently asked questions

When are Thanksgiving events in Roanoke in 2026?

Thanksgiving events in Roanoke run from Nov 12 to Nov 29, 2026: 51 events.

What is on in Roanoke on Thanksgiving Day?

5 events are listed for Thursday, November 26, including 2026 Drumstick Dash at Downtown Roanoke, SML Turkey Trot Race at Smith Mountain Lake State Park and TURKEY DAY TURN UP at Simply Fitness.

Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Roanoke?

6 dinners, brunches and buffets are listed, including Thankgiving Potluck Dinner - Cedar Bluff Baptist, Holiday Farmers Market and Community dinner at Roanoke, Virginia. Tables go early for the holiday, so book ahead where you can.

Are there turkey trots in Roanoke?

Yes: SML Turkey Trot Race at Smith Mountain Lake State Park (Thu, Nov 26).

Where can I volunteer this Thanksgiving in Roanoke?

Fall Food Drive & Friendsgiving is looking for helping hands.

What are the best Thanksgiving events in Roanoke?

The most popular on AllEvents right now are 2026 Drumstick Dash at Downtown Roanoke (Thu, Nov 26), SML Turkey Trot Race at Smith Mountain Lake State Park (Thu, Nov 26) and Breath of Life Fall Festival (Sat, Nov 14).

Are there Thanksgiving events near Roanoke?

Yes: 8 more events are listed within reach, in Danville, Lynchburg, Martinsville and Altavista 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.